City of Boston Mayor's Office of Returning Citizens’ Post

August Advocacy Week 2: Fully Fund & Improve Housing Choice Voucher Effectiveness Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) are one of the most effective tools in the fight against instability, homelessness, and overcrowding. HCVs support approximately 2.3 million households and more than 5 million individuals. However, amidst the current housing supply crisis, affordable units are becoming increasingly difficult to find as the market tightens. Send a pre-drafted, editable letter from NAHRO Action Alert Center to urge Congress and the White House to fully fund the HCV program and to pass legislative language ensuring that vouchers remain an effective tool for millions of families. Use this link to send the advocacy letter: https://lnkd.in/g4Ga-PGR

Spent the past few days in San Francisco🌁 for the National Alliance to End Homelessness 2024 Innovations and Solutions for Ending Unsheltered Homelessness conference. Nearly 40% of the more than 1,200 attendees were from California, but we were able to hear about unique approaches from both across the State and the nation. In this field — success looks like sharing and collaboration🫱🏾🫲🏼! And at LA Family Housing, we thrive on working in coalition because we believe “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Conference Takeaways: 1️⃣Ending homelessness is possible. 2️⃣Building more housing is key. 3️⃣Elevating lived experience is necessary. 4️⃣Housing justice is racial justice. 5️⃣Budget advocacy is a must. 6️⃣And going it alone is selfish and deadly.

Housing is essential to reentry. In a new article titled “A Place to Call Home,” Director Megan Quattlebaum shares how the Returning Home Ohio program is helping people build lives grounded in stability and support. As our Zero Returns to Homelessness initiative kicks off its first-ever two-year cohort, we’re excited to work with communities intent on expanding reentry housing options as a foundation for long-term success. https://bit.ly/4elH5Ja #ZeroReturnsToHomelessness

Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith and Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez introduced the Homes Act to tackle America’s housing crisis. Across the country, rising rents and low housing inventory make it difficult for people to be stably housed. Like with all other crises, this disproportionately affects those already living in poverty, often intertwining with the juvenile justice and foster care systems. In fact, studies say nearly 44% of young people who have experienced homelessness have been in jail, prison, or juvenile detention; 78% have had at least one interaction with the police; and nearly 62% have been arrested at least once. This is why Beloved was founded. Every year, California spends nearly $500,000—or more—to incarcerate a single youth rather than supporting cost-effective and proven alternatives. A safe environment to call home is a fundamental human need. Without it, young people face circumstances that are unimaginable. We have turned 30 years of success at Young Women’s Freedom Center into a tangible solution at Beloved Village: to create 5,000 short—and long-term housing and placement opportunities by 2030. We need your help. Sign up for the Beloved Village Newsletter at https://lnkd.in/gtiPa9KV to learn how we can make this vision a reality! Beloved Village Housing www.belovedvillage.org

Nobody should leave hospital without a home to return to. But a recent study showed that 24% of homeless people in hospital were discharged back onto the streets. The same study highlighted that over a third of mainstream health professionals were unaware of their duty to refer people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to the relevant local authorities, despite the introduction of the Homeless Reduction Act (2017) which places a legal duty on them to do so. This just isn't right. Unless these acts are properly enforced, they're nothing more than empty words. That’s why our Step Down Housing service in Oxford exists, to provide short term housing to people who are ready to be discharged, but lack suitable accommodation to return to. We support them to find a place to call home, and connect them with the right services. https://lnkd.in/ep6mj9RS

In Chicago, around 12,000 unaccompanied youth experience homelessness each year, often due to family conflict, poverty, or involvement in child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Black youth are particularly impacted, facing an 83% higher risk of homelessness than their peers. These disparities remind us that real change is needed to protect our youth. By highlighting these figures, we hope to raise awareness and show the impact of continued investment in housing resources for homeless youth in Chicago and beyond. Learn more on Of Color Inc's programs and how we're working towards lowering these statistics: https://lnkd.in/gtTwhMHf Source: Chicago Coalition to end Homelessness

Webinar: Homelessness and the Supreme Court 🗓️ Date: Thursday March 14th 🕒 Time: 12pm ET / 9am PT 📍Register here: https://lnkd.in/eb3cp_XH From small towns to big cities, every person needs a safe place to sleep at night but the upcoming Supreme Court hearing of Grants Pass, Oregon vs. Johnson could allow towns to ticket and fine people for sleeping outside, even when they have nowhere to go. This case will have huge implications for how the country addresses homelessness. With more people paying attention to the issue, it’s an opportunity to elevate solutions that respect the rights and dignity of people who are unhoused, and address community concerns. How can housing and advocacy organizations communicate about this case to expand broad public support for compassionate, proven solutions to homelessness? Join three leaders in a conversation about how research, experience, and strategy inform their communications about this case.

# EMPOWER THE FAMILY, EMPOWER THE SOCIETY! Family empowerment to provide help and support to orphans and vulnerable children has far reaching ecological impacts: for the community, the benefits may include in: 1. *Reduced poverty rates*: Supporting vulnerable children can help break the cycle of poverty, leading to a more prosperous community. 2. *Increased social cohesion*: Community members come together to support a common cause, fostering a sense of unity and social responsibility. 3. *Improved child outcomes*: Supported children are more likely to succeed in school, leading to a more educated and skilled community. 4. *Role modeling*: Families helping orphans and vulnerable children set a positive example, encouraging others to get involved in community service. 5. *Community development*: Supporting vulnerable children can lead to community-led initiatives, promoting sustainable development and social change. 6. *Reduced crime rates*: Supporting vulnerable children can help prevent criminal behavior and reduce juvenile delinquency. 7. *Increased community engagement*: Community members are more likely to participate in other social and civic activities, leading to a more active and engaged community. Keynote: empowering families to support orphans and vulnerable children can have a positive impact on the community, contributing to a more compassionate and thriving society. This is what MWAYA envisions.

Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith and Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez introduced the Homes Act to tackle America’s housing crisis. Across the country, rising rents and low housing inventory make it difficult for people to be stably housed. Like with all other crises, this disproportionately affects those already living in poverty, often intertwining with the juvenile justice and foster care systems. In fact, studies say nearly 44% of young people who have experienced homelessness have been in jail, prison, or juvenile detention; 78% have had at least one interaction with the police; and nearly 62% have been arrested at least once. This is why Beloved was founded. Every year, California spends nearly $500,000—or more—to incarcerate a single youth rather than supporting cost-effective and proven alternatives. A safe environment to call home is a fundamental human need. Without it, young people face circumstances that are unimaginable. We have turned 30 years of success at Young Women’s Freedom Center into a tangible solution: to create 5,000 short—and long-term housing and placement opportunities by 2030. We need your help. Sign up for the Beloved Village Newsletter at https://lnkd.in/gtiPa9KV to learn how we can make this vision a reality!

Why we encourage you to Vote NO on Prop 36 🗳 Funders Together recognizes the very real concerns Californians have about crime in their communities. Proponents of Prop 36 falsely claim that Prop 47 has contributed to California’s increase in homelessness, *but* experts in homelessness solutions consistently tell us that a lack of housing that is affordable for everyone is the leading factor for the increasing unhoused population. Prop 36 cynically exploits people’s fears by offering harmful prison spending ploys. Criminalization doesn’t solve homelessness; rather, it prolongs poverty and traps people into chronic homelessness. Like you, we’re serious about ending homelessness. We support research-backed solutions that wisely invest taxpayer dollars in programs that work. That's why we will Vote NO on Prop 36. https://lnkd.in/gqiAFt2S