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Is ending homelessness a realistic goal?

 

Are members of your discussion group in support current National/regional efforts to end homelessness, or support a reduction of government efforts and criminalization of the homeless, or support the search and application of best practices in the courts/jails, medical care for the poor and foster care/juvenile detention, and why?

 

What was new for you to learn about the “other side” regarding the continuing efforts to end homelessness balancing against efforts to keep the homeless from overwhelming a community’s public space?

 

 

OPTION ONE

The general practices and policies aimed at making the homeless experience less extreme are acceptable, the current pace and programs are acceptable.  Managing the problems of homelessness are being replaced with policies of inspired by Housing First and permanent supportive housing exist under Federal oversight, and should continue regardless of the next Administration 

.

 

Today, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness is leading a coordinated plan to treat homelessness as mental health problem.  Besides aligning federal programs, the Council is advocating the Housing First model, the permanent supportive housing program.  Currently, The Opening Doors campaign is working on the community and regional levels.  These coordinated efforts can claim of a reduction of homelessness in 2014 because the work of targeting veterans.  2015 goals are working on housing homeless families and building up homeless prevention programs.  The Council and others, including the National Alliance to End Homelessness, have stated goals to end chronic homelessness in the coming years.

 

Trade offs

Co-ordination comes from national level.               Uses Federal money on local level

Underwrites local activity.                                        with whatever the regional              

coalitions can raise (private, city, state.)

 

Improves cost savings by making targeted            Forcing changes to existing

Resource management.                                            systems of management.

 

 

Taken 40 years but we building                                                                

Systems to meet need

 

Works with or against laws with

Anti-homeless bias.

 

Cities spend, on average, $87 per day to jail a person, compared with $28 per day to provide them with shelter. U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Opening doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness 18 (2010)
http:// usich.gov/PDF/OpeningDoors_2010_FSPPreventEndHomeless.pdf

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness

http://usich.gov/

 

National Alliance to End Homelessness

http://www.endhomelessness.org/

 

Number of homeless over the years.

http://www.povertyliving.com/2013/03/homeless-statistics-in-the-united-states/

        Introduction                         Basics                             History of American Homeless
                               
         The Options    Discussion Option 1  Discussion Option 2  Discussion  Option 3                                                                 About This Guide
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