Centre for Homelessness Impact’s Post

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.

#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

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (#hhweek) is Nov 17th - 23rd. And during this season, many of us think of spending time together with friends and loved ones, often in someone’s home, around a full table of food. But for many of our neighbors, home is unsafe, unstable, or nonexistent. #FoodInsecurity leaves many people wondering where their next meal will come from, especially when school is out for the holidays. And the increasing cost of living, including housing, can make #hunger and #homelessness feel insurmountable. But the challenges of food insecurity, housing instability, and homelessness, are #solvable. DID YOU KNOW: In Arlington, VA the min. wage is $12/hour. Rent affordable for a full-time worker at minimum wage is $624/month. But Fair Market Rent for a 1BR is $1,803, which requires $34.67/hour, or working 116 hours/week at min. wage (https://lnkd.in/e5dDWukD). Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) programs provide short-term rental assistance and services to help people experiencing homelessness obtain and maintain housing quickly. As cited in Arlington's Continuum of Care FY2023 Annual Report, the average length of stay for RRH participants was 9 months with 86% of households exiting to permanent housing (https://lnkd.in/eSYsKs4S). It takes a village to do this work, so if you are interested ending hunger and/or homelessness, please consider volunteering with one of Arlington's nonprofit partners through Volunteer Arlington #arlva_hhweek #hhweek

Our journey to shine a light on the untold narratives of homelessness continues. Homelessness can happen to anyone- families, women, men, veterans, people with disabilities, senior citizens. More than half of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and are one crisis away from homelessness (usich.gov). We can’t ignore the issue of homelessness. Instead, we all need to be part of the solution.   Have you ever heard the term Rough Sleeping? This is one of the most visible types of homelessness, and includes sleeping outside or in places that aren’t designed for people to live in, including cars, doorways and abandoned buildings. According to the 2023 Point in Time (PIT) count, Arizona has over 14,000 unhoused individuals, and this is likely an undercount. That is why HomeAid Phoenix, along with our building industry partners are working to support nonprofit organizations across Arizona find solutions to end homelessness, like our current project with Arizona Housing, Inc, and Shea Homes where we are working together to refurbish a vacant motel into permanent supportive affordable housing units for those experiencing homelessness in central Phoenix.   Stay with us throughout November as we aim to bring awareness, education and understanding to how and why people become homeless and how we can help end it. Get to know the full story. Visit us at www.ham.homeaid.org/ to learn more. #homeaid #homeaidphoenix #HAM2024 #bepartofthesolution #endinghomelessness

📍Did you know that every night, thousands of people around the world sleep on the streets, without a place to call home? Homelessness is a complex issue that affects individuals and families from all walks of life. As we swipe through our daily lives, let's take a moment to reflect on the importance of compassion and understanding. 🤝Together, we can work towards solutions that provide support and opportunities for those experiencing homelessness. ☝🏾Swipe into action! Picture this: while we're swiping through profiles, thousands of people are sleeping on the streets, without a roof over their heads. It's a harsh reality, but together, we can make a difference. Homelessness isn't just about not having a home; it's about the lack of access to basic necessities, opportunities, and support systems. 📍But here's the thing: compassion and action go hand in hand. By swiping with purpose, we're not just looking for connections; we're looking to create change. Let's use this platform to raise awareness and support initiatives aimed at ending homelessness. Imagine the impact we can make by coming together. From providing shelter to offering a helping hand, every gesture counts. So, as you swipe through, remember that behind every profile, there's a person with a story, a journey, and a need for compassion. 📍Let's swipe for change. Let's swipe for hope. Let's swipe to make the world a better place. Together, we can create a future where everyone has a place to call home. #SwipeForChange #EndHomelessness #CompassionMatters

Homelessness can impact anyone. It knows no boundaries and can happen unexpectedly, often with devastating effects. As #NationalHungerAndHomelessnessAwarenessWeek concludes, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the stark realities of homelessness today: ➡️ In 2023, 256,610 people — 39.3% of all people experiencing homelessness — were unsheltered, with more than 50% of individuals experiencing homelessness lacking shelter. That’s 70,642 more people without a place to call home compared to 2022 (Source: National Alliance to End Homelessness State of Homelessness Edition 2024). At #StFrancisHouse, we witness the effects of this crisis every day as we serve our community. Whether through our Recovery Support Center, workforce development programs, or basic services like #meals, #clothing, and shelter, we are committed to meeting this growing need with compassion and comprehensive solutions. Support our mission to #endhomelessness today: https://bit.ly/4eK6Zqh

Today marks #WorldHomelessDay, an international day to advocate for solutions to ending homelessness. It's clear that more needs to be done to address the escalating homelessness crisis. English councils supported a staggering 358,370 homeless households in 2023/2024 - a rise of nearly 15% on the previous year - 324,990 of whom were owed a prevention or relief duty. Meanwhile, the number of people living in temporary accommodation in England is at an all-time high; in March 2024, the figure reached 117,450 households, including 151,630 children. As a founding member of the Homes for Cathy group, we're committed to maintaining a strong culture of homelessness prevention within the association and to fostering a better understanding of the needs of homeless people and their barriers to housing, together with a strong appetite to work internally and with external partners to offer solutions. Our work in the meeting the Homes for Cathy homelessness pledges touches on all areas of our operations, from building homes to care and supported housing and housing management. Read our 2023/24 Homes for Cathy report to find out about the policies, practices and services we are delivering to meet the needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. https://lnkd.in/eDPgN6TX

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

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