Crisis’ Post

Policy Brief: The Local Control Con I argue that the nature of the housing and homelessness crises is rooted in a basic incentive problem. Local jurisdictions are subject to what game theorists call a "collective action problem" --where they would all be better off if they worked together, but they all have a stronger incentive to defect from working together in some way. The specific kind of problem is in this case, the "Free Rider" problem. Until we sufficiently preempt the control of these issues and address the issue across larger geographies, we will continue to have housing and homelessness crises. https://lnkd.in/gTqJAa92

The drivers of homelessness are fundamentally about policy choices--building affordable housing, strengthening the safety net, offering critical social services, and investing in evidence-based interventions. As such, we can make enormous progress in ending homelessness if we had the political will.

I'm a strong believer in the value of shelter and transitional housing for folks and the role these services can play to support people as they start their journey along the housing continuum and further as they attempt to navigate a system that is in crisis and burdened with barriers. Historically, there has been a de-emphasis in funding for these types of initiatives, which has led to many services being trapped in cycles of under resourcing and pure survival and even more services that have been lost. Post that, we saw shelter and transitional housing underplayed and hidden as a dissuasion in Reaching Home dollars. But this funding announcement is a positive direction to securing the resources needed for shelter and transitional housing to allow these services and organizations to play a more robust and consistent role in helping the community solve the issue of homelessness and further properly show up for individuals in the ways they truly need us to. Further hoping the provincial government shifts its attitude and seizes this opportunity more robustly and remains open to understanding that the solution is beyond individuals, beyond just a job, and beyond just semi-affordable housing for the missing middle.

'By empowering local governments to act more decisively and efficiently, SB 1395 stands to significantly reduce the time it takes to transition individuals from the streets to safe, supportive environments. The practical impact of this cannot be overstated: faster construction would mean quicker relief for those suffering in the harshest conditions...' Read more about how SB 1395 could help address California's unsheltered homelessness crisis in this co-authored piece in the San Diego Union-Tribune. #dignitymoves #SanDiego imaginable.https://https://lnkd.in/e3CUhcHZ

NEW: Solving a problem as wide and deep as the homelessness crisis can feel like an impossibly long journey. The only way to get there is to take the first step. Read the latest Opinion from Alan Broadbent and Elizabeth McIsaac. https://lnkd.in/gjEND9ma

Maytree and West End Phoenix have launched un/SHELTERED: Toronto Design Challenge. Through this challenge, we are seeking imaginative, innovative built-form designs for people who are homeless and unsheltered. We are looking for designs that are practical and feasible. Most importantly, we are seeking designs that protect every person’s inherent human dignity. un/SHELTERED is a challenge and an opportunity: entrants can demonstrate how their design can meet the needs of a person who has been excluded from our current housing system. At the same time, it’s an opportunity for entrants to share their vision of a proposed structure, which can broaden our understanding of what’s possible. We are looking for new ideas and new designs that help us imagine that first step – better responses to the human rights violation of unsheltered homelessness.  Help us spread the word. We need to take that first step now. https://lnkd.in/gjEND9ma

London Ontario is looking at a 22 million dollar homeless model where 'hubs' that shelter and transition people off the street are located in different areas of the city. These hubs will be connected to transitional housing. The opposition to the 'Hubs' is based on fear. Fear for children's safety, break-ins and car thefts. The 'not in my neighbourhood' style of opposition. Sure, let's address homelessness but not here, not now. 💡 I think what's missing is education. Our citizens need to be educated on who is homeless. At N'Dinawemak we call them "Relatives" because we all know someone who is homeless, dealt with a severe mental health crisis or are living in unstable living conditions. ❓ Where will you, and your elected officials in your area, stand when faced with this option? 💡 If you don't know, now is a great time to start some research because the homeless issue is not going anywhere anytime soon. #volunteersmakeadifference #endhomelessness #loveoneanother #changemakers

“If we double down on what works, rally together our allies, and disprove the cynics, we can fix our broken housing system in America." Homelessness has reached record levels, but we know how to fight it. Our CEO and President Shaun Donovan shares solutions in an new op-ed in The Hill, like building and preserving more affordable housing and sustaining solutions like rental relief and Housing First that help keep people stably housed. https://bit.ly/48JW3Gx

"Congress provided funding, community leaders and business owners rallied together, and we had a laser-like focus on solutions that could keep people out of shelters and off the streets and get them quickly into a home." - Shaun Donovan Mr. Donovan is right: we do know how to fight it. We need to come together an do it. Partnerships and Alliances, good bipartisan legislation that includes supplemental rent programs and financial supports to for profit & nonprofit mission-driven developers (like MORE, Inc) will reduce homelessness and build our communities, securing the future of countless families who, despite how strong the economy presents, are still living paycheck to paycheck without enough for a rainy day. #affordablehousing #missingmiddle #nonprofits #nonprofitfundraising #communitydevelopment #communityimpact #worksmarternotharder #bettertogether #alliances #more2build #endhomelessness #housingforall #housingfirst #permanentsupportivehousing #psh #missiondriven #emergingdeveloperofcolor

"Congress provided funding, community leaders and business owners rallied together, and we had a laser-like focus on solutions that could keep people out of shelters and off the streets and get them quickly into a home." - Shaun Donovan Mr. Donovan is right: we do know how to fight it. We need to come together an do it. Partnerships and Alliances, good bipartisan legislation that includes supplemental rent programs and financial supports to for profit & nonprofit mission-driven developers (like MORE, Inc) will reduce homelessness and build our communities, securing the future of countless families who, despite how strong the economy presents, are still living paycheck to paycheck without enough for a rainy day. #affordablehousing #missingmiddle #nonprofits #nonprofitfundraising #communitydevelopment #communityimpact #worksmarternotharder #bettertogether #alliances #more2build #endhomelessness #housingforall #housingfirst #permanentsupportivehousing #psh #missiondriven #emergingdeveloperofcolor