Read on Twitter
Twitter has redeeming qualities if used properly. For example, a couple days ago @KellyMDoran recommended a book by a couple bona fide experts on homelessness. Thanks!
First observation: The Fundamental Observation Error is a cognitive bias discussed in a footnote on pg 15. It impacts how we view homelessness, but it doesn't have to. From Harvard Business Review: https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/the-fundamental-attribution-error
Second observation: Quality passage "College students have high rates of substance abuse...but observers rarely claim that young people became college students because of their substance abuse...it is poverty and food insecurity that distinguishes them from their peers."
Third observation: $34.89.
The amount an hourly worker would need to earn to afford a market rate 2br apartment in California w/o paying more than 30% of income on rent.
Rent burden is staggering in places like San Diego
The amount an hourly worker would need to earn to afford a market rate 2br apartment in California w/o paying more than 30% of income on rent.
Rent burden is staggering in places like San Diego
Fourth observation: many local housing authorities have criminal prohibitions that exceed federal requirements for applicants to subsidized homes.
(Aside: I am hopeful @mlfudge implements direction to reject Admin Plans from local gov't w/these excess barriers)
(Aside: I am hopeful @mlfudge implements direction to reject Admin Plans from local gov't w/these excess barriers)
Fifth observation (something most people who do this work know but many in public don't):
About 75% of people experiencing homelessness have NO SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS.
This topic is complicated, but we need to stop blaming homelessness on mental illness
About 75% of people experiencing homelessness have NO SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS.
This topic is complicated, but we need to stop blaming homelessness on mental illness
Sixth observation: The authors cited FOUR studies confirming single-parent households are not at greater risk of experiencing homelessness.
Seventh observation: Housing first is not Housing "only" - it just respects a person's choice for services. Also, read pgs 85-88. It works (as defined by helping people get/retain a home)
Check out At Home/Chez Soi results from @mhcc_ https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/document/24376/national-homechez-soi-final-report
Check out At Home/Chez Soi results from @mhcc_ https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/document/24376/national-homechez-soi-final-report
Eighth observation: It's important for policymakers to understand that exits to "permanent" housing do NOT mean a person's home is permanently subsidized. I agree w/authors that we should use "non-time limited" or "ordinary" instead
Eighth observation (pt 2): Calling a home "permanent" w/no way to pay for it in the long term is misleading. It is meant to distinguish from transitional (<24 months), not to convey a person's housing insecurity is permanently resolved. An important, if weedsy, distinction
Ninth observation: There is a Pathways Housing First model on which the foundation of the "housing first" sound bite is based. For policy staff (or other curious observers) here is link to research on the original: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/47669330_Housing_First_The_Pathways_Model_to_End_Homelessness_for_People_with_Mental_Illness_and_Addiction_Manual
Tenth observation: We are getting to a critical part that is at the core of my work - "...the homelessness crisis response system will never be able to solve homelessness on its own merit without attention to the social processes that continue to generate it." Pg. 108.
