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Once derided as ‘shacks,' these huts now may be our best answer for a homelessness emergency

Danny Westneat

November 27, 2020 |

The Seattle Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Tiny homes are providing shelter, warmth, and security for people experiencing homelessness in Seattle. The insulated homes measure 96 square feet and offer a relatively affordable alternative to tent encampments which leave inhabitants exposed to the elements and often draw the anger of neighbors. Tiny homes in Seattle have led to higher rates of permanent rehousing.

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This App Pays Young People Without Housing to Build Life Skills

Emily Nonko

November 24, 2020 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Haven, Connecticut

Youth experiencing unstable housing in New Haven, Connecticut can build life skills in exchange for gift cards through an app built by a nonprofit. DreamKit incentivizes positive change for disadvantaged young people who have competing priorities. The nonprofit is building a pipeline which will allow them to gauge which skills employers are looking for, provide those skills through the app, and then present a list of trained youth to employers.

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‘It's a conversation': Philly's alternative to landlord-tenant court is preventing eviction

Taylor Allen

November 24, 2020 |

WHYY |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia's mandatory Eviction Diversion program, started as a way to help landlords and tenants to cope with pandemic-related economic struggles, requires landlords to enter mediation with tenants who are behind on their rent. By skipping eviction court, the parties can work out repayment plans and tenants can gain access to rental-assistance programs. Mediated agreements avoid a legal judgment that would hurt a tenant's credit and make it difficult to find another place to live, while preventing evictions during the pandemic reduces homelessness.

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Social distancing is a luxury many can't afford. Vermont actually did something about it.

Julia Belluz

November 19, 2020 |

Vox |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Vermont

The state of Vermont has been able to keep COVID-19 cases to a minimal, at least in part by focusing on offering preventive protections for the most at-risk and vulnerable – such as the unhoused. The state's response has included "state-supported housing for the homeless, hazard pay, meal deliveries, and free, pop-up testing in at-risk communities," all of which prioritize high-risk populations rather than those who can easily self-isolate at home.

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Program in Montrose County Helps Homeless Families Pursue Self-Sufficiency

Laura Palmisano

November 17, 2020 |

Mountain Grown Community Radio (KVNF) |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Olathe, Colorado

Haven House, a faith-based provider of transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness, offers a safe place to live while working to reunite families that face possible loss of child custody over their housing or substance-use status. Required classes in parenting and budgeting, plus job-search services and other classes, have helped more than 370 families over the past decade. Families, who often are referred to the program from the county's Child Protective Services agency, can remain at the house for up to two years if they comply with the rules.

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In Denver, Unarmed Mental Health Workers Respond To Hundreds Of 911 Calls Instead Of Police

Leigh Paterson

November 17, 2020 |

KUNC |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

Since Denver launched its Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) program in June, it has handled more than 600 calls for help with a mental health clinician and a paramedic instead of sending police officers. Modeled on Eugene, Oregon's CAHOOTS program, STAR is based on the notion that low-level emergencies involving mental health, homelessness, and substance abuse do not require police responses, and in fact can more often end peacefully by removing police from the equation. STAR started small, with one van on duty during weekday hours. Police support the move, and often call in STAR for assistance.

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Who's leading Covid-19 outreach among the homeless? The homeless themselves.

Hayden Manseau

November 12, 2020 |

Mission Local |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

In the Tenderloin district of San Francisco, local community members are leading the effort to reach out to those experiencing homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic. This effort has been successful in coordinating and distributing testing that is accessible to the population. As the director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations explains, “any public health response that does not center the voices of people who have lived the experience of homelessness is going to come up with the wrong solution.”

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Swords to Plowshares Providing In-Person Veterans Services During Pandemic

Lauren Wenus

November 12, 2020 |

San Francisco Public Press |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

A drastic decrease in homelessness among veterans in San Francisco has been credited to the efforts of Swords to Plowshares, which is a veterans services group. Wraparound services helped veterans find temporary housing, permanent housing, mental health services, and help finding jobs.

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Veteran homelessness in Chittenden County has dropped significantly. Here's what it took.

Ethan Bakuli

November 11, 2020 |

USA Today |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Winooski, Vermont

Canal Street Veterans Housing was instrumental in ending veteran homelessness in Chittenden County, Vermont. The program provided two years of transitional housing for veterans and their families, job training services, and mental health care. An emphasis was put on providing mental and physical health screenings to help those dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Where Housing, Not Jails, Is the Answer to Homelessness

Sarah McClure

November 09, 2020 |

70 Million |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

Even while Los Angeles police criminalize homelessness with "sweeps" to clear encampments from public property, state and local programs have helped thousands of people find housing and receive services like counseling and criminal record expungement. Programs like LA DOOR and Project Roomkey use public-health and housing-first approaches to address people's underlying problems rather than subject them to endless cycles of arrest and incarceration, all of which cost far more than the helpful strategies while remaining far less effective. Street outreach is done without police escorts, to build trust.

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