Outreach
Your community has an outreach and engagement system designed to reduce barriers and encourage homeless people to enter appropriate housing linked with appropriate services.
Outreach can play an important role in ending homelessness by engaging people who are living on the streets and getting them into housing. A key ingredient of effective outreach is a rapid link to housing, which necessitates some form of low-demand housing (housing with few rules or requirements). Youth or adults who are living on the streets often have a mental illness or substance addiction. Mandating treatment or sobriety can drive them away. Outreach that provides low-demand housing minimizes the negative effects of street living, including poor mental and physical health. When people feel safe and secure, they are more likely to participate in treatment. Housing has this effect.
Safe Havens are one popular form of low-demand housing intended to reach hard-to-serve homeless people with serious mental illness. This HUD program provides housing with supportive services, and is eligible for funding through HUD's Supportive Housing Program. |
Legislative Updates 
THE TEN ESSENTIALS
This video highlights how communities across the country are decreasing homelessness among families. Thanks to the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, it’s yours to use for free. 