The Road Home’s Post

The Supreme Court is set to decide on the City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson case by June 30th. This case marks the first major #homelessness related decision since the 1980s, determining the constitutionality of penalizing individuals for sleeping outdoors on public property in communities with insufficient #affordablehousing or shelter. “While people enduring homelessness often face serious challenges—joblessness, health problems, domestic abuse, racial discrimination—placing them rapidly into a permanent home with supportive services is the most effective way of keeping them permanently off the streets. A 2021 study showed that prioritizing housing with services decreased homelessness by 88%. It's also a good investment. An independent CDC panel found that for every dollar invested in such #housing, taxpayers realize $1.44 in savings.” Read the full article: https://bit.ly/3VLCUyS

On April 22, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Grants Pass v Johnson---to decide whether local governments can arrest people for sleeping outside--despite there not being other options for where to sleep. In this op ed in The Hill, Gregg Colburn and I argue that criminalization of homelessness is (in addition to being cruel), counterproductive. And its adherents present a false dichotomy. We show that there are other choices--namely--housing. And we show it can be done, if appropriately scaled. Did you know that -- with collaboration and funds from the Federal Government--homelessness among veterans have decreased by half, by using Housing First principles? Because Housing First is a bipartisan, evidence based strategy to end homelessness. Criminalizing extreme poverty is traumatizing and counterproductive. Housing ends homelessness. https://lnkd.in/ggVdzmxm UCSF Benioff Homelessness & Housing Initiative The OpEd Project #PublicVoices

Criminalizing homelessness IS criminal. Homelessness is a symptom of failure in leadership. Housing is the foundation for stability, good health, education, and true equity. During this escalation of the housing crisis and cost of living, housing should be first priority. After all, when people have housing, job retention increases, it supports the local economy, and strengthens communities. #affordablehousing #housingcrisis

📢 As homelessness rates soar in the U.S., the need for a unified, constructive approach intensifies. Did you know that homelessness is being criminalized at a shocking pace? Learn how you can contribute to the solution➡️ https://lnkd.in/eS9Tv6kU

"This worsening tragedy is a societal failure that disturbs the conscience, particularly in light of the profound consequences that homelessness unleashes.... Stabilizing housing for older adults [through prevention efforts] is the best way to spare them the pain, suffering, humiliation, and indignity of becoming homeless." Please take a moment to read this important Marin County Grant Jury report on the need for the County of Marin to develop a homelessness prevention strategy for older adults in our community. "The 2023-2024 Marin County Grand Jury (Grand Jury) reviewed the County’s current homelessness programs and services and concluded that little or no attention is being paid to prevention. There are few services for older adults on the precipice of losing their housing. Despite several previous Grand Jury reports regarding the growing need to prioritize the housing needs of older adults, there remains a lack of urgency in establishing a systemic approach that would ensure a long-term commitment to implementing and maintaining practical solutions that prevent older adults from falling into homelessness. This report contains recommendations that the Board should implement immediately to prevent this crisis from worsening. The Grand Jury recommends the development of a strategic plan for homelessness prevention. In addition, the Grand Jury recommends that the Board complete a cost-benefit analysis that compares the cost of providing services to people after they become homeless, to the cost of proposed homelessness prevention solutions. The Grand Jury also recommends that the Community Development Agency (CDA) be designated as the lead agency to coordinate all efforts related to homelessness prevention for older adults." #prevention #agingequity

As many communities prepare to participate in the annual 2024 Point-in-Time count this week, the National Alliance to End Homelessness looks ahead on what we think 2024 will bring for homelessness and housing issues, and how we as a field can best position ourselves to be successful across a number of priorities. Here are some key things to look out for in the upcoming year: 🏘 Responding to New and Existing Challenges: homelessness is up across the board this year, especially unsheltered homelessness. It is imperative that we work together to let our local, state, and national leaders know what works and what investments are needed to turn the tide. 🏘 Homelessness as an Election Issue: We all have to step up to educate elected officials and the public so that we are actively working towards solutions. We must all challenge and name when tactics are advanced in the name of political opportunists, or as a means of dividing voters: because our communities are safer and stronger when everyone has a home, and this benefits us all. 🏘 Homelessness and the Supreme Court: The Supreme Court will decide if localities can ban involuntary unsheltered homelessness within their borders, or if doing so when no shelter is available constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. 🏘 Anticipating Progress in 2024: Among all of these hard things, there are bright spots. Such as affordable housing is already winning on the ballot, several states have fought back against criminalization efforts, programs are using their funds to innovate, and the Alliance’s work is helping people in our sector to do their jobs better. 2024 will be a big year for #homelessness and we need each and every person to stand with us. Read more: #endhomelessness https://lnkd.in/eYuPTeTZ

Under the Shadows of Prosperity: The Criminalization of Homelessness in the United States   Explore the impact of criminalizing homelessness in Denver, from legal challenges to societal implications and the push for compassionate policies. https://lnkd.in/gVYvwsHS

https://lnkd.in/gv_-b5w5 Excellent opinion about the need to change our approaches to homelessness. They aren't working. What's that saying about the definition of insanity? Excellent commentary about the need to change our strategies for addressing homelessness. Clearly the "old way" isn't working. As we know, the definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result."

More than 600,000 people experience homelessness on a given night in America—nearly half of these people (250,000) sleep outside. Homelessness is increasing across the country, as more and more hardworking households struggle to make ends meet. Rent is expensive, wages are too low, and we have seen decades of failed housing policies. Instead of focusing on solutions like rental assistance and eviction prevention, cities and states are trying to arrest their way out of homelessness. We believe the solution is not court or jail. The solution is to provide people with housing with services and policies that can help reduce rates of poverty. By June 30th, SCOTUS will have made their decision. Let’s all hope Johnson wins! If not, it will give cities and states permission to punish people who are forced to sleep outside, even when they have no other safe option. A ruling like this would not only do anything to end homelessness, it would punish people for existing in public simply because they have nowhere else to go. #johnsonvgrantspass #endhomelessness

Yesterday's #JohnsonVGrantsPass case discussed various questions related to criminalizing homelessness. However, it should push us to reflect on the resources & investments needed to truly support those living without homes. Read my article just published in the Connecticut Mirror- https://lnkd.in/ePrWx2bg