ARTICLE: We can expect a dramatic rise in Pierce County’s homeless population
From the Tacoma News Tribune:
We can expect a dramatic rise in Pierce County’s homeless population
Last updated: November 1st, 2011 12:18 AM (PDT)Imagine for a minute that a tornado hits Sumner and does extensive damage. Afterward, people will be displaced until repairs can be accomplished over a period of several years. The 2010 Census listed Sumner’s population as 9,541 persons.
Now consider that in Pierce County as a whole, an estimated 9,030 persons will lose their DSHS financial assistance by the end of this year. As a result, they will lose – or be at severe risk of losing – their housing. More than 5,000 of those persons will have exhausted their Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) benefits. At least 3,300 will be children.
DSHS will terminate 3,930 adults from Disability Lifeline (DL) today. Some (maybe half) of those persons will be eligible for housing assistance vouchers worth an average of $200 a month for those already housed on DL and $450 a month for those unhoused.
The median rental price for a one-bedroom apartment in Pierce County currently is around $700 per month. Median rental for a two-bedroom apartment is around $900 per month. Neither price includes the cost of background checks and damage deposits. Given those rental costs, all former DL recipients will be at very significant risk of homelessness.
In addition, foreclosure filings are now averaging around 600 filings per month. We are not certain how many people will lose their housing because of foreclosure, but let’s just guess 1,000 per month or 12,000 per year. Many of those people will move to rental housing, thus driving up the rental rates, and driving down the already very limited supply of available and affordable rentals. Some will become homeless.
AccessPoint4Housing (AP4H) is the central place to call for housing assistance in Pierce County. AP4H reports that it received 3,403 unduplicated requests for housing assistance during July, August and September of this year. It was able to help attain or preserve housing for only 378 of those callers, because resources are so limited. Of the requests, 1,340 came from single parents with children (reflecting the end of their TANF benefits).
A group of people equivalent to the population of Sumner probably will be homeless in Pierce County by the end of this year. Maybe equivalent to the combined populations of Sumner and Orting.
We need to consider how each of us will help our neighbors, because there are not a lot of official options. Our homeless shelters are already full. Government will do what it can, as will the social services organizations. The religious communities will do what they can. But it will not be enough. Displaced people will “double up,” “couch surf” or share housing. People will live in their cars. But it will not be enough.
Despite our best efforts, many people will not find shelter. Even though we do not tend to think of it this way, they will become refugees. They will need both our help and understanding just to survive.
When things get so bad that just trying to survive is the only real choice available to displaced people, local governments will need to accept encampments and tent cities, also insisting that they maintain sanitation, safety and prohibitions on drug abuse.
Al Ratcliffe is a community psychologist who serves as the volunteer chairman of Pierce County’s HUD-mandated housing Continuum of Care Committee. The opinions expressed here are solely his own.
VIDEO: Keys to Ending Family Homelessness
A hospital stay or unexpected job loss can cost a family its housing. In the middle of a housing crisis in the U.S., the National Alliance to End Homelessness is helping families—including the almost 1.35 million children who experience homelessness in the course of a year. This video profiles three communities that are providing fast, safe housing, and making great strides towards eliminating family homelessness. Video and explanation courtesy of the Gates Foundation.
ARTICLE: Mayor Bloomberg’s Silver Bullet Misses the Mark
Insightful article on the impacts of Rapid Rehousing and Housing First on homelessness in NY City. Surprising and unsettling as the nation moves this direction as its primary strategy…from the Summer 2011 edition of “Uncensored.” Click here for the article.
Full link here:
ARTICLE: What does the “debt deal” mean for homelessness?
This article comes from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, an organization that Helping Hand House has worked alongside in implementation of national-level strategies here in Pierce County. More at www.endhomelessness.org.
What does the “debt deal” mean for homelessness?
Today’s guest post was written by Alliance Vice President for Programs and Policy Steve Berg.
Many of us – especially people outside the beltway – are asking ourselves, “What just happened?”
People who follow what goes on in Washington, D.C. have been watching an ugly debate over federal spending, taxation, and borrowing. On the news, it’s been commonly referred to as the “debt ceiling” debate. For now, that debate is over, to be resumed at a later date.
There are plenty of people commenting on who got the better of whom; today I’ll try to cover what the “debt deal” could mean for homelessness.
First, a quick summary of the debt deal. It cuts federal spending in two ways:
First, it sets maximum levels for discretionary spending (spending that is set each year through the appropriations process, including virtually all targeted spending for homelessness programs) for the next 10 years. The impact of the debt deal comes mostly in the later years. For the 2012 fiscal year that begins in October 2011, discretionary spending is set at $1.042 trillion, $7 billion less than FY 2011 funding levels and $98 billion less than the Obama Administration’s budget request for FY 2012.
