The Sophia Way’s Post

The results are clear: Sustained and focused efforts by state and federal agencies, alongside targeted investments and proactive public-private partnerships, have significantly reduced the number of youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. Read more about the progress Washington state has made in addressing youth and young adult homelessness: https://lnkd.in/gu-b_pBk

Children are resilient. Early learning programs that serve children with limited access to supports, like Building Early Links to Learning (BELL), are critical to ensuring they thrive later in life. Listen🎧 to the WHYY interview below to learn more 👇

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

Today is #worldhomelessday and we're talking about the continuum of homelessness. Check out our new blog post: "As we observe World Homelessness Day, it’s crucial to remember that homelessness is NOT a one-size-fits-all issue. Each individual’s story is unique, shaped by a variety of circumstances often outside of that person’s control. By recognizing the Continuum of Homelessness and the various challenges people face, we can foster greater empathy and awareness within our communities and ultimately build better solutions." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ei2i5Y-T

Thoughtful early childhood intervention can be all the difference for vulnerable young kids experiencing homelessness. Read our blog to learn more about barriers and solutions to early childhood development for these children. https://lnkd.in/gq5p9Jnd

Over one million children and youth experiencing homelessness are enrolled in public schools in the United States. They face many educational challenges due to high mobility, poverty, and trauma. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento Act) is in place to remove barriers to attending school and receiving supportive services. The McKinney-Vento Act defines homelessness as children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This can mean living in shelters, motels, or even sharing housing due to hardship. Some are in cars, parks, abandoned buildings or substandard housing, without a stable place to sleep.  When organizations like Star Gospel Mission can provide support services, like transitional housing, these students have a better and brighter chance of success.  (Source: Educating Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness, Summary of Research, 2015-2022) #SupportOurYouth #EveryChildDeservesAHome #McKinneyVentoAct #WorldHomelessDay #StarGospelMissionLive #WorldHomelessDay #StarGospelMission #EverybodyDeservesAHome #BrighterTogether #CharlestonSC #FaithInAction #EndHomelessness #TransformingHeartsAndLives #SGMCares #HousingForAll

Findings from the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness show that intimate partner violence (IPV) and homelessness are intertwined. This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we'd like to emphasize the critical role housing plays in allowing people to seek safety from intimate partner violence. As one CASPEH participant said, "...People that are in abusive relationships would get out if they had an out to go to..." Read our recent report to learn more about: ➡️ The connection between intimate partner violence and homelessness ➡️ Evidence-based solutions for preventing and responding to homelessness among survivors of IPV https://lnkd.in/gSbe4k2i #DVAM2024

SVdP underlines the value charity brings by transforming lives TODAY in a tailored, adaptable, and personally connected way. While there's an obvious policy dimension not explicitly addressed here that needs its own advocates (why, even beyond the housing crisis, are so many Americans on the brink of homelessness?), community-based, neighbor-to-neighbor solutions enable us not only to provide direct impact, but to know, love, and enter into relationship with the people around us. Today's nonprofits, activists, and donors can be quick to denigrate traditional charity, which does not have the same impact-at-scale as "root cause work," but charity done well is a culture-building habit and a solution to the alienation increasingly built into modern philanthropy.

Head Start programs prioritize enrolling children and families experiencing homelessness. This collection of resources can help you identify and expedite enrollment for children and families eligible for Head Start services through the McKinney-Vento Act: https://acf.mobi/4dZXSCG #HomeAtHeadStart

Functional Zero describes a community’s capacity to effectively prevent homelessness whenever possible, and ensure that when homelessness does occur, it is rare, brief and unlikely to reoccur. MACV and our government partners have aggressively pursued Functional Zero Veteran homelessness for the past seven years. Minnesota is determined to become the fourth state in the nation to end Veteran homelessness. Only two counties have not achieved Functional Zero Veteran homelessness in Minnesota: Ramsey and Hennepin, Minnesota’s two most populous areas.