Greater Twin Cities United Way’s Post

The most effective way to prevent adult homelessness is to prevent young people from experiencing it in the first place. Washington state's remarkable 40% reduction in youth homelessness since 2016 exemplifies the power of public-private partnerships. The Office of Homeless Youth, established in 2015, has been pivotal in deploying targeted policies and gaining substantial support through collaborations with young people, providers, the legislature, and foundations like Raikes Foundation, Ballmer Group, Campion Advocacy Fund, and Schultz Family Foundation. This strategic focus, championed by Governor Jay Inslee and supported by bipartisan efforts, has facilitated significant state investments—growing from $10 million to $90 million biennially. These funds have broadened services across the state and supported effective, direct intervention and upstream prevention programs that maintain a 90% success rate in housing stability after one year. To put an even finer point to the impact of a 40% reduction, this means almost 10,000 fewer youth experiencing homelessness each year. Our state's approach underscores the potential of empathetic, focused public-private partnerships to enact meaningful change. This model offers valuable lessons for other states aiming to tackle youth homelessness with sustainable and proactive strategies. Learn more in today's article in The Seattle Times.

On any given night in L.A. County, there are more than 75,000 people experiencing homelessness. To bring people indoors, L.A. County and the city of L.A. enlisted the help of motels, hotels and master leasing as a way to increase the supply of housing. Asking homeowners to be part of the solution seems like a logical next step. The Homecoming Project, an initiative from the nonprofit Impact Justice, addresses housing challenges for formerly incarcerated individuals by matching participants with a homeowner who has a spare room for six months. This organization has the potential to be a gamechanger for Black Angelenos, who face the dual challenges of being disproportionately represented among both the incarcerated population and those experiencing homelessness. “The reason we chose that population is because they’re the most likely to be homeless or houseless, and less likely to recidivate back into prison,” said Aishatu Yusuf, vice president of impact and innovation for Impact Justice. The Homecoming Project hopes to place 250 people by 2025.

Amidst the pressing concerns surrounding homelessness, John Quetzalcoatl Murray’s recent Whole Community News interview with Lane Community College’s Board of Directors member, Kevin Alltucker, sheds light on multifaceted perspectives from a long-time Oregonian deeply invested in his community. Alltucker's rich background, spanning from his roles as a construction engineer to his tenure as a University of Oregon College of Education Professor in Family and Human Services, offers a unique lens through which to examine this complex issue. As the Board President of Relief Nursery and a certified Inside Out Instructor, Alltucker approaches homelessness with a nuanced understanding, emphasizing the urgency of addressing both immediate challenges and long-term systemic change. In the interview, Alltucker underscores the significance of prevention over after-the-fact treatment, advocating for proactive measures to tackle homelessness head-on. Rejecting simplistic solutions, he emphasizes the need for comprehensive approaches that address the intricate web of societal issues contributing to homelessness. He contends that coercive measures or incarceration cannot serve as panaceas, highlighting the importance of voluntary participation in treatment and rehabilitation. One of the interview's pivotal takeaways is Alltucker's observation that the majority of individuals incarcerated in the state have endured severe childhood trauma—a sobering reminder of the profound societal issues at the root of homelessness. Challenging false dichotomies and advocating for a more nuanced discourse, Alltucker urges for a shift towards scientific inquiry, where individuals engage with positions rather than attacking personalities. 🏆💪🏻 Can you tell I’m passionate about the piece? Read the article in its entiriety here:

A SCOTUS decision on Johnson v. Grants Pass is Imminent ↪ What Funders (and Everyone!) Can Do to Speak Up for the Rights of People Experiencing Homelessness 🚨 Earlier this month, our national umbrella organization Funders Together to End Homelessness, as well as the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and Enterprise Community Partners submitted a joint amicus brief (https://lnkd.in/gztVPRBY) in support of the plaintiffs in the landmark case Johnson v Grants Pass. We joined more than 1,100 groups and individuals who signed on to 42 amicus briefs calling for protection of the rights of our unhoused neighbors under the U.S. Constitution. But the work is just beginning. Next Monday, April 22, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments for the case and determine whether or not it is legal for cities and states to ticket or arrest people experiencing homelessness for trying to meet basic needs, like sleeping outside when there is no other safe option. We encourage you get involved and show SCOTUS, Congress, and the media that homelessness is not a crime and that ticketing or arresting people makes homelessness worse. Here's how: 📌 Learn more about the Johnson v. Grants Pass case at https://lnkd.in/gqFwPr8E 📌 Join the San Diego Housing Emergency Alliance in Downtown #SanDiego on Monday, April 22n from 11:30am to 1pm on Broadway between the two Federal Courthouses (Front & State Streets) for a picket to support #HousingNotHandcuffs 📌 Participate locally and online through these actions and resources (https://lnkd.in/guxqgR2N) from our partners at the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Low Income Housing Coalition.   📌 Join the Twitterstorm on April 22, 8am-10am PT. Use the sample social media messages from our partners and the hashtags #JohnsonVGrantsPass and #HomelessnessIsSolvable. https://lnkd.in/gTvdKkNz Additional Ways Philanthropy Can Support 📌 Provide the space to strategize by supporting convening opportunities for partners, people with lived experience, funder peers, and community leaders. 📌 Consider flexible rapid response resources for housing justice narrative and messaging work that can be utilized before and after a decision.  📌 Produce op-eds or other educational media placements on the case. 📌 Explore how your institution, board, or trustees can utilize influence and connections in new and creative ways.

