Shelley Viles’ Post

Homelessness Week: Let's Make a Difference! This Homelessness Week, we are highlighting the challenges faced by families with children without stable housing. With a shortage of short-term accommodation and affordable rentals in our community, many families are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. What’s Happening? The lack of housing options is putting extra strain on emergency services and community resources. How is Anglicare NQ Helping? • Advocacy: Advocating for more funding and policy changes. • Innovation: Innovating services, how we respond to crisis in the community, and exploring alternative housing solutions. • Services: Supporting clients in finding and accessing housing resources. Together, we can work towards a future where everyone has a safe place to call home. #HomelessnessWeek #Homesforkids #HousingForAll #CommunitySupport

Did you know that cities nationwide engage in a homeless count every year? I recently joined the City of Los Angeles's annual count, scanning our community with volunteers to identify individuals experiencing homelessness. It was a late-night endeavor, counting tents, RVs, and people living in cars. Our experience shed light on the importance of these counts. Beyond providing housing, we aim to be part of the solution. In 2023, the count in LA reached 40,000, highlighting a growing issue. Accurate counts are crucial to addressing homelessness and finding practical solutions for our neighbors in need. Together, let's make a difference. #LACommunity #VolunteerLA #HomelessnessCountLA

According to recent estimates, the number of homeless people in Houston was approximately 3,300 in 2023, with a significant percentage from the Black community. Despite this figure seeming small, it becomes alarming when considering the number of people accessing homeless services in 2021, which exceeded 21,000 in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. Notably, the rates of first-time homelessness are increasing, reflecting a profound socio-economic issue. Organizations such as Bread of Life, Inc., Coalition for the Homeless, A Caring Safe Place, and Hearts of Rescue, are making significant strides in addressing homelessness, providing assistance, and creating opportunities. The initiatives range from serving meals, aiding in healthcare access, providing housing, and running a transitional living facility, among other services. Yet, the gravity of this issue begs the question - are we doing enough to prevent homelessness? Read the full story by Aswad Walker from Word In Black at dallasweekly.com #Iamdw #blackpress #houstonhomelessness #communitysupport #homelessaid #fightingpoverty #helpingtheunhoused @wordinblacknews @chanzuckerberginitiative

Balancing the Scales: Addressing Homelessness in Our Community We recently had a thought-provoking conversation with a Local Authority about the challenges they're facing in addressing homelessness in their community. It's a tough balancing act - they must weigh the needs of residents against the limitations of their budget and resources. As we've seen in the course of our work, our Local Authorities are dedicated to tackling the root causes of homelessness and providing vital support services to those affected. But they know they can't do it alone. The importance of partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and community groups has never been more clear. By collaborating and leveraging our collective strengths, we can create a more supportive and effective network for those in need. Together, we can make a significant difference. Let's work together to make a difference! #Homelessness #LocalAuthority #Collaboration #CommunitySupport #denburylegal

Collaboration is key…

Homelessness is a social, economic, and public health problem of growing magnitude in the United States, with New Jersey’s homeless population still rising beyond 10,000 persons. Today, homeless individuals face many complex problems, which makes it important to take a different approach. We need to take action together! Let’s create a "Community-Based Collaboration" to eradicate women and family homelessness. Community-based collaboration is the process by which citizens, agencies, organizations, and businesses make formal, sustained commitments to work together to accomplish a shared vision. It requires a commitment to share decision-making and the allocation of human, physical, and financial resources. When communities do not develop a pattern of collaboration, they diminish community development potential. Effective collaboration results in win-win-win situations. So, who’s in? Who wants to learn more about creating a community-based collaboration with TPCS? To learn more contact Dawn Schwartz at dschwartz@tpcsinc.org. #collaboration #communityservice #getinvolved

On the front-page 🗞️ Diversion is one tool in our homeless response toolkit. Diversion specialists work closely with newly unhoused neighbors to immediately access safe alternative housing options. The Dallas Morning News wrote, "Sarah Kahn, President and CEO of Housing Forward, said the 12% drop in homelessness year-over-year can partly be attributed to proven diversion programs. These initiatives keep people off the streets by helping them find alternative housing quickly, Kahn said. Between April 2023 and May 2024, 3,173 individuals and 1,781 households were successfully diverted from homelessness in Dallas and Collin counties, according to Housing Forward data. More than 60% of successful diversions were households with children." Read all about it - https://lnkd.in/g8PMFmTF #endhomelessness #Diversion #HousingForward

How do we tackle the immediate needs of youth experiencing homelessness? In part two of our Young Adult Homelessness Community Chat Series, Kim Lewis of California Coalition for Youth explained the disparity between housing and available beds, and our community's severe level of need. 📺 Watch the conversation in full, discover the solutions to #EndHomelessnessOC: https://bit.ly/4bECUqC

In the heart of New York City, a groundbreaking initiative promises to rewrite the narrative for the homeless population. NYC's blueprint to end homelessness by 2025 includes single-occupancy warming centers that offer more than just a temporary shelter. With a $50 million budget, these centers will double as resource hubs, providing private showers, fresh clothes, and essential job training, mental health, and substance abuse programs. The initiative will kick off in high-need neighborhoods, with existing buildings transformed into welcoming centers. Collaboration is key, and partnerships with government agencies and local businesses are being forged to ensure success. Local voices will shape the centers, meeting real needs with empathy and effectiveness. By 2025, New York City aims to dismantle homelessness, one life at a time. The warming centers offer more than just refuge; they're a stepping stone to a brighter future. With the support of the community, a shower, and clean clothes, we're opening doors to new beginnings. The city that never sleeps is awakening to the needs of its most vulnerable, and we're united in this mission. Let's celebrate a future where every New Yorker has not just a place to stay, but a path to thrive. #NYC #endhomelessness #communitysupport #newbeginnings

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