Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

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  • This California city just ended chronic homelessness

    The city of Bakersfield, California, was able to functionally end homelessness even with the onset of the pandemic, after implementing a data-driven strategy led by “Built for Zero.” The initiative focuses on frequent data collection which is then used to create a master command center that all agencies, shelters, and nonprofits work on in conjunction. Pooling resources and working together leads to clearer insight into where the most pressing need is and prevents unhoused people from falling through the cracks.

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  • Could This Housing Project Be A Model For Addressing Homelessness On Kauai?

    Affordable housing and wraparound services are being offered to residents experiencing homelessness in Kauai, Hawaii. A new development constructed from shipping containers isn’t meant to be a permanent solution but it does provide “a place to land with a roof over their heads, paid utilities, a laundry room, and wraparound social services.” Residents, most of whom are working families, can take advantage of help finding and securing a job in addition to credit training.

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  • As Homelessness Rises in Seattle, So Does a Native American Housing Solution

    Supportive housing options geared toward Native Americans specifically are rare but much-needed resources in urban areas like Seattle where up to 15% percent of the homeless population belongs to the native community. Native community members are made to feel at home in shelter facilities in Portland and Phoenix where resources include traditional and cultural practices, Native artwork, vocational rehabilitation, and the presence of other Natives getting back on their feet. A Seattle housing project set to open in 2021 will address “the critical shortage of culturally competent outreach."

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  • Unique Housing Project Eases the Path to Re-Entry for Single Parents

    Single parents readjusting to life after incarceration face numerous hurdles to re-entering society. A housing program in Seattle now provides access to transitional housing alongside services that help parents reconnect with their children, access to mental health care, and work toward permanent housing. Passage Point’s wraparound services are an effective and unique resource for a population that is commonly blocked from accessing public housing.

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  • Two cities tried to fix homelessness, only one succeeded

    Houston's effort to significantly decrease homelessness was successful due to the overhaul of its previous system which was disjointed, had too many services gaps, and often duplicated services. The new system provides concerted and seamless services in line with the Housing First principles. San Diego's lack of a cohesive plan to carry out the Housing First strategy has left it a lot less effective.

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  • Housing in Uncertain Times

    Time Out Youth Center (TOY) provides housing support for LGBTQ youth ages 18-24, though youth as young as 11 can access some of the organization’s services. The Host Home Program matches youth with individuals or a family where they can live for up to 90 days. While in the transitional housing program, TOY checks in weekly and provides groceries and transportation. The youth must apply to jobs every day, a minimum of 10 for unemployed youth and 4-6 for those working part-time. As they exit the program, they complete a basic skills course where they learn things like how to read a lease and pay rent on time.

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  • Give Us a Chance

    After a Housing First program in Brno, the Czech Republic's second-largest city, stabilized families' housing and health status, the city of Jihlava used local and European Union money, plus a charity's services, for a two-year pilot to provide subsidized apartments and social services to a dozen families. Nationwide, EU-supported Housing First projects have found housing for about 400 people in 16 cities. Though often opposed as a giveaway, the programs both longer-term and in the pilot phase have shown that after a family is housed, the resulting stability helps set them up to solve many other problems.

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  • Once derided as ‘shacks,' these huts now may be our best answer for a homelessness emergency

    Tiny homes are providing shelter, warmth, and security for people experiencing homelessness in Seattle. The insulated homes measure 96 square feet and offer a relatively affordable alternative to tent encampments which leave inhabitants exposed to the elements and often draw the anger of neighbors. Tiny homes in Seattle have led to higher rates of permanent rehousing.

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  • ‘It's a conversation': Philly's alternative to landlord-tenant court is preventing eviction

    Philadelphia's mandatory Eviction Diversion program, started as a way to help landlords and tenants to cope with pandemic-related economic struggles, requires landlords to enter mediation with tenants who are behind on their rent. By skipping eviction court, the parties can work out repayment plans and tenants can gain access to rental-assistance programs. Mediated agreements avoid a legal judgment that would hurt a tenant's credit and make it difficult to find another place to live, while preventing evictions during the pandemic reduces homelessness.

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  • Social distancing is a luxury many can't afford. Vermont actually did something about it.

    The state of Vermont has been able to keep COVID-19 cases to a minimal, at least in part by focusing on offering preventive protections for the most at-risk and vulnerable – such as the unhoused. The state's response has included "state-supported housing for the homeless, hazard pay, meal deliveries, and free, pop-up testing in at-risk communities," all of which prioritize high-risk populations rather than those who can easily self-isolate at home.

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