Bulletin Board
The place where you can stay up to date with the latest events, stories, news, and opportunities for our City Relief community.
A Job Doesn’t Always Make Ends Meet
As someone who cares deeply about our community, I want to dispel myths about homelessness and unemployment. Did you know that 53% of people living in homeless shelters are employed either full or part-time? That's right, despite their hard work, they are still unable to afford housing due to a crippling combination of low wages and a lack of affordable housing.
Why listening matters…
As an advocate for homelessness, I wanted to share a powerful story that I recently came across in the New York Times. The article, written by Tracy Kidder, is about a doctor named Jim O'Connell, who has dedicated his life to caring for the homeless population in Boston. What makes his approach unique is his commitment to listening to the stories of the people he serves.
Why Listening Matters…
As an advocate for homelessness, I wanted to share a powerful story that I recently came across in the New York Times. The article, written by Tracy Kidder, is about a doctor named Jim O'Connell, who has dedicated his life to caring for the homeless population in Boston. What makes his approach unique is his commitment to listening to the stories of the people he serves.
Your Place in the Domino Effect
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge was recently interviewed by NPR. In her interview, Secretary Fudge noted that the issues causing homelessness - namely housing affordability and housing discrimination - were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the general public does not even realize the populations that are being hit the hardest.
Illegal Outside, Dangerous Inside
Forbes recently spoke with Dr. Jim O’Connell, president of Boston Health Care for the Homeless, about “Housing First” - a model that believes that permanent, supportive housing is the key to helping people experiencing homelessness.
Yearning To Breathe Free
The number of people who are unhoused has reached unprecedented levels not seen since the Great Depression.
Holistic solutions offer pathways for everyone to have a home
According to Project Renewal, it is also more cost-effective to fund supportive housing than shelters, saving agencies over $25,000 annually per person.
The vicious cycle between prison & homelessness
Have you ever wondered what happens to people when they try to put their lives back together after being incarcerated? Spoiler alert, it's not easy.
The Red Tape Behind Public Services
Today I wanted to bring awareness to the obstacles that someone experiencing homelessness has to face to access public services.
They Were Promised an End to Homelessness. Now They Face Eviction.
The New York Times recently posted an article about a man named Dwayne Seifforth. Dwayne spent four years sleeping on the street and one year in the shelter system
What would you do if it was 11 degrees and you had nowhere to go?
Winter has arrived, bringing with it icy precipitation, extremely low and dangerous temperatures, and biting winds that inspire dreams of tropical beaches and backyard BBQs.
Rising levels of homelessness seem daunting, but together we can do something…
This is a special time of year. For many of us, it is a time to celebrate hope and miracles. A time to gather with loved ones to honor traditions and delight in the comfort of favorite dishes.
Experiencing Homelessness Is Often Extremely Lonely
Experiencing homelessness is often extremely lonely. We often associate homelessness with financial poverty or a lack of material possessions, but one of the hardest aspects of experiencing homelessness is the loss of relationships.
Ways to Build Community With Your Unhoused Neighbors
I want to share some ways I interact with individuals to build community with our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
ASKING, "THEN WHAT....?
This is a question that you will ask yourself when building a friendship with someone who may be experiencing homelessness.
A Compassionate Community Response To Homelessness
In today's newsletter, we have a conversation with Teresa Gowan, the director of Community Partnerships.
Caring For Our Guests Beyond An Outreach
Today we wanted to share a conversation with our Director of Follow-Up Care, Tricia Philbert.
Employment Doesn’t Guarantee Housing
People are often surprised that many people experiencing homelessness are employed.
Immigration & Homelessness
She has also been our point person in assisting the many immigrants who have been coming to the New York City area and our outreaches.
Cycle Of Homelessness
Within this process, we've found that the roadblocks to breaking this cycle are exceptionally challenging. There are systemic, structural, and relational hurdles that an individual may face on this path.