Centre for Homelessness Impact’s Post

Let's discuss Homelessness: Part 1 What are the prescribed solutions? America is the wealthiest nation in the world. But there are hundreds of thousands of individuals in America who are homeless. The issue of homelessness has been researched over the decades, and various beliefs have been held on causes and solutions. Many think that the lack of affordable housing is the cause, and there are just as many who feel homelessness is a direct effect of laziness or lack of work. Communities often look at quick concepts to fix the "problem" or want those experiencing homelessness to be out of plain sight. Governments utilize singularly focused models to address the issue. However, the number of those experiencing homelessness continues to increase. Considering that government money and policies do not seem to make any positive changes, how do we address the homelessness issue in America? Do we continue down the same path and expect a different outcome?            A concerted effort must be made to examine the issue of homelessness from a different viewpoint. To effect real change, a transformational lens will be required. Transforming the lives of the impoverished will require a concerted effort to shift the philosophy on how to serve those experiencing homelessness. The shift begins with understanding the current beliefs on causes and solutions and looking at how a holistic approach can transform the lives of the homeless community.

Let's discuss Homelessness: Part 4 Contextual Issues: Worldviews Homelessness is a nationwide concern as every major city in America has seen an increase in the homeless count. How to address homelessness varies considerably based on peoples’ worldviews on poverty. In most cases, they are divided on the issue of work and housing. In 2001, National Public Radio (NPR), in collaboration with the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Kennedy School of Government (2021), surveyed nearly 2000 individuals on the cause of poverty to better understand Americans’ view of homelessness. The primary question was, “Which is the bigger cause of poverty today: that people are not doing enough to help themselves out of poverty or that circumstances beyond their control cause them to be poor?” The results were nearly equal, with 48% believing it is based on the individual not doing enough and 45% seeing circumstances as the issue. The issue has just as many theological debates. Many Christians believe people should be cared for and provided a place to live without other requirements. Believers with this perspective often use verses such as “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27). Others believe the need to work and provide for themselves is also biblical. Many Christians will emphasize the need to teach others how to be self-sufficient. Often, those on this side of the fence use Paul’s quote to the church in Thessalonica, “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat’” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). No matter which side Americans land on regarding the cause of homelessness, most understand the reality of mental health problems facing those living on the streets. According to Tarr (2018), Most researchers agree that the connection between homelessness and mental illness is a complicated, two-way relationship. An individual’s mental illness may lead to cognitive and behavioral problems that make it difficult to earn a stable income or to carry out daily activities in ways that encourage stable housing. (para. 6) As America is divided on the cause and solution for homelessness and realizing that mental health issues are a significant concern, there must be a connection between all three: health, work, and housing. Previous Posts on Let's Discuss Homelessness Post 1: https://lnkd.in/ek8SW4v6 Post 2: https://lnkd.in/eN_x4heE Post 3: https://lnkd.in/eS7xuBGj

Let's discuss Homelessness: Part 5 What is a Holistic or Whole Person Approach As discussed in previous posts, three main approaches to decreasing homelessness in America exist. Each of these models focuses on a singular response to addressing homelessness. The Housing First Model states that if you give a person a place to live, they will then be able to address other issues in their life, such as addiction and physical health concerns, and hopefully garner employment. There is the opposing view of Employment or Work First, which is designed on the belief that anyone with a job can then address their housing and health needs. The third model is the behavioral health approach, which became a second arm of the Housing First model. However, what if a monistic approach isn’t the answer? What about an approach that addresses all areas of one’s life? What would that look like? A holistic approach provides a comprehensive program that meets all the needs of those served. The purpose of a holistic program is to address the complex issues that arise for those experiencing homelessness and to provide skills and tools for clients to become self-sufficient. According to van den Toren et al. (2020), “Self-sufficiency is defined as the ability of individuals to attain an acceptable level of functioning regarding specific life domains, such as daytime activities and social support” (para 5). The authors conclude that life domains include work and finances, physical and mental health, relationships, and housing (para. 11). A term that would be more beneficial is self-stewarding. This term also defines someone’s ability to have all domains of one’s life in order but with the Biblical viewpoint of stewardship. According to Micelle Holiday, Self-Stewardship is “The Practice of Cultivating Your Gifts and Living a Life of Meaning.” In other words, self-stewardship is the ability to use your skills (tools and knowledge) to live a meaningful life. Is this not the desire of all people? As self-stewardship should be the goal for all individuals, a holistic approach should address each of these domains: health, work/finances, and housing, with health being multifaceted, including physical, mental, behavioral, relational, and spiritual. The overall process should ensure that each area is systematically addressed to set and meet short-term goals in each facet. A holistic approach is one that addresses not just one aspect of life with a hope that the other areas will be ok, but instead it is a whole-person process that positively affects health (spiritual, physical, and behavioral), work, and housing. Previous Posts on Let's Discuss Homelessness Post 1: https://lnkd.in/ek8SW4v6 Post 2: https://lnkd.in/eN_x4heE Post 3: https://lnkd.in/eS7xuBGj Post 4: https://lnkd.in/dz3GbSUi

