Ritter Center’s Post

1,501. I've been waiting to make that announcement. That's what they did. 1,501 pairs of socks this semester to give to people experiencing homelessness in Denver, Colorado. These students began the semester with a historical research packet - which led to a deeper understanding the source of homelessness, the migrant situation, the economic/living situation in Venezuela, and sanctuary cities. They created digital shorts - both written and visual that can be utilized on X, IG, FB, TikTok. They created business-sized resource cards (in English and Spanish)with a QR code that links to a document where helping resources in Denver are located (this required an inordinate amount of research). They sold cookies in Union and had a pickle ball tournament to bring awareness and raise funds. They started a GoFund Me. They attended a community engagement day to share their learnings (and try to win more money to buy MORE socks). We had amazing conversations about policy and its impact on humans; most importantly how you can not agree with a policy AND STILL be empathetic, kind, and giving towards the humans impacted by policy. Today they had the opportunity to meet with Chris Christensen, a University of Northern Iowa alum who is a Homelessness Impacts Investigator for Denver Public Health and tell her they were able to purchase (and have donated) 1,501 pairs of socks. Her response? "I just can't believe it, like I really can't. I'm so impressed and I hope that you take this experience and this for other people that you will never meet, most likely, and just pay it forward. Show other communities this as you get older, show your kids this as they grow, bring this into your workplaces. Keep taking this love for others and just send it forward. Cause it's amazing. And it's what we have to do so I just wanna thank you guys and my team thanks you, too." So - thank you Marquette Millam, Holden McGraw, Tanner Onken, Averiana Ramker, Madeline Schobert for your dedication to this project and people you don't (and likely won't) know, that is a servant's heart at its best. I'm so proud to know all of you. #servantheart #leadership #homeless #denverco #colorado #denver #migrant #migrantcrisis #serving #servantleadership #socks #communityengagement #service #servicelearning

Homelessness is a complex and seemingly intractable issue in the United States. There are thousands of organizations across the country, large and small, that are dedicated to confronting it. What do they have in common? They're often run by passionate and dedicated people. They're usually underfunded. They're dependent on private donations and government funding, and due to the government funding, they're part of something called the Continuum of Care (COC), and the COC is something of a bureaucratic super-being that is impossible to comprehend by normal human beings. Want to get a taste of what I'm talking about? Exhibit A is the latest newsletter from the Guilford County (NC) COC, linked below. It's a very good, informative newsletter that makes sense to its intended audience. The point isn't that it's bad, just that it is a great example of the complexity of the system that has been created to deal with homelessness across the country. Honestly, I shudder to think about how much time those passionate and dedicated people trying to help the homeless have to spend navigating the morass that is The System. I'm not smart enough to have an answer, but I have to believe that there's a better way. https://lnkd.in/eK49HVbH

This image shows the human face of those facing homelessness in Maricopa County. An individual sits at a park table, seeking respite from the sun, as our East Valley Street Medicine team member extends a caring hand, checking their blood pressure. It's a poignant reminder that for those living unsheltered, the harsh realities of summer aren't just uncomfortable – they can be deadly. At Circle the City, we know that moments like these are all too familiar. Every day, our Street Medicine teams brave the blistering heat to bring lifesaving care to those most vulnerable. But as temperatures soar, so does the need for a critical resource: water. That's why we're turning to our community for help. This Saturday, June 1st, from 9am-12pm, we're hosting a Thirst Aid Public Water Drop-off event at the Keys to Change Campus (1300 W Harrison St). By donating water at this event, you're directly supporting the work captured in this photo – you're helping us ensure that our Street Medicine teams can continue to provide not just medical care, but also the hydration that's so vital for survival for those experiencing homelessness. Can't make it to the drop-off? Your financial donation to Circle the City will help us purchase and distribute heat relief to our teams on the frontlines, enabling us to reach even more individuals in need. In the face of such overwhelming challenges, it's easy to feel helpless. But your support, whether through water donation or financial contribution, is a powerful act of compassion. It's a way to tell those struggling under the weight of extreme heat and lack of shelter: we see you, we care, and we're here to help. The need is great, but together, we can make a difference. Help us continue to bring care and hydration to those who need it most, one person and one water bottle at a time. #ThirstAid #HeatRelief #StreetMedicine #CircleTheCity

Amidst the buckets of rain on Saturday morning, ~130 neighbors (110 unhoused) showed up at Guadalupe Gardens for our cancelled program. While we generally aim to stay positive at Neighborhood Hands, this Saturday's experience reminded us of two things: 1) The scale of the suffering of our unhoused neighbors in Santa Clara County — all year round but especially during the winter season — is ENORMOUS. That one of the wealthiest regions in this country is home to so many neighbors who shiver to sleep each night is harrowing and a total societal failure. How does this not weigh heavily on our collective conscience? How do so many continue to say 'NO' to the housing that is so desperately needed to turn the tide on this humanitarian crisis? 2) Neighborhood Hands community members are as tough and resilient as they come. We are blown away by this fact every program, but especially on days like this past Saturday. To those who live in warm houses with access to hot showers, a gentle reminder: you are so fortunate. This is not the reality for so many neighbors. If you want to join our movement to stand with and connect those forced to the margins with essential resources, services, and social capital, please get in touch. We welcome anyone and everyone to our Neighborhood Hands Community. www.neighborhoodhands.org #siliconvalley #neighborhoodhandscommunity #homelessnonprofit #homelessoutreach #getoffthecouch #joinus

