Sleeping unsheltered in cars. In parks.
We’ve never had a true picture of the number of families sleeping unsheltered in Cincinnati. Until now.
Usually, families start their journey to housing by calling the Central Access Point Helpline. Some families can stay where they are for a few weeks. But others are already living unsheltered.
Because there is far too little affordable housing, finding the most vulnerable families that are in the greatest need of shelter is the priority. So, last summer we launched a new pilot program. To determine which families are most in need of shelter.
Today families call and say they are sleeping unsheltered. We dispatch a new team of Street Outreach workers. To go to the families, assess their needs, and start their journey to housing.
In all of 2023 only 11 families were found unsheltered.
In contrast, from May to December last year, 231 families were found sleeping unsheltered.
Where to sleep? What to eat? When will the kids return to school? The stress and trauma these families experience can’t be understated.
It’s tragic, and we know you care.
Thank you for sharing our mission to end homelessness. You make Cincinnati a kinder and more equitable community.
“Local organization seeing more children sleeping in cars, working to help during winter months”
Our thanks to Nicole Aponte with WLWT Channel 5. Who took a deeper dive into this issue. And what it means for families.
Strategies to End Homelessness has known about the issue of family homelessness for quite some time. This is not a new problem, but the organization has seen more and more families with children sleeping in their cars.
Watch her story, here: Local organization seeing more children sleeping in cars, working to help during winter months
