Illumination Foundation’s Post

In partnership with the Upstate Continuum of Care our March GHA ENGAGE included an advocate update. We urge you to read https://lnkd.in/egK_2CVh and join efforts in ensuring that homelessness is not further criminalized. We are a collective voice for people experiencing homelessness and for those working to eliminate homelessness. The 2024 Advocacy Agenda includes the U.S. Supreme Court case of the City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Gloria Johnson under the category of monitoring which addresses issues that may move into legislation and have the potential to impact homelessness. The case will determine whether, under our Constitution, a local government can make it a crime to involuntarily live outside and unsheltered, when adequate shelter is not available. Watch and share this 60 second video to hear from Christopher and Mary Kay Campbell on how to create hope https://lnkd.in/e-_9Gpua. The Salvation Army of Greenville County, SC, Miracle Hill Ministries, Inc., United Ministries, Pendleton Place have full emergency shelter beds. United Housing Connections is nearing completion of 36 homes at Church Street Place that will expand Greenville's capacity of permanent supportive housing - similar to where Christopher found hope and stability. On April 22, 2024, the US Supreme Court will convene marking a watershed moment in the legal landscape surrounding homelessness, criminalization, and the rights of unsheltered individuals. This landmark case holds profound significance as it grapples with the fundamental question of whether cities can lawfully penalize individuals, including veterans, for engaging in basic activities such as sleeping, sitting, or residing outdoors with minimal shelter options available. Learn more from the NATIONAL COALTION FOR HOMELESS VETERANS and National Alliance to End Homelessness. #gvlhomes4all #greenvillesc #endhomelessness #advocate #educate #collaborate #connectedcommunity

November 11-18 is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week! This is an annual week of action sponsored by @NationalCoalitionfortheHomeless and @ResolvetoFightPoverty working to bring awareness to hunger and homelessness through a series of educational, service, fundraising, and advocacy events! In the wealthiest country in the world, it’s an outrage that so many people go hungry and without stable, safe housing. Nobody should have to choose which of their basic necessities to forgo, but that is the reality for so many of us. As a society, we have more than enough resources to ensure everybody has their basic needs met. At the Alliance for Rights and Recovery, we know that access to food is key to health and stable housing is a key to community success. Learn about our work towards housing. Over the past 20 years, we have worked with the New York State government as well as served in numerous legislative advocacy coalitions to increase housing access. Learn more about Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week at https://hhweek.org/

We are grateful for the continued support from the Nationwide Foundation for A New Leaf’s Homeless and Domestic Violence Shelter Services, and for Sr. AVP, Eric M., volunteer service on our Board of Directors. With this year’s contribution, A New Leaf will provide services that address social determinants of health for community members experiencing homelessness and domestic violence. During the past few years, Phoenix rental prices have increased much faster than incomes, making it harder for renters to stay in their homes. In January 2024, a record number of evictions were filed in Maricopa County, creating a desperate need for services that provide shelter and support for individuals experiencing homelessness. The intersection of domestic violence and homelessness is undeniable. Approximately 1 in 4 women and women with children are homeless because of their experiences with domestic violence, and women who are homeless are more vulnerable to domestic and sexual violence. Support from community partners, like Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation, increases A New Leaf’s capacity to offer more than a bed in a shelter. Our wrap-around services and a continuum of care help people move from crisis to long-term stability.

📣 Calling all LEA Homeless Liaisons: Help Us Support Your Efforts with a quick survey! ➡️ surveymonkey.com/r/5PMKT3J ⬅️ It should take no more than 10 minutes of your time (and does not require you to look up specific information). We’ll use your input to educate policymakers, district administrators, school business officials, and others to help you leverage this final year of ARP-HCY funds and better support children and youth experiencing #homelessness. What's the impact? In 2020, SHC’s survey of #LEA homeless liaisons helped persuade decision-makers to appropriate $800 million in dedicated funding to identify and support students experiencing homelessness through American Rescue Plan Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) funds. *Individual responses will be kept confidential and will not be shared unless you provide SHC explicit permission.*

Leeze’s new blog is on system solutions to support minors experiencing homelessness and housing instability. Hint: they are all cross-system and/or multidisciplinary approaches that put the power back in the hands of youth themselves. These approaches all also accept referrals/clients under ALL definitions of homelessness including at risk and unstably housed populations. You can’t effectively serve minors if you’re excluding unstably housed youth and youth at risk of imminently losing their housing. We get asked all the time how to best support minors. Check it out 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

