Winter Walk’s Post

In 2024, 3,280 people were experiencing homelessness across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. Since 2020, we've seen a 17% decrease in overall homelessness and a 33% drop in unsheltered homelessness. Thanks to Houston's Housing First model, homelessness has been reduced by an incredible 60% since 2011! But as COVID-19 relief funding comes to an end, we need $50 million annually to sustain this progress. Without continued funding, homelessness could rise by 60% again by 2026. 😟 Houston's success has been built on strong collaboration with local leaders, public-private partnerships, and a commitment to permanent housing solutions. Let's keep pushing forward to ensure everyone has a safe place to call home. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gsDYq27h #HoustonStrong #HousingFirst #EndHomelessness #SupportOurCommunity #PublicPrivatePartnerships #TogetherWeCan

Homelessness is a very serious issue in the City of Seattle and across King County, with African Americans making up a disproportionate number of people seeking shelter and permanent housing. Africatown Community Land Trust, or ACLT, based in Seattle’s Central District, is a community-based organization confronting this issue head-on. Located on 16th and Yesler, the Benu Community Home, operated by ACLT, opened in December 2021 and is a low-barrier enhanced shelter for single adult males. Just a few weeks ago, ACLT celebrated Benu Community Day. The day served as a rallying call to showcase the impact of Benu Community Home and, to unveil the Benu Impact Report, which detailed the transformative work being done to uplift unhoused Black men in Seattle and King County. As the city grapples with a homelessness crisis—where nearly 30% of the unhoused population are Black despite making up less than 7% of the total population—Benu Community Home stands as a lifeline for change. The Benu Report detailed a holistic approach to not just providing shelter, but creating a foundation for renewal, support, and empowerment. Benu’s model transforms lives by offering a safe space to heal, build community, and reclaim opportunity. This segment was produced by Kennesha Poe-Buycks, Carlos Imani, and The Elite Collective for Back2Besa and originally aired on October 5th on FOX 13 Seattle. Click to see the full episode: https://lnkd.in/gN4gUCh6 #BlackMediaMatters #WWConverge #ACLT #BENUCommunityHome

We know what works to prevent and end homelessness. Spoiler alert: it is not to criminalize and arrest people for sleeping, resting, eating or living on the street when they have nowhere else to go. Effective strategies are to prevent homelessness by proving shallow rent subsidies, provide interim and permanent housing with needed supports, and to greatly increase the supply of affordable and accessible housing.

🏠Housing is not just a need, but a right. In the wake of the Supreme Court's recent decision that criminalizes homelessness, over the next few weeks, we will be giving you the facts about what homelessness is, why it happens, its widespread effects on the community, and how you can help. Pathway Homes offers evidence-based solutions to end homelessness by providing affordable housing and supportive services to adults to help ensure they can remain housed. Visit https://ow.ly/KPX450TtlkE to LEARN MORE and help us reach others by SHARING. Did you know that nearly 10,000 people in the Washington DC region experienced homelessness this year alone? What do you know about homelessness in our region? #CostOfHomelessness #PathwayHomes #HealthandHopeThroughHousing

Homelessness has seen a decrease in Dallas in recent years. Leah Waters for The Dallas Morning News explores diversion as a way of avoiding bottlenecks in our continuum of care. Different organizations like Downtown Dallas, Inc. reunite people experiencing homelessness with either friends or family members in order to immediately house them. Sarah Kahn, CEO of Housing Forward, points out, “We can’t control the inflow. We’re not going to solve the affordable housing crisis or systemic racism or economic inequities. However, we can control what happens at the front door. And if we can divert people quickly, this is the most efficient way to create shelter space.” Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/46RGtZO

