AREAA GREATER TAMPA BAY’s Post

We know finding stable housing can be a challenge. Massachusetts offers a variety of housing assistance programs to help you find and maintain a safe, secure home. From emergency shelters to long-term housing solutions, there’s support available for everyone in need.  Emergency Assistance: Immediate help for families facing homelessness.  RAFT Program: Financial assistance to help you stay in your current home.  HomeBASE Program: Housing assistance for families transitioning out of shelters.  Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program: Long-term rental assistance. Our mission at Bridge Forward is to empower you with the resources you need to achieve financial stability and build a brighter future. Take the first step today by exploring the housing assistance options on the Massachusetts Housing Assistance page and if you need our help navigating these resources we're here for you and can be your advocate. For more info, visit: [Massachusetts Housing Assistance]( https://lnkd.in/e9tgyRA4 ) #HousingHelp #MassachusettsResources #FinancialStability #BridgeForward #CommunitySupport #HousingAssistance #EmergencyHelp #LongTermSupport #AffordableHousing #StabilityAndGrowth

A Mother's Struggle: 7 Kids, 2 Dogs, No Home – The Heartbreaking Truth Behind Tampa's Housing Crisis" Imagine this: A mother in Tampa, forced to turn her truck into a home for her seven children and two loyal dogs. It's not just a sad story; it's a harsh reality for many. And it's happening more often than you might think. As a social worker in Tampa throughout 2023, I saw firsthand how deep the housing crisis runs. It's a story I've shared on my blog, one that's even influencing local government actions. Shocking Facts You Need to Know: - The CDC says fixing homelessness would cost $20 billion, yet America spends eight times more on foreign aid. Why isn't ending homelessness a bigger priority? - This crisis benefits the wealthy, leaving families broken and living in constant fear and stress. - In Tampa alone, there are around 3,000 students without a home. Many single mothers are desperately trying to make ends meet, living out of cars and hotels. My blog dives deep into these issues and proposes bold solutions. Let's not just read about it; let's act and make a difference. Together, we can bring attention to this crisis and push for real change. 📣 Join me in raising awareness: #HomelessnessCrisis #SocialChange #Priorities #Awareness #kattwilliams #homelessness #affordablehousing #christianfrazier Discover more and be a part of the solution: 👉 [Read the Blog](https://lnkd.in/gGsr_5W9) It's alarming how corporations have swooped in over the past 15 years and bought up so many affordable homes, isn't it? This trend started around the financial crisis in 2008. Big companies saw an opportunity to invest in real estate when housing prices dropped. They started buying homes at a rapid pace, often paying in cash, which made it hard for regular homebuyers to compete. This massive buy-up has led to a decrease in affordable housing available for the average person. It's not just about the lack of homes anymore, it's about who controls them. These corporations often turn these properties into rentals, driving up rental prices and changing the dynamics of local housing markets. It's a significant shift in home ownership that's affecting communities across the country. #AffordableHousingCrisis #CorporateImpact #RealEstateMarket

🏡🌆 Did you know that New York City’s Department of Homeless Services has provided 150 immigrant families with up to $4,000 each to move out of the city’s shelter system and into permanent housing? This is part of an unpublicized pilot program called Asylee Moveout Assistance. The funds can be used for moving expenses, security deposits, first and last month’s rent, and other household supplies. 📦🔑 This initiative is a testament to the dynamic nature of the real estate market and the various factors that can influence it. As a seasoned real estate professional, I stay informed about these trends and changes to better serve my clients. Whether you're buying or selling, I'm here to guide you through the process. Visit my website to learn more about my services. [https://lnkd.in/gs84b5su](https://lnkd.in/gs84b5su) 🌐 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g-d_Bf3Z #RealEstateNews #HomeBuying #HomeSelling #YourGoToGuy

❗ Action Alert ❗ The Bowser administration is about to terminate the housing subsidy of 2,000 families for hitting a new, strict time limit in rapid re-housing—to “right-size” the program. You can learn more about what is happening: https://lnkd.in/eJeuWJ7d Virtually none of these families will be able to afford the rent after being terminated, and will face eviction and a likely return to homelessness. There isn’t enough eviction prevention $$ or family shelter to provide a safety net for these families after such a mass displacement. Here are a few ways you can help stop this harm to DC residents: ✅ Send a one-click email to the Council: https://lnkd.in/eivyhJS4 ✅ If you testify at the budget hearing on 5/3 or speak with Councilmembers or staff, raise this issue as a priority ✅ Share the email action with your networks