Tampa Calling | Investigating the Homeless Crisis in Tampa - Part 2 by Adam Scull https://lnkd.in/eW87WvtR The homeless situation within Tampa is alarming, with a figure of 57 individuals per 10,000 residents, surpassing the rest of the St. Petersburg metropolitan region. Approximately 16,000 individuals in Tampa are homeless, with a significant part being children. The numbers highlight the pressing and intricate homelessness crisis in Tampa, emphasizing the necessity for holistic solutions. The under-reporting contributes to the complexity, suggesting that the accurate figures could be larger than what is documented. It is especially worrisome to see the sharp increase in homelessness among older adults and families with children, considering their vulnerability in society. Under-reporting exacerbated the complexity of addressing homelessness, impeding effective interventions. Intensifying efforts to find and aid homeless individuals and families in Tampa is underscored by the under-reported figures.

On April 22nd, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States will confront the pivotal case of Johnson v. Grants Pass. This case is about the fundamental rights and dignity of homeless individuals nationwide. The outcome could reshape how cities treat those without safe shelter, impacting hundreds of thousands of lives. I'm heading to DC to stand with advocates like the National Homelessness Law Center, National Coalition for the Homeless and allies from across the country who believe that housing is a human right. Together, we'll rally at the courthouse during oral arguments to demand justice and compassion. This issue is deeply personal. Ten years ago, my mom died while living outdoors and experiencing chronic homelessness. For many years she moved between shelters, cars, hotels, and transitional housing because she couldn't access the permanent supportive housing she desperately needed. Too often, she felt safest sleeping outdoors behind a church—alone with her thoughts, finding solace in the sounds of the beach, clinging to one of the few things she could control. As her daughter and someone who has dedicated their career to addressing homelessness, I worried deeply about her health and safety. But like the thousands of unhoused people I've worked with, my mom didn't need to be arrested—she needed housing and services to help her. My mom shouldn't have been sleeping outside. No one should. She shouldn't have died without the dignity of a roof. No one should. She deserved better. Every mom, dad, aunt. grandma, veteran, senior and person who is unhoused does. But the answer isn't arresting people who have nowhere to go. It's housing! Homelessness is a policy choice. One that can be solved with investments in housing solutions at the scale of the crisis. Instead of addressing the root causes, some cities and states want to punish the homeless. This is not just ineffective; it's morally wrong . Join me in taking a stand. Let's tell SCOTUS that we demand real solutions, not punitive measures. Visit https://lnkd.in/gHf5JJMw and be part of the movement for housing justice. Together, we can make a difference. #EndHomelessness #HousingJustice #HousingNotHandcuffs 

The number of homeless people in Connecticut is on the rise, and a growing number are seniors. According to a recent report by the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, there were 3,015 people experiencing homelessness in the state in January 2023, up from 2,930 in January 2022. Of those, 300 were seniors 65 and older. The rise in homelessness among older people is a complex problem, but it is one that can be solved with the right support and resources. At Renewal House, we provide services that help residents to rebuild their lives one step at a time. From transitional housing and case management to counseling and life skills training, we help older adults who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless regain their independence. #NationalNonProfitDay #RenewalHouseHelps #HomelessnessAwareness #SeniorsInNeed #CommunitySupport #EndingHomelessness #MakingADifference #GiveBack #ChangeLives #SupportingSeniors #HopeForAll #EmpowermentMatters #HomelessSeniors #BuildingIndependence #RenewalForSeniors #TogetherForChange #NonProfitImpact #CaringCommunities #SeniorEmpowerment #HomelessnessSolutions #EveryStepCounts

Stereotypes surrounding homelessness often overshadow the diverse and complex realities faced by individuals and families. The stories of James and Judette remind us that no one is immune to homelessness, and many, like them, face this challenge with resilience, compassion, and transformative strength. After losing their baby son in 2018, James Eliscar and his wife almost became homeless due to overwhelming medical and funeral bills. This heartbreaking event inspired James to start a housing clinic for those facing eviction or foreclosure. What began as a community-driven initiative has evolved into Sarepta's housing pillar, empowering marginalized neighbors like Judette. After multiple evictions following her husband's sudden death, Judette found herself experiencing homelessness. Through legal aid and financial literacy workshops, Sarepta equips individuals like her to pursue homeownership and financial stability. Sarepta Women and Children Empowerment Center, one of our Community Action Grant winners, aims not only to address immediate needs but also systemic issues around housing insecurity. Join us in breaking stereotypes about homelessness and fostering a more empathetic society where every person's story is valued and respected. Learn more here 👉 https://bit.ly/4aLQDvn #EmpathyInAction #HousingJusticeHeroes #BreakingStereotypes