That's a link to an RSS feed of all the "action" in a particular area of the site, including ideas and comments, etc. To learn more about what RSS is and how you can use it, We cannot forget to support emergency shelter. Homeless need emergency housing as well as permanent.
anonymous
shared this idea
7 comments
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Laura Hansen
commented
We don't have enough emergency shelter in our community to shelter all those in need, this is critical.
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phenomina
commented
very well said ken. yes we do need more permanent housing, over the long haul; but in the meantime, emergency shelter is needed NOW . the homeless cannot survive long enough to wait for housing to be built. they need basic units and beds right now. they need vouchers and rent assistance right now. Haiti is not in our country, but we give them emergency funds for their homeless? what about our own emergency for our own homeless right here? Immediate shelter has to be first, NEXT comes permanent housing. but do both!
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Ken Maness
commented
True Laura, in our efforts to end and prevent homelessness we should be moving away from shelters to more permanent housing. That is a clear goal in most all 10-Year Plans. The fact is in our community, we are not able to build affordable housing that can be dedicated to those who are homeless and at risk quickly enough to override the need for shelters. We have waiting lists in the hundreds for crying out loud, and persons must stay on the streets because we don't want to build more shelter beds because we prefer more permanent housing that we don't have and that we can't build fast enough.. I am sorry, you are likely on this site because you care, that is common ground for us all, but see my comments not supportive of the idea posted to use HUD monies to support households making up to $100,000, and in support of another posting to focus HUD monies on making housing available for households with incomes 0-40%AMI. The real need if for stable housing, not shelters, but until we can find a way to provide more permanent housing in the quantity needed, we can not be comfortable letting persons live on the sidewalks with a curb for a pillow for the years it may take to change our systems and priorities.
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Laura Kadwell
commented
The focus in preventing and ending homelessness should be moving away from shelters toward permanent housing. It is important that there be a place in every community where people who are homeless can find housing and services. When people are "living" in shelters for long periods of time, it is clear more housing is needed.
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Ken Maness
commented
In Raleigh we have 300+ persons on our waiting list for the largest County run men's shelter and additionally 40 men and 40 women on waiting lists for a roof over their head at other shelters. Yet... locally, we tell our politicians that we have enough shelter beds.. Yet... we aren't able to produce the affordable housing needed for our lowest of income residents.. Yet... we tell ourselves that living on the streets is inhumane and should not be tolerated... To get those persons off the streets is a highest priority, the structured environment mandated at most shelters is not acceptable to many homeless adults. Just imagine a man or woman who has served in our armed forces being told that you must be in by 5pm and stay here until dawn and not able to go out.. no wonder some persons live on the streets, not counting those who are suffering from mental illness or trying to recover from physical addictions. Additional Shelter Beds and Wet Shelters for those suffering on our streets is a must, our community does not have sufficient shelter resources, especially when our County leaders are being told that we have "enough" shelter beds.
Thanks for posting this item
www.raleighnc.gov/endinghomelessness -
Mona Mistric
commented
There is a need to provide shelters and soup kitchens. There is a need to provide supportive services, assistance with rent, utilities, transportation, child care, education and job search assistance to the community at large. There is a need to promote economic opportunities that create jobs for local residents. There is a need to bring housing units up to current standards. The needs of the homeless in rural areas are often misunderstood and therefore not addressed in funding opportunities.
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Mona Mistric
commented
Counting the number of homeless in rural communities is nearly impossible. There are no shelters or soup kitchens to do the count. Like their urban counterpart, some sleep under bridges, live in boxes behind vacant properties, and in wooded areas. However, many are living in a car or camper, or with relatives in overcrowded or substandard housing---10-20 people in a run down old trailer, or 3 or 4 generations crowded together in grandma’s old house. They are the “hidden homeless”. Their homelessness is the result of poverty, low paying jobs, no transportation, lack of childcare facilities and/or assistance, limited education, cultural ideology, domestic violence and lack of affordable housing.
In rural areas most full-time employment is miles away and transportation is a huge problem. Local businesses are usually small family owned and operated. If they do hire outside help, the pay is usually minimum wage and often part-time. Because of the low wages, homeless persons are unable to afford the basic necessities let alone medical insurance or other benefits. If they are “let go” from their job, they usually do not qualify for unemployment benefits. Some homeless persons find short term laborer jobs and receive Miscellaneous 1099’s instead of W-2’s. They are not counted among the unemployed because they did not draw unemployment benefits, yet they are unemployed most of the time. Since the Emergency Food and Shelter Program and Emergency Shelter Grants rely on unemployment statistics for funding requirements, rural areas are not being adequately represented.
