The Council of State Governments’ Post

In the heart of America, the Supreme Court deliberates on a case that could set a dangerous precedent for how we treat our most vulnerable citizens: the unhoused. The decision looming could grant states the power to incarcerate unhoused individuals and discard their possessions, regardless of whether shelter beds are available to them. As this pivotal moment unfolds, it's crucial for us in Connecticut to take heed and recognize that punitive measures are not the solution to our housing and homelessness crisis. Across the nation, poverty and homelessness rates are spiraling out of control, yet bipartisan solutions remain elusive. What seems to unite both deep red and deep blue states is the inclination to target their unhoused populations with punitive measures—citing, jailing, and disposing of their belongings. This trend is deeply troubling and counterproductive. Recent statistics from NHLP's Housing Not Handcuffs 2021 Report reveal a disturbing surge in laws targeting the unhoused. States like Kentucky have passed legislation criminalizing outdoor living, subjecting individuals to jail time and fines. In Los Angeles, ordinances criminalize basic acts of survival, like sitting or sleeping, resulting in hefty fines and even imprisonment. These punitive measures only perpetuate a vicious cycle of incarceration, pushing unhoused individuals further from stability with each citation or sweep. Criminal records from such encounters can become insurmountable barriers to accessing housing and public assistance, trapping individuals in a cycle of poverty and legal entanglements. As politicians grapple with the highest rates of homelessness since the Great Depression, there's a palpable sense of urgency for action. While decisions like Martin v. Boise have curbed the most extreme forms of punitive measures, many leaders remain reluctant to invest in adequate shelter capacity before resorting to harsh enforcement tactics. But harassment and punishment will never solve homelessness; housing is the only lasting solution. It's incumbent upon our leaders to confront the root causes of homelessness and prioritize housing as a fundamental human right. Rather than pushing unhoused individuals out of sight and out of mind, we must work towards comprehensive, compassionate solutions that provide stable housing and support services. Connecticut cannot afford to follow the path of punitive measures that other states have embraced. We must reject the notion that criminalizing homelessness is an acceptable response and instead redouble our efforts towards prevention and intervention. Let us stand united in our resolve to tackle the housing crisis head-on, ensuring that no one in our state is left behind or criminalized for their lack of shelter. https://lnkd.in/emEu3nxs

Last week I was proud to stand alongside the San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness, the ACLU and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights to demand the City of San Francisco stop taking away homeless people's possessions and forcing them to relocate. Cruelty, police and prison will not solve the problem of homelessness in San Francisco. From the recent California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness https://lnkd.in/gjCEmBEx "High housing costs and low income left participants vulnerable to homelessness. In the six months prior to homelessness, the median monthly household income was $960. A high proportion had been rent-burdened. Approximately one in five participants (19%) entered homelessness from an institution (such as a prison or prolonged jail stay); 49% from a housing situation in which participants didn’t have their name on a lease or mortgage (non-leaseholder), and 32% from a housing situation where they had their name on a lease or mortgage (leaseholder)." Homeless people are not the problem, they are the symptom of the problem. The problem is racism, greed, lack of affordable housing and livable wage careers, gentrification, displacement, mass incarceration. Let's all work together to solve the problem, end employment and housing discrimination, help tenants fight eviction, help returning people reenter, build affordable housing, and get homeless people into our existing empty supportive housing units. Let's listen to our unhoused neighbors and provide culturally competent drug treatment and mental health and physical health care. "Karen Fleshman, who formerly ran for the San Francisco Board of Education, was rallying in support of the lawsuit to stop encampment sweeps. She pointed to a recent UCSF study that found the majority of those living on The City’s streets lost their housing in California. “Rather than rely on just our anecdotal impressions of homelessness, I think it’s really important to look at a statistically reliable and valid study,” she said. Fleshman said affordable housing is a major driver of homelessness, but more can be done to quell the number of encampments. “Right now, there are vacant supportive housing units for homeless people that are sitting empty because of bureaucratic delays in getting the people into them,” she said." #sanfrancisco #homelessness https://lnkd.in/gF-a_m-h

Zero returns to homelessness is a bold vision, but there are immediate steps leaders can take to provide greater access to safe #housing for people returning from incarceration. Read about three themes that emerged at the first-ever national reentry housing symposium. https://bit.ly/3ubsSgO #Reentry

Atlanta Civic Circle shared earlier this week our perspective on today’s SCOTUS decision in the City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson. Our team at Partners for Home has been at the forefront of addressing homelessness in Atlanta. We cannot use this ruling as an excuse to shift the burden of this human problem onto law enforcement. Criminalization is not effective in reducing homelessness, rather it prolongs, and complicates the evidenced-based process of rehousing people and further traumatizes them. Fortunately, our community and Mayor are committed to creating a crisis response system that is resourced to develop housing solutions and to rehouse people who are homeless at the pace and scale we need to solve this critical issue. Homelessness is not a crime and we must continue to invest in housing solutions with the right complement of supportive services that end, rather than manage, a person’s homelessness. Discover how Partners for Home and our community are making strides toward ending homelessness. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/etxfTt_v #Homelessness #Atlanta #SCOTUS #CommunitySupport #PartnersForHome #CivicEngagement

