Solutions-Homelessness

With housing costs rising, tiny homes offer one solution to address homelessness

by Giles Bruce, Kaiser Health News 7/02/2022 PBS News

Then in 2014, he heard about this community being planned by Occupy Madison, a spinoff of the national movement against income inequality. Cox started helping with gardening, one of his passions. A few months later, he moved into one of its 99-square-foot houses (echoing the “99%” of the population that Occupy aimed to represent).
With housing costs rising, tiny homes are spreading as a solution to homelessness in California, Indiana, Missouri, Oregon, and beyond. Arnold Schwarzenegger garnered considerable publicity in December when he donated money for 25 tiny houses for homeless veterans in Los Angeles. It reflects a growing interest in outside-the-box ideas to get unhoused people off the streets, especially during winter in cold climates and amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

L.A. Activists Demand Real Solutions to Housing Crisis as City Cracks Down on Homeless Encampments

by DEMOCRACY NOW 11/8/22

As cities nationwide crack down on unhoused populations and soaring rents force people out of their homes, the Los Angeles City Council faced major protests this week when it voted to ban encampments for unhoused people near schools and daycares.

Stakeholders and Advocates Discuss Solutions to Homelessness

by harrise 13/10/17 CHASING THE DREAM

The situation goes like this: You’re earning wages below the poverty line. Statistically, you’re the one in four working poor residents spending more than 70 percent of your income on housing alone. And, it’s not hard to imagine ending up on the street.

Input from the unhoused may be crucial solution to homelessness in San Francisco

by Stephanie Sy 6/7/21 PBS NEWS

The San Francisco Bay Area has a rising homeless population. On any given night, an estimated 35,000 individuals are without a place to live. Meanwhile, the cost of living continues to climb. Much effort has gone into resolving the crisis, to little avail. But now, there's new hope that those with an insider's perspective can make that much needed difference. Stephanie Sy has that story.

ACLU Responds to Supreme Court Decision that Cities Can Punish People for Being Homeless

by City of Grants Pass v. Johnson 28/6/24 ACLU

The court held that punishing a person for sleeping in public, even if they have no other option, punishes conduct, not status, and so Robinson v. California, which established that it is cruel and unusual to criminalize a person’s status, does not apply. The case, Grants Pass v. Johnson, originated from an Oregon city that passed ordinances barring people from sleeping outside in public using a blanket, pillow, or even a cardboard sheet to lie on.

U.S. homelessness up 12 percent to highest reported level as rents soar and pandemic aid lapses

by Kevin Freking 15/12/23 PBS NEWS

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States experienced a dramatic 12 percent increase in homelessness as soaring rents and a decline in coronavirus pandemic assistance combined to put housing out of reach for more Americans, federal officials said Friday.

The Solution To The Homeless Crisis In Seattle

by Carolyn Ossorio 6/12/17 HUFFPOST

I'm not a politician. I'm not a social worker. I'm a mother. I'm a writer. I'm a doer. And, the issue of homelessness in Seattle has been weighing on my conscience: I NEEDED to do something.

The housing shortage and homelessness in San Francisco. Is there a solution?

by Duarte Geraldino 2/6/16 PBS NEWS

Special correspondent Duarte Geraldino traveled to San Francisco, where he met housing advocate Gary McCoy. McCoy, who was homeless in San Francisco for years, is now running for a seat on the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee.

ACLU of Texas calls on City of Dallas to End Cycle of Homeless Evictions

by ACLU of Texas 25/10/16 ACLU

DALLAS – In a letter issued Friday to Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Dallas City Council members, the ACLU of Texas warned city officials that they must respect the constitutional rights of the homeless, cease enforcement of the city’s unconstitutional ordinance banning sleeping in public and seek legal, humane and long-term solutions to the city’s homelessness crisis.

Newsom issues order directing California agencies how to remove homeless encampments

by Trân Nguyễn 25/7/24 PBS NEWS

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Thursday to direct state agencies on how to remove homeless encampments, a month after a Supreme Court ruling allowing cities to enforce bans on sleeping outside in public spaces.

Italy: Many children among dozens left homeless by forced eviction in Rome

by AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 9/7/14

“Today’s shocking demolition in Val D’ala is an eviction in violation of international human rights standards – leaving these people homeless and destitute. There was no formal advance notice of eviction or consultation with the community, and no suitable alternative housing has been offered,” said Matteo de Bellis, Amnesty International’s Italy Campaigner, who is currently with the community as they seek redress from municipal authorities.

Homeless Crisis Update

by PBS 29/7/21

Hawaiʻi continues to search for solutions to its homeless crisis, which may worsen as the state’s pandemic eviction moratorium is set to expire next month.

