The LGBTQ+ community is overrepresented within the homeless population. According to a study by the UCLA Williams Institute published in 2020, lesbian/gay/bisexual/queer "adults are twice as likely as the general population to have experienced homelessness in their lifetime." And, during the prior year, "8% of transgender adults experienced homelessness." Additionally, LGBTQ+ youth may lose housing after [...]
"Using punitive measures to respond to homelessness, such as arresting and/or fining people who sleep outside, is not new." But such measures don't address the real causes of homelessness: a lack of affordable housing and accessible supportive services. That's why homeless services organizations across the Country are Advocating for Person-Centered Responses to Homelessness. And promoting humane, [...]
Be our eyes in the community. Download Street Reach and help our neighbors in need! What is Street Reach? Street Reach is an app for Android or iOS. Letting you report people experiencing homelessness to our Central Access Point Helpline Intake Specialists. All we need is a general description of the person/persons and a location. [...]
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Access to mental healthcare is essential for everyone. But experiencing homelessness can exacerbate mental illnesses. And can make it more difficult to get treatment. Local Partners Offering Mental Healthcare Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS) is the largest mental healthcare provider in the Greater Cincinnati region. They serve more [...]
Many of the organizations in our local homeless services system embrace Trauma-Informed Care practices. And make it central to how they work with people in shelter, housing, and service programs. These practices recognize that people experiencing homelessness likely have trauma in their pasts. And that experiencing homelessness is traumatic. What is Trauma-Informed Care? Trauma-Informed Care is [...]
Strategies to End Homelessness leads the Homeless to Homes Plan which is the community’s coordinated response to homelessness among single adults. The Hamilton County Indigent Care Levy funds the Plan. In 2008, more than 90 key stakeholders representing the top leadership of City and County government, service providers, funders, the faith community, and the business community [...]
The Central Access Point (CAP) Helpline provides help for families and individuals experiencing homelessness, or who are at risk of becoming homeless If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness or will be soon, call 513-381-7233. In an emergency, communities like ours are fortunate to have a network of resources to help people in [...]
Homelessness is a critical local issue. In 2023, 6,142 people in Hamilton County experienced homelessness, residing in an emergency shelter, staying on the streets, or fleeing domestic violence. This includes 1,167 children under age 18. Homelessness is damaging to both physical and mental health and can be fatal. A household's descent into homelessness often follows this [...]
What it is, how it works A nationally recognized best practice, "Shelter Diversion" has the best outcomes and is the most cost-effective way to prevent homelessness. But what is it, exactly? In essence, Shelter Diversion means keeping individuals and families from entering emergency shelters or sleeping in places not meant for human habitation. Or, [...]
At the start of the pandemic, the federal government made significant investment in Eviction Prevention programming. Similarly, Hamilton County earmarked a portion of the COVID stimulus funds it received for Shelter Diversion. With these investments, homelessness declined in Hamilton County from 2020 to 2022. Last year, some of these investments began to expire. Fewer people [...]
