Homelessness NSW’s Post

The National Audit Office has released a report revealing that homelessness programmes are failing to deliver value for money. It shared that homelessness in the UK has worsened since 2018 when the Homelessness Reduction Act came into force. The report calls for a cohesive strategy and to understand the circumstances which have led to such an increase in statutory homelessness, which includes economic challenges and high accommodation costs. Learn more about what the NAO has published: https://heyor.ca/a970La #UKHousing #AffordableHousing #HomelessnessReductionAct

As the Scottish Government explores the introduction of new prevention duties to address homelessness, we find ourselves at a critical juncture. These proposals, while promising, invite us to proceed with caution and thorough consideration. Implementing such duties will require robust planning, resources, and a deep understanding of the varied causes of homelessness. It's essential that we engage in open dialogue, ensure stakeholder involvement, and critically assess the potential impacts on our communities. As we move forward, let's commit to thoughtful analysis and collaboration, ensuring any new measures not only promise but deliver real change. #HomelessnessPrevention #ScottishPolicy #CommunityEngagement ---

Is your community looking for ways to make real progress in reducing homelessness? ➡️ Prioritizing housing solutions and systemic reforms over displacement is essential. Check out our new tools for evidence-based encampment resolution, designed to help jurisdictions address encampments amidst the shortage of housing and shelter resources. Download the tools: https://lnkd.in/gn4eUwte

Today, I was pleased to speak to a Private Member's Bill from my MPP, the Ontario NDP's Bhutila Karpoche, that would establish a provincial Homelessness Task Force. If passed into law, the Task Force — composed of advocates, front-line workers, and people who are homeless — would utilize its expertise to inform a human rights-compliant provincial homelessness strategy. It's clear that the government's actions to date are not working, and that we are spending substantial resources on an uncoordinated effort to manage homelessness, not end it. The best way forward is for those who know what the solutions are to shape a provincial strategy. This isn't an added layer of bureaucracy; it's meaningful engagement with communities of expertise to ensure that Ontario will implement tangible, sustainable positive solutions to the homelessness crisis.

Homelessness is a complex issue, and it requires all levels of government to be innovative and work together. Council's latest blog post covers recent and ongoing initiatives that advance our goal of housing our most vulnerable. Read: https://lnkd.in/gGGt6wHY Subscribe: https://lnkd.in/gEwaK6Jj

Voting #YesOnA will: ✅Keep critical care in place ✅Prevent homelessness from increasing ✅Ensure funding goes to the most effective services ✅Build more affordable housing The choice is simple 🤝 Say YES on A to prevent homelessness and build more housing people can afford. Learn more: https://yesona.la/

This week’s City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson hearing marked the beginning of Supreme Court case proceedings with life-changing consequences for those we serve—by potentially allowing for unhoused people to be fined or arrested for sleeping outside. We must stand firm in our commitment to protecting our vulnerable unhoused neighbors. Research shows that the solution to the homelessness crisis is creating more affordable housing, not criminalizing homelessness. As we wait for an official ruling to be issued, be sure to read National Alliance to End Homelessness’ brief comparing criminalization as an approach to the homeless crisis with increased investment in homelessness services. Spoiler alert: strengthening homelessness services is the best path towards reaching functional zero on homelessness.

Criminalizing homelessness fails to address its root causes, such as the lack of affordable housing and access to services. Instead, it penalizes individuals who have no alternative but to sleep on the streets. Fining people who can't afford housing only exacerbates their situation, leading to incarceration and further instability. In Grants Pass, with over 600 homeless individuals and only 130 shelter beds, the problem persists. Shelters, like the Gospel Misson in Grants Pass, can pose risks to mental health, promoting religious conversion and unpaid labor. Often there is an adversarial relationship between staff and the clients leaving many with no safe place for shelter. Shelters can pose physical health risks like requiring complete sobriety despite the dangers of a sudden detox for long term substance users. Working at a shelter during the pandemic I saw first hand how quickly illness spreads in such a close environment. Shelters are often unable to accommodate families with more than a few kids making it even more difficult to find resources for a family struggling together. As a dog owner having to say good bye to a pet I love so dearly just isn’t an option. Yet we expect those experiencing homelessness to just give up their pets for a temporary shelter bed that may not be available the next night. Forget the emotional and mental support that pet might bring to them. This law, and others like it, seeks to criminalize an individual experiencing homelessness for their existence. It further ostracizes them from society. This law is cruel. It is an unusual punishment applied exclusively to those experiencing homelessness. Rather than criminalizing individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness, communities should prioritize creating effective programs and policies. The "Housing First" model remains the most effective approach. Expecting someone to improve their mental health, overcome addiction, or address financial struggles while sleeping outside is unrealistic. Stable shelter is a fundamental human necessity. Growing up in poverty I saw first hand how a discriminatory legal system can cause harm; a reality that was reinforced working as a social worker. I hope to continue to advocate for an individuals legal rights regardless of their socioeconomic status. It should not be a crime to sleep in public while homeless. Especially when communities have consistently failed to provide other safe and affordable alternatives.

🏠 Every person deserves the safety and stability of a home. But sadly Australia’s housing and cost-of-living crises are pushing more and more people into homelessness. Solving these problems calls for creative, collaborative, bipartisan solutions. Earlier this year we spoke to Robert Pradolin GAICD from Housing All Australians, an organisation that partners with business and local government to deliver innovative, affordable housing options for Australians in need. Learn how unlocking private sector capital can help reduce homelessness – link in comments. #HomelessnessWeek2024 #HLW2024 #HousingCrisis #HousingSolutions

Really important report on the almost impossible challenge facing people trying to move out of homelessness using the Private Rented Sector. Without enough social housing, the PRS is the only housing option, but it is not viable without things changing for tenants and for landlords. Really good that our experience in Hastings could contribute to making this case for change.