HRDC’s Post

Safe and secure housing is essential for everyone. York Region’s 10-year housing and homelessness plan outlines how we are working with community partners and all levels of government to build complete communities with a full range of supports to help people find and keep housing. Housing Solutions: A place for everyone sets out three goals: increase the supply of affordable and rental housing, help people find and keep housing, and strengthen the housing and homelessness system. Learn about the progress we made in 2023 and highlights from the last five years, as work is underway to develop a new 10-year housing and homelessness plan: https://lnkd.in/gBNywTWv

Late last year we made a submission regarding the Housing and Homelessness Plan Issues Paper and the 10 Year Housing and Homelessness Plan currently being developed to comment our vision, suggestions, and recommendations to the Federal Government surrounding this plan and how essential it is to get it right. Homeless Australians are dying at an average age of 44, a 12-month Guardian Australia investigation examining more than 600 cases has found out. This is a shocking life expectancy gap. People require not just basic shelter but a good home to live a safe, healthy and dignified life. A good home is not a luxury, it is essential. Additionally for those of us that rent our homes, our housing system is failing, with excessive rent increases and no grounds evictions repeatedly threatening to leave renters without a place to call home. Find a link to our submission here: https://lnkd.in/gQWkXgE8 The government's summary of all submissions received is available here: https://lnkd.in/gUrGN_3W Guardian article by Christopher Knaus, photo by David Parker, pictured Dulcie Nannup. Link in comments.

Last week's Weekly Perspective taught us about different types of housing provisions that are available for various populations who are experiencing homelessness. This week we have a special Part 2, specifically on the subject of Housing First. One of the biggest myths surrounding homeless response is that Housing First provides no oversight and is a failure. The idea that some of us could be working so hard to keep a roof over our families heads, while others in our community are living in swanky homes for free, could feel really upsetting. Fortunately, this myth is just not true. Housing First is an evidence-based principle that housing providers follow to ensure the most success for households transitioning out of homelessness. You can learn more by reading the rest of our newest Weekly Perspective blog post here: https://lnkd.in/gRyEZW2U And in case you missed last week's post, you can read "Homelessness in Missouri: What Housing Programs are Available?" here: https://lnkd.in/ggnCmta2 Last but not least, we hope you'll also join us for our March Friday Forum on the topic of "Permanent Supportive Housing" online on March 8th, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Registration and details: https://lnkd.in/dv5kWzKz. We will learn together what drives homelessness, what programs work to end homelessness, and why sometimes those programs fail our communities. Image description: blue text reading "New Weekly Perspective on the Blog! Homelessness in Missouri: An Overview of Housing First" with a background photo of a person handing over a house key #EmpowerMOperspective #WeeklyPerspective #Blog #Missouri  #HousingJustice #Homelessness #HousingCrisis #AffordableHousing #HousingIsAHumanRight

In 2024, 3,280 people were experiencing homelessness across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. Since 2020, we've seen a 17% decrease in overall homelessness and a 33% drop in unsheltered homelessness. Thanks to Houston's Housing First model, homelessness has been reduced by an incredible 60% since 2011! But as COVID-19 relief funding comes to an end, we need $50 million annually to sustain this progress. Without continued funding, homelessness could rise by 60% again by 2026. 😟 Houston's success has been built on strong collaboration with local leaders, public-private partnerships, and a commitment to permanent housing solutions. Let's keep pushing forward to ensure everyone has a safe place to call home. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gsDYq27h #HoustonStrong #HousingFirst #EndHomelessness #SupportOurCommunity #PublicPrivatePartnerships #TogetherWeCan

Did you know? The terms houselessness or homelessness includes more than just people who are living “rough” or on the streets. People can experience houselessness in many ways. Housing insecurity includes people who are unhoused but also includes those who may be: • Living in unsafe conditions that do not meet public health and safety standards • Accessing emergency shelters • Temporarily accommodated by couch surfing or at places such as a jail, medical or detox facility, or in transitional housing units • At risk of losing their homes or accommodation for any reason, such as being unable to afford rent increases or domestic violence Anyone experiencing any of these forms of housing insecurity is invited to complete the City's Homelessness Estimation Survey to help inform our work to prevent and respond to housing insecurity in our community. Learn more and complete the survey by May 15, at airdrie.ca/hes.

