SINCOFF ADVOCACY: HOMELESSNESS
Overview: Local Homelessness
- Over 26,000 people become homeless annually across San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, including many families and Veterans
- 63 percent of the total number of homeless in San Francisco counted reported having a mental illness,
- 40 percent of the homeless people were homeless before they came to San Francisco, with 17 percent saying they came to look for work and 14 percent for social services.
- 6436 homeless people including those in shelters or transitional housing in San Francisco
- Twenty-nine percent of both youths and adults identified as LGBTQ in San Francisco
- On any given night estimated 50,000 veterans are homless 16,000 in CAee
Reasons for Homelessness
- Job or Income Loss: Sudden job loss, a death or costly illness can tip the scales for people living on the edge of poverty. For individuals living “one check away from homelessness,” a sudden job loss or underemployment can push them over the edge and onto the streets.
- Family Breakup: Many of IVSN’s families consist of single parents who have recently undergone family breakup. The financial instability of a single household income can easily result in a loss of housing.
- Lack of Affordable Housing: In both the San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, the cost of living is nearly 50% higher than the national average. With such high housing costs, many people earning minimum wage live on the brink of homelessness.
Overview: Global Homelessness
- An estimated 100 million people are homeless worldwide (United Nations 2005)
- most are women and children
- Countries have different definitions of “Homelessness” so it is hard to gauge how many people are homeless worldwide
- 1 out of 50 American children are homeless (about 1.5 million)
- 2.3-3.5 million Americans are experiencing homelessness
- 23% of people homeless are chronically homeless
- Common causes of homelessness for families: lack of affordable housing, poverty, unemployment
- Common causes of homelessness for singles: substance abuse, mental illness, lack of affordable housing
- Veterans are more likely to be homeless (40% of people homeless are veterans)
- Any given night: 200,000 veterans are homeless
- 50,000 people, mainly women and children, die as a result of poor shelter, polluted water, and inadequate sanitization
Overview: Current Solutions & Actions to Alleviate Homelessness
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
Goal 1: Prevent episodes of homelessness within the HHS clientele, including individuals and families
Goal 2: Help eligible, homeless individuals and families receive health and social services
Goal 3: Empower our state and community partners to improve their response to individuals and families experiencing homelessness
Goal 4: Develop an approach to track Departmental progress in preventing, reducing, and ending homelessness for HHS clientele
In early 2002, the Secretary’s Work Group on Ending Chronic Homelessness was charged with designing a plan to:
- improve access to treatments and services;
- improve coordination across these services;
- identify strategies to prevent additional episodes of chronic homelessness; and
- itemize accountability and evaluation processes.
To date, every state (including the District of Columbia) and U.S. Territory has attended a Homeless Policy Academy and is working to implement a state Action Plan intended to improve access to mainstream health and human services and employment opportunities that are coordinated with housing for persons who are experiencing homelessness.
Strategies:
- Identify risk and protective factors to prevent episodes of homelessness for at-risk populations.
- Identify risk and protective factors to prevent chronic homelessness among persons who are already homeless.
- Develop, test, disseminate, and promote the use of evidence-based homelessness prevention and early intervention programs and strategies.
- Strengthen outreach and engagement activities.
- Improve the eligibility review process.
- Explore ways to maintain program eligibility.
- Examine the operation of HHS programs, particularly mainstream programs that serve both homeless and non-homeless persons, to improve the provision of services to persons experiencing homelessness
- Foster coordination across HHS to address the multiple problems of individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
- Explore opportunities with federal partners to develop joint initiatives related to homelessness, including chronic homelessness and homelessness as a result of a disaster.
- Empower our state and community partners to improve their response to individuals and families experiencing homelessness
Citations:
http://www.hhs.gov/homeless/research/endhomelessness.html
Relevant Articles and Videos to Share
- http://nationalhomeless.org/ The National Coalation for the Homeless
- http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/the-forsaken-a-rising-number-of-homeless-gay-teens-are-being-cast-out-by-religious-families-20140903 Gay teens made homeless by thier parents
- http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-rosslyn-homeless-vets-20140930-story.html Efforts in Los Angeles to house Homeless Veterans. Launched with 75 homed in restored hotel.
- http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/27307849/feeding-the-homeless-act-of-charity-or-a-crime 90 year old man feeds homeless even though it’s illegal
- http://recode.net/2014/10/27/homeless-teens-and-their-cellphones-at-sfs-larkin-street-youth-services/ - homeless teen need their cell phones
- http://homeless.samhsa.gov/resource/in-their-own-words-homeless-female-veterans-share-their-stories-49371.aspx Homeless female veterans share their stories of being put in the streets when they come home.
Other Programs that Rehabilitate Families
HACLA trys to put families that are classified as “low income earning households” into affordable housing and put them into good jobs. It also helps feed these households while providing them the opportunities to get back on their feet. It also provides special opportunities and housing for people struggling with HIV/AIDS.
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