CATCH Idaho’s Post

How are cities moving beyond traditional approaches to homelessness crisis? In the City of Topeka Government, officials are leading with a community-centered approach to homelessness by bringing together both people with lived experience but also a broader spectrum of residents for ideation sessions—a co-design process that is not typically applied to homelessness issues in the United States. “The end goal really is to have a portfolio of community-driven ideas,” says Irma Faudoa, a housing navigator in Topeka. “It’s not just coming from the perspective of local government or social-services agencies, but the entire community, because at the end of the day, we’re all somehow affected by this.” Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g2-Ddgwb

What are the secrets behind Houston’s incredibly successful response to homelessness? 1. Houston's unrestrictive regulations allow homebuilders to quickly and affordably build new housing. Building a small one-bedroom can cost less than $200,000, while Los Angeles spent as much as $837,000 per apartment for people who were homeless. 2. Through prioritizing providing residents with long-term housing and supportive services, Houston has invested in long-term solutions rather than band-aid fixes. https://lnkd.in/dueVW2-B

There is no single solution. It’s hard work, and not as fast as we all want. But the strategy is showing results and we must stay the course, continuing to scale up outreach, encampment closures, rehousing assistance and wraparound services. We hope what we’ve learned will help our colleagues across the country reduce homelessness. Together, we can help our neighbors move home. Housing Forward https://lnkd.in/gFyyEZRS

Last week, Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. unveiled his 2024 vision for Little Rock in the State of the City address. Among the groundbreaking policy initiatives he announced was the introduction of our new Holistic Housing Initiative. This initiative underscores the City of Little Rock's commitment to fostering accessible and affordable housing solutions tailored to our community's diverse needs while addressing homelessness head-on. At the core of this initiative are several key components: ✅Implementation of innovative strategies to expand our inventory of affordable housing units ✅Ramp-up of permanent supportive housing options to provide stable accommodations for those in need ✅Appointment of a dedicated Chief Homelessness Officer to lead our efforts in combating homelessness ✅Launch of the Micro Home Village, offering a dignified living environment for our unsheltered residents that includes wraparound services Aligned with the overarching theme of "Results for the Rock," this year's policy agenda reflects our dedication to achieving tangible outcomes that positively shape the trajectory of Little Rock. #HolisticHousingInitiative #ResultsfortheRock

Mission-driven landlords are a necessary part of the solution to a complicated problem.

Clearing encampments is not a viable solution to our housing crisis. Surging investments to create new, deeply affordable housing and to ensure everyone who qualifies for rent support receives it ARE two critical pieces to make home possible. We can't afford to delay. Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative continues to step up alongside many other incredible partners. But to truly change the landscape of home, we need more people getting off the sidelines and into the fray, including elected officials at every level of government who are willing to fund home like the priority it is. Our neighbors, our families, our friends can't afford excuses, what-about-ism, or Band-Aid solutions. It's time to lead. #affordablehousing #home #minnesota #endhomelessness #twincities #nonprofit

🏠 Whitestone & Co. is dedicated to addressing the pressing issue of homelessness in our communities. We're partnering with federal, state, and local agencies to support efforts to combat homelessness. Together, we can tackle this challenge and work towards a future where homelessness is a thing of the past. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, revealing more than 650,000 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2023, marking a 12% increase from 2022. The report also includes the Housing Inventory Count of shelter and housing resources to serve people experiencing homelessness. While these numbers are concerning, we remain committed to making a positive impact. Our mission to provide affordable housing and utilize the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) is now more vital than ever. We're actively working to create affordable, safe, and sanitary shelter for those in need. Join us in supporting proven solutions and strategies that help people quickly exit homelessness and prevent it in the first place. Together, we can make a difference. #AffordableHousing #CommunityImpact #EndHomelessness #WhitestoneCo https://lnkd.in/eAbaF3Dp.

“While homelessness response systems continued to house more and more people each year, the increasing cost of housing, limited access to healthcare, and wages and income benefits that failed to keep up kept driving more and more people into homelessness each year.” In their recent blog, National Alliance to End Homelessness talks about why we’re still seeing increasing homelessness, even when our systems are becoming more efficient: https://lnkd.in/eK9jsS76

Erie County answers the challenge to eradicate homelessness within our borders with outside of the box thinking and cross community collaboration like never before. Our "Streets to Stability" program outlines a no wrong door approach and no one size fits all solution to meet the needs of the unhoused as they are, where they are. Filling gaps in social services to prevent homelessness before it happens. Keeping families and individuals in housing through vouchers, blended case management and workforce training opportunities. The renovation of our community corrections building into a community resilience center providing a place for any individual seeking housing, resources, and other services to obtain stability. The begining of phases of constructing a tiny homes village utilizing labor of trade school programs and students incarcerated at our County prison to teach trade skills for in demand jobs while giving back to society. These ideas among many more are all a part of a long term strategy to address homelessness in Erie County to ensure no resident is faced with losing housing and taking steps backward away from stability. https://lnkd.in/eRQrD8pZ

housing first is the key