Sedona takes a groundbreaking step to address vehicular homelessness by approving a program that provides temporary housing in an empty parking lot. The initiative aims to offer safe parking spots for families, workers, and students experiencing housing insecurity in the face of a lack of affordable housing in the area. Rising home prices and increased short-term rentals have worsened housing instability, leaving many workers struggling to find affordable housing. With housing needs assessments revealing a significant shortfall of affordable units in Sedona, this program represents a vital interim solution to address immediate challenges. It prioritizes safety and offers essential amenities such as portable restrooms, trash and recycling bins, and cooking facilities. Managed by the Verde Valley Homeless Coalition, the site provides a crucial lifeline for those in need. A New Leaf applauds the city's proactive approach to support families in our community. The program's implementation underscores the urgent need for affordable housing solutions in Sedona and highlights the complexities of addressing homelessness in tourist-dependent cities. Sedona's efforts to provide temporary housing reflect a commitment to compassion and inclusivity, ensuring that all community members have access to safe and dignified living conditions. https://lnkd.in/gf-R72Hd

In light of recent government announcements to address housing need and homelessness -- including the Queensland Government's Homes for Queenslanders Plan and the Housing Summit Outcomes Report -- Q Shelter has assessed the progress and alignment of our policy and investment recommendations. We've seen progress in many of the areas that Q Shelter, on behalf of the housing and homelessness sector, has been calling for, and we believe it's important to acknowledge the forward progress that has been made to-date. There is, of course, more to do, and Q Shelter will continue to call for further progress, especially in these four areas: 1. Address immediate challenges to achieve more homes quickly 2. Achieve genuine prevention of complex homelessness 3. Build capacity in the community housing industry 4. Amplify and embed the voices of people with lived experience of unmet housing needs and homelessness. You can read our full assessment on our website: https://bit.ly/3Uxk7s2 #homematters #bettertogether #homesforqueenslanders

We currently support 47 families in motels, including 49 children through the state government's Immediate Housing Response for Families. While providing immediate shelter, motels are not suitable for long-term living. The conditions are cramped and do not support the basic needs and stability required for a young family. Unfortunately, there are limited options available, and even securing emergency motel accommodation is challenging due to the extreme shortage of available rooms. Investment in early-intervention support and stable housing for young people is critical to break the cycle of long-term homelessness into adulthood. Bipartisan support ensures we can continue to keep young people safe and prevent them from slipping into a cycle of homelessness - while we work to create longer-term solutions. 👉Read the full tory in p4 of today's Courier Mail: https://lnkd.in/gihdkEyP 👉Read QCOSS's 'Breaking Ground' housing crisis update: https://lnkd.in/guafer8z #NewFutures #BrisYouth #BYS #EndYouthHomelessness #PawsonReport #QCOSS

Just released, from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the 2024 State of Homelessness report. Here are some of the Key Facts from this year's report, this is for the United States. 1. Response systems are working effectively, but need more resources to combat the nationwide affordable housing crisis. 2. We are experiencing record-high homeless counts! A 12.1 % Increase. 3. More people than ever are experiencing homelessness for the first time! 23% of those in emergency shelters are having their first experience unhoused. 4. There is a record high number of people living unsheltered. More than 50% of those experiencing homelessness were unsheltered. 5. There is a severe housing cost burden on the rise. 6. Backward movement, after years of progress, due to targeted assistance, we are seeing the number of veterans and chronically unhoused individuals increase. Below, is a snapshot of what Oregon is experiencing in terms of housing cost burden and minimum wages. https://lnkd.in/gxENHpxV

In recent years, homelessness in New York City has reached the highest level since the Great Depression of the 1930s. In April 2024, 131,940 people slept each night in NYC shelters. Thousands more (there is no reliable number, as the annual HOPE estimate is deeply flawed) slept unsheltered in public spaces, and more than 200,000 people slept temporarily doubled-up in the homes of others. Thus, it can be estimated that more than 350,000 people were without homes in NYC in April 2024. . . . Help us continue our important work! We can end homelessness together, forever. Housing is a fundamental human right. No one should have to worry about where they are going to sleep tonight. 📃 Source:Basic Facts About Homelessness: New York City; Coalition for the Homeless, Inc. #endhomelessness #endthestigma #doubledup #doubledupishomeless #housingisahumanright #winterwalk #nyc #newyorkcity #homelessinnyc