Quickly getting people into housing is one central function of a homelessness system. But when unsheltered homelessness starts to rise, communities sometimes shift their focus from housing to shelter.

This is certainly understandable. Living on the street is brutally dangerous, and keeping people safe while getting them housed is important. However, these are not two separate functions. Without a focus on housing people quickly, a community with a large unsheltered homelessness problem will struggle to find a solution. A strong Housing First system, on the other hand, can have a big impact on unsheltered homelessness, perhaps bigger than the impact of opening more shelters. 

EVERY FRONT DOOR NEEDS A BACK DOOR
Shelters need a back door. And that back door needs to exit people to housing.

If the only response is more shelter, each new shelter will quickly fill up, and unsheltered homelessness will continue to grow. But each person who moves from shelter to housing creates another open bed for a person who is currently on the streets.

The math is simple. If 100 people each month are becoming homeless in a community, then 100 people each month must exit into housing. Otherwise, shelters will fill up and stay full, and the number of unsheltered people will keep rising. While many communities have a need for more shelter, this is not the only answer...

To continue reading this article, please click HERE to visit the National Alliance to End Homelessness website.

Click HERE for the Courtyard Transitional Center's August 19-24, 2018 newsletter. Sign up at www.citynet.org/courtyard for the Courtyard Newsletter to receive more information about the Courtyard! 

Click HERE for the Courtyard Transitional Center's August 12 -18, 2018 newsletter. Sign up at www.citynet.org/courtyard for the Courtyard Newsletter to receive more information about the Courtyard! 

Click HERE for the Courtyard Transitional Center's August 8-11, 2018 newsletter. Sign up at www.citynet.org/courtyard for the Courtyard Newsletter to receive more information about the Courtyard! 

Click HERE for the Courtyard Transitional Center's July 22-28, 2018 newsletter. Sign up at www.citynet.org/courtyard for the Courtyard Newsletter to receive more information about the Courtyard! 

One Step is looking to expand in North Orange County to have a stronger presence in South Orange County. To do that we are hosting an Open House Luau July 29th and inviting anyone interested in housing homeless.

You can come any time on Sunday, July 29th, between 5:00 - 8:00 pm to tour the services and enjoy authentic Hula dancers, Luau food, and special guest Madison Scott. The tour takes about 30 minutes then you'll enjoy the festivities as long as you like. And feel free to invite ANYONE else you think might like to learn more about housing homeless in their community. 

You can download the flyer HERE. We are asking for RSVP's by July 23rd (click HERE to RSVP).

Click HERE for the Courtyard Transitional Center's July 15-21, 2018 newsletter. Sign up at www.citynet.org/courtyard for the Courtyard Newsletter to receive more information about the Courtyard! 

Click HERE for the Courtyard Transitional Center's July 1-7, 2018 newsletter. Sign up at www.citynet.org/courtyard for the Courtyard Newsletter to receive more information about the Courtyard! 

Click HERE for the Courtyard Transitional Center's June 24-30, 2018 newsletter. Sign up at www.citynet.org/courtyard for the Courtyard Newsletter to receive more information about the Courtyard! 

Click HERE for the Courtyard Transitional Center's June 17-23, 2018 newsletter. Sign up at www.citynet.org/courtyard for the Courtyard Newsletter to receive more information about the Courtyard!