Families and individuals experiencing homelessness, addiction, and mental illness deserve compassionate care that is dignified and effective. Home for Families remains committed to our mission to partner with families and youth to resolve their housing crises, strengthen financial stability, and bridge education gaps to prevent future homelessness and disrupt cycles of poverty.
Homelessness affects people from all walks of life, and it is a result of complex systematic barriers such as a lack of affordable housing, economic hardship, and inequality. The punitive measures outlined in the recently issued Executive Order go against proven research and strategies. We believe this will cause extreme harm to already vulnerable and marginalized people.
We call on policymakers and community stakeholders to protect the human and civil rights of persons at risk of and/or currently experiencing homelessness, and to reject the pathway of punishment and criminalization. Instead, we urge our community to champion both affordable and supportive housing initiatives, harm reduction, and comprehensive social service strategies that provide true pathways out of homelessness.