"Using USICH criteria and benchmarks for ending family homelessness, the initiative utilizes a “collective impact model,” which brings different organizations together toward a common goal rather than leaving each to its own agenda and strategies, Kohler said. For Milwaukee, that has meant settling on one definition of family homelessness for all agencies and sectors to work with. It has meant sharing data and creating one dashboard to track progress. And it has meant constant communication, bringing all partners together to meet quarterly to strengthen relationships between shelters, rapid rehousing providers and eviction lawyers." #collectiveimpact #homelessness #endhomelessness

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is prioritizing efforts to combat Black homelessness in Illinois with a proposed $50 million budget increase. This initiative, based on a recent report, targets significant disparities by providing rental assistance, legal aid, and new programs. The report, a collaboration between state agencies and UIC's Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy, highlights that Black individuals in Illinois are eight times more likely to experience homelessness than white individuals. Governor Pritzker emphasized at a UIC event that homelessness stems from historical discrimination and structural barriers, reflecting a commitment to collaborative solutions across sectors. Christine Haley, Illinois' homelessness chief, underscores ongoing efforts to address disparities, with state leaders committed to dismantling the Black-white homelessness gap through Pritzker's proposed budget. Pritzker's budget proposal, currently under review, includes $50 million for Illinois' Home Illinois Plan, supporting rental assistance, pilot programs for at-risk groups, and legal aid. https://lnkd.in/gdEHD6jx

Housing is the answer to homelessness. But in the interim, trauma informed housing focused case management is the standard for working with people experiencing homelessness.

Today we’re announcing that three jurisdictions – Chicago, Colorado, and Detroit – have been selected to participate in our inaugural Homelessness Prevention & Rehousing Accelerator. This new initiative is designed to help state and local jurisdictions test early interventions to prevent individuals from becoming homeless and to improve the rehousing process for those who are currently homeless.    “Jurisdictions know that to sustainably reduce homelessness, they need both a comprehensive prevention strategy to curb inflow and bold approaches to reimagine the rehousing process,” said Carin Clary, GPL Director of Homelessness & Housing. “Cities and states of all sizes are asking how to better coordinate housing assistance within the community and how to make the subsidized housing process faster, smoother, and more effective for both households and housing partners. Throughout the application process, leaders said they need help to design, test, and scale innovations. Through the Homelessness Prevention & Rehousing Accelerator, the GPL will support these jurisdictions to advance this urgent work.”    Learn more about the Homelessness Prevention & Rehousing Accelerator below. Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department, Colorado Department of Human Services, Colorado Department of Corrections, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, All Chicago Making Homelessness History, Chicago Department of Housing, Chicago Dept. of Family & Support Services https://lnkd.in/djnNMbrg

Last week, Gov Newsom threatened to cut city & county funding if they don't clear homeless encampments, whether or not there are homes for people to move in to. This will provide all the excuse cities & counties need to stop building housing & return to arresting their way out of homelessness. This will stop a lot of the progress that cities & counties have been making over the past few years to build permanent supportive housing for our homeless residents. Instead, jails will once again become the shelter of last resort. This failed strategy will be much more costly & worse for everyone. A great thing we're starting to see on our current path of building permanent supportive housing is iteration & improvement on existing homelessness prevention programs. If we continue down this path, our programs will continue to improve & get more efficient. Returning to our old ways will hamstring any ability to make future programs better. While California has provided billions of dollars to help build these homes, more than another hundred billion is needed to complete the job. On top of that, we need to build more housing across the board to ensure people don't continue to fall into homelessness.

#OklahomaCity's homelessness is being addressed by a new system of governance called the Key to Home Partnership, which is a public-private partnership of over 40 agencies whose mission is to prevent and end homelessness in #OKC alongside the City of Oklahoma City and the private sector. If you would like to get involved or learn more about this partnership, visit https://lnkd.in/gddx5Rkj. Greater Oklahoma City Chamber #PromoOurOKC #VeloCityOKC #OurOKC #governingboard #homelessness #neighbors #crisis #housingexpenses #innovation #governance #initiative #publicagencies #privateagencies #committment #sharedmission #challenges #collaboration #partnerships #actionplan #objectives #rehousing #diverting #businesses #government #community #leadership #nonprofits #support #workgroups #dedication #landlordengagement #communication #streetoutreach #businessowners #strategicthinking #engagement