Writers Collective of Canada’s Post

Spent the past few days in San Francisco🌁 for the National Alliance to End Homelessness 2024 Innovations and Solutions for Ending Unsheltered Homelessness conference. Nearly 40% of the more than 1,200 attendees were from California, but we were able to hear about unique approaches from both across the State and the nation. In this field — success looks like sharing and collaboration🫱🏾🫲🏼! And at LA Family Housing, we thrive on working in coalition because we believe “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Conference Takeaways: 1️⃣Ending homelessness is possible. 2️⃣Building more housing is key. 3️⃣Elevating lived experience is necessary. 4️⃣Housing justice is racial justice. 5️⃣Budget advocacy is a must. 6️⃣And going it alone is selfish and deadly.

🏠💚 At HOME, we believe in the power of unity. A system that works together, focusing on the individual needs of each person, is crucial to our mission of sustainably ending homelessness. In 2023, we enhanced our collaborative efforts with community partners through joint education and training sessions. 🤝🏾 📚 We've also implemented a new system that allows for rapid and coordinated responses, ensuring that people in crisis receive the help they need promptly and efficiently. 🚀 🆘 Together, we are making strides towards ending homelessness for good. Want to see the impact of our efforts? Check out our 2023 Annual Report: https://buff.ly/3Vm4B17 📄 👀 #EndHomelessness #CommunityPartnership #AnnualReport2023

What is one step can you take in your complex situation today? People who step in instead of away are my heroes. And my encouragement. The complexity: response to people living outdoors. Why do we do it? How do we do it? Who are the decision makers? Who are the funders? How do we learn from the people living this experience and expand our plans to let them help write them? A few of the hundreds of questions. The step: one household that now lives in a home. A #housingfirst step toward stability, calling on people with passion and dedication, federal funds, donations, and many other resources. It's a huge effort that begins with a "simple" mission of "everyone needs a home." Way to go, CATCH Idaho! Here's to 2024.

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

In the Twin Cities, two noteworthy projects, the MACV Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans and Avivo Build Projects, through Lennar and Housing First Minnesota Foundation, have brought hope and transformation to the community. The goal is to impact the lives of those affected by homelessness significantly. Currently, 250 veterans are registered as homeless. To address this issue, 15 homes have been constructed so far, aiding in transitioning individuals out of homelessness. Looking ahead to 2025, the plan is to establish a campus comprising alternative dwelling units (ADUs). The envisioned campus could accommodate up to 30 ADUs, substantially contributing to the fight against homelessness. https://lnkd.in/g_v3sUFD

Since 2018, we've continued to learn from Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH) , an organization dedicated to ending homelessness on a global scale.  One pivotal lesson today from Director Lydia Stazen was that they've clearly and broadly defined homelessness—from individuals sleeping in streets/public roofed spaces to those staying in shelters, hostels, or severely inadequate and insecure accommodations.  The framework has been shared with their cohorts in 13 Vanguard Cities across 6 continents and other partners including the United Nations, underscoring the importance of making social issues visible and measurable. For IGH's work: https://lnkd.in/gMvaTEN4

There are alternatives to arresting people that communities can act on now. Communities that are making progress share key strategies, which include: 🙌 A shared, community-wide definition of what solving homelessness looks like and the belief that it’s possible 🏡 A collaborative, community-wide team that is accountable and working together as a command center 📊 Comprehensive, real-time, by-name data on who is experiencing homelessness to continuously track progress and improve system performance ✊ A racial equity focus to overcome racial disparities 💰 Investments to address a nationwide shortage of safe, deeply affordable homes Learn the facts and stay up to date with the Johnson v. Grants Pass case: https://bit.ly/3xmp8dv

In the past several months, members of our staff and leadership have been working hard to create a new mission statement for Friends of the Family that encompasses all that we are striving to do in the communities we serve. So, without further ado, check out our new mission statement: "We are ending homelessness by leading with the Housing First approach, driving systemic change through strong community partnerships, and providing individualized support that prioritizes client choice." Our 10-year vision continues to be the same: Everyone Has a Home. Through this vision, we seek to have a future where no one has to wait to receive services or enter into programming. A future where everyone can find a safe, permanent place to call home. #NewMissionStatement #EveryoneHasAHome #CheckItOut #Vision

At Hubbell, our small but mighty team participates in a book club, which allows us to have meaningful conversations about issues we all care about. AND I LOVE IT! Our latest book was "Homelessness is a Housing Problem," and yesterday we concluded our book club with a team discussion with the author. VERY COOL! This book argues that more than mental health and/or substance abuse, the main factor for homelessness is our housing shortage. Simply put, we need to focus on building more housing of all types including rental apartments, duplexes, ADUs, townhouses, condos, subsidized housing, and market-rate housing for people at all income levels. To do this, we need to make it easier and cheaper for home builders to do what they do: build homes. This means upzoning our city and cutting regulations that slow down the rate and increase the price of development. Prioritizing housing and homelessness means that Seattlietes will have to make sacrifices and accept that change is inevitable. We may lose some street parking, and our neighborhoods are going to look different. But that’s what living in a major metropolitan city is all about! What are your thoughts? 3, 2, 1, go!

CALLING FOR UNIFICATION   Homelessness is not an individual issue. It is a community issue. Our organization, Vision Possible, aims to conduct a God-given vision to help the homeless regain their lives and be productive citizens like you and me. However, no matter how ardently we desire to conduct the mission, we cannot do it alone. We need your involvement: We need your support to conduct the necessary tasks to resolve an insurmountable issue such as this. We realize this task is not minuscule; however, we firmly believe that collaboration between groups acting in solidarity to resolve this issue is attainable. We, therefore, solicit your assistance. We hope you will consider donating to Vision Possible to enable us to accomplish our mission at https://lnkd.in/gfSuCkA9 "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever." (1Peter 4:8-11)