Centre for Homelessness Impact’s Post

Did you know that last year the whole of Belfast was either threatened with homelessness or already homeless? Seriously, the whole of Belfast… OK, not actually Belfast – but 324,990 households in the UK, which is about the same size as Belfast. That’s half a Glasgow, most of a Cardiff, most of a Croydon, 70% of a Leicester, nearly 2 Readings, 2 Cheltenhams, or 141 Chalfont-St-Giles’s… A whole Belfast is owed a duty – meaning their local authority must help, prevent, or relieve homelessness. That could mean finding Temporary Accommodation… but there’s already a full Rotherham in Temporary Accommodation! From March 2023 to March 2024, these figures have increased by 92% year on year. We work with our member London boroughs to find secure, safe, affordable, and good quality homes for households in Temporary Accommodation. But we need a cross-departmental national strategy for Temporary Accommodation and Homelessness, because if we see another 92% increase… We’re going for a full Manchester… #HomelessnessCrisis #UKHousing #TemporaryAccommodation #SocialImpact #AffordableHousing #HomelessnessAwareness #HousingCrisis #SupportLocal #CommunityCare #LinkedInCommunity

TAS & Sunset Soup Kitchen Our Tenants' Advice team will be down at the Sunset Soup Kitchen this Sunday to share our services and lend a hand. There is no one definition of homelessness. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) statistical definition of homelessness is: “When a person does not have suitable accommodation alternatives they are considered homeless if their current living arrangement: ▪️ is in a dwelling that is inadequate; or ▪️ has no tenure, or if their initial tenure is short and not extendable; or ▪️ does not allow them to have control of, and access to space for social relations”. The ABS definition of homelessness is informed by an understanding of homelessness as ‘home’lessness, not ‘roof’lessness. LEARN MORE: https://lnkd.in/gg5WrsmE

More shocking homelessness figures released by the Department of Housing today. There are now more than 14,000 people in emergency accommodation in Ireland and 73% of them are in Dublin. Just over 9,800 adults and 4,200 children across the country without a place to call home. Unprecedented numbers that don't include figures for people sleeping rough, those in domestic violence shelters, refugees and asylum seekers.

The Reaching Home Community Advisory Board (CAB), in partnership with End Homelessness Winnipeg (EHW) and Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC), has launched two Calls for Proposals to enhance Client Support Services and Housing Services in Winnipeg. These funding opportunities aim to expand access to housing resources and essential support services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. For full details and application guidelines, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gKE-K_6D #EndHomelessness #Winnipeg #ReachingHome #HICC #CommunitySupport

LISTEN>>> " The Shared Housing Palooza, a new initiative from Townspeople, is aimed at matching 75 individuals experiencing homelessness with compatible housemates, facilitating their transition into permanent shared housing." https://lnkd.in/gFwQXQER

Northumberland County is pleased to announce the launch of the Community Liaison Committee (CLC) for the 310 Division Street shelter facility. Committee members met for the first time on Tuesday, December 17, where they established shared goals, identified focus areas, and reinforced their commitment to action-oriented outcomes. The CLC brings together 21 members representing diverse perspectives, including: • Neighbours in the immediate vicinity of the shelter • Residents from the broader Cobourg community • Individuals with lived experience of homelessness and housing insecurity • Delegates from local businesses, the faith community, community agencies • Northumberland Paramedics • Cobourg Police • Town, County, and shelter staff This initiative fulfills a key recommendation from public consultations conducted earlier this year, ensuring continued collaboration and engagement with community members in the effective integration of shelter services within the neighbourhood and broader community. 📄 Read more: https://bit.ly/4fIZr7P 👉 CLC meeting agendas and more information: https://lnkd.in/gHuV7c4b ✉️ Contact the CLC: ShelterCLC@northumberland.ca