In Charlotte, we're witnessing a critical challenge that touches the heart of our community — the rising tide of homelessness. This year, we're turning our focus toward understanding and addressing the complexities of housing instability in our city. Insights from the 2023 State of Housing Instability & Homelessness report by Mecklenburg County Community Support Services have been eye-opening: ⬆️ The count of individuals facing homelessness in our community is on the rise. ⬆️ An increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness without shelter. ⬆️ People are spending more time in emergency shelters than before. The availability of affordable rental options is dwindling. ⬆️ An increasing number of low- and moderate-income families are finding it hard to secure and maintain housing. ⬆️ The rate of evictions is climbing. Charlotte, we're curious to hear your thoughts. Were you aware of these issues? Do these findings surprise you? More importantly, how can we come together as a community to support those in need and find sustainable solutions to these challenges? Let's start the conversation and more importantly, let's start taking action. If you're ready to make a difference or want to learn more about our involvement and what you can do, let's talk. Together, we can make a change. #charlottecommunity #housinginstability #homelessnessawareness #takeaction #strataimpact

We need change

⭐KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON TACKLING HOMELESSNESS ⭐ Did you know that this Wednesday marks the first day of Spring ❓ Spring brings a mix of hope and challenges for the homeless. Let’s delve into what it means for those without stable housing: 👉Warmer Weather As temperatures rise, the harshness of winter subsides. For those living on the streets, this means less exposure to extreme cold, but it doesn’t eliminate their struggles. 👉Attention Shift Spring often shifts public attention away from homelessness. While people enjoy the season, the plight of the homeless can be overlooked. Advocacy and support may wane. 👉Continued Struggle Homelessness persists regardless of the season. Even with milder weather, basic needs like food, hygiene, and safety remain unmet for many. 👉Budget Challenges: The Spring Budget announcements can impact homelessness services. Unfortunately, recent budgets have fallen short in providing long-term solutions. While there are some positive changes, critical issues like housing affordability and benefit freezes persist. Remember, homelessness isn’t just about rough sleeping; it includes those in temporary accommodation, couch surfers, and others facing housing instability. Let’s continue advocating for lasting solutions throughout the seasons. Know somebody that needs help ❓ ☎0121 389 3122 ✉office@midland-livings.co.uk #homelessness #tacklinghomelessness #solutions #spring #springiscoming #lastingsolutions #bekind #helpthevulnerable #vulnerability #tacklinghomelessnes #helpingcommunities #domesticviolence #supportedhousing #supportedliving #socialcare #westmidlands #birmingham Saira BUTT Paul Powell Helen Smith Muhammad Ahson (FCCA)

Joy Hunt has experienced housing insecurity throughout the years, she understands the hurdles and complications of losing your housing. She knows the indignity homeless folks experience everyday. The first time she experienced homelessness, she was working a 40 hour work week, homeless, and barely affording a hotel room in Sacramento to ensure she wasn't out living in the elements. In turn, when she would reveal to people she was homeless people would reply "𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴." This begs the question, 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚? Homelessness does not look just one way, instead we must begin to break down those misconceptions and listen to stories like Joy that are unconventional but oh so common. ❤️Double Tap to like this post and share Joy’s story! Follow @theringofdemocracy for more on housing issues facing Sacramento. We will be highlighting more stories like Joy's in the coming months. #TheRingOfDemocracy #Sacramento #Housing #HousingInsecurity #Homelessness

Rob’s story from Hamden is a powerful reminder that homelessness can happen to anyone. Once a healthcare worker with a stable home, Rob is now navigating life without a permanent place to stay. Like many in Connecticut, he faces challenges in securing stable housing while balancing health issues and financial hardships. Homelessness in Connecticut has risen by 13% since last year, and there are currently 3,410 unhoused individuals across the state. Various factors, including a lack of affordable housing and support services, drive this crisis. Rob says, “They might hire me to help, so I can have a couple of hours to earn some money and actually feel like something.” It’s essential to understand that homelessness stems from many contributing factors, both large and small, and requires a compassionate response from our communities. Read more about Rob's journey and the rising issue of homelessness in Connecticut: