The homelessness crisis is an unaffordable housing crisis. 22% of U.S. renters say all their income goes toward rent payments, according to Redfin.
Criminalizing people for sleeping outside ignores this reality and only makes homelessness worse. https://t.co/oNYTh1HaYt
“Housing affordability worsened again last year, as a record number of US households were cost burdened.”
https://t.co/ZqTH70weex
By @Harvard_JCHS’s Peyton Whitney, @Hail_Hail and Whitney Airgood-Obrycki
“Families who are being evicted find it very difficult to get rehoused, especially if an eviction is staying on their record.”
https://t.co/wcBgOVuRj5
By @SpectrumNews1OH’s @AleseU
Key takeaway: The primary driver of homelessness nationally and locally is inability to pay rent. Rising housing costs especially affect older people on fixed incomes, people fleeing domestic violence, people with disabilities. #orpol#orleg https://t.co/AWo6FcEWjQ
Organized people will— must— determine the path forward. What if tenants wield a new kind of power in relation to their homes? What if they can do so alongside farmworkers, ratepayers, trade unionists? Could that be a winning team to take on all that hurts us? We have to try.
This year, @ProPublica has been looking into the impacts of cities increasingly removing or “sweeping” encampments. We spoke with 135 people who had experienced sweeps. We also distributed notecards so people could write about it in their own words. 🧵
Solving the affordable housing & homeless crises has multiple pieces but it isn’t complicated.
As @just_shelter says, replicate the veterans voucher & services program, invest in eviction diversion & fund rental assistance for all while reforming the current voucher program.
"Obstructionist infighting." -@GovTinaKotek
"100% irresponsible" -@CommRubio
"I have not heard...any policy proposals" -@MCPLynnPeterson
"The City cannot address this crisis alone" -@tedwheeler
"without even the pretense of a concept of a plan" - Hygiene for All @KGWNews
Almost 3/10 people experiencing homelessness in 2023 were children w/ a parent. This new blog in our prevention series explores how the federal government & communities are strengthening safety nets to prevent families from ever experiencing homelessness: https://t.co/BPAF2KADIw
The Mayor's assessment is 100% correct. We cannot allow political stunts to supersede our responsibility to solve our homelessness crisis in collaboration with the county. Portlanders are tired of politicians gambling people's lives for cheap political points. We need leadership!
Housing is a necessity but rent assistance isn’t available to everyone who needs it. Federal policymakers must take lessons learned from the voucher program & expand help to all who need it.
“Despite Housing Crunch, Vouchers Remain Hard to Get”@jaredbrey https://t.co/kYMFtsncie
"Between 2019 and 2022, the number of homeowners reporting being cost burdened rose by a remarkable 3 million." Daniel McCue of @Harvard_JCHS explores the growing crisis for low-income homeowners: https://t.co/a8vOppDESs
People living in their vehicles are usually new to homelessness. As housing costs soar in major cities, more Americans are living in their vehicles. At Blanchet House, we hear a similar story over and over again. A job loss or medical crisis leads to home loss which leads to sleeping in a car. Days are spent trying to find a safe place to park and sleep. The car has become a new form of affordable housing.