City of Plano’s Post

Homelessness is a very serious issue in the City of Seattle and across King County, with African Americans making up a disproportionate number of people seeking shelter and permanent housing. Africatown Community Land Trust, or ACLT, based in Seattle’s Central District, is a community-based organization confronting this issue head-on. Located on 16th and Yesler, the Benu Community Home, operated by ACLT, opened in December 2021 and is a low-barrier enhanced shelter for single adult males. Just a few weeks ago, ACLT celebrated Benu Community Day. The day served as a rallying call to showcase the impact of Benu Community Home and, to unveil the Benu Impact Report, which detailed the transformative work being done to uplift unhoused Black men in Seattle and King County. As the city grapples with a homelessness crisis—where nearly 30% of the unhoused population are Black despite making up less than 7% of the total population—Benu Community Home stands as a lifeline for change. The Benu Report detailed a holistic approach to not just providing shelter, but creating a foundation for renewal, support, and empowerment. Benu’s model transforms lives by offering a safe space to heal, build community, and reclaim opportunity. This segment was produced by Kennesha Poe-Buycks, Carlos Imani, and The Elite Collective for Back2Besa and originally aired on October 5th on FOX 13 Seattle. Click to see the full episode: https://lnkd.in/gN4gUCh6 #BlackMediaMatters #WWConverge #ACLT #BENUCommunityHome

Today marks #WorldHomelessDay, an international day to advocate for solutions to ending homelessness. It's clear that more needs to be done to address the escalating homelessness crisis. English councils supported a staggering 358,370 homeless households in 2023/2024 - a rise of nearly 15% on the previous year - 324,990 of whom were owed a prevention or relief duty. Meanwhile, the number of people living in temporary accommodation in England is at an all-time high; in March 2024, the figure reached 117,450 households, including 151,630 children. As a founding member of the Homes for Cathy group, we're committed to maintaining a strong culture of homelessness prevention within the association and to fostering a better understanding of the needs of homeless people and their barriers to housing, together with a strong appetite to work internally and with external partners to offer solutions. Our work in the meeting the Homes for Cathy homelessness pledges touches on all areas of our operations, from building homes to care and supported housing and housing management. Read our 2023/24 Homes for Cathy report to find out about the policies, practices and services we are delivering to meet the needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. https://lnkd.in/eDPgN6TX

National Homeless Awareness Day As we recognize National Homeless Awareness Day, Midland, Texas, presents a paradox: the state's lowest unemployment rate at 2.8% alongside an 82% increase in homelessness, according to the 2024 Point In Time count. The reported 315 homeless individuals, with 203 sheltered and 138 unsheltered, diverges from my observations as a Backyard Midland volunteer. Our weekend outreach consistently serves fewer individuals. This discrepancy raises concerns about the count's accuracy and potential exploitation for funding purposes. The significant difference between Midland's reported total and Odessa's 135 homeless individuals further underscores these concerns. Do you believe the Midland has two and a half times the amount of homeless people then do Odessa? Despite this, local organizations like The Salvation Army, Midland Soup Kitchen, Family Promise, Baptist Crisis Center, Breaking Bread, and Helping Hands provide outstanding support. I recommend supporting these organizations and participating in the January 2025 count to ensure an accurate representation of Midland's homelessness.

The latest figures released by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage show that the number of men, women and children in homelessness was 13,866 in March. This is an increase of 25 on the pervious month. Wayne Stanley, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland is calling on the Minister to implement the provisions of the Simon Homeless Prevention Bill to help slow the number of individuals and families entering homelessness. “The figures released by the Department today reveals a 16% year-on-year increase of men, women and children living in homelessness. At the end of 2014, the Department reported 3,738 people in homelessness. Today’s figures show an increase of 10,128 men, women and children in homelessness since then. That is a shocking figure.  We have once again called on the Minister to implement the provisions of the Simon Homeless Prevention Bill to help slow the number of individuals and families entering homelessness. These initiatives, if effectively implemented, could finally get us ahead of this crisis and we may eventually witness a decline in these alarming numbers.” Read our press release here:

📢 Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week: A Time for Action and Advocacy At Innovative Health & Housing Solutions, we are deeply committed to fostering equitable communities where every individual has access to safe housing, nutritious food, and comprehensive support services. This Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, we reflect on the challenges faced by millions across the country and renew our dedication to creating lasting change. 🏠 Housing First, Health Always Stable housing is the foundation of health and well-being. For those experiencing homelessness, access to supportive services and trauma-informed care can transform lives. 🍎 Food Insecurity and Homelessness Access to nutritious meals is critical for maintaining physical and mental health. Yet too many individuals and families must choose between shelter and sustenance. ✨ Our Call to Action This week, let’s amplify the voices of those impacted by hunger and homelessness and take action: ✔️ Advocate for inclusive housing policies. ✔️ Support local organizations addressing food insecurity and homelessness. ✔️ Volunteer your time or donate resources to community programs. Together, we can create a future where no one has to face hunger or homelessness. 💙 #HungerAndHomelessnessAwarenessWeek #InnovativeSolutions #EndingHomelessness #HealthAndHousing #CommunityAction #TraumaInformedCare #HousingFirst

