The Impact of Social Integration on Housing Retention and Self-Sufficiency for the Housed, Formerly Homeless Donna Wickes, HUD, SW Network Regional Public Housing Director 10/09/2019 Donna.l.wickes@hud.gov
Introduction This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
What Does Homelessness Look Like in 2019? The Visible Changes Half of all people experiencing California – Los Angeles County at New York – 61,674 in shelters; homeless come from five states: 58,936 and the City of LA at 4,000 sleep on the street; California, New York, Texas, 36,300 Florida and Washington living on the streets
Skid Row – Los Angeles A P ERSON NEEDS $47.52 1,400 PSH UNITS MENTAL ILLNESS, 34 % MENTAL ILLNESS THROUGH A $1.2 SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AN HOUR TO AFFORD MILLION BOND WILL PHYSICAL DISABILITIES THE MEDIAN MONTHLY OPEN 2019/2020 RENT 60,000 people on the streets 46% SUBSTANCE ABUSE 47% HEALTH CONDITION 29% DISABILITY HTTPS://WWW.BING.C OM/VIDEOS/SEARCH?Q= LOS+ANGELES+SKID+RO W&VIEW=DETAIL&MID=5 508A2C0E509EA7994E05 508A2C0E509EA7994E0 &FORM=VIRE
Skid Row
Houston Homelessness About 6,000 people are homeless in Houston
State of Homelessness in America – file:///C:/Users/donna/Desktop/2020%20Presentation/The- State-of-Homelessness-in-America%202019.pdf September 2019 1. Cost of housing Are We Keeping the Homeless Homeless? 2. Tolerable conditions for sleeping on the street Ideology on the 3. Higher supply of shelters and the right-to-shelter (DC, difference of Boston, NYC) “how one becomes 4. Individual-level demand levels: Severe mental illness, homeless” and substance abuse problems, histories of incarceration, low incomes, and weak social connections how one leaves homelessness”
The price of housing raises homelessness by increasing the inability to afford of Cost a dwelling based on income. of Housing If the 11 metropolitan areas with significantly supply-constrained housing markets were to reduce their dwelling prices, overall homelessness in the United States would fall by 13 percent. For example, by reducing unit cost by about 54% in San Francisco, by about %40% in Los Angeles, and by about 23% in New York City. On average, homelessness could fall by about 31 percent in these 11 metropolitan areas, which currently make up 42 percent of the United States homeless population.
Rent Burden Houston - Example SkyHouse Houston www.simpsonpropertygroup.com 32 Yelp reviews 1625 Main St, Houston, TX 77002 (713) 766-6380 Studio-3 Beds · 1-2 baths Baths · 577-1,418 sqft $1,375 - $2,956 Downtown Houston $250 deposit
Rent Burden Fort Worth - Example Firestone West 7th connorgroup.com 26 Facebook reviews 1001 W 7th St, Fort Worth, TX 76102 (817) 527-0925 1-2 Beds $1,269 - $2,399 Downtown Fort Worth Administrative Fee $200 Application Fee $50
Rent Burden San Francisco - Example Edgewater www.udr.com 355 Berry St, San Francisco, CA 94158 (415) 230-1996 Studio-2 Beds · 1-2 baths Baths · 530-1,095 sqft $3,247 - $16,275 (examples) Mission Bay
Tolerable More tolerable conditions for sleeping on the streets (outside of shelter or housing) may Conditions for increases homelessness Living on the - Warmer climates such as Florida, Arizona, and Texas Street - Reduced pain dealing with extreme weather •
Higher A larger supply of substitutes to permanent housing through shelters may also increase homelessness. supply of shelters and Each city has rates of sheltered homelessness at Boston, New York City, and least 2.7 times as high as Washington, D.C. are each the right-to- the rate in every other subject to right-to-shelter laws city. that guarantees shelter This reduces the number of people who would availability of a given quality. shelter (DC) otherwise sleep on the street. While shelters are a last resort for some people, right- to-shelter policies may not be a cost-effective approach to ensuring people are housed timely.
