The People Concern’s Post

Housing Works! 🏠 California's Project Roomkey offered a common sense solution to support people experiencing homelessness during the height of pandemic. By providing non-congregate shelters, including hotel rooms, motel rooms, and trailers, PRK accommodated medically vulnerable people while offering protection from COVID-19 exposure. Swift implementation and government support facilitated PRK's success, forming new partnerships between local government agencies, homeless services, and health care providers. Participants reported positive experiences at PRK sites, with access to meals, laundry facilities, and health care professionals. California Health Care Foundation and Conrad N. Hilton Foundation contracted Abt Global to evaluate the PRK program. Data from the Homeless Management Information System revealed that longer stays in PRK reduced the likelihood of returning to homelessness, with participants transitioning more frequently to permanent housing. PRK transformed emergency housing for people experiencing homelessness and highlighted the importance of innovative approaches and collaboration in addressing social challenges. https://lnkd.in/enVSAsac #Homelessness #CommunityCare #ProjectRoomkey

I am not following the logic of the OHS proposal (link below) -- why insert a step into the rehousing process that adds an addtional month or more to the time it takes to rehouse an individual? This $1M could be better used towards creating affordable housing or providing rental subsidies to prevent individuals from entering homelessness in the first place. We're being told that this isn't diverting funding or other resources from what's currently working -- but I see notes that say there is additional funding needed per individual to add this step, plus the $1M that won't be going into the current well functioning system already being implemented by Housing Forward. We all want to see our neighbors housed and not living on our streets -- but we need to do it in a way that works with the current system -- helps to optimize what's working, not distract and divert resources. https://lnkd.in/gAepv6A5

We are on the second week of a series highlighting AHCH's theories of change. This week is: "Housing First" We know that the only way to end homelessness, is to get people into homes. That is why we believe in Housing First. We believe that housing is a human right and that it is an essential health care service. Without housing, individuals are exposed to unsafe and traumatizing conditions that seriously impact their health and impede any progress towards their personal goals. At AHCH we provide no-barrier housing navigation services to any and all individuals who seek it, including housing assessments and referrals. As of June 1st, AHCH’s Housing Program is supporting 170 total renter households in Fiscal Year 2024. Over 4 out of 5 clients that are in the housing program continue to remain housed and engaged with our case management team 12 months later. This week we'll learn more about why AHCH stands behind Housing First, the ethical conversation about housing and human rights, address the criticisms to housing first, and advocate for solutions to overcome the major barriers to housing. If you believe in Housing First too, make sure to support us at https://bit.ly/4ehmgQ7

We all benefit from having a quality, affordable home – it can improve health, increase independence, and allow us to thrive. When our neighbors don’t have homes, we must seek solutions, not penalties. Homes and services are the solution to homelessness – we join the leaders at CSH in calling on elected officials to embrace proven solutions that expand the supply of homes and support coordinated services and policies that help all of us thrive. https://ow.ly/LRFV50StCNm

🚨The housing crisis is real, with a 6 million unit shortage in the US. #LocalGovs are on the front lines, and residents need solutions now. Don't miss out on this exclusive webinar report tomorrow.⏰ Final Call To Register: https://lnkd.in/eZXzN9_e Discover the secrets to winning community support for housing and homelessness solutions in this exclusive webinar. 🏡 Time is running out, and this is your last opportunity to register. Unlock innovative strategies from experts: 📌 Michelle Kobayashi, Principal Research Strategist, Polco 📌 Abby Boyd, Director of Housing Opportunities, Virginia Housing 📌 Diana Elrod, Strategic Planning Consultant, Diana R. Elrod Consulting 📌 Jen Aceto, Sr Manager of National Engagement, Polco - Learn effective strategies that unify local governments and residents on housing solutions. - Understand how local governments can use resident engagement to form affordable housing plans. - See what Americans think about housing, according to Polco’s nationwide public opinion database.  📅 Date: January 18, 2024 🕚 Time: 11 am PT / 1 pm CT / 2 pm ET 🔗 Register Now: https://lnkd.in/eZXzN9_e

Housing is a major issue in Denver, as well. If you work in local government, you should check out this exclusive webinar featuring some very bright problem-solvers.

San Francisco's initiative to address homelessness focuses on offering bus tickets to those with support systems elsewhere. - 🚌 Prioritizes helping the unhoused reconnect with family or friends - 🗺️ Oregon is the top out-of-state destination after California - 🌆 Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Humboldt are key destinations within California - 🏠 Mayor London Breed aims to manage the city's homelessness crisis by facilitating relocation #SanFrancisco #Homelessness #CommunitySupport --- - 🎯 The Journey Home program was re-emphasized in August 2024 to focus on relocation before other services - 📊 Data since September 2023 shows a trend of relocation across state lines and within California - 🚍 Nevada and Texas are also significant destinations for those leaving San Francisco - 👥 This strategy aims to provide individuals with a better chance of stability by connecting them to existing support systems https://lnkd.in/gSRzTwFM

What if our community used a new approach to combat homelessness, placing Housing Problem Solving (HPS) at the forefront. HPS offers quick, practical solutions, moving away from the inefficiency of extended waitlists and towards immediate action. In this context, the Community Housing Assessment Tool (CHAT) plays a strategic, though selective, role. Replacing the VI-SPDAT, the CHAT under HPS is used particularly for those with high vulnerability, helping them bypass long waitlists for more immediate assistance. This shift in strategy could be part of the answer to the acute shortage of affordable housing. It’s about better resource allocation and reducing homelessness duration. Success, however, depends on broader efforts to increase affordable housing through innovative policies, funding, community collaboration, and (as someone I respect immensely used to trumpet and rightfully so) led by the private sector with support from municipal government.

Do you remember your first apartment? Did someone co-sign your rental application with you? Did a parent or friend help you review your lease to ensure it looked fair? Unhoused youth often don’t have the supports that many of us take for granted. Our Rental Access project sought to address this gap and help more young people get their foot in the door of the rental market. After months of research with young people—and direct collaboration with the Youth Action Board (YAB), a standing committee of youth and young adults with lived experience of homelessness in New York City—we’ve co-created a preliminary program concept designed to help unhoused and unstably housed young people as they search for and transition into permanent housing. We’re looking for funding partners for the next phase of this project. Check out the Rental Access case study on our website for more information on the program concepts and how to get involved. https://lnkd.in/ebJz7sCB

The KQED article on San Jose homelessness promotes and advocates a long-held priority of Oakland's Homeless Advocacy Working Group. HAWG has consistently lobbied the City to devote its homeless grants and one-time funding to the provision of "interim" or "transitional" housing -- through the purchase of hotels and motels, prefabricated tiny houses, FEMA trailers, converted containers, off-the-shelf manufactured modular campuses, and safe vehicular parks,    Interim housing provides a protected space where the unhoused can feel secure and can be easily located for wrap-around social, sanitary, medical, and psychological services to stabilize their lives in preparation for returning to typical housing. Self-governance and co-governance of interim housing settlements can significantly reduce operating and managing costs. A recently approved 91-unit, 100% affordable development -- presently under construction -- will consume 8 years and $102 Million to build ... a cost of $1.2 Million per unit.  Of the project's 91 affordable units, only 25%, or 23 units, will be available to homeless or very low-income residents.    A different approach must be considered.  The Homeless Advocacy Working Group (HAWG)