Colorado Coalition for the Homeless’ Post

PLEASE SHARE Urge Congress to Increase – Not Cut – Investments in Affordable Housing in Fiscal Year 2024 State and local governments and the communities they serve rely on federal resources to meet the housing, homelessness, and community development needs of their communities. However, Congress has underfunded these resources for decades, and now House Republicans are threatening to impose austere spending cuts to non-defense programs. Urge your members of Congress to fund housing and homelessness programs at the highest level possible in FY24, and to support NLIHC's top priorities. Homelessness is a CHOICE made by policymakers! Congress: PRIORITIZE the needs of the most marginalized by passing a FULL-YEAR FY24 funding bill w/ MORE $ for housing. US Congress United States Senate https://p2a.co/2xztqvh

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass ruling, a decision which effectively criminalizes homelessness, the McGregor Fund stands with leaders and advocates in the fight ahead for our unhoused friends and neighbors.   The City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson decision allows jurisdictions to fine and arrest individuals sleeping in public, even when no designated shelter is available. This decision will place already marginalized populations at greater risk, disproportionately impacting persons of color and exacerbating existing barriers to acquiring permanent housing and other critical supports.   Learn more about the Grants Pass decision and its consequences from our partners:   Funders Together to End Homelessness: https://lnkd.in/ePZa4Y2S   National Alliance to End Homelessness: https://lnkd.in/epXphUWK   CSH, the Source for Housing Solutions: https://lnkd.in/eEGQR2aK   Housing Narrative Lab: https://lnkd.in/emq4E5rg

PARTNERSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, PARTNERSHIP! We are well aware that Housing First is not defined as Housing Only. Wraparound services is what allows are participants to thrive within the Housing First model. It is impossible for agencies to provide effective services operating as silos. One agency providing all services for the increasing population is extremely taxing both administratively and financially. Knowing this, it is imperative that we connect with all service providers alike; governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, clergy, public health organizations, educational institutions, etc. Each entity has felt the effects of the current housing crisis, just as each bear heavy responsibility of servant leadership. One agency alone will not eradicate homelessness, it must be a collective effort. Write the MOUs, provide the LOS (Letters of Support) and begin the partnership.

What I read here is collaboration of local nonprofits, cheaper and less regulated housing, and a housing first approach. How can Seattle learn from Houston? "So what is Houston’s secret? There were arguably three elements. First, the city had strong political leaders who herded nonprofits so that they worked in unison rather than competing. Second, Houston’s lack of regulation makes it easy, quick and cheap to build new apartments: 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. Third, Houston focused less on general help, such as handing out jackets or providing counseling, and more on moving people into apartments and providing ongoing care to keep them housed."

Typical of a lot of municipal, county, and state legislation...let's copy what someone else did. Like Colorado's HB22-1287, CA introduced AB 2539, which requires an MHP owner to notify all park residents and HCD of a min. 120 days before entering into a listing agreement or offering to sell the park. The bill would grant a 6-month right of first refusal to residents, resident groups, nonprofits, and local governments from the time they receive the notice to make an offer. This can gum up the natural order of selling parks and invite lawsuits. The bill passed out of the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development on April 10th. https://lnkd.in/dZDQVSBx #mobilehomeinvesting #mobilehomeparks #manufacturedhousing #mobilehomes

"Displacement never solved my homelessness, but one thing finally did: I was offered housing." Read this powerful Op-Ed by Brilliant Corners Board Member and Community Advocate Reba Stevens in CalMatters on why anti-camping bans and criminalizing our unhoused neighbors won't solve homelessness. #HousingSolutions #SupportiveHousing #AffordableHousing #HousingEquity #NonProfit

Three years at The Ranch! We’ve reached a significant milestone at our crisis accommodation facility at The Ranch Motel - providing short-term crisis accommodation at affordable rent to people experiencing homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula. This service is made possible through our partnership with the Southern Peninsula and Western Port community support centres, and with the generosity of community partners including @ourpeninsula, @mornington_rotary_club , @rotaryclubofmountmartha, and the owner of the building George Makool. Through The Ranch we’ve provided shelter and certainty to over 160 people over three years, people who would otherwise have nowhere to go. Here’s MCSC CEO Ben Smith, on why we need more facilities like this, and why it’s time for all levels of Government to do more. “For over three years we’ve housed over 160 people through this facility - an opportunity that’s only made possible through the generous donations and partnerships with our local community. Unfortunately The Ranch crisis accommodation facility is not funded by Government - so we invite any conversation for those MP’s or Government officials that are local here to reach out to us to find workable and affordable housing solutions to the housing crisis, because we think it’s pretty important to look after people in times of crisis.” Place-based services have a significant role to play in this space, evidenced by our 60% rate of positive housing outcomes through The Ranch, far exceeding the national average of 25% On the eve of the Dunkley by-election - and with housing affordability and cost of living the biggest issues in our local community - we’re calling on all levels of Government to work with us to find affordable solutions to this critical need. We have to do more. Jodie Belyea Nathan Conroy @alex Breskin Australian Labor Party Liberal Party of Australia @theaustraliangreens #communitysupportingcommunity #morningtoncommunitysupportcentre #volunteer

🏠 How do you end homelessness? One life at a time! 🏠   Our core programs and services are designed not only to meet immediate needs like food and shelter for unsheltered neighbors but also to help each person find their path to long-term self-sufficiency.   We’re building a system of care that is changing the state of homelessness in San Diego County.   For many living on the streets, finding the help they need is confusing. And shelter beds in the region are at 96% capacity.   Operation Navigation is our solution to this crisis. By opening 3 more Navigation Centers across the County, we’ll nearly double our number of shelter beds.   Once their immediate needs for shelter are met, guests will transition to longer-term housing or Mission Academy, our residential program downtown where they can rebuild their lives, like Cynthia did.   Your support directly impacts lives through initiatives like Community Outreach, Navigation Centers, Mission Academy, Hunger Relief programs, and more. See what you are making possible at https://lnkd.in/dRzWvJSx. #EndHomelessness #OperationNavigation 

Veteran Housing Corp reminds you that #HOMELESSNESS IS THE RESULT OF DECADES OF THE FAILURE TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL. THE HISTORY AND PRESENT STATE OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IN AMERICA CAN BE SUMMED UP IN ONE WORD: BROKEN DON'T BE FOOLED BY SLICK PROMOTIONAL POSTS THAT MAKE IT SEEM LIKE YOUR LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS ARE SOLVING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE PUBLIC AND TAXPAYERS MUST ASK: AT WHAT COST TO THE TAXPAYERS AND HOW LONG IS THE AFFORDABILITY PERIOD? EVERY TAXPAYER SHOULD BE ASKING THEIR ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: 1. How much local, state, and federal funding, tax credits, density bonus increase, waivers of impact fees, or other government benefit or incentive did the project receive? 2. What is the affordability period for each project and, if the affordability period is not in perpetuity or permanent, WHY NOT? 3. What guarantees exist that tenants in the affordable housing units will not be displaced after an "affordability period expires? Any LOCAL, STATE or FEDERAL official that does not MANDATE "permanent" affordability periods or affordability "IN PERPETUITY" for any project receiving some government benefit is commiting MALFEASANCE and should quit, be removed from office or be terminated. IN MOST CASES WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, the public and taxpayer are being fooled into thinking their elected and appointed officials are solving problems, when in fact, all hey have done is "KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD" to burden a future generation with the same problem or crisis!