NYC Department of Social Services’ Post

The city’s annual Point-in-Time count released on Friday, showed more than 18,800 Chicagoans experienced #homelessness on a single night in January — a threefold increase over last year. These numbers are based on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s definition of homelessness, which includes unhoused individuals and those living in shelters, but may drastically undercount the true extent of homelessness, as it excludes people temporarily staying with others, who, according to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, make up the majority of those experiencing homelessness in the city. This spike in the number of people experiencing homelessness underscores the need to advocate for stronger, more coordinated systems that provide stable #housing and comprehensive solutions to address the growing crisis. Learn more about the 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) count:  https://bit.ly/3RqYnMt

In a recent development that has sparked considerable concern and dialogue within our community, the Mayor of Aurora Tom Mrakas has voiced opposition to the establishment of a emergency housing (short term supportive housing) and transitional housing (semi-independent, affordable housing with supports for 1 year) for men at 14452 Yonge St in Aurora. This decision not only brings to light the pressing issue of homelessness but also casts a shadow over the broader conversation about men's rights to dignity, support, and housing. At the heart of this issue lies a fundamental principle: every individual, regardless of gender, background, or circumstance, deserves access to safe and supportive housing. Transitional shelters play a crucial role in the fabric of our social support system, offering not just a roof over one's head but a stepping stone towards stability, recovery, and ultimately, a life of dignity. Men, often stereotyped to be the bedrock of strength and resilience, face their own unique set of challenges and vulnerabilities, particularly when it comes to admitting the need for help. The stigma surrounding male vulnerability can deter many from seeking the support they desperately need. This is where transitional shelters step in, providing a safe haven where men can rebuild their lives, free from judgment and societal expectations. The opposition to such a crucial resource in Aurora not only undermines the efforts to combat homelessness but also sends a disheartening message to those in need. It is a denial of the basic rights to safety, support, and dignity - rights that should be afforded to everyone, irrespective of their situation. It's time to challenge the narrative and advocate for the establishment of more transitional shelters, not just in Aurora but across the Region. These facilities are more than just buildings; they are beacons of hope for many men, offering a chance at a new beginning. By supporting the development of transitional shelters, we are affirming our commitment to a society that uplifts and supports its most vulnerable, recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of every individual. Let us stand together in solidarity, advocating for the rights of ALL men to have access to the supports and housing necessary for a life of dignity. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that transitional shelters, and the hope they represent, are available to those who need them most. Let the Mayor know how you feel:tmrakas@aurora.ca #endhomelessness #transitionalhousing #nimbymayor #auroraontariontario #MensShelter

The Point-in-Time count survey does not include people temporarily staying with others, which we at CCH recognize accounts for the majority of those experiencing homelessness in the city. Our executive director, Doug Schenkelberg told NBC News that “the point-in-time count as a measure of homelessness is limited to begin with because you’re surveying just people who you find in the shelter system or on the streets and one night in January. So it’s always going to be an undercount of the real size of homelessness.” Learn more about the survey here: https://nbcnews.to/4c6nUmr #HomelessnessAwareness #HousingIsAHumanRight #PublicPolicy #SocialImpact #CommunitySupport #NonprofitLeadership #SystemicChange #HousingEquity

Some positive headlines coming out of National Housing Federation's research into how housing associations are tackling homelessness: ☑ Over half of respondents were Homes for Cathy members who reported that their membership of the group helps embed homelessness prevention in their organisations. ☑ Our commitments around meeting the needs of vulnerable tenant groups, operating flexible allocations and eligibility policies, working in partnership, and preventing evictions are especially well embedded.  ☑ Two thirds of (all) respondents have developed new approaches to homelessness prevention in the past five years. ☑ Joint work between housing providers and local authorities is improving and relationship building is a priority (something which our commitments underpin). The report also contains some food for thought for housing associations who are seeking to improve their homelessness work, in particular: ❎ Lack of furniture was a barrier to applicants accepting an offer of a property and elicited some low confidence scores among how achievable the Homes for Cathy commitments are - could we be doing more to innovate and increase provision in this area? ❎ There were lower levels of confidence around our pledge to contribute to ending migrant homelessness, while immigration advice, signposting or support is one of the less common homelessness prevention measures provided - could we be thinking outside of the box in terms of how we can provide accommodation and support (in particular legal advice) to migrants, for example by developing closer relationships with specialist third sector organisations? ❎ One in six respondents don't use KPIs to drive forward homelessness prevention - in the vein of what gets measured gets done, is there an argument for HAs to focus on KPIs such as reducing evictions & abandonments, monitoring refusals and increasing lettings to homeless households? Feedback welcome 🙂 https://lnkd.in/eEj9eMCf

