Momentum

I had the great privilege of attending the third national Housing First Partners Conference this past week. I gave a presentation about the shelter program that was well received. I was also able to hear presentations about all kinds of inspiring things happening around the world (Canada, France, Italy!) and here in the United States. What I took away from the conference is that momentum is building for change. Over 750 people attended to discuss the concept of Housing First and how to scale it up. 

On the last day of the conference, Congresswoman Maxine Waters proposed landmark legislation to put $13.27 billion in relief over the next 5 years towards ending homelessness in the United States. This would allow for more money to flow through every level of government towards homeless services. It would go for creating more housing and for support services in order to help people in housing who have more complex challenges.

In this country, we are hearing more and more about income inequality, minimum wage increases, and affordable housing, and we have a presidential campaign centering on many of these issues. We are hearing that the cost of housing is skyrocketing in San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle, due in part to the rapid introduction of large tech companies and the lack of a clear plan for addressing affordable housing and homelessness issues before it is too late.

People often wonder why homelessness is so visible and seems to keep getting worse. They expect to hear answers about addiction, domestic violence, mental illness, etc. These issues have been in society for thousands of years, and though they are often part of the experience of homelessness, mass homelessness like we currently have in the United States didn't start until the late 1980s. Together with a tax code overhaul and de-institutionalization of the mental health system, Ronald Reagan's Massive cuts to the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (three-quarters of the budget from $32 billion in 1981 to $7.5 billion by 1988) created the picture of modern mass homelessness in the United States. ​ Homelessness is an economic issue that centers around income inequality, lack of viable job opportunities, and the rising cost of housing.

So why am I telling you this?

Momentum is building for something to shift when it comes to the issue of homelessness in the United States. Effort must come from every level of government and the private sector to make change happen.  Ask yourself, your neighbors, and your elected leaders--what are we doing to address homelessness in our city? 

Our city is in the midst of creating a "Downtown Strategy" to plan for the large growth that we are expected to see in our area over the next 20 years. Housing is a big part of this conversation, but it is centered around market-rate housing and new development.  Are there development incentives planned to ensure adequate, affordable housing remains in all areas of our city? Is there a plan for citing social services to ensure that people's basic needs are met?  Will we make a plan to adequately address affordable housing and homeless issues in a way that benefits all people in our city?

Our 37 shelter beds and the Drexel House 16 men's beds are the only year-round shelter beds in the county for single adults. Ours is the only public shelter for single women and the only one that takes walk-ups on a nightly basis.