Catholic Charities Twin Cities’ Post

REACH funded project: Unhoused in New Brunswick Principal Investigator: Eric Seymour, PhD, MCR This project is designed to better understand the experiences of emergency service providers, such as grassroots organizations that provide emergency food and other services that are a frequent everyday source of support for households experiencing homelessness ,and to document the existing service system and mismatches between the supply and demand for emergency services. Though there are deep networks of care through the Continuum of Care, a federal effort to coordinate care for people experiencing homelessness at the county level, community leaders report challenges accessing services. It’s unclear what is causing these challenges. Unity Square, our New Brunswick community partner, a grassroots service organization, has shared that they and other grassroots organizations are serving an increasing number of persons experiencing homelessness. They report a need for social, behavioral, and physical health services including addiction services, along with a critical need for shelters, showers, and bathrooms. Learn more:https://lnkd.in/efVzAH5Z #housingcrisis #socialdeterminantsofhealth #healthyequity #grantfunding #sdoh

Donate essential items to local shelters and food bank to support individuals and families Our comprehensive approach recognizes the interconnectedness of these issues. We provide essential services such as: Emergency shelter and housing support for the homeless Mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment Employment training and job placement assistance Nutrition and food security programs Realizing the Potential of Every Individual At HBHM, we believe that every individual has the potential to overcome adversity. Our programs are designed to empower them by: Providing access to critical services Breaking down barriers to opportunity Fostering a sense of community and belonging Impactful Storytelling: Changing Hearts and Minds We share the stories of those we serve to humanize the faces behind homelessness, poverty, and mental illness. By doing so, we bridge the gap between those who have and those in need, fostering empathy and compassion. HBHMCanada #MentalHealthMatters #EndPoverty #HomelessnessAwareness #CommunitySupport Empower the helpless with @Healthy Body, Healthy Mind #EssentialSupport #CommunityCare #HBHM

Court Orders Eviction of Shantytown Residents Around Castle of Good Hope   The Department of Public Works has secured a court order to evict residents of a shantytown near the Castle of Good Hope by 17 October 2024. The City of Cape Town is required to provide alternative accommodation in "safe spaces," allowing residents an initial six-month stay in such safe spaces which will be extended until they have acquired alternative accommodation (subject to engagement by the individual and the City to meet their Personal Development Plans). If residents refuse the offered accommodation or do not leave by the deadline, the sheriff, with police assistance, will forcibly remove them and demolish their structures. Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis expressed support for the order, highlighting the city's efforts to understand the residents' personal circumstances.   Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis noted that the City received two additional eviction orders for areas in central Cape Town earlier this year. The City plans to invest over R220 million in the next three years to expand its Safe Space transitional shelters, currently providing 1,070 beds. Facilities include two Safe Spaces in Culemborg and a new 300-bed space in Green Point. Plans for more shelters, including one in Muizenberg, are underway. The City also runs a successful substance abuse treatment program and annually assists about 3,500 individuals with shelter and social services, reflecting a comprehensive approach to addressing homelessness.   Read more at: https://lnkd.in/dtwVP-PH.   #EvictionOrder #HomelessnessCrisis #CapeTownSafeSpaces

https://lnkd.in/efXCryd4 RECOVERY -WELLNESS 101:

Unlocking Solutions: Tackling Trauma and Violence within San Joaquin County’s Homelessness Communities Did you know that in San Joaquin County, 20% of people experiencing homelessness continue to be traumatized as they exit permanent housing as a way to flee instances of domestic violence? Our project research has found that individuals are often forced to leave their stable housing situations due to life-threatening conditions related to violence, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Through SJMC’s PEACE project, in collaboration with JSI and St. Joseph's Medical Center, we’re dedicated to comprehending and mitigating the multifaceted challenges confronting this vulnerable population. We'd like to share insights from our recent advisory council meetings addressing trauma and violence among individuals experiencing homelessness in the area. In these collaborative sessions, facilitated by Crossroads Community Development, stakeholders from diverse sectors, including outreach workers, law enforcement, service providers, and individuals with lived experience, came together to brainstorm strategies addressing trauma & violence and draft interview questions for our upcoming key informant interviews. Key themes emerged, highlighting the importance of trust-building, trauma-informed care, and the intersectionality of factors contributing to violence. Our discussions emphasized the need for accessible language, open-ended questioning, and creating safe environments for authentic sharing. Furthermore, extensive research conducted during these meetings has shed light on the unique challenges faced by homeless communities in San Joaquin County. From examining the prevalence of trauma to identifying patterns of violence, our findings are guiding our efforts to develop targeted interventions and prevention strategies. From roleplaying interview scenarios to drafting targeted questions, each session propelled us closer to actionable solutions. We're grateful for the invaluable contributions of our partners, whose expertise and dedication enrich every step of our journey. Huge thanks to our superstar team: Debbie Rinaldo, Dyane Burgos Medina, LCSW, JD, Tammy Shaff, Annette DePauli, Jeremy Cantor, Hannah Young, Alec Shaff, and Victor Rodriguez, Crossroads' graduate student research intern from UC Davis Community Development Graduate Program. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to navigate this transformative path toward community well-being. Together, we're making a difference. #CommunityEngagement #CollaborativeAction #CommunityTransformation #SharedNarratives #HomelessnessSolutions

