Ending Chronic homelessness

Getting back on track: Ending chronic homelessness

via About Homelessness by Liz Whitehurst on 3/22/10

Although people often argue that ending homelessness is impossible, the truth is we've already made real progress. Consider chronic homelessness: between 2005 and 2007, the number of people experiencing chronic homeless dropped by 30 percent - 30 percent! - and this population tends to have serious, often debilitating disabilities.

Since then, progress has slowed and the economy has stalled. But in that time, we've learned a lot about what works.

And now is the time to finish what we started.

At our Congressional Briefing on Ending Chronic Homelessness tomorrow (Tuesday, March 23) at 10 a.m., we'll advise and educate Congressional staff, local and national stakeholders, and others about chronic homelessness: what it is, how we fight it, and what the federal government can do about it.

Alliance president Nan Roman and Katrina van Valkenburgh of the Corporation for Supportive Housing will be joined by Thomas Gregory of the Office of the City Manager in Worcester, MA, and Paul Lambros of the Plymouth Housing Group in Seattle, WA. Plus, a DC resident and former client at Pathways to Housing – a DC homeless services program – will share his story.

Moving forward will require a serious federal investment, particularly through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance programs. President Obama's FY2011 budget recommendations also include an exciting collaboration program between HUD and the Department of Health and Human Services. This integrated approach - housing + supportive services - is one of the key strategies to helping people out of homelessness.

Our latest research shows this approach - also known as permanent supportive housing - not only gives people a place to live, but provides significant cost savings to the public. That idea - the idea that permanent supportive housing is more cost-efficient than a system of emergency shelters - is one that never fails to compel and surprise those new to the issue. Not only is homelessness a problem with a clear solution, but that solution is both morally and fiscally sound.

If you're in DC, you're welcome to join us! The briefing is at the Capitol Visitors Center in Room HVC-200. You can RSVP to Amanda Krusemark, at akrusemark@naeh.org.

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