Adam Scull’s Post

No Fixed Address: A Talk about Homelessness and Encampments February 22, 2024 Online 6:30 - 8:30 PM (EST) Register at https://lnkd.in/gcyCb_GH With the ever escalating housing crisis, a growing number of people are confronting the harsh realities of homelessness on a daily basis. Despite concerted efforts, community services and shelter spaces are struggling to keep pace with the surging demand, leaving many without access to even these temporary solutions due to their limited capacity. Faced with this stark reality, individuals are compelled to forge their own paths to survival, resulting in an increasing presence of makeshift shelters and tents, as residents seek safety and refuge from the often unforgiving elements. As we grapple with the pressing need for both short-term and long-term solutions to address the root causes of homelessness, the current plight of those living outdoors remains in a state of uncertainty. What do we know about the complexities concerning the root causes and approaches to homelessness and encampments? What responses and measures can we enact to deal with the basic needs, care, and well-being of these people? What other approaches to this issue, and what steps are other municipalities taking to assist those dealing with homelessness and living in encampments? Join our community discussion to learn more about the approaches, to have your questions considered, and to share your thoughts about making our community a safer and better place for those living with “no fixed address”.

Tackling Homelessness in California: A Closer Look at the 2023 Data Homelessness remains a critical issue in California, with 181,399 individuals experiencing homelessness in 2022, accounting for 28% of the nation's homeless population. The state's unsheltered rate is alarmingly high at 68%. Major cities like Los Angeles, San Jose, and Oakland report more than 70% unsheltered rates. Key Findings: -California's homeless population increased by 5.7% from 2022-2023. Los Angeles alone hosts 65,111 homeless individuals. -Chronic homelessness and unaccompanied youth are significant challenges. -California accounted for 30% of all veterans experiencing homelessness in the United States and a little less than half of all unsheltered veterans (48%). -Action Needed: Immediate, sustainable housing solutions and comprehensive support services are essential to address this crisis effectively.

GAO: Homelessness: Supportive Services Provided by Federal Programs GAO-24-106688 Published: Aug 15, 2024. Publicly Released: Aug 15, 2024. https://lnkd.in/gGVm3rDF or https://lnkd.in/gs3yMHbB Fast Facts Over 650,000 people experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2023, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development—the highest number since reporting began in 2007. Ending homelessness requires both housing and supportive services. HUD's Continuum of Care program funds supportive services—such as case management or transportation—to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This report describes the program's services and challenges with supplying them. For example, service providers had trouble hiring and retaining staff. The report also compares these services with three other federal programs.

🏡 Unison is at the frontline of the housing crisis in Melbourne’s West. Our dedicated service team supports people from all walks of life experiencing housing stress and homelessness. A few alarming facts about the housing crisis in Melbourne’s West (Source: Western Homelessness Network) 👉40% - increase in the number of people who identified as being homeless in Melbourne’s West in 10 years. 👉1M nights of support – each year homelessness services across Melbourne’s West support approximately 15,000 people in 11,000 households. This equates to over 1million nights of support 👉65% - of people presenting to homelessness services who are completely without a home has increased 65% in four years. 🙏 Thank you for sharing our #HW2024 posts and joining us in amplifying the housing and homelessness crisis. You can read more about our homelessness crisis on our web blog https://bit.ly/3SsYYNW

According to a recent report by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, homelessness reached a record high in 2023. The report shows that the number of people living in shelters, tents, or cars spiked by 12% between 2022 and 2023. Families with children have been the group most affected. NPR reports that one mother was forced to live in her car with her four children. After losing her job when she took time off to care for her kids, she was evicted from her apartment and struggled to regain her footing. Her story is representative of thousands of other families who have gone through similar experiences. Reports show that homelessness has been rising since 2017, with a brief pause during the pandemic due to federal aid that helped decrease the number of evictions. The federal government claims that the expiration of this aid is contributing to this steep jump in homelessness. Commonsense measures like rent assistance that place money directly into the pockets of families can significantly help combat homelessness and poverty. We need our policymakers to put children and families first by investing in services that directly benefit them. Click the link below to read more: https://lnkd.in/dVZrn6SF

