Helena Okolicsanyi’s Post

It is a devastating reality that more and more low-wage workers in our community are becoming homeless as housing costs outpace their wages. This year's local Point in Time Count, an annual one-day census of homelessness, recorded the highest number since 2016, with 147 individuals experiencing homelessness on the night of the count. Alarmingly, for the first time in local history, most of those experiencing homelessness were outdoors rather than in a shelter. While our partners at The Ramp Church are working to open The Refuge on Memorial, we also need local policy changes to increase the stock of affordable housing. Without strong inclusionary zoning policies or similar actions, our low-wage workers will continue to face evictions and instability as rent prices soar.

"The new, unlikely face of homelessness: Working Americans with decent-paying jobs who simply can’t afford a place to live." Unlike many of the negative narratives surrounding homelessness, which often exclusively attribute its causes to substance abuse or mental health, the reality is that the number one cause of homelessness is the inability to afford housing, which is affecting working people all over the county. A recent Washington Post article sheds light on the experiences of employed Americans who are unhoused and the millions of working Americans who are at dire risk of losing their homes due to the high cost of living. https://lnkd.in/e4vQEgrK

Recommending this article for insights into factors that are pushing families into rental housing when ownership is both desired and a means for stability and wealth creation-and how homelessness is being tracked which means it can be circumvented.

Join me and Peter Ciurczak on August 6th for a quick 30-minute author briefing on Boston Indicators new report on homelessness in Greater Boston. https://lnkd.in/dUi_nDj3 We'll look at recent trends in homelessness data, who specifically is falling into homelessness, and how Greater Boston's housing shortage contributes to higher rates of homelessness. Here's a graph representing one of our key findings - while Greater Boston has among the highest rates of homelessness of large U.S. cities, it also has among the highest rates of sheltered homelessness.

🏡 Did you know? According to the latest data from the California Association of Realtors, a household income of $349,200 is now required to afford Orange County’s median-priced single-family home, priced at $1.37 million. 😲 This staggering figure highlights the immense challenges many families face in securing stable housing. With such high costs, it's clear why affordable housing solutions are crucial for our community. What do you think needs to change to make housing more accessible for everyone, especially those experiencing homelessness? Share your thoughts in the comments! ⬇️ #ThomasHouseFamilyShelter #HousingCrisis #AffordableHousing #OrangeCounty #CommunityDiscussion

Criminalizing homelessness IS criminal. Homelessness is a symptom of failure in leadership. Housing is the foundation for stability, good health, education, and true equity. During this escalation of the housing crisis and cost of living, housing should be first priority. After all, when people have housing, job retention increases, it supports the local economy, and strengthens communities. #affordablehousing #housingcrisis

Did you know that according to the Department of Education, Georgia has a homeless population of 42,000 people, while by HUD's definition, the number is only around 8,000? These varying definitions can significantly impact how we understand and address homelessness. So, why the difference? Factors such as eligibility criteria for housing assistance, the scope of included populations, and methodologies for counting individuals contribute to these disparities. Regardless of the definition, one thing remains clear: the challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness are real and multifaceted. At Open Doors, we're committed to taking action and opening doors to brighter futures for all. #WednesdayWisdom #OpenDoorsAtlanta #HomelessnessAwareness #Atlanta #CommunitySupport

Homelessness is worsening among people with jobs, as housing becomes further out of reach for low-wage earners. Rising rents and a lack of affordable housing have made it difficult for even a strong labor market and higher wages to overcome inflation's financial pressures. Learn more about how homelessness is impacting workers in this The Washington Post article here. #endhomelessness #affordablehousing #risingrents

The US Supreme Court has been very active lately. A new ruling allows US communities to ignore housing issues. Decades of bad US policy created extreme income inequality and horrendous housing. Meanwhile the rest of the westernized world spent decades building safety nets for families, seniors and those living with disabilities and mental health issues. Why can’t we figure this out? It’s embarrassing. “Criminal penalties such as fines, tickets, and arrests make homelessness worse, and cost communities a lot of money that should otherwise be spent on housing, supportive services, and street outreach. With record numbers of people entering into homelessness systems for the first time (more than 18,000 people per week in 2023, according to new U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD] System Performance Measure data) we must remind leaders that what solves homelessness is housing, together with supportive services needed to help people stabilize in housing. And these are investments that benefit the entire community, not just folks who are experiencing homelessness.” https://lnkd.in/gyqavitC

"Permanent housing strategies remain both an immediate and the sole long-term solution to homelessness. Whenever possible, people should be connected directly to housing from wherever they are currently residing. Interim strategies (i.e., temporary solutions offered as communities scale permanent housing options and accompanying services) should be grounded in evidence-based practices, such as low-barrier and housing-focused approaches to providing immediate access to safer places to sleep while service and health needs are addressed. No interim strategy should be coercive." https://lnkd.in/eHYJ83Kt