Gompers Park on Chicago’s Northwest Side has been in the news recently, with community discussions focused on an encampment of unhoused individuals living there. In fulfilling our mission to serve Chicago's unhoused residents, The Night Ministry regularly conducts outreach at the park. Our Street Medicine Team and Health Outreach Bus visit the site to offer critical resources such as free health care and case management services. The latter includes housing assessments to start individuals on pathways to stable housing. We believe that the challenges faced by our unhoused neighbors, including those residing in the Gompers Park encampment, are varied and complex. The Night Ministry's services, coordinated with the City's Department of Family and Support Services, are designed to provide and connect our clients with the most appropriate resources to help each client survive, obtain greater stability, and thrive. The Night Ministry also recognizes that homelessness impacts the whole community. The discussion surrounding Gompers Park underscores Chicago's affordable housing and homelessness crises. We face not only a shortage of affordable homes but also gaps in resources available to assist unhoused individuals in becoming stable. Evidence shows that, for most individuals exiting homelessness, housing coupled with supportive services such as case management and links to resources like food, employment, and health care assistance greatly improves their chances of remaining stably housed. While coordination among the City of Chicago and nonprofits such as The Night Ministry has opened new housing opportunities for many of our vulnerable neighbors, further investment in supportive housing programs is required to create significant movement in our collective efforts to end homelessness. We hope and ask that conversations such as the one surrounding Gompers Park spur further discussions and action around sustainable housing opportunities for all Chicagoans.

The difference between what we do and what the County of San Diego wants to do at Green Oak Ranch could not be more diametrically different. Here is the contrast: * Overall Approach - We're ground up, community based, and faith driven. They are top down, one-size-fits-all, gov. driven * Dependency - We end it, they grow it * Taxpayer funded drug housing - We're against it, they celebrate it * Experience Serving homeless - We have 25 years, they have 5 * Cost - we solve it permanently for $50K per person, they contain, manage and control it forever for $840K per person * Results - for every 10 we engage 7 will end it permanently, for every 10 they engage 2 will end it permanently * Money - we use all private $, they use 100's of millions taxpayer $ * Homeless Policy - Ours is accountability-based that empowers, theirs is victimhood-based that enables * Culture - We make overcomers who serve society, they make victims who are dependent on society * Community - we build thriving communities, they isolate people behind taxpayer funded doors * The Churn of Victimhood, Handouts and Dependency - we CRUSH IT, they fuel it The choice for our community could not be more different. Whether we are successful in getting the ranch or not, we will never surrender our mission, our core values or our faith. The bigger issue is that the approach to homelessness has miserably FAILED! How much more can our citizenry take? Here is another good article that explains our history with great links that show what we have been up against and how we have overcome. #solutionsforchange #WeAreOneUs #JustSolveIt! https://lnkd.in/gJ_qRDia

“CFHNYC TALKS ENDING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM HOUSTON’S SUCCESS?” SYNOPSIS: The City of Houston, the nation's fourth most populous city, has received well-deserved recognition for successfully implementing a housing first approach to addressing homelessness. According to The Way Home Continuum of Care 2023 Report, the overall number of people experiencing homelessness in the Houston region has decreased by 61% since 2011. In that timeframe, more than 28,000 people have transitioned directly into permanent housing. Additionally, they have succeeded in closing numerous homeless encampments across the city and saw a 17% reduction in unsheltered homelessness between 2022 and 2023. This remarkable progress is the outcome of collaborative efforts spanning many years among various nonprofit organizations and local government partners. By leveraging resources effectively, this collaboration has successfully matched individuals experiencing homelessness with appropriate housing interventions. Moderated by Michael Kimmelman, architecture critic for the New York Times, this webinar will feature leaders from The Way Home Continuum of Care in Houston and representatives from New York City's government and nonprofit sectors who will compare approaches to reducing homelessness. Together, we will explore transferable lessons to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness in New York City. THU 04/16 at 2PM ET The World Wide Web, visit: https://lnkd.in/di-MY6Gz P.S. @CFHNYC   Best regards, @DrHenryGarrett Email: [email protected] https://lnkd.in/dJN2feSN *Disclaimer*: The information contained in this message is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this message in error, please inform us by an email reply and then delete the message. You may not copy this message in its entirety or in part, or disclose its contents to anyone. If you do not wish to receive any email from us, please give a reply as “Email<[email protected]>/Message<https://lnkd.in/dgFKm8W4>”.

