Great article, Fran! It's inspiring to read about your work and projects like Motels4Now. That federal monies that are being allocated to alleviate this problem in our country is testimony that our lawmakers recognize that it's a big problem. But it is people like you with their feet on the ground who make this happen! With the various frustrations involved, it's got to be the hardest undertaking! I admire all you people who are willing and able to take it on. Your newsletters are always inspiring!
I love what you describe as the Motels4Now model! It would be great if we would clone it. HOWEVER…what do we do about the millions of those who don’t fit HUD’s narrow definition of homelessness? The HousingFirst approach, while not perfect, also excludes many families, youth and adults who have lost housing. Many will “grow into” the HUD version of homelessness, an unacceptable outcome for all.
Agreed, Diane. I must say I’ve never understood why any interpretation of Housing First would exclude the populations you describe, which include our eviction court clients. To me, Housing First is a human rights concept at its core, which by definition encompasses all. And that human rights approach, as you know, is followed with great success in other nations. I’ve spent some time recently visiting and researching some of those examples; looking forward to adding to the many articles out there that explain how we can follow their lead. Thanks for reading, and of course for all your advocacy!
According to what a legislative staffer told me, HUD’s narrow definition of homelessness came from the desire to “not open the floodgates.” That way Congress doesn’t have to allocate resources better used for tax cuts for the wealthy (sarcasm).
We’ve been trying to change it for at least the last 20 years. In that time, too many of the little kids experiencing homelessness have now moved into adult homelessness. Not a great result for the floodgate keepers. Congress wants to get by cheap. We pay in the end.
Great article, Fran! It's inspiring to read about your work and projects like Motels4Now. That federal monies that are being allocated to alleviate this problem in our country is testimony that our lawmakers recognize that it's a big problem. But it is people like you with their feet on the ground who make this happen! With the various frustrations involved, it's got to be the hardest undertaking! I admire all you people who are willing and able to take it on. Your newsletters are always inspiring!
I love what you describe as the Motels4Now model! It would be great if we would clone it. HOWEVER…what do we do about the millions of those who don’t fit HUD’s narrow definition of homelessness? The HousingFirst approach, while not perfect, also excludes many families, youth and adults who have lost housing. Many will “grow into” the HUD version of homelessness, an unacceptable outcome for all.
Agreed, Diane. I must say I’ve never understood why any interpretation of Housing First would exclude the populations you describe, which include our eviction court clients. To me, Housing First is a human rights concept at its core, which by definition encompasses all. And that human rights approach, as you know, is followed with great success in other nations. I’ve spent some time recently visiting and researching some of those examples; looking forward to adding to the many articles out there that explain how we can follow their lead. Thanks for reading, and of course for all your advocacy!
According to what a legislative staffer told me, HUD’s narrow definition of homelessness came from the desire to “not open the floodgates.” That way Congress doesn’t have to allocate resources better used for tax cuts for the wealthy (sarcasm).
We’ve been trying to change it for at least the last 20 years. In that time, too many of the little kids experiencing homelessness have now moved into adult homelessness. Not a great result for the floodgate keepers. Congress wants to get by cheap. We pay in the end.
Any bright ideas welcome!