History of Homelessness - Part 3 of Let's Discuss Homelessness The term homelessness in the American idiom has changed slightly over the past few centuries. “When first used in the United States in the 1870s, the term ‘homelessness’ was meant to describe itinerant ‘tramps’ traversing the country in search of work” (National Academies of Sciences, 2018, para. 1). However, in the 1900s the term homeless shifted toward a focus on a lack of housing. The solution to homelessness today is often perceived to be the creation or availability of affordable housing, but during the early 20th century, jobs (rather than housing) were viewed as the solution to the plight of transients wandering the country. (National Academies of Sciences, 2018, para. 1) Over the past century, homelessness has continued to increase. Between 1960 and 2000, the homeless crisis increased exponentially. According to Chen (2023), “During this time, mental hospitals, community-based housing, and support resources were deinstitutionalized. This resulted in homelessness for tens of thousands of Americans who utilized those resources” (para 5). At the turn of the 21st century, government policies and actions were adopted to curtail and alleviate homelessness. These policies and practices are Housing First, Work First, and the Behavioral Health model. Look for new posts on Homelessness each Monday Post 1: https://lnkd.in/ek8SW4v6 Post 2: https://lnkd.in/eN_x4heE

Let's discuss Homelessness: Part 2 According to Aoraha (2023), “The United States has seen the biggest ever spike in homeless people living on the streets - as preliminary figures showed a record 11 percent increase in one year” (para. 5). To address the issues, federal, state, and local taxes are continually increased and directed toward programs and services that focus on helping individuals move out of homelessness. The 2024 federal budget for homeless services is $3.7 billion, an increase of $116 million over 2023 (HUD, 2023). The state and local government-funded programs have increased exponentially as well. “In 2020, state and local governments spent $791 billion on public welfare, or 23 percent of direct general expenditures” (Urban Institute, n.d.). These taxpayer-funded programs are funneled toward 3 primary approaches to decreasing the number of homeless people, which include Work First (Brown,1997), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA, n.d.), and Housing First (Housing First, n.d.). Each method is constructed to serve an individual’s needs through an atomistic perspective, such as work, housing, or behavioral health. Employment first concentrates on an individual’s vocational aspects, and the SAMHSA model (also known as the behavioral health approach) focuses on addiction issues and mental health concerns. The Housing First model “is an approach to quickly and successfully connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to permanent housing without preconditions and barriers to entry, such as sobriety, treatment, or service participation requirements” (HUD, n.d.). This final homeless intervention is what the current federal administration prioritizes, as they describe this method as evidence-based (Housing First, n.d.). However, according to Eide (2020), “Arguments for Housing First on a systemwide basis may be defended based on intuition or humanitarian concerns, but they are not evidence-based” (Eide, n.d.). Along with the tax-directed interventions, thousands of faith-based organizations spend nearly $10 billion annually to alleviate homelessness (Johnson, 2017). These ministries often focus on more than just a person’s physical & mental concerns and instead seek to provide a holistic approach. Regarding this whole-person care concept, Elliott (2006) states that “A holistic approach looks at them in the broader context of the whole person, who consists of more than the hunger for a fix, or the absence of a job or a place to live” (p. 111). Holistic programs can be transformational; however, there seems to be a gap in transformational programming for unaccompanied homeless adults who may or may not have a substance use disorder. Look for Part 3 of this discussion coming soon. Link to Part 1: https://lnkd.in/ek8SW4v6

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.

