Depaul International’s Post

What does home mean to you? For many people living with a brain injury, finding and keeping a home that meets their needs can be extremely challenging. They may face homelessness, discrimination, lack of choice or inadequate support. This can affect wellbeing, recovery, and quality of life. We believe that everyone deserves a safe and secure home that fosters a sense of belonging and connection. We advocate for more funding and awareness for housing options that are suitable and accessible for people with brain injuries. We also recognise the specific needs and rights of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples with brain injuries, who often face cultural disconnection and marginalisation. Read more about the issue and our position on building more culturally responsive and affordable housing options: https://bit.ly/3HA05pr

🏠Housing and employment play a critical role in the recovery of individuals living with mental illness, and are key social determinants of health. NYS Governor Hochul plans to address homeless populations through a plan that creates 3,500 units of housing, in addition to employment programs. Read more here: https://loom.ly/9qO99yI #MentalHealthMatters #RoadToRecovery #socialdeterminantsofhealth

The mental health of children in foster care is a complicated and ever-changing issue that cannot be solved with a quick fix. It will require not only statewide government-level changes but also a united community effort to make a lasting impact. So what can you do to support the well-being of these children in Kansas? Check out this article from Executive Director Erick Vaughn to learn more about the intricate network of agencies and service providers working together to provide stability for children in need. We all need your collective support! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gN6wYRJb

Navigating the journey from homelessness to stable housing involves more than just the shift to a physical space. 🛤️ It is equally a mental hurdle that requires resilience and support. A lack of a permanent residence can deeply impact an individual's mental state, leading to feelings of disconnection and worry. Recognising this helps us carve a more enlightened road to stability. 🌟 🏠 As people move toward consistent housing solutions, they often bear the invisible burden of their histories. This psychological toll can manifest as trauma, despair, and a deep-rooted sense of uncertain futures. Our teams at P4 witness every single day how the right support can make a significant difference. At P4, we're dedicated not merely to the job match but to the whole-person support, appreciating the individual beyond their CV. Interested in understanding how we all can play a role in promoting a healthier, more supportive transition for those overcoming homelessness? Feel welcome to join the conversation in the comments #HomelessnessAwareness #MentalHealthSupport #CommunityWellbeing

Top-ranking lawmakers say that housing, behavioral health, drug addiction, and education are the priorities for the five-week legislative session that began Monday. Top issues: - Housing: Kotek's $500M plan faces debate on focus and funding. - Addiction: Measure 110 changes proposed, incl. potential recriminalization. - Education: Daycare and early intervention funding a priority. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eJP8mnVk #Oregon #politics #policy #housing #homelessness #addiction #mentalhealth #education #earlychildhood

"When success is clearly defined as progress toward improved human dignity, rather than on the receipt of things, then increased emphasis is placed on efforts like individualized care plans that blend mental and behavioral care with nurturing expectations surrounding a person's capacity." We commend Randy Shumway for his five-part series on homelessness and for bringing much-needed attention to this critical issue. Explore the series on Deseret News.

I hope some effective strategies are demonstrated through this contract. What we are doing now is NOT working. Complex trauma, addiction, homelessness, and hunger are a tough knot of problems to untangle. https://lnkd.in/g5rB_z4E

Many times housing first has been used as popular catch phrase to represent something it is not. When an agency, Organization, government or anyone else uses the term housing first we have to see first what they are talking about. Much of the time they use this term to describe wanting funds for housing and housing related costs before funds for others. This is not the case. As when you see an organization claim this and then have a process of applications that takes months to be able to get assistance as the persons to prove worthiness they are not practicing housing first. When a organization claims you can or cannot save a certain amount of money and have to claim this over that income before getting person keys, is not housing first. In housing first there is no credit check, job requirements or case manager to first decide the person is "clinically ready" or "completed a program etc.." . Housing first is you find a person, you house them before requiring an artificial line to be crossed. You don't ask a person to jump before they can walk. You don't ask a person to tie shoes when they don't have any. In my personal experience overcoming homelessness and professional experience empowering others I have seen many barriers placed in front of clients by the organization that call for and then claim to practice housing first. But they don't. As in housing first their isn't a judgment of worthiness there is just need. In the research I read throughout gaining my sociology and psychology bachelor degrees it was clear. People need to have the safety of a home physically, emotionally and socially before they can make the actions and choices to sustain tenancy. The way to overcome that is to first support those basics needs of safe housing, adequate food, social interaction dn a relationship with community and empowerment. Lets get back to the basics and empower before we demand. Lets have compassion before we have judgment. Together we will find the solutions to create sustainability in the communities that experience housing instability. It isn't going to be a one size fits all punishment or judgment, it is going to take us putting our own ego at the door and reach people where they are at. pone risk factor at a time we empower those to overcome. From food insecurity to mental health counseling we can work together with the means we have to create the solltqoins we need now. #housingfirst #homelessness #mentalhealth #giving #community #youthempowerment #leadership #investment

I wrote this piece both to acknowledge the amazing work that has been done to date in our community, but also, to remind us that the work is not finished. "We have a tendency to make the Cares Campus and 4th Street scapegoats for complex societal issues, but this is deeply flawed. It’s like blaming the emergency room for heart disease. You do not close the emergency room; you invest in preventative care and additional treatment. We must do the same now in the social services arena. Housing is unaffordable for many. The opioid epidemic rages on in a fourth wave. Unhoused individuals have 3.5 times higher mortality rates than those who are housed. We need to catch people before they fall into homelessness. Together, we need to build mental health and substance abuse treatment infrastructure. We need affordable housing. The stakes are high. Doing nothing while we wring our hands for a perfect solution is not an option." https://lnkd.in/gC-SzdER

Excited to share this thought-provoking article from Community Legal Aid of Akron's Big Ideas initiative, shedding light on the interconnected issues of poverty, homelessness, and mental health in relation to crime and public safety. It's crucial that we explore innovative solutions to address these root causes and create safer, more supportive communities. I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas on how we can work together to make a positive impact in our neighborhoods. Check out the article below!"