Homelessness is at a record-high level, with over 650,000 people unhoused as of HUD's January 2023 count, the highest number since these counts began in 2007. In my latest Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies blog, I look at possible reasons for the increase, including restored shelter capacity, the migrant crisis, and affordability. The former two reasons are definitely playing a role, but as Gregg Colburn and Clayton Aldern write in their book Homelessness is a Housing Problem, the root cause is out-of-reach housing costs. Read the post here: https://lnkd.in/eJ_9W-ME

A major social change required to address something that is unacceptable in such a modern and rich country as Australia. When we consider the devastating impact that homelessness causes in terms of both physical and mental health, all options must be considered and then acted upon. This is where we, as a society, fall down. Much consideration, huge amount of talking, but action and commitment does not follow. At Upstream Australia we are using strong evidenced-based support programs in an attempt to widen the solutions options, recognising that there is no single approach to overcoming the problems. I encourage all levels of government, philanthropists, and companies to apply their skills and their funding capabilities to help address the homelessness problems plaguing our nation and preventing an entire generation of fulfilling their full potential.

The recent Point-in-Time (PIT) count revealed that over 18,800 individuals in Chicago are experiencing homelessness—a 200% increase from last year. Our executive director told WTTW, "We aren’t rising to the occasion... It is clear that the problem is continuing to grow." The results are "disheartening but not surprising." It is crucial to note that the PIT count does not include those living “doubled-up” with friends or relatives temporarily. This means that the actual number of those without stable housing is even higher. Read the full article here to understand the rise in homelessness in Chicago: https://bit.ly/3xr8LNl #EndHomelessness #HousingIsAHumanRight #HomelessnessAwareness #AffordableHousing #ShelterForAll #PITCount

Members of the deafblind community are disproportionately at risk of homelessness than the general population. With the high cost of living in Ontario, specifically, many people who are deafblind rely on affordable housing that Canadian Helen Keller Centre provides. But... we have an extensive waitlist. So what happens to these individuals? Well, they are forced to navigate through the shelter system with the assistance of CHKC. Read here about Eumarson, a CHKC client who as a result of the skill and expertise of CHKC staff has been able to stay off of the streets, but just barely. This is why our new state-of-the-art affordable housing complex at 150 Eighth Street is so important. With 56 additional units of one, two and three bedroom apartments we will be able to help more people with deafblindness find affordable housing through our rent geared to income initiatives. If you would like to give today please text CHKC to 20222. To read more about Eumarson please click the link below. https://lnkd.in/gu4TzXV2 #affordablehousing #ontariohousing #deafblindness #deaf #blind #accessiblehousing #rentalmarket #rentgearedtoincome

#Opened #40years #ago #this #week, #Federal #City #Shelter #remains #essential #DC #GreaterGreaterWashington #January17 "An #unprecedented #partnership between the #federal #government, #the #city, and the #Community #for #Creative #Non-#Violence, the shelter was originally #envisioned #as #a #short-#term #answer for the swelling ranks of people sleeping on the streets of the nation’s capital. #Forty #years #later, homelessness has become a permanent feature of US cities, and ‘2nd and D’ #remains an #essential #part #of the #District’s #social #service #landscape. #With the #Bowser administration #proposing wide-ranging #cuts #to #housing #and #homeless #services to address projected budget shortfalls, #this #situation #is #unlikely #to #change any time soon."

We might disagree on how to solve for homelessness in Chicago but we all should agree that the latest numbers are unacceptable: More than 18,800 Chicagoans experienced homelessness on a single night in January of 2024 — a threefold increase over last year. The increase was primarily driven by 13,900 asylum-seekers who had no permanent place to stay. A few other data points that we all need to be aware of while working together to find solutions: Black Chicagoans experienced higher rates of homelessness, with 72% identifying as Black, compared to Black residents making up roughly a third of the city’s population. Around 30% of the close to 19,000 people experiencing homelessness were children under 18. I continue to believe that providing more equitable access to economic opportunities across all 77 neighborhoods needs to be one key pillar to address this human crises, including faster approved work permits for immigrants and migrants.