Addressing homelessness calls for empathy. We are deeply moved by a recent initiative that brings to light the stories and hearts of those experiencing homelessness in our city. Kudos to Auckland Council, Auckland City Mission - Te Tāpui Atawhai, and Kāhui Tū Kaha for highlighting this crucial issue in this new video (see link to video 👇). "They're just individuals like us that are on the street for some reason." - Outreach Worker. We need more initiatives like this to change the narrative, dispel myths, and reduce the stigma around homelessness. Behind every statistic, there's a human story. National government data from 2023 shows that over 400,000 families are on the brink of losing their homes. Many of us are just one paycheck away from homelessness ourselves. Homelessness affects every New Zealand and we all have a role to play! We're concerned about the increasing rates of homelessness on our streets. Visible homelessness is just the tip of the iceberg. What lies beneath are high rates of hidden homelessness. What we see on the street is an indicator of wider societal issues. We'll be closely monitoring trends and data in the coming months. Together we can make a difference. Let's lead with empathy and follow with action.

This week, during Homelessness Week across Australia, I hope everyone has taken the time to consider the countless individuals and families struggling to find a safe and secure place to call home. And, what role each of us can play in preventing and putting an end to homelessness. The 2024 theme: "Homelessness Action Now", is now more poignant than ever. Housing insecurity and housing affordability are at critical levels as more Australians are being pushed into homelessness and are facing the daily reality of stagnant social housing waiting lists, private rental price surges, and interim and temporary accommodation stretched to capacity. As a community services agency and Lead Agency of the Toward Home Alliance, Lutheran Care reaffirms our commitment to action that includes both immediate relief measures and long-term strategies to prevent and end homelessness. We will continue our collaborative efforts in the Alliance and with sector colleagues on advocacy pieces to government that address systemic issues contributing to homelessness and address some of the root causes of homelessness (exacerbated by the shortage of affordable housing) that includes poverty, unemployment, family violence, social isolation and financial literacy. I acknowledge the hard work and commitment of our Toward Home Alliance teams, working across the Adelaide CBD, southern inner and outer metro areas and Adelaide Hills alongside our sister Alliances and support organisations and partners such as NT Shelter in Central Australia. Thank you for showing up every day with empathy in an environment and financial climate which arguably has never been more challenging to make a positive impact on the lives of families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Thank you to our fellow Alliance members, sector peers, government partners, real estate leaders, corporate Australia, clients and everyday people, for your support, as we all acknowledge homelessness can happen to any one of us - and it does. I urge everyone to stay informed, act, support initiatives, volunteer your time, donate resources, or simply help spread the message that ending homelessness is a community responsibility. Together we can make an impact on the lives of people at risk of and experiencing homelessness. @LutheranCare #HomelessnessWeek2024 #EndingHomelessness #HW2024

More IS possible.

#HW2024 Homelessness weeks draws to a close today. Homelessness doesn't end though and neither do the short- and long-term health and social impacts of experiencing homelessness. So this week, and everyday, I acknowledge young people who: - Are at risk of homelessness - Are currently experiencing homelessness - Have experienced homelessness and are dealing with its many long-terms impacts   AND, I also remember without stigma those young people who have died and acknowledge the grief of friends left behind. RIP Nadia, you're always remembered, never forgotten. ❤️   What do we need to do? We must stem the flow of young people into homelessness. We must also recognise the intersections of homelessness and health. We currently don't have the evidence we need. We need to build the evidence base for homelessness prevention from the earliest point in the lifecourse - we summarise how to do this in the article freely available here: https://lnkd.in/gs4kPyas