Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA’s Post

We strongly object to the recent Supreme Court decision on the case of City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Gloria Johnson – a #ruling that will make it easier for authorities to punish people for experiencing homelessness, even when there is no adequate #shelter.   The Court’s June 28 decision runs counter to our deeply held belief that this nation’s laws and policies should protect the most vulnerable people in our community – not threaten them.   At Abode, our stance is clear: Homelessness is not a crime, it is a crisis – one that is a result of #systemic failures that have produced fewer than 24 affordable units for every 100 people who need them.   Criminalizing homelessness is wrong – in every way. It is cruel, ineffective, costly, and it creates unnecessary barriers to fighting poverty. Arresting or fining people who don’t have a home worsens cycles of #homelessness and makes it more difficult to find solutions.   We respectfully but wholeheartedly condemn the Supreme Court’s ruling on the case of City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Gloria Johnson.   Cruelty and craven policies do nothing to solve #poverty and homelessness.   The solution to homelessness is housing, not handcuffs. #HousingFirst #HousingEndsHomelessness #HousingNotHandcuffs

#factfriday Myth: There are plenty of adequate services and supports to help those experiencing homelessness. Fact: Many of the solutions and supports for homelessness have focused on emergency services, such as shelters and foodbanks. For individuals who are trying to escape a cycle of poverty and homelessness, emergency services alone are not adequate. There is a need to focus on the larger systemic factors, including lack of affordable housing and the criminalization of homelessness that prevent people from obtaining permanent and suitable shelter. #cceh #endinghomelessness #homelessfacts

"No Fixed Address", a virtual town hall held in February 2024, provides a sobering overview of the homelessness crisis. It was prepared and facilitated by Waterloo Regional Councillor Rob Deutschmann and included a diverse array of speakers, each contributing unique insights and perspectives on the issue. The summary report on this #WRTownHalls segment is now available online at https://lnkd.in/gM5m-R4X Explore more insights on this escalating crisis & topic from expert guest speakers including: Margaret Capes who focused on educating the unhoused about their legal rights and building trust to combat "relational poverty." Mike Lethby who discussed the need for preventative measures for at-risk individuals, especially youth. Jaime Stief who highlighted the diversity of individuals in encampments and the negative impacts of bylaw enforcement. Chantelle McDonald & Greg Nash who presented on the homelessness crisis in London, Ontario, emphasising the urgency and complexity of the situation. Fiona York who talked about the need for housing solutions that go beyond quantity, addressing specific needs and situations. Drew Hirschpold who shared his raw and very personal journey through the housing system, highlighting systemic inefficiencies and the importance of community and dignity for homeless individuals. Kaite Burkholder Harris who criticized current systems for not being designed for people in crisis, leading to an increase in homelessness. Erin Dej who addressed the criminalization of homelessness and the importance of integrating homeless individuals into our collective notion of community. #Unsheltered #Homelessness #Encampments #WaterlooRegion #London #SarniaLambton #NiagaraFalls #Vancouver #Ottawa #Community

As homeless rates increase across the United States, it has become a policy focus across all levels of government. The most important place to start is the main cause of homelessness: the lack of affordable housing. We must acknowledge that a combination of a minimum wage which does not cover basic housing needs and a shortage of low priced units in our state will result in some of our neighbors being unhoused. You can learn more about this topic by reading the rest of our newest Weekly Perspective blog post here: https://lnkd.in/ggnCmta2 You can also attend our March Friday Forum on the topic of "Permanent Supportive Housing" online on March 8th, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Registration and details here: 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: What Housing Programs are Available?" with a background photo of a person handing over a house key #EmpowerMOperspective #WeeklyPerspective #Blog #Missouri  #HousingJustice #Homelessness #HousingCrisis #AffordableHousing #HousingIsAHumanRight

Snapshot of Homelessness In the District of Columbia: The 2024 Point-In-Time Count Results Are In... Since 2023 there has been a 14% increase in homelessness. African American communities in the District are the most cost burdened by rent. Homelessness among families increased by 39%, but remains down, by 30% from 2020. To read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eiSe_zfn

Today, #SCOTUS will begin to hear oral arguments in the case of #JohnsonvGrantsPass. This case could make it legal for a local government to arrest or fine people for sleeping outside even when adequate shelter is not available, despite all the evidence that shows criminalizing homelessness only makes the problem worse. Arresting people for sleeping on the streets only keeps people homeless for longer and distracts from the solutions to homelessness that we know work, like allocating more resources to building affordable housing and supporting organizations that provide services and relief to neighbors in need. We'll continue to share information as this case unfolds in the Supreme Court, but we encourage everyone to use this as an opportunity to engage in discussions with your friends, families, co-workers and neighbors about the solutions to homelessness we know work, and why we as a nation might declare a war on poor people instead of poverty. #HomelessnessIsSolvable

The housing and homelessness sector, comprised of dedicated workers, community members, and change-makers, has unequivocally stood against Governor Gavin Newsom's orders to clear homeless encampments. This approach neglects health equity, the core issue of homelessness, and fails to provide real, lasting solutions for California’s most vulnerable. We must advocate for compassionate and comprehensive policies that address the root causes of homelessness. It’s time for innovative solutions to ensure everyone has a safe and stable place to sleep at night. Amidst cuts to affordable housing and a significant state budget deficit, such policies only deepen the divide in our communities, highlighting a lack of prioritization for equitable change. Let’s champion health equity and human dignity for all, pushing for strategies that make a difference. Together, we can drive change that uplifts and supports our communities. #Homelessness #HealthEquity #HousingFirst #California #Advocacy #SocialJustice

In April, the Supreme Court will hear the most important case about homelessness in 40 years. Johnson v Grants Pass is a landmark case concerning homelessness criminalization and the rights of people experiencing homelessness. This case will determine whether cities have the right to penalize people for things like sleeping outside with a pillow or blanket, even when there are no safe shelter options. Check out the link in our bio to learn more about Johnson v. Grants Pass. #NCH

Every year, almost 40,000 young people reach out to homelessness services for assistance. The Federal Government needs to make the safety and wellbeing of this group a national priority. We proudly support the Home Time campaign to fix our housing system for children and young people with nowhere to live. Numbers of 15-24-year-olds seeking homelessness assistance by state/territory: 12,854 in NSW(33.9%), 11,026 in VIC (29.0%), 5,654 in QLD (14.9%), 2,514 WA (6.7%), 3,082 in SA (8.1%),1,422 in TAS (3.7%), 669 in ACT (1.8%), 1,190 in NT (3.1%)  Visit Home Time website to join the campaign and learn more. #LegislatetoEndChildPoverty #Nochildinpoverty #ValuingChildrenInitiative #FixHousingForYoungPeople#HomeTime https://lnkd.in/gFQav4r2

Through our Crossroads to Justice strategic plan, the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness committed to five bold Results that will drive significant movement towards housing, racial and health justice.   Result 2 states, “Homelessness is prevented whenever possible, and services and supports are provided to ensure no one returns to homelessness.”     Three key Strategies support this Result:  🔑 Improve access to resources for households to sustain their housing.  🔑 Support people in transitions so they do not leave government funded or operated systems into homelessness.   🔑 Use data to target resources more effectively.      Learn more – including how we’re measuring success and holding ourselves accountable – at https://lnkd.in/gMhcuypY #CrossroadsToJustice #housing #Minnesota #homelessness #endhomelessness