Right to Shelter Massachusetts has a “right to shelter” law guaranteeing emergency housing for homeless families that qualify If you are eligible , Massachusetts resident and you have children, you cannot by law be left out in the cold. There are over 3,000 homeless families currently receiving “emergency assistance”, 1,000 of which are in motels, in Massachusetts. The Commonwealth pays thousands of dollars per family per month for motel rooms and social services. Question: To move people out of homelessness requires a combination of prevention, temporary shelter, and “end game”. Whether the “end game” is self -sufficiency or perpetual subsidy, it depends on each person’s unique abilities (or disabilities). Is going back to Shelters an appropriate solution? Will spending on shelters have an impact on funding affordable housing?
Right to Shelter in California Under a policy like this, cities and counties would have to construct homeless shelters that would have enough space for any homeless person seeking shelter at any given time. New York City, will spend more than $1.5 billion this year to shelter approximately 75,000 people. Sacramento Mayor Darrel Steinberg proposed mandating a "right to shelter" for California’s growing homeless population, as well as obligating individuals experiencing homelessness to go into an available shelter. New York City provides temporary emergency shelter to every man, woman, and child who is eligible for services, every night. This policy sets New York apart from municipalities across the nation−many of which turn homeless individuals and families away once shelters have filled up or simply put their names on a waiting list. The City is also an innovative leader in the field of This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC- preventive services for those who are at risk of ND becoming homeless; provides shelter as a safety net for those in need.
Mental Illness Substance abuse Histories of Incarceration Low Income Individual-Level Weak Social Connections Demand Levels Research shows that Mental Illness and Substance abuse are barriers to retaining housing Research shows that Incarceration history Is a barrier to obtaining housing Research shows that income does not normally increase and remains flat Research shows that weak social connections and lack of income make individuals complacent and are content with where they are. Research shows that it is hard to make social connections and without, Leaves individuals isolated and lonely.
What can we Impact and what do homeless individuals and communities have control over What is the Sphere of Influence Housing Rents – NO (but build less expensive housing, smaller) Tolerability of Living on the Street - NO (global warming) Right to Shelter and Increase in Shelters – NO State and Local Policy This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Individual-Level Demands YES – Can Impact
Individual-Level Demands Social Connections – Social Integration Substance Abuse – Direct to resources Mental Illness/Health Issues – Direct to resources Value of Housing – Value of housing over homelessness
How Do We Define Social Integration? Social integration provides the opportunities for an individual To achieve goals through Community Inclusion – Social Conneciions – Social Integration “Sociology shows us that individuals have a need to belong and be accepted as a member of a community, In order to Achieve/fulfill their dreams”
Homeless to Formerly Homeless to Homeless – Are We building Self-Sufficiency? Why can some formerly homeless remain housed for 2+ years? while others move back to a cycle of homelessness: Do we set the expectations to high? Increase income, self-sufficiency, conforming to community rules Are the barriers to extreme? Cost of housing, stress of new culture Do we focus on the Social Connections? People become isolated, it is hard to make new friends, as people age there family reduces in number Do we focus on what is Inclusion and what is exclusion? Fear of not following rules and loosing housing, conformity.
Does the Value of Social Integration Impact our Actions? Do We have a Choice to Conform? Conformity Inclusion vs. Exclusion Neighborhoods Gated, HOA, Affordability Apartment Application process Library Quiet Voices Employer Awards, raises Under the bridge Homeless Schools Uniforms, Clubs, Cliques Community Centers Meals on Wheels Jails Convicted, record Disability Illness Landlords Inspections, Lease
What is the Value of Social Integration and is it Important? What is the spark that moves people from Ontological Security to Self-Sufficiency and Long-Term Housing Retention ? Ontological Security: Sense of Well-Being Risk: Individuals become The feeling of well-being that arises from a sense of constancy in Satisfied with their current senses of one’s social and material environment well-being. Does which, in turn, provides a secure platform this keep them from moving ahead? for identity development and self-actualization.
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