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services

Leaving the Next Generation Outside

By | Homelessness, The Race to End Homelessness | No Comments

Yesterday, October 10th, marked the third annual observance of World Homeless Day, and many homeless youth in our country’s capital city spent the holiday outside. Since shelter staff members are not considered essential, Washington D.C.’s only youth housing program and drop-in center has been forced to downsize during the government shutdown. 

Forty-six staff members at Sasha Bruce Network, located in Capital Hill, were furloughed this week, and the program had to end its tutoring, job training, and HIV education/ prevention programs. The organization has managed to keep shelter beds open for the time being, but they do not know how long they can maintain their work without government dollars.

Other youth-centered programs are already being forced to close their doors, leaving youth vulnerable and with nowhere else to go. Even beyond Washington, agencies dependent on governmental money are nervous each day that the shutdown continues. As the temperature starts to dip, so do the bank accounts for many social service programs. Not unlike their clientele, many small organizations operate on a budget with little room for error. A non-profit is not created in order to rack up savings in a bank, so a freeze on funding — even a temporary one — can be devastating. Twenty-five transitional houses were waiting on bridge funding after a grant expired September 30th, but now they do not know if or when they will see that money. One program in Arkansas has already had to downsize its programming, and others worry they will have to do the same.

Traditional shelters will not accept individuals under the age of 18, so youth without a safe place to go must seek specific programs that can meet their needs. On the streets, unaccompanied homeless youth are at an increased risk for physical violence compared to adults, but this is a resourceful demographic. Without homeless shelters as an option, youth will frequently turn to breaking and entering or selling themselves in exchange for a place to sleep. Youth centers provide a crucial service to an underserved population, but not this week.

On the holiday known as “World Homeless Day,” youth education and health programming was suspended, leaving crime and risky behavior as some of the only remaining options for this generation. The youth programs in this country are doing extraordinary work to support our youth — when they are able to operate. It is crucial that these programs be restored so that young people experiencing homelessness can resume tutoring programs and job training in safe places, and one day focus their energies not on survival, but on on creating a future without youth homelessness.

Sibling Rivalry: Ending Homelessness

By | Homelessness, The Race to End Homelessness | 4 Comments

Last year, I spent a lot of time planning an event that ended up going terribly. Between a water break road closure on North Avenue and a flat tire, two of the five presenters I’d scheduled to speak on homelessness at a local middle school cancelled an hour before the event. Because the format involved the speakers rotating through separate classrooms, someone needed to fill the vacancies. Reluctantly, a coworker and I stepped into the slot of the presenter. We offered up what we could about homelessness in Baltimore City and provided some information about different service providers and volunteer opportunities in the area. It was a lesson in both “how to fake your way through a presentation”, and “how to really confuse middle school students.” 

“Does anyone know of any homeless service providers in the city?” we’d ask, hoping to generate participation.

No response.

In order to get the ball rolling, we’d mention some well- known organizations.

“Has anyone heard of Healthcare for the Homeless? … or My Sister’s Place?”

“Your sister has a place?” Yelled one student. “Why don’t people go stay with her?”

The class was laughing at this jokester and chatting away amongst themselves before we could explain that My Sister’s Place is actually a transitional housing facility for women with mental illness, not a house run by any sibling of mine. At least that’s what it is in Baltimore. In Washington D.C., that’s the name of a housing center for women experiencing homelessness and domestic violence. There’s a My Sister’s Place in Gainesville, Georgia and Hartford, Connecticut. And it isn’t only female siblings that are getting support. My Brother’s Keeper is the name of agencies in Baltimore, Massachusetts, Texas, and beyond. Some focus on treating addiction, some on mental illness. Whatever the specialty, it is clear that there is an emphasis on supporting homeless individuals like they are family. For many individuals, people experiencing homelessness are family.

It was an offhanded comment, but the middle school student from last fall had a question I hear frequently. All he said was “Why don’t people stay with her?” But  the idea that “I could never let my son/mother/cousin/friend live on the streets,” is a sentiment I’ve heard many times. Usually, it is from someone who does not happen to have a family member on the brink of becoming homeless. While the words are meant to show support for a loved one going through a hypothetical tough situation, it is an easier promise to make than to keep. If you can financially and medically support someone who is struggling at the poverty level, that is excellent. But why should solving homelessness be the responsibility of the nuclear family of those with a mental illness, an addiction, or those who are unable to work?

I am certainly not about to waste time asking for minute changes from successful programs across the country. But if I were, I might suggest a better name for these sites would be “Your Sister’s Place or “Our Brother’s Keeper.” It might create a little less confusion about exactly who is responsible for ending homelessness.