Image courtesy of Jonathan Kho via Unsplash
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It may feel a little too easy to look away from a person living on the streets. Their problems just can’t be solved with a quick handout. Homelessness is one of those big, complicated issues that civic leaders simply cannot ignore.
In its State of Homelessness in 2023, the National Alliance to End Homelessness reported that the number of people who do not have a place to call home has risen to record levels nationally. More than 582,000 people are homeless—an increase of six percent since 2017. Of this statistic, about 72 percent are individual adults, and 28 percent are parents with children.
Homelessness looks different than it did decades ago. Today, many individuals and families who don’t have a permanent shelter will wander from couch to couch, staying with different friends or family members every few days. They have jobs, but the minimum wage isn’t enough to make ends meet. They likely don’t have health insurance. These residents aren’t always included in homelessness counts, but they’re not far from living in a car or on the streets.
While the report counts more than 127,000 people nationally who are considered “chronically homeless,” the faces behind the homeless statistics are changing. Leaders throughout the nation who have focused on this issue say it requires a coordinated, well-funded effort that must begin before the crisis gets even more overwhelming.
“Homelessness is an issue in Fort Worth, and it’s an issue throughout the nation,” said councilmember Chris Nettles of Fort Worth, Texas. That town has seen a 31 percent increase in homelessness since the start of the pandemic, according to U.S. News & World Report.
“Local cities need to work together with the county and the state to figure out a holistic approach,” he added.
Councilmember Nettles, a pastor and life-long resident of the growing city just outside Dallas, has watched as thousands of people have been unable to maintain a home for all kinds of reasons. Instead of looking away, he encouraged many partners to work together to create a plan to help.
To develop a plan, including programming, and to help reduce the number of people in your community who struggle with secure shelter, a good first step is determining the root cause of the issue for individuals and families.
Councilmember Nettles pointed to universal reasons, such as the inflation and downsizing that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid rise in rent within the housing market, which continues to price people out of homes and apartments, adds to the challenge.
However, each person has their own story about how they found themselves in their difficult situation. Councilmember Nettles recommends creating an assessment strategy to understand why they are homeless. That way, people who qualify for assistance can get the necessary resources.
For example, a person who is homeless due to job loss and doesn’t have a high school diploma has a different path than an individual whose mental illness led to their homelessness. But both need income to pay the rent and utilities. When that is stable, they then need affordable housing, Councilmember Nettles explained.
He added that once the needs have been determined, elected officials can create the policies to foster the wrap-around services many people require to get back on their feet.
Image courtesy of Nathan Dumlao via Unsplash
Councilmember Nettles expressed the importance of thinking ahead to address homelessness in their community for elected officials. In Fort Worth, they’re considering creating a $50 to $100 million bond package to address the housing crisis. The city puts out bonds every four years; the next one is due in 2026.
That money is proposed to help encourage developers to provide affordable housing with packages that meet the gap between what people can pay and the rising market rate.
Still, 2026 is a long way away for someone who doesn’t know where their family will sleep tonight.
“If we don’t set aside dollars now, we can’t participate when they come to us,” he said. “We need to be all in, no matter what.”
Long Beach, California is another city trying to get a handle on homelessness. They’ve seen a staggering 69 percent increase in homelessness since 2020, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Mayor Rex Richardson prioritized addressing the problem in his most recent State of the City address. In January, city officials announced the beginning of construction on a $4 million permanent shelter for youth ages 18 to 24. It includes space for storage for people of all ages, showers, beds, and laundry facilities, all funded through a 2016 local sales tax initiative and state grants.
“By focusing on youth, we can prevent a lifetime of homelessness for future generations,” Mayor Richardson said. “Homelessness is our most pressing priority.”
Mayor Richardson also declared a state of emergency for the homeless crisis, adding that the only way to get a handle on the issue is to coordinate services with the leaders of surrounding municipalities, nonprofit agencies, and private business owners.
“Housing affordability is a regional challenge,” he said. “We have to work together across agency and industry lines.”
Councilmember Nettles said that Fort Worth created a “Hope Team,” a partnership that includes mental health professionals and police officers. The team talks with homeless residents to connect them with resources and clean up trash in camp areas. He said elected officials just increased the budget to grow the team from five members to 12.
“There needs to be a strategy coalition coming together,” he said. “The more resources that come together, the better the benefit for those in trouble.”
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