Second, the debt deal cuts spending through additional across-the-board reductions to most domestic and defense programs, this time including not only discretionary spending but also some entitlements like Medicare. These will begin in 2013, with the total cuts over ten years to be $1.2 trillion. Some programs for low-income people (Medicaid, for example) would be exempt from the automatic cuts, but others, like Section 8, would not be exempt, which could mean that thousands of families lose their housing. Instead of allowing these cuts, Congress can pass a bill proposed by a “super-committee,” reducing federal debt by at least $1.2 trillion through some combination of spending cuts and revenue increases. But the super-committee has to do that by the end of the 2011 calendar year.So how will this affect homelessness? No decisions have been made on the details, but there are two ways this deal could have an impact.
First is the impact of the maximum levels set for discretionary funding. This could impact funding for targeted homelessness programs, especially the Emergency Shelter Grants and Continuum of Care run by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In his original budget, the President proposed an increase of $471 million for HUD’s homeless assistance for 2012 to implement the HEARTH Act, finance 10,000 new HUD-VASH vouchers, and create 7,500 targeted rent vouchers for the Housing and Services for Homeless Persons demonstration. In light of the high rate of joblessness and the struggling economy, all those new resources are desperately needed for homeless and at-risk people. But now we know that overall discretionary spending for FY 2012 will be nearly $100 billion less than what the President’s budget proposed which could jeopardize the creation of these new resources.
Secondly, the work of the “super-committee,” carried out under intense time pressure, creates many dangers in the long run. While entitlement programs for low-income people are exempt from the automatic cuts that take place if the super-committee does nothing, they are not exempt from a super-committee proposal. Roll-backs in Medicaid or TANF, for example, may be tempting for the members of the “super-committee” when they’re overwhelmed with the task of finding cuts to the federal budget. But we know that such cuts would be devastating for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and rely on federal programs.
In this context, protecting federal homelessness programs will require a lot of work. And the work will only get harder in succeeding years.
Fortunately, the effectiveness of these programs, the vulnerability of homeless people, and the bipartisan history of the work provide a strong case, but the case has to be made. Increased funding remains eminently doable, but only if people in Congress know that it is important back home.
That’s where you come in. The Alliance’s grassroots efforts have always proved effective. The Alliance works to connect passionate citizens with their Members of Congress so that lawmakers can hear, first-hand, the needs and concerns of their constituents. This is the most effective way that we, as everyday people, can best affect policy change.
To find out what you can do to protect homeless assistance programs, please contact us. You can learn more by visiting our website.
Success Story: Employment is the Key
Ed and Sarah came into Emergency Housing in April. Ed had been the sole breadwinner for the family, and lost his job due to an illness. With no income, it was not long before the family had lost their home and were desperate for help.
During their time in the program, they took hold of every resource that was available, including budgeting, employment assistance, and options available through partners of Helping Hand House. They enrolled their 5 year old daughter in school for the first time. Ed is taking parenting classes through the Sumner Family Support Center. Both Ed and Sarah now have 2 jobs, and their household income went from $1,600 per month upon program entry to over $2,500 per month at graduation. Ed is working as an employment counselor for people with developmental disabilities, and part-time at Target. Sarah was hired as a customer service representative at Virgin Airlines, and has part-time work through a temp agency.
They saved $750 during their 3 months in the program. These funds, along with a cleaning bonus provided by HHH to assist families upon move-out, allowed them to move into an apartment of their own. They are completely self-sufficient, and are no longer receiving housing assistance of any kind. Not only are they getting back on their feet, they now have the dignity of providing for their own family, important life skills, and a story to tell.
VIDEO: Evidence of a Change: Motivational Interviewing (MI) vs. Coaching
Helping Hand House’s Pat Williams describes the elements that make evidence-based Motivational Interviewing (MI) is effective in creating change, as compared to “coaching.” Motivational Interviewing is the model used by Helping Hand House case managers, and is extremely effective at helping individuals overcome challenges and achieve their goals. Learn more about HHH’s use of Motivational Interviewing
ARTICLE: Of cardboard boxes, kids and homelessness
Great idea for experiential learning from visionary student, teachers, and a State Senator! Applause to you, folks!
Article published Jul 8, 2011 (Foster’s Daily – NH/ME)
STRAFFORD — What would drive a school guidance counselor to go dumpster diving?
If you said looking for a place for some students to sleep, you’d be right.
With a little advice from the homeless center director, Strafford School’s Rick Kaufman recently made a trip to Strafford Appliance in Dover in hopes of finding some temporary shelter. What he found were a couple large boxes, each capable of housing two sixth graders or one principal.