📣HQ UPDATE: Happy New Year; '2025, a time for action'   Just before the break HQ formalised the ‘Specialist Homelessness Services, Professional Practice Framework’ (SHSPPF) Steering and Advisory Groups – thank you to those submitting availability for the first respective meetings at the end of January. (Invites for these meetings will be sent out shortly.) HQ also formalised the ‘Workforce Capability Advisory Team’, involving 14 sector representatives from across the state. This group will also hold its inaugural meeting toward the end of January. Invites being sent out shortly. To plot a 6 month roadmap, HQ yesterday met with representatives of HPW to discuss key focus areas and actions in progressing this work. A really positive meeting was gained with action-orientated outcomes achieved. To further amplify this work, HQ will be meeting with the Minister next week, and the DG, HPW very early in February. HQ is now drafting a ‘Findings Report’ gained from the research carried out between September and November. Thanks to those who supported and/or were involved in this work which has provided some valuable practice insights. With just under a month until the first of the 13 regional forums (Rockhampton/Gladstone, 4 February), please find the consolidated schedule and link to register. With registrations open for only 3 working weeks to date, HQ acknowledges the 200+ registrations already received. With registrations remaining open until the end of January, HQ invites you to continue to discuss and share the details of the forum. HQ is committed to a place-led, co-creation approach, therefore the perspectives and inputs from those within each regional eco-system is a vital ingredient. Please reach out if you require a copy of the ‘regional specific’ flyer, which contains venue details. Along with Homelessness Australia, HQ will be hosting the National Homelessness Conference on the Gold Coast 17-19 June: National Homelessness Conference. The conference is now seeking expressions of interest from those wishing to speak/present, in addition to registering attendance.   Thank you again for your support, inputs and commitment in continuing to build the SHS sector through a continuous improvement, creative and transformative lens. #update #community #homelessness #housing #queensland Stephen Simpson Stephen Hawkins Alicia Pont Sam O'Connor MP Mark Cridland Department of Housing and Public Works

As much as Christmas is a great time for most people, there are many that are negatively affected. Below is one of the videos I’ve watched over the break to remind myself how lucky we all are… If you have a spare 6 minutes please have a watch as this video speaks about many ways homeless people are affected at this time of year. One section includes how 18 people were evicted by a tenant through no fault of their own as the building had been sold. As of recent we have seen many landlords sell portfolios of properties which have a severe impact on the homeless as many return to rough sleeping. The council mentioned in the video have said they pledge to build 1.5 million new homes, which we are hopeful that the we can secure a lot for Social Housing. However, there will come a time where we can’t keep building and there isn’t new accommodation to be acquired. So what is the long term plan for Temporary Accommodation/Rough Sleeping? #housing #homelessness #roughsleeping #temporaryaccommodation

New #AHURIresearch has found people with lived experience of homelessness often feel their participation and influence was far from meaningful when they have been involved in lived experience participation projects. They spoke of being unheard and of their concerns not being taken seriously. The research identified a number of principles organisations can implement so that people with lived experience can participate meaningfully. The research, ‘Lived experience participation and influence in homelessness and housing policy, service design and practice’, was undertaken for AHURI by researchers from RMIT University, Council To Homeless Persons, Morgan Cataldo Consulting, Seeds of Affinity , University of South Australia, Ngwala Willumbong Aboriginal Corporation and Australian Catholic University, and examines the evidence for, and experiences of, people with lived experience participating in and influencing housing and homelessness policy, service design and practice. Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/49pDXuT #homelessness #housingpolicy #livedexperience Robyn Martin, Jess Stubbings, Cassandra Corrone, Morgan Cataldo, Christina David, Kathy Edwards, linda fisk, Michele Jarldorn, Aunty Doreen Lovett, Amber Maihi, Sonia Martin, Helen Matthews, Sharlene Nipperess, Christine Thirkell, Juliet Watson, Carole Zufferey

New data released last week by the government and reported by Shelter shows a record number of children - 151,000 - living in temporary accommodation - up 15% in only 12 months and the highest since records began in 2004. The number of homeless families living in emergency accommodation such as B&Bs and hostels has reached 8,860 – a rise of 29% in a year. Overall there are now a record 117,450 homeless households living in temporary accommodation in England – the highest figure ever and up 12% in a year. New truly affordable housing continues to be desperately needed and the new government must use planning in the best way possible to deliver it. Marrons Shakespeare Martineau #housingcrisis #housing #homlessness #planning #planningreform https://lnkd.in/eJxRGRBM