Resolution Vet Hunters Campaign to Eradicate Homeless Veterans by 2015

by LEAUGE of UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS

WHEREAS, Vet Hunters "Vet Hunt," in areas such as washes, canyons, streets and under bridges. When the Platoon members are not Vet Hunting, they are raising awareness all while bringing solutions to ending homelessness For Vet Hunters, when it is a Homeless Veteran issue it is a 2417 issue. This is why VHP goes beyond 9-5 Monday through Friday and at times, the weekends; and

The BLOCK Project: An Innovative Community and Homelessness Solution

by Rebekah Bastian 23/3/17 HUFFPOST

The BLOCK Project aims to put a BLOCK Home in the back yard of one single-family lot on every residentially zoned block within the City of Seattle. While this goal sounds ambitious, Facing Homelessness – a nonprofit of three including Managing Director Sara Vander Zanden and Community Director Sarah Steilen – is not tackling it alone. BLOCK Architects – a collaboration of Rex and his daughter Jennifer LaFreniere – has formed connections with over a dozen companies and organizations who are providing their services pro-bono.

How Richard Gere and Bernie Glassman Offer Solutions for the Homeless

by Michaela Haas 17/9/15 HUFFPOST

Fifteen years later, though, Richard Gere did indeed stumble upon the secret how to be invisible, even in the midst of New York. In his new film Time Out of Mind (out this month), he plays an elderly alcoholic who ends up on the streets. Gere wanted to shoot the film documentary-style, and he was worried his A-list status would attract too much attention.

France: Scores of Roma left homeless in forced eviction near Paris

by AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 15/10/12

Around 150 Roma – including some 60 children – have been left homeless outside Paris after being forcibly evicted and having their homes bulldozed on Monday morning, Amnesty International said. The forced eviction in Noisy-le-Grand, in the department of Seine-Saint-Denis east of the capital, is the latest in a string of similar operations in Roma settlements across France in recent months.

Finally, a Market-Driven Solution to Housing Homeless Families

by Mike Green 8/1/14 HUFFPOST

I often hear voices in the private sector speak of market-driven solutions to many societal needs. Yet, all too often the most pressing needs of destitute families and youth are addressed by charities, churches and nonprofit organizations funded by the taxpayers. Every year, particularly when winter sets in, journalists highlight these issues to prick the national conscience to come up with solutions.

Cold, Homeless, and Chasing a Dream

by CHASING THE DREAM 13/12/16

Women and children make up the majority of NYC’s homeless population. In this segment from our partners at Metrofocus, former City Council Speaker Christine Quinn offers solutions.

The Solution to Homelessness is Housing

by Farrah Hassen 19/7/24 COUNTERPUNCH

In 2018, after being banished from every park in town and accruing thousands in fines, she sued the city as part of a class action suit for violating homeless residents’ constitutional rights. The Oregon District Court agreed in 2020 that the city’s actions constituted “cruel and unusual punishment.”

HUD Comments on Homeless Definitions

by ACLU 21/6/10

On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union, we respectfully

submit the following comments regarding the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) proposed rule on “Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act:

ACLU of Southern California Wins Historic Victory in Homeless Rights Case

by ACLU of Southern California 14/4/06 ACLU

"Anyone who cares about homelessness and finding positive solutions to this serious issue in our community will be delighted and encouraged by this decision," said Ramona Ripston, Executive Director of the ACLU of Southern California. "The ACLU has always maintained that police should target serious crime like rape and drug trafficking and not criminalize people for sleeping on the street when there is nowhere else to go."

ACLU of Texas Files Suit on Behalf of Homeless Houstonians

by ACLU of Texas 16/5/17 ACLU

HOUSTON — The ACLU of Texas announced today that it had filed a lawsuit on behalf of three homeless Houstonian plaintiffs adversely affected by the City of Houston's camping and panhandling ordinances. Taken together, these ordinances illegally deprive homeless Houstonians of shelter, infringe on their right to free speech and ultimately constitute a criminalization of homelessness itself.

In The Midst Of Frigid Temperatures, Aclu Sues Over Law That Will Kick Some Homeless Out Into The Cold

by ACLU of Rhode Island 2/1/18 ACLU

As emergency workers and homeless rights’ advocates work feverishly to help move vulnerable homeless Rhode Islanders out of the frigid weather, the ACLU of RI has filed an emergency lawsuit to halt enforcement of a new state law taking effect tomorrow that, as those advocates had earlier warned public officials would happen, will evict some homeless people out into the bitter cold.