UCSF Benioff Homelessness & Housing Initiative’s Post

Today SCOTUS will hear arguments dealing with our country's serious lack of affordable housing, a key driver in a 12% increase in homelessness in just one year. Thanks to the The New York Times for this balance report on the case and the potential impact. We need better solutions not more penalties. https://lnkd.in/gZN6YvY7 #affordablehousing #permanentsupportivehousing CSH, the Source for Housing Solutions

If you hear about the increasing efforts to criminalize homelessness and deprioritize permanent housing, it’s important to consider the detrimental impacts first and figure out exactly who is delivering the harmful message.

Here's how the homelessness cycle works: Can't pay sky high rent, forced to camp in a park. Get tons of fines and tickets, which you can't pay. Credit gets destroyed, so you can't get into housing (which solves homelessness). Cities and towns want the legal right to fine people for having pillows and blankets while trying to survive outside. The case Johnson vs Grants Pass will decide if cities can. https://lnkd.in/eunfNesp Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e3U-MmiK

I highly recommend you all to check out the article below #rentersreformbill #renters #housingcrisis #section21evictions

The Supreme Court overturned the case of City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson. The ruling makes it easier to fine, ticket, or arrest people for sleeping outdoors, even if elected officials have failed to produce sufficient shelter or housing for everyone in the community who needs it. In the wake of this decision, the Alliance continues to publish resources and guidance 👇 https://lnkd.in/grz9bDX6. Advocacy at the local level is important now more than ever, as local elected officials will have the most impact on how a locality responds to homelessness. We must ensure they know that tickets and arrests are costly and counterproductive, and that the most effective way to end a person’s homelessness is connecting them to permanent housing and supportive services. How you can help 👇 https://lnkd.in/g3gcDCBh #NAEH2024 #EndHomelessness #BeLikeMike #Prevention #Diversion #FlexFunding #SCOTUS #JohnsonVGrantsPass #HousingFirst #HousingIsHealthcare

This week, the Supreme Court will hear the biggest case on homelessness in decades. Here's our take: The Grants Pass v. Johnson Supreme Court case brings a vital issue into focus — the treatment of homeless individuals. At DignityMoves, our mission is clear: to champion dignity and advocate for effective solutions to end unsheltered homelessness. We believe criminalizing homelessness is counterproductive - but we do need better options. Strategies like Interim Supportive Housing (ISH) go beyond providing a bed; they encompass comprehensive support services and embody our dedication to dignity, respect, and empowering individuals toward stable living. Notably, ISH offers fast and affordable construction. Research indicates that investing in housing is more cost-effective than enforcing anti-homeless laws and hopefully steering governments towards more compassionate and productive approaches. Amidst these discussions, let's prioritize empathy and practical strategies to help our unhoused neighbors off the streets and toward a path out of homelessness. https://lnkd.in/evdMndVJ

🏛️As #SCOTUS prepares to rule on #JohnsonVGrantsPass, it’s crucial to remember that criminalizing homelessness is not a solution. In her Salon Media Group, Inc. op-ed, Rachelle A. Matthews, Policy Strategy Lead at Community Solutions, highlights the need for comprehensive, data-driven approaches and affordable housing to address the root causes of homelessness. Cities have shown that investing in housing-first programs can lead to significant reductions in homelessness. It’s time for all cities to adopt these proven strategies. #HomelessnessIsSolvable https://bit.ly/4aZJuYj ⚡ Read the op-ed: https://bit.ly/4aZJuYj

This is an important case with national implications to keep an eye on. "In April, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a major case that could reshape how cities manage homelessness. The legal issue is whether they can fine or arrest people for sleeping outside if there's no shelter available. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has deemed this cruel and unusual punishment, and this case is a pivotal challenge to that ruling. The high court declined to take up a similar case in 2019. But since then, homelessness rates have climbed relentlessly. Street encampments have grown larger and have expanded to new places, igniting intense backlash from residents and businesses. Homelessness and the lack of affordable housing that's helping to drive it have become key issues for many voters. The case, Grants Pass v. Johnson, could have dramatic implications for the record number of people living in tents and cars across the United States." https://lnkd.in/g7kZeNNj

Here’s some hard data from Los Angeles on the (in)effectiveness of encampment removals (sweeps) without accompanying offers of appropriate AND desirable shelter options: “Among the report’s key findings, the vast majority of encampments came back: - 94% of people at encampments targeted for removal under [anti-encampment legislation code 41.18] wanted shelter. Of those, only 18% were able to get it. - Unhoused people came back at high rates — with 81% of encampments reporting people returning who had been there before the clear-out. - And nearly all encampments reemerged post clearing, when including people who hadn’t been there before.” And here in Seattle, we know anecdotally from the Unified Care Team (city outreach team) that #tinyhomesforthehomeless are the most requested type of shelter among those who need it. Sweeps without alternatives just push our neighbors from place to place around the city, cause trauma and anxiety, and rob folks of their belongings. And, they’re costly to city government - more than $10M budgeted this year alone. Instead, Tiny Home Villages offer safety and security for self and belongings, food and shelter, and supportive services to help break the cycle of homelessness. Last year, more than 1300 people in the Seattle area moved through tiny homes and into permanent housing. Let’s keep going with what we know works! #homelessnessissolvable #homelessnesssolutions

Sobering news as the federal government reports a 12% surge in homelessness across the U.S., the largest one-year increase since tracking began in 2007. This alarming rise, affecting every demographic, is attributed to soaring rents and the end of pandemic-related aid. The Biden administration highlights a critical shortage of affordable housing as a major factor.   Now, more than ever, the Community Assessment on Homelessness is crucial in identifying local strategies to scale our systems to meet the changing needs and growth of the community. We must co-create solutions to enhance our response to homelessness and ensure all residents have access to safe, decent, and affordable homes. https://bit.ly/41IiZ6V