The Church is the answer. ✝️ The church has always been more than a place of worship; it’s a foundation for support, unity, and hope. As Matthew 5:14 reminds us, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”The church is called to be a light in its community, addressing both social and spiritual needs. In the face of the cost-of-living crisis, rising urban loneliness, isolation, and our current political landscape, the demand for church-led initiatives—such as food banks, homeless shelters, and skill-building programmes—has increased. Yet, spaces to support these essential services are dwindling. This is why the Social Impact Fund is so essential. We are working to create spaces that communities and congregations can depend on, establishing hubs for faith and social impact. Imagine a future where every town centre has a place of warmth, support, belonging, and community connection. #CommunitySupport #FaithInAction #SocialImpact #Church #SocialImpactFund #UrbanLoneliness #Isolation #TheChurch #CostOfLivingCrisis #LabourParty #CommunityImpact #Unity #Support #CommunityHubs

When I was twelve years old at Boy Scout Summer Camp I took the Wilderness Survival merit badge. The “highlight” of the week was for us to sleep out for a night in the wilderness (Sierra Nevada mountains) with no fire, no sleeping bag, no nothing… Just us and nature. Me and a buddy planned and prepped and built a wonderful “bed” of pine needles (because it wasn’t an actual emergency we didn’t cut down any trees or live branches). We thought we had a pretty sweet setup. What I remember from that night is 1) I don’t think I slept much at all, 2) My “bed” was worthless for any measure of comfort, 3) I was freezing cold all night. I swore I would never do that again. Since that time I have been the “prepared” guy.  When I used to backpack, I had the nicest gear and people would laugh at my five pound air mattress – but I slept in comfort.  When I car camp – I have 2 air mattresses, a cot and a wonderful pillow.  I know how to travel in comfort. But not in two nights. This Thursday night – I give up comfort for one night.  So for one night I will sleep out – in the cold and maybe wet.  Despite headlines like “Month’s worth of rain could hit parts of the Bay Area this week,” I will sleep out.  Despite the fact that my fellow Cisco co-workers will hate that I snore (sorry folks), I will sleep out. And so why Sleep Out? Well it is not to pretend to be homeless but to develop some empathy.  Empathy for those that don’t have a roof over their head, yet still try to make it in the everyday world.  Specifically for young adults, who often through no fault of their own, don’t have a place to call home.  Empathy for something I’ve never had to face or even the fear of facing because of the blessings and privileges that I have had in my life.  That is why I will sleep out. So why do I share this?  Well candidly, I want to pry away some of your hard earned dollars and have you donate to this worthy cause – to help end homelessness for those young adults. So will you donate? And I will sleep out. https://lnkd.in/gQgSH9VX #sleepout Cisco

Veteran Housing Corp reminds you that #HOMELESSNESS IS THE RESULT OF DECADES OF THE FAILURE TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL. THE HISTORY AND PRESENT STATE OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IN AMERICA CAN BE SUMMED UP IN ONE WORD: BROKEN DON'T BE FOOLED BY SLICK PROMOTIONAL POSTS THAT MAKE IT SEEM LIKE YOUR LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS ARE SOLVING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE PUBLIC AND TAXPAYERS MUST ASK: AT WHAT COST TO THE TAXPAYERS AND HOW LONG IS THE AFFORDABILITY PERIOD? EVERY TAXPAYER SHOULD BE ASKING THEIR ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: 1. How much local, state, and federal funding, tax credits, density bonus increase, waivers of impact fees, or other government benefit or incentive did the project receive? 2. What is the affordability period for each project and, if the affordability period is not in perpetuity or permanent, WHY NOT? 3. What guarantees exist that tenants in the affordable housing units will not be displaced after an "affordability period expires? Any LOCAL, STATE or FEDERAL official that does not MANDATE "permanent" affordability periods or affordability "IN PERPETUITY" for any project receiving some government benefit is commiting MALFEASANCE and should quit, be removed from office or be terminated. IN MOST CASES WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, the public and taxpayer are being fooled into thinking their elected and appointed officials are solving problems, when in fact, all hey have done is "KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD" to burden a future generation with the same problem or crisis!

💡🏡 Communities are making progress by working differently. They define success by whether homelessness across their entire geography is being reduced, not whether individual programs are performing well. Local nonprofit and government agency staff work as a team toward the single goal of reducing homelessness. They know — by name and in real time — all those experiencing homelessness. This clear, comprehensive view allows them to see quickly what policies and investments are leading to success and to focus on what works. #HomelessnessIsSolvable Learn more: https://bit.ly/3WD6gSc.

This June, our CEO, Roger Dowling, will be joining business leaders across the country for the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, swapping his bed for cardboard to shine a light on homelessness in Australia. Why? Because action speaks louder than words when it comes to making a difference. For Roger, the choice to participate is deeply personal: 🏡 Gratitude: Blessed with a loving family and a thriving life in one of Australia’s most beautiful regions, Roger is driven by a spirit of gratitude. 🤝 Community: Surrounded by friends, associates, and a supportive network, he believes in leveraging this collective strength to foster change. 🛌 Empathy: Understanding that not everyone has a warm place to sleep, Roger stands in solidarity with those who face nights out in the cold. ⏳ Reflection: Approaching life’s milestones, Roger is moved to give back, embracing the ethos that life’s true value is realised through acts of kindness. 💡 Opportunity: He’s adamant that homelessness isn’t always a choice but a harsh reality for many, often requiring just a simple opportunity to turn lives around. Join Roger as he braves one of the coldest nights this winter under a cardboard box, all to raise funds and awareness for those experiencing homelessness. Every bit of support counts, from small individual donations to corporate contributions. Your donation can provide essential services like counselling, education, health, and stable accommodation to those in need. 👉 Support Roger and make a difference here: https://lnkd.in/gaRRGGQ7 Together, we can help break the cycle of homelessness and positively impact lives. Remember, a little help goes a long way. #Leadership #CommunitySupport #VinniesCEOsleepout #EndHomelessness