As many of you within my network know, my passionate volunteer duties at both my church and the Torres Homeless Shelter have turned into staff positions at both great organizations. One of these passions, True North Housing Alliance, operates the Torres Shelter along with other transitional and permanent housing programs throughout Chico and Butte County, CA. TNHA has consistently risen to meet the needs of our community, and now we are in need of support from thought leaders to help us embark on a capital campaign. Our team has a wealth of knowledge, but not in executing this type of campaign. Nor do we have the resources to hire professionals to guide us through the process. We do have an exciting reason for the campaign as True North was chosen for a major initiative: to be the primary Navigation Center for Butte County under funding from CA AB 101. This Center will have a profound effect on moving our homeless population through the pipeline of housing opportunities and social services quickly. Existing Navigation Centers have proven to be an effective resource for moving people out of homelessness with some existing Navigation Centers achieving a 72% rehousing success rate! True North was chosen for this project because of our expertise and long-term success over the past 26 years in serving our community. Over the past decade we have moved over 1,300 individuals out of homelessness permanently. In 2023, our most successful year yet, we served over half of the known homeless population in Butte County, and permanently housed nearly 200 individuals. TNHA is now the largest connector to permanent housing and provider of interim housing services north of Sacramento and the Navigation Center is direly needed to sustain and expand our impact. Given the importance of and need for this project, we have several stakeholders in the community who want to help, but state funding only covers 50% of the projected construction costs, and we need additional support. We are asking you, or experts you may know, for insights on best practices for capital asks and any other mentoring advice to assist our efforts. Please DM me with any questions, insights, or to talk further about this great opportunity we have in front of us to further help the less fortunate in our community.

The Incomplete Definition of Homelessness: Leaving Thousands of Children Facing Housing Instability Alone Homelessness is a critical issue affecting countless families and children across the United States. However, the current definition of homelessness used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is leaving thousands of vulnerable children without the support they desperately need. The Narrow Definition of Homelessness According to HUD, a child is considered homeless only if they are living in a shelter, their car, or on the streets. This narrow definition excludes many children who are experiencing significant housing instability. For instance, children who are doubled up with family or friends, staying in motels, or at imminent risk of eviction with no stable housing options are not counted under HUD’s definition. The Reality of Housing Instability The reality for many families is far more complex. Many children live in precarious situations, moving frequently between temporary accommodations, facing the constant threat of eviction, and lacking a stable, permanent home. These situations cause profound trauma and instability, severely impacting their mental and physical health, academic performance, and overall well-being. The PIT Count and Funding Disparities The Point-in-Time (PIT) count is HUD's method for determining how much funding a community should receive to address homelessness. This count, conducted annually, captures a snapshot of homelessness on a single night. However, due to HUD's restrictive definition, the PIT count often significantly underrepresents the actual number of children experiencing housing instability. As a result, communities receive less funding than they need to address the full scope of the problem. The Impact on Organizations like Family Promise Organizations like Family Promise, dedicated to helping families experiencing housing insecurity, are directly affected by this funding disparity. With fewer children counted as homeless, less money is allocated to these vital programs. This means fewer resources to provide case management, rental and utility assistance, and other critical services that help stabilize families and prevent homelessness. The Call for Change It is imperative to expand the definition of homelessness to include all children experiencing housing instability. By recognizing the full scope of the problem, we can ensure that adequate resources are allocated to support every child in need. Only then can organizations like Family Promise effectively address the trauma of housing instability and work towards a future where no child has to face homelessness alone.

The Biden-Harris Administration has awarded $3.16 billion in homelessness assistance funding, the largest amount of annual federal funding provided through HUD's Continuum of Care program. The funding will expand housing and services projects for people experiencing homelessness, including survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault. This is a significant investment in efforts to end homelessness in the United States. The funding will help to provide essential services such as housing, food, and healthcare to people who are experiencing homelessness. It will also help to prevent people from falling into homelessness in the first place. The Continuum of Care program is a national program that supports communities in their efforts to end homelessness. The program provides funding to local communities to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to address homelessness. The plan must include a range of services, such as emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ending homelessness in the United States. This investment in homelessness assistance funding is a major step forward in achieving that goal. https://lnkd.in/gguvjZTX