Preliminary Findings Reflect Gains in Fight to End Homelessness

Preliminary Findings Reflect Gains in Fight to End Homelessness

Homeward released initial findings from its 14th Winter Point-in-Time Count. The twice-yearly census provides a snapshot of the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single day. Preliminary results reveal 1,040 people in the region experiencing homelessness on January 26, 2012. This number reflects a 5.6% decrease in the number of people overall experiencing homelessness, with a 10.9% decrease in the number of people living on the streets in our region, from January 2011 to January 2012. After a spike in family homelessness in 2011, the number of homeless children is returning to 2010 levels.

January 2012 Winter Point-In-Time Count
Overall Population
Total Point in Time	1,040	5.6% decrease
Total Children in Point in Time Count	131	17.6% decrease
Unsheltered Population
Unsheltered	147	10.9% decrease
Sheltered Population
Emergency Shelter: unaccompanied adults		221
Emergency Shelter: persons in families (incl. children)		65
Transitional Shelter: unaccompanied adults		464
Transitional Shelter: persons in families (incl. children)		143

Overall Population
	January 2008	January 2009	January 2010	January 2011	January 2012
Total Point in Time	1,073	1,150	1,012	1,102	1,040
Total Children in Point in Time Count	153	136	131	159	131
Unsheltered Population
Unsheltered	166	184	152	166	147

In March Homeward will release comprehensive findings from the count, including results from questions on a variety of economic indicators, transportation needs of people experiencing homelessness, and health-related topics.

What We Can Accomplish as a Community

Last week, I was captivated by the search in Hanover County for little Robert Wood, Jr.  I, along with everyone else in the region, checked Twitter, Facebook, and local news sites for updates on the story as it developed, hoping for the best outcome.   And, of course, I was relieved along with everyone else when the news came that he had been found.  I was struck by three things from that story: how law enforcement reached out to experts for help in understanding everything about the child so that they could ensure that they were searching in the most effective way; how Capt. Mike Trice’s certainty that Robert would be found helped to make that true; and how the community came together to achieve a goal and to support one another during the process.

As the Executive Director of Homeward, I can’t help but see parallels between working to end homelessness and last week’s community search and rescue in Hanover County.  We have to understand the issues related to homelessness: what causes it, what solves it, and what is the experience of homelessness like for those who go through it?  We do this by surveying people in crisis, developing the expertise needed to solve this problem, and engaging the community. Just as Hanover officials were certain that Robert would be rescued, we in the homelessness services community know we can prevent and end homelessness.  Thousands of formerly homeless Richmonders are proof of this.  Every week brings discouraging economic and housing news, but we must remember that we can do this.  And, it does take everyone.  Everyone has a role to play in our region’s efforts to prevent and end homelessness.  From shelter staff to housing developers, from landlords to volunteers providing basic services for people on the streets, we all have a role to play in ending the crisis of homelessness for our neighbors.

Our next opportunity to come together as a community to end homelessness is The Dominion Project Homeless Connect on Nov. 17.  Many of you may have already volunteered to provide services or to walk alongside someone in crisis on that day.  We have almost 400 of the 600 volunteers we need already registered.  If you can’t volunteer on Nov. 17, please consider one of the following ideas:

• Run a toiletry drive so that each person who seeks services at Project Homeless Connect can receive a care package at the end of the day.
• Connect with another agency working to change the story for our homeless neighbors.  http://homewardva.org/node/63
• List an affordable rental property at www.virginiahousingsearch.com.
• Consider hiring someone who has earned a second chance.
• Fund services that are already working for our community.  http://giverichmond.guidestar.org/

As the weather starts to turn colder, help us to connect compassion to solutions.

Help Support Homeward’s Work

The National Alliance to End Homelessness just released a report anticipating an increase in homelessness in the next three years due to continuing economic difficulties.  This year, more of our neighbors have experienced the destabilizing crisis of homelessness.  More children than ever before are livening in shelters.  But, we can do more to change the story for these children, their parents, and other Richmonders experiencing homelessness.  Support Homeward’s work to shorten the length of homelessness and to reduce the number of people living on the streets in our region.

Donate to Homeward through the Amazing Raise!

Is This What it’s Like to Be Homeless?

“So, is this what it’s like to be homeless?”

