#SCOTUS' decision on #JohnsonVGrantsPass allows local governments to punish people for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go, even though experts agree that criminalizing homelessness only makes it harder to solve. Luckily, the rest of this week’s news has the Bay Area poised to double down on proven solutions to homelessness. ✔ On Tuesday, we released our Regional Action Plan that serves as a roadmap to making homelessness rare, brief and one-time. ✔ On Wednesday, MTC voted to put a $20 billion affordable housing bond measure on the November ballot of all Bay Area counties. ✔ On Thursday, the Legislature voted to put structural change to enable housing solutions on the ballot statewide through ACA 10. Despite the disappointing ruling made earlier today, we cannot afford to let it distract us from the proven solutions right in front of us. Let’s come together and choose a better future for the Bay Area, where everyone in our region can stay here and thrive. https://lnkd.in/gz9ZDqKP

Could being homeless be a crime? Cost of living continues to rise and cities struggle to provide housing and to effectively handle unhoused populations. In the case of Grants Pass v. Gloria Johnson —heard by the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday — the plaintiffs argued that cities ought to be able to use criminal law to clear out homeless encampments. There’s no easy answer to solving the homelessness crisis in America. But there is good news: evidence strongly suggests that temporary assistance produces long-lasting positive effects. A recent study conducted by Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) found that persons who received an average of $2,000 in emergency financial assistance were “81 percent less likely to become homeless within six months of enrollment and 73 percent less likely within 12 months.” SVDP puts homelessness prevention into practice in a host of programs in over 1,000 cities around the country. If you agree that we need to find humane, lasting solutions to our homelessness crisis, you’ll be interested in the amazing work our Vincentian volunteers do. Find out more right here: https://ow.ly/hl4J50Rm9Zx #homelessnessprevention #poverty #homelessness

Snapshot of Homelessness In the District of Columbia: The 2024 Point-In-Time Count Results Are In... Since 2023 there has been a 14% increase in homelessness. African American communities in the District are the most cost burdened by rent. Homelessness among families increased by 39%, but remains down, by 30% from 2020. To read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eiSe_zfn

Voting #YesOnA will: ✅Keep critical care in place ✅Prevent homelessness from increasing ✅Ensure funding goes to the most effective services ✅Build more affordable housing The choice is simple 🤝 Say YES on A to prevent homelessness and build more housing people can afford. Learn more: https://yesona.la/

We strongly object to the recent Supreme Court decision on the case of City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Gloria Johnson – a #ruling that will make it easier for authorities to punish people for experiencing homelessness, even when there is no adequate #shelter.   The Court’s June 28 decision runs counter to our deeply held belief that this nation’s laws and policies should protect the most vulnerable people in our community – not threaten them.   At Abode, our stance is clear: Homelessness is not a crime, it is a crisis – one that is a result of #systemic failures that have produced fewer than 24 affordable units for every 100 people who need them.   Criminalizing homelessness is wrong – in every way. It is cruel, ineffective, costly, and it creates unnecessary barriers to fighting poverty. Arresting or fining people who don’t have a home worsens cycles of #homelessness and makes it more difficult to find solutions.   We respectfully but wholeheartedly condemn the Supreme Court’s ruling on the case of City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Gloria Johnson.   Cruelty and craven policies do nothing to solve #poverty and homelessness.   The solution to homelessness is housing, not handcuffs. #HousingFirst #HousingEndsHomelessness #HousingNotHandcuffs

"Given the consensus that we are facing a housing crisis in our community, now is the time to unite behind the most effective methods for reducing homelessness. Criminalization of homelessness simply has no place in that effort." — Meg Zaletel, executive director, Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness 🏠 Meg points to proven strategies when she says access to affordable, stable housing and supportive services is the most effective approach to ending homelessness. It is a bipartisan, evidence-based practice backed by multiple, national studies: https://lnkd.in/d259W43H #EndHomelessness #AffordableHousing #SupportiveServices 🌟

A staggering 25% of homeless individuals in the U.S. are children—an alarming reality that calls for urgent action. These children face uncertainty and hardship, often without the safety and security of a place to call home. The solution is clear: building affordable homes can significantly reduce homelessness and provide a stable environment for these vulnerable families. At Urban Sites Housing, we are committed to creating affordable housing that gives children and families the chance to thrive. By addressing this need, we’re not only reducing homelessness but also building a stronger future for the next generation. #EndHomelessness #AffordableHousing #SupportChildren #UrbanSitesHousing #HomesForAll #BuildingFuture

This year’s Victorian Budget needs to be “The Homelessness Budget”. We’re in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime homelessness crisis, and there’s no time left to wait for a major intervention. This Budget, Victoria needs: 🏠 6,000 more socials homes built every year for the next 4 years 🤝 $64.5 million over 4 years for overwhelmed entry points 🧾 $30 million over 4 years for eviction prevention programs, to avoid more people falling into homelessness. Read out full budget submission here: https://lnkd.in/ghg72PU9 #TheHomelessnessBudget #VicBudget #EndHomelessness #vicpol

As homeless rates increase across the United States, it has become a policy focus across all levels of government. The most important place to start is the main cause of homelessness: the lack of affordable housing. We must acknowledge that a combination of a minimum wage which does not cover basic housing needs and a shortage of low priced units in our state will result in some of our neighbors being unhoused. You can learn more about this topic by reading the rest of our newest Weekly Perspective blog post here: https://lnkd.in/ggnCmta2 You can also attend our March Friday Forum on the topic of "Permanent Supportive Housing" online on March 8th, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Registration and details here: 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: What Housing Programs are Available?" with a background photo of a person handing over a house key #EmpowerMOperspective #WeeklyPerspective #Blog #Missouri  #HousingJustice #Homelessness #HousingCrisis #AffordableHousing #HousingIsAHumanRight

The number of people enduring unsheltered homelessness rose across the U.S. last year. Meanwhile, homelessness response systems are working diligently to rehouse people while facing limited resources. 🤲 The National Alliance to End Homelessness writes that with the proper funding and leadership, communities would have the flexibility to choose strategies that fit their local needs and capacity and #EndHomelessnessOC once and for all! 🔗 Read up on the roadblocks and solutions: https://bit.ly/3J3xBoQ