Fortunately, the accommodations were for one night only as Strafford School held its first “Sleep-out for the Homeless.” Students, parents and staff hunkered down June 17 for a wet evening on the school field. The event was intended to teach the students a lesson, to increase awareness of homelessness and to raise money for the Homeless Center for Strafford County.
“Most people, when they think of homelessness, think of that person on the side of the street pushing a shopping cart,” said sixth grader Summer Barnes. “But there are all types of homelessness.”
Barnes read about the concept of sleep-outs for the homeless while researching current events for social studies.
Guidance Counselor Kaufman is also in charge of the school’s “student helpers,” a group of 11 students to which Barnes belongs. The student helpers act as big buddies for younger students and also run several events a year aimed at helping others.
“We decided to take Summer’s idea for a sleep-out and make it a fundraiser for the shelter,” Kaufman said.
As the evening began, the skies opened up and blanketed the area with rain water. Plastic protected some of the cardboard boxes somewhat, but the rain made for miserable sleeping conditions. The rain ended as the staff was making the call of whether or not to move the event indoors and they decided to continue outside. The threat of thunderstorms had subsided. Some students and parents slept shelterless in sleeping bags, some in tents, some in Home Depot boxes and one father/daughter team even carted out a park bench and set up a lean-to against it.
“The fact that there was rain was good, it added a level of apprehension about the weather,” Kaufman said. “It made it a little more uncomfortable. The boxes got wet. This gave it an edge and made it more realistic in my opinion.”
But the evening wasn’t all about suffering. Kids swung on the swing set, threw frisbees and played around as they should at that age, Kaufman noted. People gathered around a fire pit, provided by Principal Jerry Gregoire, for talking and marshmallows.
“It doesn’t replicate what it is like to be homeless, but just being outdoors and knowing about it leant to a cause,” Kaufman said.
State Senator Jim Forsythe (R-Dist. 4) took part in the sleep-out with his daughter and Principal Gregoire was one of the cardboard box sleepers.
Kaufman estimates that about 55 people took part in the sleep-out. Bathrooms in the school were made available throughout the night as were the drinking fountains. Students were sent to “bed” around 10 p.m. about the same time that a fox was spotted roaming the grounds. Parents and guardians followed around 11 p.m.
“It was very successful. I always wish there were more people taking part,” Kaufman said. “But everyone involved liked it. Overall it was a very positive experience.”
Kaufman didn’t sleep, opting to stay on watch for the evening. Around 3:30 a.m. the clouds parted and he was the sole member of the group to enjoy an unobstructed view of the moon.
At 6:30 a.m. Senator Forsythe provided some cinnamon buns for everyone and the Brownies and Daisies provided muffins before participants broke down their sleeping areas and headed home.
Kaufman likes to allow the students to run as much of their big events as possible. For Sleep-out for the Homeless, Barnes, fellow sixth grader Briahnna Neily and seventh grader Emily Greene took up the majority of the preparations. None of the girls are strangers to volunteerism, from the soup kitchen to Muscular Dystrophy walks, a cider festival and the Cocheco Valley Humane Society. Recently, Barnes asked her parents to begin donating what they would spend on her birthday present to Resurge International, an organization that helps to provide surgery for those around the world with repairable deformities or injuries.
Sue Harris, from Third Baptist Church, sees the girls with her work at the Food Pantry and the Community Kitchen.
“Any time you bring awareness of social issues with youth to let them know what’s going on and to have a heart, that’s an issue the community should support,” she said. “You don’t have to solve the world’s problems. You can do one little thing.”
One of the early steps in planning for the sleep-out was “Dessert and Dialogue: Homelessness in New Hampshire,” an informational meeting which was attended by, among others, Susan Ford, executive director for the Homeless Center for Strafford County, Maureen Beauregard, of Families in Transition, and Erica MacNeil, liaison for homeless youth for SAU 44. This meeting sparked the idea of using the sleep-out to raise funds for the homeless center.
Sleep-out for the Homeless raised $1,836. All of the funds will be donated to the Homeless Center for Strafford County. Even in this off season, they are accepting bathroom and cleaning supplies, monetary donations or gift certificates, just about anything that can keep through the summer.
Third grader Jack Holland raised the most funds in the lower school and Briahnna Neily raised the most in the upper school thanks in great part to a donation from Lonza Biologics, of Portsmouth, where her father works.
If you find yourself in the unenviable position of dumpster diving, Kaufman recommends appliance store boxes and notes that there is generally plenty of plastic to help weatherproof. And though Home Depot boxes might be more environmentally sound, they are flimsy when it comes to shelter.
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110708/GJCOMMUNITY_01/707089983/-1/FOSNEWS
VIDEO: “When No One’s Looking”
This video from the NY Times gives a window into the reality for many homeless kids, doing their best to survive. Listen to the stories of why they are there…