Join The Ripple by visiting. https://lnkd.in/g4wVUffy - Make. A. Difference Important reasons why joining the ripple is important it not only impacts those in the system but those outside and indirectly involved.    In-reach programs into jails and prisons aim to link individuals who are incarcerated with community service providers to address their needs before release and support their reentry into the community as well as assist in the habilitation while in incarceration. These programs often involve connecting inmates with primary care providers, identifying health conditions, and establishing care plans to address housing, mental health, communication and substance use needs. In-reach initiatives have been shown to improve housing outcomes, reduce recidivism, and support successful reintegration into the community. Max Brandel Laurie Lazar Melissa Denino #reentry #mentalhealth #behavioralhealthcare

In this episode I interview Annabelle Daniel OAM, Founding CEO of Women's Community Shelters, to delve into the critical issues of domestic violence and women’s homelessness. Annabelle shares her extensive experience working with local communities in New South Wales to establish crisis shelters, transitional housing, and homes for older women experiencing homelessness. We discuss the complexities of domestic violence, the challenges faced by women navigating conflicting advice from various organizations, and the ongoing efforts to create more shelters and preventative programs. Annabelle has a world of knowledge and I got a lot out of this conversation and I hope many others will do too. Resources that Annabelle mentioned for practitioners and anyone that is listening are listed below: 1. NSW Police Risk Assessment Tool https://lnkd.in/gBF4uGXy... 2. A very good, evidence-based risk assessment tool. Victoria uses a similar one called MARAM. 3. Why Men Choose to Use Abuse: An insightful article discussing the benefits perceived by abusive men. https://lnkd.in/gkFw-gkf 4. One of the best books on this subject is Lundy Bancroft’s ‘Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men’. Lundy worked in Men’s Behaviour Change programs for decades and provides some absolutely fantastic insights into the nature of abusive men, and the genesis of behaviours. Here is the link for those  interested. https://lnkd.in/gUSRJ7FS Please share this episode far and wide as we need to educate as many people as we can.

Far too often, survivors of domestic violence need to make an impossible choice: stay in an abusive situation, or flee and risk being unsheltered. New research from UCSF Benioff Homelessness & Housing Initiative shows that 81% of people experiencing homelessness and domestic violence (also called intimiate partner violence) report spending most of their nights in unsheltered settings — outdoors or in other places not meant for habitation, such as cars. California's Domestic Violence Housing First program is proven to help thousands of survivors faced with this impossible choice. But now, California braces to lose more than half of its funding from the federal Victims of Crime Act in 2025 for Housing First and other housing programs for survivors. 17,000 people recieve services through Domestic Violence Housing First in a single year. It's critical that California replaces this federal funding so that these life-saving programs can continue. Thank you California Partnership to End Domestic Violence for your partnership and for the work you are doing around this issue. https://lnkd.in/gvRsjRyM

Since its passage 15 years ago, the Second Chance Act has benefitted more than 442,000 justice-involved individuals. Between 2009 and 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded over 1,100 Second Chance Act grants to 845 agencies across the United States, including states, territories, the District of Columbia, local and tribal governments, and reentry-focused nonprofit organizations. We extend our gratitude to U.S. Senators that sponsored the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2024, which reauthorizes these essential reentry programs and enhances services related to addiction treatment and transitional and supportive housing. #SecondChanceAct #reentryprograms #justiceinvolved #reentryservices #criminaljusticereform #reentrysupport #reentrygrants

It is time for Canadian health policy to take homelessness and underhousing seriously as one of the most acute population health, social and economic crises of our time. On this, we have something to learn from our neighbours to the South. But unlike the US, we have the means and positioning to deliver on the promise of sustainable health and home for all if we organized our services, funding and policy as if they mirrored the integrated reality of the problems we’re facing. There’s very few policy areas where equity, health impact, health system operational performance and public sector economics align so potently. The lessons for further integrated health and social care reform are likewise immense. Canadian Medical Association Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) The College of Family Physicians of Canada Canadian Nurses Association Kathleen Ross Joss Reimer Hon. Mark Holland, PC, MP Sean Fraser Federation of Canadian Municipalities Canadian Urban Institute (CUI)