Today is World Homeless Day 🌍 A day when we can come together to raise awareness of homelessness, globally, and in our communities. Every October, we promote World Homeless Day (as part of World Homeless Week) with the goal of spreading awareness and empowering each of us to take action. It is a time to reflect on the challenges individuals and families face without a stable place to call home. A challenge faced by over 300,000 people in England alone. Our guide ‘How to Help Homeless People’ is available to download now, offering practical tips and advice on how to get involved and make a positive impact on the lives of homeless people. Link to guide > https://lnkd.in/eSxC_C4n If you would like to know more about our work and how you can support us, head to https://lnkd.in/e2KrQX6H More resources: The latest Big Issue report on homelessness - https://lnkd.in/egXhrsTW Shelter research on homelessness numbers in the UK - https://lnkd.in/e5nkBkyi Research from St Mungo's showed that 76% of British citizens agree there is a homelessness crisis currently happening in the UK - https://lnkd.in/gAHKZvGa #WorldHomelessDay #WorldHomelessWeek #Homelessness #HelpingHomelessPeople

This week we're counting down the top 5 steps for Victoria to make the leap to a society that has ended homelessness. The best (and most cost-effective) way to end homelessness is to stop it from happening in the first place. And one of the key ways to do that is to prevent unnecessary evictions.  In Victoria, the Private Rental Assistance Program, the Tenancy Assistance and Advocacy Program, and TenancyPlus are saving thousands of people from homelessness right now. But demands on these programs far exceed their funding. We need to increase funding to these programs to ensure they work as effectively as possible, saving Victorians from the trauma of homelessness and taking strain off the rest of the homelessness system. Adequate income support from the federal Government also has a vital role to play in ensuring households can meet their basic costs. What's been your experience with eviction-prevention programs? And what steps do you think are needed for Victoria to make the leap to a society that has ended homelessness? We'd love to hear your thoughts, using the hashtag #LeapWeek. #homelessness #endhomelessness #evictionprevention

Did you know that Montana experienced the highest percent increase in homelessness in the nation last year? "A recently released national report to Congress from December 2023 puts Montana at or among the heads of the pack when it comes to increases in homelessness: Montana saw the largest increase, 551%, of individuals experiencing chronic patterns of homelessness from 2007 to 2023, according to the 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress. Montana saw the second-largest increase in homeless youth, 76%, from 2022 to 2023, the report said (North Dakota had the largest at 89%.)" At HRDC, we believe everyone deserves a safe, warm place to sleep. That is why we provide emergency shelter, day services, emergency rental assistance, transitional housing, and more to any community member in need. Visit thehrdc.org to learn more about our services or click the link in our bio to view the full story about the increase in homelessness in Montana last year. #HRDC #Bozeman #Belgrade #Montana #Homelessness

During Homelessness Week (August 5 to 11), our report, '"Nowhere else to go", Young people's views of homelessness', was referenced in media coverage about Mission Australia's study on disadvantage experienced by young people facing homelessness. In 2023, children and young people aged 8 to 17 arrived alone at 'Specialist Homelessness Services' more than 1700 times. These services exist to help Tasmanians experiencing homelessness or in need of housing. On an average day in Tasmania, at least 2 children or young people make a request for help from homelessness services but can’t be assisted. This week, peak bodies and homelessness services around Tasmania have stressed the urgent need for stronger policy and program responses for children and young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Read Mission Australia's full report here: 🔗https://ccyp.me/MAYS Check out our “Nowhere else to go” report on youth homelessness in Tasmania here: 🔗https://ccyp.me/YPVH

Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for the unaccompanied women we serve. These survivors face a scarcity of affordable housing options, long wait times, and financial instability. It can take years for them to secure stable housing independently. Thanks to grant funding from HUD and the County of Orange in partnership with Human Options, Inc. #WISEPlace has launched a program that expands our housing services and support for domestic violence survivors. This funding empowers each organization to focus on the populations we serve: unaccompanied women at WISEPlace and families at Human Options. Since the program’s inception, we have collectively served over 123 households in need. WISEPlace alone has provided survivors with over $730,000 in rental assistance, and an impressive 96% of these survivors have retained housing and overcome homelessness. 🏠💙 Read our Impact Report here: https://lnkd.in/gbsTr98S