"Unseen Victims: The Harsh Reality of Homelessness After a Flood" In the wake of a flood, the immediate focus often lies on rescue and relief efforts. However, what follows is a less visible yet equally critical challenge: homelessness among the displaced. When families lose their homes to floodwaters, they are thrust into a state of vulnerability that can have far-reaching effects on their lives. Homelessness after a flood exacerbates existing issues and creates new ones. Families are forced to live in makeshift shelters or on the streets, exposed to harsh weather conditions, health risks, and a lack of basic amenities. Children are often the most affected, as their education is disrupted, and they are more susceptible to exploitation and abuse. Moreover, the psychological toll of homelessness should not be underestimated. The stress and trauma of losing one's home can lead to mental health issues, further complicating the path to recovery. The effects of homelessness after a flood are not limited to individuals and families; they also have broader societal impacts. Communities struggle to recover and rebuild when a significant portion of their population is homeless or displaced. Economic productivity is affected, and social cohesion is strained. To address these challenges, it is crucial to provide immediate and long-term support to those affected by homelessness after a flood. This includes access to safe and secure shelter, essential services such as healthcare and education, and opportunities for livelihoods and economic stability. At Sheltered Hope Initiative, we are committed to raising awareness about the often-overlooked issue of homelessness. Through our programs and initiatives, we strive to provide support and resources to help those affected rebuild their lives with dignity and resilience. Join us in our mission to end homelessness and bring hope to those who need it most. #ShelterHope #EndHomelessness #sheltersolution #preventivemeasures

How many people are affected by homelessness?   Homelessness can take several forms: some people sleep in the streets, some in public spaces, and others are temporarily housed in emergency shelters.   This makes measuring the extent of homelessness difficult for two main reasons.   First, countries define and measure homelessness differently, making numbers challenging to compare. Methods sometimes even differ for the same country over time or across regions.   Second, these statistics can miss people who are only briefly homeless, stay with friends, live in their car, or do not seek formal support.   While it is challenging to measure homelessness, it is essential to try. Housing is a basic human need and homelessness matters for many other problems that we focus on at Our World in Data.   See ourworldindata.org https://lnkd.in/eJtxjPH6  

ℹ New Resources to Address Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampment Challenges 🏘️ The Benioff Homelessness & Housing Initiative has gifted us with two new, evidence-based tools that focus on supporting unsheltered individuals and helping communities navigate encampment resolutions: 📄 Brief on Unsheltered Homelessness highlights the significant risks faced by people living unsheltered and outlines practical ways to help. 🛠️ Encampment Resolution Guide offers a protocol grounded in research for resolving encampments with a compassionate, community-centered approach. These resources are essential for anyone working in housing, homelessness, or policy. Evidence-based approaches are key to driving effective, humane, and lasting change. Let's ensure we're using the best tools available as we tackle these complex challenges together! 💡 #Homelessness #Unshelteredhomelessness #EncampmentResolution #EndHomelessness https://lnkd.in/eqVb4rx8

'In 2022-23, more than 76,000 children under the age of 18 sought help from homelessness services in Australia. Of these children, almost 16,000 approached homelessness services alone, unaccompanied by a parent or caregiver, with many fleeing violence or neglect at home. Approximately 60,000 children sought help as part of a family group. Australia’s dire lack of affordable housing, especially for young people, and the chronic underfunding of homelessness support services means an increasing number of children are remaining homeless even after seeking help.' The lack of accessible and affordable housing is one the main drivers of the nation’s homelessness crisis. Housing is a human right. The Society is calling on all governments to build more social and community housing and incentivise the use of residential property and land that has been left vacant. Don’t be a passerby! Share this information to support our call for more social and community housing. 2024 Child Homelessness Snapshot Homelessness Australia (HA)

Homelessness is both a 🏘Housing problem and a ⌚Systems problem: 🏘Houston, TX had available housing supply, but it took systems improvements to support & connect folks to the unique solutions to their housing crisis and actually get folks into the units that could suit their needs and be sustainable for their situation. Systems Improvement was the key. ⌚Charlotte, NC made the systems improvements necessary to back up targeted community investment proposals with solid data, and along with Community Solutions supported a purchase of a 216 unit building to alleviate the bottleneck for veterans experiencing homelessness. Affordable Supply was the key. For most places, the right recipe is BOTH. It takes a village to make that happen - or, in Metro Denver Homeless Initiative's case - NINE subregions collaborating with U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), Community Solutions, Inc., and each other to solve homelessness in our community🤝 You need ground-up buy in to streamline these processes and get the results that our neighbors need and deserve. No team will be successful without first agreeing on a common aim and a collective foundation on which to build, test, study, scale, and eventually solve the problem of homelessness. Huge shoutout to Sofia Vigil for leading MDHI's efforts to align so many diverse stakeholders & dynamic conditions towards a collective approach to solving homelessness. 🙌 We got this. You can read Metro Denver's full approach here: https://lnkd.in/gVMZ_GgD 👉 And collective effort means YOU TOO! Come get involved in our region's efforts, provide your perspective, and help shape the best way forward for Metro Denver. Apply for a committee or workgroup here: https://lnkd.in/gnvgG-8a