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

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 295 results  for your search.  View and Refine Your Search Terms

  • COVID-19 Accelerated This West Virginia Community's Efforts to End Homelessness

    West Virginians from Clarksburg mobilized to tackle the issue of homelessness once the pandemic highlighted the vulnerability faced by the homeless who could not shelter in place. Advocates came together to get people off the streets and into motel rooms paid for by nonprofits and organized by local government. The city looked 40 miles away, to the achievements of Morgantown, which was able to bring together different sectors to keep people off the streets. Immediate goals of keeping people safe from the virus are part of a long-term plan to create housing and provide mental and physical health services.

    Read More

  • Coronavirus pushed Seattle to treat homelessness differently. Will those changes last?

    Prompted by the threat of COVID-19, Seattle and King County have rapidly taken steps to protect people experiencing homelessness with responses that activists have long sought. By moving hundreds of people out of crowded shelters into hotels, installing hygiene stations, and suspending the removal of encampments, officials scrambled to prevent the spread of the virus in ways that advocates hope will remain the policy after the crisis has passed. But the crisis has also gutted government budgets, and so permanent solutions may still be elusive.

    Read More

  • Los Angeles Launches Massive Effort to Get Homeless Into Hotels

    In response to the social distancing required to stop the spread of the coronavirus, Los Angeles is offering hotel rooms to 15,000 people facing homelessness. The city's fast actions, intended to protect older individuals and those with underlying conditions, are being largely covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is paying for 75% of the cost of leasing the hotels.

    Read More

  • A New Tactic To Fight Coronavirus: Send The Homeless From Jails To Hotels Audio icon

    California’s governor signed an executive order allocating $50 million to lease hotel rooms for those experiencing homelessness after being released from prison as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. While the hotel business is at a standstill, it provides shelter and the needed self-isolation to one of the most vulnerable populations. So far, 7,000 hotel rooms have been reserved for these individuals.

    Read More

  • To address the homelessness crisis, some cities look to formal camps. Should ours?

    A growing number of cities are creating formal camps to mitigate housing problems for those experiencing homelessness. The camps feature basic accommodations such as a three-walled structure under which a tent can be pitched - partly protected from cold, rain, and wind. The major draw is the around-the-clock security patrols in addition to portable bathrooms, trash collection, and on-site kitchen. The camps can also provide a place where people can leave their things while working temp jobs.

    Read More

  • Why More Homeless Shelters Are Welcoming Their Clients' Pets

    Studies show that between 5-10 percent of people living in homelessness are believed to have a pet, which could be a barrier to folks looking to spend the night in shelters that do not allow animals. Springs Rescue Mission in Colorado Springs is one of a number of shelters that are beginning to allow pets to board along with their owners in an effort to bring more people in. Animal companionship is a very important relationship and source of comfort and stability for someone experiencing homelessness. Some barriers still exist, however, like shelters that have little funding for sheltering pets.

    Read More

  • San Francisco Fights Coronavirus By Finding the Homeless a Home

    Recognizing the unique vulnerability of its homeless population to the coronavirus outbreak, San Francisco is transforming motels and hotels into makeshift and spacious shelters. The city must act fast to protect a homeless population that has soared to over 8,000 residents in recent years amid an ongoing tech boom, officials and community leaders say.

    Read More

  • Beside a Vast Graveyard, a New City Rises in Haiti

    A survivor of Haiti's earthquake sought out a new home on an unclaimed plot of land which is home to one of the country's largest cemeteries. Madame Roy built a neighborhood from the ground up with the help of architects and funding from people who wanted to be residents of the future city. Roads, homes, a cistern, a soccer field, and a school were all built without the help of the Haitian government. 200,000 residents who lost everything in the earthquake have found a chance to start over in the new city of Canaan.

    Read More

  • The Runners Helping Each Other Get Back on Track Audio icon

    In New York and across eleven other cities in the United States, a non-profit organization called Back On My Feet leads early morning runs (starting at 5:30am) with members overcoming homelessness and the volunteers who choose to join them. In the course of twelve years, the organization helped over 7,500 members transition into permanent jobs and homes, with 83 percent of members maintaining employment and 70 percent maintaining housing. There are also physical health benefits including lower blood pressure, less dependence on nicotine, and a reduced BMI and obesity risk.

    Read More

  • UnitedHealthcare tackles homelessness as a root cause of poor health, and Philly is a test bed

    The health insurance company, United Healthcare, has started a program called myConnections that funds housing for Philadelphia citizens experiencing homelessness and chronic illness. United Healthcare will pay for rent as well as wraparound social services like transportation and food stamps. The program, which has spread to a dozen states, recognizes health as a key driver of poverty, and is bound by the idea that addressing housing can shift people out of poverty and poor health, and will save health insurance companies money too.

    Read More