Motel owners see altruism and opportunity in sheltering the homeless

San Francisco’s chronically homeless population remains staggeringly high. Salt Lake City has managed to eradicate much of their chronically homeless by geographically placing supportive housing distant from the city’s center and receiving financial assistance from the Mormon Church. The housing is attractive, modern, and offers a good ratio between counselors and homeless clients—all of which helps make the homeless want to stay off the streets.

Twenty Tuff Sheds form a safe community for homeless individuals in Oakland, California. As an alternative to a tent encampment, this “cabin community” provides social services and temporary shelter for people hoping to transition out of homelessness. The solution has helped 57 people so far, and it is showing members of the cabin community that people care about their well-being.

The Mason County Housing Options for Students in Transition (HOST) program is filling the county's gap of youth shelters, helping almost 200 homeless youth graduate from high school through personal relationships and screened host families. The program has show particular success in helping homeless youth from marginalized identities, including youth of color and LGBTQ+ identifying youth.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association Canada and Humanity First Canada teamed up to transform a bus into a mobile shelter for the homeless, complete with 20 beds, a kitchenette, a bathroom, internet, and more. The program is called Shelter Bus and, since launching in December 2019, has served over 1,000 people and reaches up to 50 people a day. The bus has been described as "heaven" by some guests, and they are now planning to have 3 buses by the next year.

In Los Angeles, the city-led effort, Project Roomkey, is working to get 15,000 people experiencing homelessness into hotel rooms in the fight against COVID-19. Working with the LA Homeless Services Authority and state negotiators, partnerships with hotels are being developed and are already housing some of these individuals. While costing nearly $190 million, it is helping save lives and hopefully keeping hotels afloat.

A coalition of local groups in the Cowichan region focused on the welfare of vulnerable populations during COVID-19 opened five tenting sites that have provided people experiencing homelessness with safety, meals, and access to service. The temporary solution, pending the opening of 100 units of housing to open in 2021, has uncertain financing after its initial $392,000 phase. But, almost immediately, the well-managed sites have had a visible effect: many fewer people wandering the streets.

The 77th Avenue Rangers homeless encampment in East Oakland won recognition from police and other city agencies, while other encampments were destroyed, thanks to its location away from residential neighborhoods, its constructive relationship with neighboring businesses, and its ability to establish a peaceful, self-governed community. Home to about 35 people for more than a year and a half, the camp provided stability to the lives of unhoused people. Showers, food, medical and social services, and other amenities proved more helpful to residents than what they found on the streets or in city shelters.

Houston's success in drastically decreasing rates of homelessness can be a blueprint for the same goal in Los Angeles. Houston's "strategic clarity" includes a streamlined process for accessing homelessness services - organization that is lacking in LA. Additionally, Houston has been able to offer a path to permanent housing while decommissioning homeless encampments. Although the two cities grapple with unique challenges, the strategy employed in Houston can be applied to Los Angeles.

The Golden Girls shelter has been providing meals, medical aid, and other support services for women with children who are experiencing homelessness. Since the Golden Girls living space opened, the program has served a total of 50 women ranging in age from the early 50s to late 70s. While at the shelter, staff members help them complete paperwork so they can receive Social Security payments, pensions, or alimony, and apply for affordable housing. They’re also provided medical care, counseling, and assistance finding jobs.

Efforts throughout Texas to reduce homelessness are serving as inspiration for states like California, that have similar homelessness issues. From committing funding to homeless reduction programs to establishing more advanced shelters like The Navigation Center, the state recorded a 28% drop in homelessness last year and has helped several individuals transition into permanent housing.