If SCOTUS rules in favor of Grants Pass, it will authorize cities and states to punish people forced to sleep outdoors with arrest and steep fines, even when they have no other safe option. This ruling would make homelessness worse and punish people for existing in public spaces. Research shows that criminalizing homelessness is ineffective, wastes taxpayer money, keeps people homeless for longer, and distracts from real solutions like housing and supportive services. SCOTUS ruling in favor of Grants Pass would indicate a preference for pretending that we can make homelessness invisible, instead of prioritizing safe, dignified housing for all. Stay informed at https://lnkd.in/e3U-MmiK

For part three of our homelessness series we explain how local housing costs cause homelessness, why solutions to homelessness should be funded from a land value tax, and the merits of redistributing land values through a universal basic income. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eSY5fgCs

We definitely have a need for affordable housing and we need to help those who can’t afford housing. How about the hoops folks have to jump through for affordable housing? Legislators should concentrate less on rent control, which stifles growth because no one wants to build if they don’t make money, and think about how hard it is for a person to get help when facing homelessness. Applicants have two days, can apply online only, into a lottery and then see if you got the apartment. There are 10 year long waitlists for Section 8 vouchers around here - you can’t even apply. And once you get in, that doesn’t scratch the surface of the back and forth and delays people and properties experience with housing authorities who are overwhelmed and underfunded. If legislators cared about this matter the way they should, they would be concentrating on HELP for renters and work on revamping and improving renter assistance, and not focus so much on restrictive policies for landlords. But they chose “we did something” instead of actually doing something. Some of them have their heart in the right place but they don’t consult experts in housing to think of solutions.

🏠 As the housing market continues to evolve, it’s crucial to address the challenges faced by vulnerable populations. Today, I want to highlight the efforts of Big Issue vendors who are advocating for better financial entitlements. 📝 The Petition: Big Issue vendors, those tireless individuals selling the iconic magazine on our streets, have taken a bold step. They’ve handed in a petition to the Prime Minister, urging for improved financial support for millions of people struggling to pay rent. Nearly 12,000 members of the public have rallied behind this cause, emphasizing the urgency of addressing housing insecurity. 🌟 Why It Matters: Human Dignity: Housing is not just about bricks and mortar; it’s about human dignity. Everyone deserves a safe and stable place to call home. Breaking the Cycle: By supporting Big Issue vendors, we’re not only providing immediate relief but also breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Community Solidarity: When we stand together, we amplify our voices. Let’s show solidarity with those fighting for housing rights. 🔗 Take Action: Spread Awareness: Share this post and let others know about the Big Issue vendors’ petition. Support Local Initiatives: Explore ways to support homeless shelters, food banks, and organizations working tirelessly to improve housing conditions. Advocate: Write to your local representatives, urging them to prioritize housing security. 🙏 Let’s create a world where everyone has a place to call home. 🏡 #HousingRights #CommunitySolidarity #BigIssueVendors Note: The views expressed here are my own and do not represent any official organization. 👤

Federal Funding Update: Congressional leaders provided significant new funding to address America’s affordable housing and homelessness crisis in the fiscal year (FY) 2024 spending bill, including increased resources for the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program. "...the final spending bill provides significant resources for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, which was funded at $32.4 billion (a $2.1 billion increase over FY23-enacted levels). This funding level is higher than the levels proposed in either the House or Senate versions of the bill, which could have led to a loss of 80,000 to 112,000 housing vouchers, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. As a result of the higher funding level, there should be sufficient resources to renew all existing rental assistance contracts and expand rental assistance to an additional 3,000 households." -National Low Income Housing Coalition Connecticut state leaders have the opportunity to do the same in the coming weeks by increasing investment in the state Rental Assistance Program to account for post-pandemic rent increases and keep people housed statewide. Learn more: https://bit.ly/49d4l9C #HereForHousing #HousingAffordability #FederalUpdates #RentalAssistance

There are too many young people in our city who don’t have a safe place to call home. In fact, 25 percent of Victorians experiencing homelessness are aged between 12 and 24 years old. That's more than 7,000 young people who are experiencing homelessness. In the lead up to the federal budget, we proudly join organisations across Australia who support the Home Time campaign’s call to fix housing for young people and: ✔️ Develop and maintain a national pool of dedicated youth tenancies ✔️ Provide linked support services to enable young people to pursue their individual goals and transition to full independence ✔️ Address the rental gap to ensure viability for housing providers and landlords offering tenancies to young people who have been homeless These policy changes and dedicated investments would transform the lives of so many young people and change the shape of their future. It is time to unlock our housing system for young people with nowhere to live. Find out more and show your support 👉 https://lnkd.in/ee7HMZBx