After 2003’s Hurricane Isabel, which resulted in widespread and lengthy power outages, Homeward ran an ad in the Richmond Times-Dispatch with the following text:

We’ve been scrounging for food.  Reading by flashlight.  Begging for batteries.  Going days between showers.  Thanks to Hurricane Isabel, we’ve experienced firsthand how tough it is to be without.  Now imagine not having a roof over your head at all. Or having a chemical dependency.  Or suffering from paranoia.  Or answering to two small children. And it’s not even winter yet.  Unfortunately, homelessness won’t go away when the power is restored and the roads are clear.

While we are hopeful that the current power outages won’t last ten days like they did for many of us in 2003, homelessness is still a problem which outlasts natural disasters.

The 2003 ad consisted of an entirely  blacked out page with “So, is this what it’s like to be homeless?” The text at the bottom directed people to get involved after getting a taste of what it’s like to not have their basic needs met.  Many things in our community have changed since 2003, but there’s still a need for all of us to come together to prevent and end homelessness.

If you know of someone in a housing crisis, encourage them to call 2-1-1.  This number is staffed 24 hours a day to make a referral for services.   If you have housing available for rent, list it on www.virginiahousingsearch.com.  If you can, support one of the many strong agencies working to connect people in crisis to housing and services.  Visit www.giverichmond.org or for more information on local services. If you want to volunteer, check out www.handsongr.org or ask someone at 2-1-1.

To learn more, visit www.homewardva.org.

Numbers Matter

I have been working with Homeward since 2003 and have grown to love our twice-yearly data collection efforts.  We work with community volunteers and regional shelter providers to learn more about our neighbors experiencing homelessness.  I have developed a reputation for being able to quote a range of regional statistics to illustrate the urgent need for solutions to homelessness.  I share statistics that reveal the underlying social and economic issues which contribute to the crisis of homelessness.  These numbers shine a light on pathways out of homelessness for the families, veterans, and single adults trying to return to stable housing.

But quoting numbers only gets us so far on these pathways.

At their annual Action Meeting last week, Richmonders Involved to Strengthen Our Communities (RISC), transformed Homeward’s data into a stunning visual of pain and possibility.  At one point in the meeting, over 1,000 people stood in order to demonstrate what 1,102 homeless neighbors’ looks like. ¹   Someone remarked, “This is how big the problem is.” My thought was, “This is how solvable the problem is.”

If you can fit 1,102 people in one large room, then certainly we can get our hands, minds, and hearts around finding the housing and supportive services that 1,102 men, women, and children need to return to stable housing. We have the data to guide our way.  We know what contributes to homelessness.  We even know what has already been working in our community.  Now, it’s time to clear the room.  Let’s go, Richmond!

¹  1,102 is the total number of homeless individuals counted during Homeward’s January 2011 Point-in-Time Count.

Bob Sledd Recognized for Community Revitalization Award at GroundBreakers 2011

via Better Housing Coalition GroundBreakers program

Bob Sledd is a passionate advocate for people experiencing homelessness, especially for those with a history of incarceration who are working to put their lives back together through employment and stable housing.  His consistent focus on measuring real outcomes and implementing best practices has provided inspiration for a diverse group of stakeholders and changed the community’s conversation on homelessness.

As chairman of the Homeward Board of Directors from 2005 – 2009, Bob served both as a visionary to bring about change and as a support to the people implementing the solutions in the community.  He led Homeward in the development of the Ten Year Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in the Richmond Region and solicited the support of both public and private sector community leaders for this effort.  He also worked to fund programs such as The Healing Place to fill critical gaps in our community’s services and to increase the involvement of local governments.

As Senior Economic Advisor to the Governor, Bob has led the development of a state housing policy framework and a state homelessness plan designed to reduce homelessness across the state by 15% over the next three years.  The comprehensive policy promotes sustainable, affordable housing as well as effective coordination of transportation.

Congratulations Bob Sledd

Excerpt from The Better Housing Coalition GroundBreakers 2011 Program

Kelly’s article in the Richmond Times Dispatch on Connecting Compassion to Solutions

image credit Richmond Times dispatch

The number of homeless children in the Richmond region is up and no one is really surprised. It’s the economy, of course.

While there are some significant differences in our regional data on homelessness released last week, our 2011 numbers are pretty similar to our 2010 numbers. In fact, since 2007, the total number of people experiencing homelessness on any given day hasn’t changed all that much.

The similarity in annual data over time camouflages a radical and powerful transformation of our community’s response to homelessness since 2007.

In January 2008, our community launched a regional strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness. We know that people will always lose their housing because of a job loss, mental health crisis, foreclosure, bad breakup, death of a family member or other hardship. What do we mean when we talk about ending homelessness?

Read the full article here: Connect Compassion and Soluations