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America's Housing Problem
Homelessness in the US has been on the rise since 2017, with an overall increase of 6%. We have seen a record high surge in the number of chronically unhoused people in this country, with rates of those completely unsheltered also climbing.
5 states account for 55% of the nation's unhoused population: CA, NY, FL, WA, TX
COVID-19 relief packages provided an increase in funding for housing services across the country, however, little progress is being made.
As of January 2022, nearly 600,000 people in the US were without homes, and 28% lived in families with children.
Houston's Housing Problem
2010:
Aftermath of 2009 economic recession
Houston TX had the 6th largest unhoused population in the United States
Houston reported a 25% increase in unhoused population
30% of the unhoused were unsheltered (living in non-habitation areas)
2011
51% of unhoused individuals were unsheltered
Over 20% increase in the span of a year
Housing & Urban Design dept of the US took notice-
Designated unhoused people in Houston as a “priority community”
$3 million dollars in federal funds provided from HUD invested in solving
Led Houston non-profits, housing agencies, government of Houston, County government to coordinate and develop new program: Housing First
Instead of selective slots for temporary and permanent housing, job opportunities, etc, operating on an intake basis
Many of those on the streets have been denied entry due to several factors (past criminal charges; racial, gender, sexuality discrimination (especially from organizations with religious affiliations); mental illness; disability; drug use etc)
Streamlined & coordinated process for individual intake
Transportation, health needs, hygiene, pet health, temporary housing, caseworkers, etc
The main reason this works is because of coordination between agencies, non-profits, transportation, etc.
Lack of real budget-> make use of federal budget for homelessness programs and non-profits
($806 per individual) -> Texas spends very little of their budget towards combatting homelessness
($2.6 million) Harris County budget for homelessness programs
Efficacy of the Program:
More than 25,000 unhoused individuals were moved into housing
High retention
Majority moved into housing, remain sheltered 1 year and 2 years later
# of Individuals deemed ‘homeless’ reduced by over 50% since 2011 (beginning of Housing First)
The wait for housing for veterans decreased from 720 days to 32 days
Controversy of Program
People skeptical of program
Don’t think their money should be used to house others
Don’t believe individuals should have housing with no strings attached
Policy has also been paired with the closing of encampments and criminalization of homelessness
Future of Program
‘Housing First’ receives little finding from county/local budgets
Federal COVID Relief funding ($25 million) diverted to housing programs
Using that money, Houston has housed an additional 12,000 people this year
After 2023 this funding will be reduced, leaving those involved worried about the future efficacy of the program
By: Angel M.
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