Homelessness Policy Research Institute’s Post

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision allowing cities to criminalize homelessness, California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered state officials to clear encampments across the state. While this was the most significant action taken after the Supreme Court's decision, Newsom is far from the only elected leader to defer to penalization in response to this crisis. It's understandable to feel frustrated and concerned. None of us should grow accustomed to our neighbors living unsheltered. But criminalizing homelessness only makes the problem worse in the long term by increasing barriers to stable housing, employment, and access to services. This is especially true for young people, who are too often pushed into the shadows because of their social and economic realities. The good news is, an alternative approach – one centered on coordination and prevention – isn't just possible, it's already working. Between 2016 and 2022, Washington state saw the number of youth and young adults experiencing homelessness fall by 40 percent. That translates into 10,000 fewer young people experiencing homelessness in our state. That progress came not from penalizing those living unsheltered, but from coordination with schools, state agencies, organizations, and youth themselves to address the root causes, not the symptoms of this crisis. Leaders and community members alike have a choice in how they will respond to the Supreme Court's decision and the ongoing challenge of homelessness. Let's choose compassion and commit to evidence-based solutions that will ensure everyone has a safe place to call home. https://lnkd.in/gSV3sQKX

Housing Alliance Delaware's recent 2024 Point-In-Time count saw a 9% increase in homelessness in Delaware. Each year, the Delaware Continuum of Care conducts a PIT count of people experiencing homelessness. As a community health advocate and partner of HAD, I understand that these numbers tell a story. The homeless also tend to be the most vulnerable to the opioid epidemic and those struggling with alcohol or drugs are often those who need shelter the most. It’s important to remain empathetic and supportive to those struggling and on the pathway to recovery. See the 2024 PIT Count Methodology here: https://ow.ly/BrPX50S8PrM

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

We know what works to prevent and end homelessness. Spoiler alert: it is not to criminalize and arrest people for sleeping, resting, eating or living on the street when they have nowhere else to go. Effective strategies are to prevent homelessness by proving shallow rent subsidies, provide interim and permanent housing with needed supports, and to greatly increase the supply of affordable and accessible housing.

PLEASE SHARE! We at SOS Richmond are stunned by Governor Gavin Newsom's order calling for the removal of homeless encampments across California. While encampments may be moved, human beings cannot be removed from our cities and towns. By criminalizing our most vulnerable neighbors, the governor is pursuing a misguided and cruel policy. Forcing the unhoused community out of encampments does not address the root causes of homelessness; it further marginalizes vulnerable individuals, pushing them into more dangerous and unstable situations by uprooting their tenuous stability and their connection with supportive organizations like SOS. The most effective way to respond to homelessness is through comprehensive, caring support that includes unhoused and recently housed neighbors through peer-to-peer support. This helps people on their journey from tent to home. Sweeping away encampments without providing community and essential services fails to offer a real solution and merely shifts the problem to the next encampment location. The order does not consider the voices and experiences of those who are directly affected and are most able to support their peers. Our unhoused neighbors have valuable insights and the interpersonal relationships to best address people’s needs. Any policy aimed at resolving homelessness must include their input and prioritize their dignity and humanity. We urge Governor Newsom and state officials to reconsider this order and focus on long-term, compassionate solutions. By investing in affordable housing and robust social services we create a more just and equitable society where everyone has the opportunity to survive and thrive. SOS Richmond remains committed to working with our community – housed and unhoused – to find sustainable and humane solutions to homelessness that scale to address this crisis. We stand in solidarity with our unhoused neighbors and advocate for their rights and well-being. Photo: Staff member Leyla connecting with an unhoused neighbor through street-level outreach. Photo credit: Maurice Tierney #bayarea #cahousingcrisis #housing #GavinNewsom #eastbay #contraconstacounty #fightforthebay #housingjustice

