Monday, March 12, 2012
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Finding Solutions to Homelessness & Addictions in Our Community
One of major causes of homelessness in the United States include a lack of affordable rental housing, rising rates of poverty, eroding job opportunities, diminishing access to healthcare services (especially treatment for mental illness and addiction disorders), and declines in public assistance – now exacerbated by the escalating costs of childcare, gas, food, and electricity.
Homelessness may often be result of a downward spiral that begins with a person's health problem and escalates into employment, financial, and housing problems. Without homes, people experience illnesses and injuries at three to six times the rates of housed individuals, and they die an average of 30 years earlier.
Harbor House Collaborative would like to end homelessness for thousands of men, women and children in El Paso County and Colorado Springs!
Ending homelessness will take collaborative leadership to ensure that local, state and national policies address the needs of our homeless families and individuals. It will take expertise in real estate transactions to purchase property and develop different housing models. It will take productive private and public partnerships to replicate our work throughout our community and country.
Ending Homelessness will take a refined continuum of integrated programs and services to improve the health and well-being of homeless families and individuals. It will take educating the community that housing one chronically homeless individual saves taxpayers $60,000 per year in emergency service expenses. It will take the understanding that developing safe affordable housing revitalizes neighborhoods, stimulates our local economy and will forge a forward thinking community.
Ending Homelessness in Colorado Springs will take the compassion and love dedicated staff, volunteers and community partners willing to labor tirelessly for every man, woman and child with no place to sleep tonight!
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