The 2018 Transatlantic Practice Exchange, A New Plan to Combat Homelessness in Austin, Texas, and More

Leaders in the United Kingdom homelessness sector will be able to apply for Homeless Link’s fourth Transatlantic Practice Exchange at the end of November 2017. The Exchange is an opportunity for senior support worker/junior manager-level staff to explore good practice in the United States. Topics proposed for the 2018 exchange include: multi-disciplinary outreach teams for rough sleepers; permanent supported housing (housing first); school liaison services preventing and responding to youth homelessness; and more. Applicants can also propose other topics that can help their organization develop its approach addressing homelessness. Find out more about the Exchange from past reports.

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This week, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced that the city effectively ended veteran homelessness. According to Kristal Dixon of Atlanta Patch, Partners for HOME, the Atlanta Continuum of Care, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Atlanta Housing Authority have collaborated since the city joined the U.S. Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness in 2015. Together, they’ve created a coordinated system to identify, assess, connect and permanently house over 1,800 veterans. “Communities like Atlanta are proving that homelessness is solvable, not just for veterans, but for everyone,” said Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Matthew Doherty.

Read the article here.

With nearly 200 people experiencing homelessness, the City Council of Granada, Spain is promoting a new and improved plan to help solve homelessness. Amira Yousef of Granada Digital reports that there are five aspects of the plan: housing first, employment assistance, inclusion in the High Tolerance Project, mental health services, and social services to connect people with relatives. The city is collaborating with RAIS Foundation and the Junta de Andalucía to house the first ten people under the plan. Yousef also discussed demographics of the people experiencing homelessness: about 75% are men, about 18% are women, and about 3% trans-men and women; much of the population is between 45 and 65 years old; and about 19.7% are immigrants. In addition, for the first time, the city provided informational guides to citizens and people experiencing homelessness.

Read the article here. (This article’s original text is in Spanish

Nancy Flores of American-Statesman explores an Austin, Texas nonprofit’s 10-year plan to tackle homelessness. This week Mobile Loaves and Fishes shared details about their upcoming efforts to expand housing and support services to those without permanent housing. The plan includes a campaign to expand their Community First village – to enable them to house 200 women and men experiencing chronic homelessness. The development will feature 120 micro-homes, 100 RVs, 20 canvas-sided cottages, a medical facility, and room for various recreational activities. “Mobile Loaves & Fishes is setting a new standard for addressing homelessness in an impactful way — not only in Central Texas, but in communities across the country,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler.

Read the article here.