Housing Forward’s Post

Did you know, on a single night in 2023, roughly 653,100 people – or about 20 of every 10,000 people in the United States – were experiencing homelessness? Six in ten people were experiencing sheltered homelessness—that is, in an emergency shelter (ES), transitional housing (TH), or safe haven (SH) program—while the remaining four in ten were experiencing unsheltered homelessness in places not meant for human habitation. Homelessness is a growing issue in the Phoenix valley, which is why our vision at HomeAid Phoenix to be a vital force in creating safe and dignified housing and programmatic facilities for those who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. We strive to accomplish this through three avenues: Construction, Community Engagement and Education. Join us in helping to end homelessness. Learn more at www.homeaidphoenix.org. #homeaid #homeaidphoenix #whywednesday #endinghomelessness 

One of the elements of our Theory of Change is doing what it takes. For us that means addressing immediate needs and tailoring support to suit each person. In the current housing market that’s challenging, and our Housing and Homelessness team are doing a great job. The proportion of people who were in unstable, unsafe or unaffordable housing when they engaged our services continues to grow. Our specialist homelessness services continue to achieve strong outcomes in securing and sustaining housing, but this work is taking much longer and is more complex.      Whether it’s supporting people to keep their tenancy, ringing around to find accommodation, or pulling on the gum boots and going out to wherever there are people in need, YFS workers are doing what it takes. The theme for Homelessness Week 2024 is “Homelessness Action Now”. We all need to work together to take action and do what it takes to end homelessness. #HW2024 #HomelessnessWeek2024

According to a report from the Urban Institute, "the single most effective way to end homelessness nationwide would be to fund a comprehensive affordable housing plan that would include a universal voucher program. This would both help more people exit homelessness and prevent more people from entering into homelessness.” The following article from Planetizen highlights the new report that "recommends a comprehensive, nationwide affordable housing plan as the ‘single most effective’ method of ending homelessness." Follow this link to learn more: https://lnkd.in/drak7GHd #planning #homeless #comprehensive #affordable #housing #universal #vouchers

In early September, we opened for referrals to Aurora Oaks Enhanced Shelter. We do this approximately every 90 days for community partners. In just five days, we received 80 referrals, and staff reported noticing an increase in the amount of older or senior adults needing services so we ran some numbers. Just for those five days in September: - 37% of referrals received were for people over the age of 57 - 26% of referrals received were for people over the age of 60 - 7% of referrals received were for people over the age of 70 Almost 1/3 (32%) of all intakes completed (158) at Oaks are someone over the age of 50. Of this group 57% report they have been homeless less than three years and many report it to be their first instance of homelessness in their life. Even within this small snapshot, our data is showing that senior homelessness is on the rise, and this growing population needs dedicated help. King County Regional Homelessness Authority #homeless #poverty #homelessnessawareness

At the annual State of Homelessness Address, we announced our third consecutive year of reductions in homelessness in Dallas and Collin counties, including the lowest total number of people experiencing homelessness in nearly a decade. 👏 According to the 2024 Point-in-Time count, a total of 3,718 individuals are experiencing homelessness on any given night in Dallas and Collin counties. That equates to a 19% reduction in overall homelessness and a 24% reduction in unsheltered homelessness since 2021. The strategic moves we’ve made as a community are showing results! But we still have work to do. Our community must continue investing in these effective solutions that will house more neighbors experiencing homelessness with the wraparound support they need to rebuild their lives. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/e4F86iE6. #Endhomelessness #DallasCounty #CollinCounty #AllNeighborsCoalition

“The count of families with children [experiencing homelessness] has increased from 310 households in 2023 up to 362 households in 2024. These 362 family households are made up of 1,108 people, of which 677 were children." The problem? There simply isn't enough housing. "...just to give you an idea, it’s taking us about two times the length that it used to pre-pandemic to exit someone [from emergency shelter, transitional housing and safe havens] into housing.." @TheHousingCollective Learn more: https://heyor.ca/LSiYjM