Last week's Weekly Perspective taught us about different types of housing provisions that are available for various populations who are experiencing homelessness. This week we have a special Part 2, specifically on the subject of Housing First. One of the biggest myths surrounding homeless response is that Housing First provides no oversight and is a failure. The idea that some of us could be working so hard to keep a roof over our families heads, while others in our community are living in swanky homes for free, could feel really upsetting. Fortunately, this myth is just not true. Housing First is an evidence-based principle that housing providers follow to ensure the most success for households transitioning out of homelessness. You can learn more by reading the rest of our newest Weekly Perspective blog post here: https://lnkd.in/gRyEZW2U And in case you missed last week's post, you can read "Homelessness in Missouri: What Housing Programs are Available?" here: https://lnkd.in/ggnCmta2 Last but not least, we hope you'll also join us for our March Friday Forum on the topic of "Permanent Supportive Housing" online on March 8th, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Registration and details: https://lnkd.in/dv5kWzKz. We will learn together what drives homelessness, what programs work to end homelessness, and why sometimes those programs fail our communities. Image description: blue text reading "New Weekly Perspective on the Blog! Homelessness in Missouri: An Overview of Housing First" with a background photo of a person handing over a house key #EmpowerMOperspective #WeeklyPerspective #Blog #Missouri  #HousingJustice #Homelessness #HousingCrisis #AffordableHousing #HousingIsAHumanRight

"This worsening tragedy is a societal failure that disturbs the conscience, particularly in light of the profound consequences that homelessness unleashes.... Stabilizing housing for older adults [through prevention efforts] is the best way to spare them the pain, suffering, humiliation, and indignity of becoming homeless." Please take a moment to read this important Marin County Grant Jury report on the need for the County of Marin to develop a homelessness prevention strategy for older adults in our community. "The 2023-2024 Marin County Grand Jury (Grand Jury) reviewed the County’s current homelessness programs and services and concluded that little or no attention is being paid to prevention. There are few services for older adults on the precipice of losing their housing. Despite several previous Grand Jury reports regarding the growing need to prioritize the housing needs of older adults, there remains a lack of urgency in establishing a systemic approach that would ensure a long-term commitment to implementing and maintaining practical solutions that prevent older adults from falling into homelessness. This report contains recommendations that the Board should implement immediately to prevent this crisis from worsening. The Grand Jury recommends the development of a strategic plan for homelessness prevention. In addition, the Grand Jury recommends that the Board complete a cost-benefit analysis that compares the cost of providing services to people after they become homeless, to the cost of proposed homelessness prevention solutions. The Grand Jury also recommends that the Community Development Agency (CDA) be designated as the lead agency to coordinate all efforts related to homelessness prevention for older adults." #prevention #agingequity

The evidence is in - housing with supports ends homelessness. The reason communities keep looking for brick and mortar solutions is because it’s tangible and easy to point at as a strategy... We evolved the existing partnerships in Houston to change how we think and work - reorganizing to pour all our efforts into permanent housing. I can see having a Hope Center to enhance a housing driven system, but if you haven’t moved your system in this direction already, I wouldn’t place too much “hope” in a brick and mortar solution.

The homeless situation in Jacksonville, Florida, has been a growing concern, with recent efforts to address the issue. In 2024, a Point-in-Time count identified 567 homeless individuals in Northeast Florida, marking a 43% increase from the previous year. This rise is attributed to factors such as the end of federal pandemic aid, increasing housing costs, and stagnant wages. In response, Jacksonville has implemented several initiatives. The city recently cleared a large homeless camp in downtown Jacksonville, relocating many individuals to temporary shelters. Additionally, the city plans to move some homeless individuals into extended-stay hotels, providing them with housing, food, and mental health support. Mayor Donna Deegan announced a new plan to mitigate homelessness, which includes increasing shelter bed capacity and enhancing outreach services. This plan is part of a broader five-year strategy, with a proposed budget of $14 million to address homelessness and comply with state law HB 1365, which bans sleeping in public spaces. Despite these efforts, challenges remain, as there are insufficient shelter beds to accommodate the estimated 3,400 homeless people in Jacksonville. https://lnkd.in/epsusvWv

The 2024 GREATER LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT results are in, revealing both progress and ongoing challenges. Los Angeles County and City saw a 0.27% and 2.2% respective decrease in homelessness this past year. These numbers highlight a significant shift: unsheltered homelessness in the County decreased by 5.1% and 10.4% in the City. At the same time, sheltered homelessness increased by 12.7% in the County and 17.7% in the City. While these trends are encouraging, we must remain focused on finding and implementing viable solutions to this ongoing crisis. The critical need for more affordable housing in LA remains. Collaborative efforts between the private, public, and nonprofit sectors are essential to ensuring everyone has a place to call “home.” See the full LAHSA report here: https://lnkd.in/gtKsfenh *Photo and data source: 2024 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority #SDSCapitalGroup #ImpactFundInvesting #RealEstate #SocialImpact #PermanentSupportiveHousing #PSH #PrivateInvestments #HomelessCrisis #LAHomelessCrisis #Over20YearsOfImpact