While we encourage new funding mechanisms and an increased response to homelessness in Missouri, we know that the failed suggestions within SB 1336 will only increase the difficulties faced by our houseless neighbors. People who live outdoors are the poorest in our communities, with the fewest resources. They are often pushed to the periphery of society and struggle to find accepting communities. Last year, Missouri’s homeless rate increased 12%, and it is clear that more must be done to address this crisis. (For more information about the lack of affordable housing, we recommend the newest annual report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, "The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes" - nlihc.org/gap.) Housing First is an evidence-based set of principles that acknowledge basic human needs. Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is also one of the most effective strategies we’ve ever used to end homelessness. You can learn more about PSH through the recording of our March Friday Forum on this topic, available on our YouTube channel here: https://lnkd.in/g5B4pQnm Our full recent testimony in opposition to SB 1336 can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gntGFznn Image description: a quote from Empower Missouri's testimony in opposition to SB 1336 in white text reading "According to a 2020 study by the National Institute of Health, 86% of Permanent Supportive Housing participants were successful in maintaining their housing for the long term" with a photo of a person sitting with packed cardboard boxes #EmpowerMOAHC #Homelessness #Housing #HousingCrisis #HousingFirst #PermanentSupportiveHousing #HousingIsAHumanRight #MOleg #Missouri #Testimony #Advocacy

Today marks the beginning of Homelessness Week, a critical time for us at the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria to raise our voices and shine a light on the pressing issue of homelessness here at home. Just a few days ago, we gathered at Parliament House to amplify our advocacy efforts and demand change. Our dedicated team at VincentCare Victoria joined forces with the Victorian Homelessness Network (VHN) and called for urgent action to increase social housing. With 60,000+ households on the social housing waitlist and numbers rising, VHN is pressing State and Federal Governments to commit to building at least 60,000 additional social homes. As a powerful symbol of this campaign, 60,000 origami houses were folded, and 6,000 of them were displayed at Parliament of Victoria to represent just 10% of the homes urgently needed. This campaign urges a commitment to construct the required social homes and implement a 10-year national plan to end homelessness. How can you help? Find out more about events happening during this week here https://lnkd.in/g8A5ezt2 #HomelessnessActionNow #HousesAtParliament

Homelessness Week is an annual advocacy campaign hosted by Homelessness Australia. The theme of this year’s Homelessness Week, running from Monday August 5 to Sunday August 11 is “Homelessness Action Now”.   On Census Night 2021, 122,494 people were experiencing homelessness. Close to a quarter were aged between 12 and 24 years old.   Housing unaffordability, driven by a competitive housing market, billions of dollars in tax breaks for wealthy investors, and decades of government retreat from social housing construction, is driving Australian households towards homelessness.   Taking action to prevent and end homelessness means reversing the treatment of housing as a profit-generation vehicle for the wealthy. All people should have access to a safe, secure and affordable home. https://lnkd.in/g8A5ezt2

Homelessness Week 2024: This year Project Youth had to turn away 958 young people as we did not have the housing, funding, or resources to support them. This is 958 missed opportunities.   We ask you to join us in advocating for actions to help us end youth homelessness.    This includes: Medium term housing options for young people  Additional transitional housing properties, that includes wrap around support for young people, to meet the current demand Affordable options for young people exiting supported housing into private rental A National Housing & Homelessness Plan for young people that focuses on their speciality needs  Benefits that are adequate to support young people out of homelessness Contracts that are long term, outcomes based, adequate to cover costs of the program    All young people deserve a safe place to live. Ending youth homelessness is why Project Youth exists. We know together we can make this a reality.   Please share… Alison Brandon GAICD Tsae-Fen Liew julie robinson Naomi Bryant  GAICD Louise Birnie Tanya Hardy Katherine Thompson Vanessa Guez GAICD CPA Benjamin Cramer Carla Ianni Samantha Kalmar #homelessnessweek2024 #endhomelessness #youthwork #dronevideography