For the exclusive use of X. LI, 2015. HKS751 Case Number 1989.0 Budget Woes and Worse Ahead… Pine Street Inn, Boston’s Iconic Homeless Shelter, Re-Thinks its Strategy In the early 2000s—after a 15-year push to create emergency shelters for the burgeoning homeless population in U.S. cities—shelter funding began to decline, nationwide. For Pine Street Inn, Boston’s foremost homeless shelter, with 715 beds in five facilities, the first sign of trouble came in the form of several consecutive years of level funding. But in 2004, the situation worsened; Pine Street’s revenue dropped from $29.6 to $26.9 million. In alarm, Pine Street Inn Director Lyndia Downie and the Pine Street Board of Directors commissioned …show more content…
For the exclusive use of X. LI, 2015. While other shelters might screen out the intoxicated, the active drug users, the ex-offenders, or those with unmedicated psychiatric disorders, Pine Street prided itself on turning no one away. If all the beds were full, as they often were in winter, Pine Street made room on the floor. 2 To sleep in a shelter was unpleasant, but it was generally safer and—in Boston’s frigid winters—certainly warmer than sleeping rough, on a park bench, in a doorway, or atop a heating grate. By the early 2000s, Pine 3 Street’s five shelters collectively held 715 beds—more than a third of Boston’s shelter capacity. Some 12,000 homeless people were served at Pine Street each year. Pine Street was unwavering in its commitment to provide all guests—and they were always called guests, as a matter of policy—with respect and an unconditional welcome. The only rule was that they not harm themselves or anyone else. Pine Street’s distinctive and unstinting commitment to providing shelter with no conditions, no judgment and no strings dated back to the organization’s creation in 1968 and its first director, Paul Sullivan, appointed the following year. Sullivan had left an indelible imprint; two decades after his 1983 death, he was still routinely referenced at Pine Street. A man of local renown, Sullivan’s zeal and personal devotion to
Downie had estimated that, all told, the chronic population hovered at about 500, and occupied about 80 percent of Pine Street's beds at night. For the 31 percent still there after the tenth day, however, Pine Street began a concerted push, assigning a case manager to work with each person on an exit plan. According to data, the chronically homeless took up 49% of the beds at night; and that was for more than 140 days or more. Nearly half of the budget, or 46%, funded straight-up emergency shelter beds. With providing services to this group,
Three thousand, and eight hundred men, women, and children sleep on the cold streets of Portland Oregon. Homelessness has gone down 17% happily but went up another 10% the next year.
In an effort to end homelessness in Washington, DC, low barrier shelters, such as the Harriet Tubman Woman’s Shelter were implemented. Located in the center of DC General Campus in Southeast, DC, the Harriet Tubman Woman’s shelter, “is a 100 bed low-barrier emergency shelter for women over the age of 18 who are in urgent need of housing, food or case management” (Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington, Inc., 2010). A low-barrier shelter is “usually primarily short-term shelter for individuals. Low-barrier shelter is designed to keep people safe, is often open only 12 hours a day, and is often in a congregate setting. This type of program is provided, on a first come, first served basis, to any adult presenting as homeless. It is sometimes also referred to as emergency shelter” (Interagency Council on Homelessness District of Columbia, 2010, p.4) For all shelters in the Washington, DC area the women are to be out of the shelter from the time of 7am until the doors open again at 7pm. For those women who are not a part of the work program or have nothing to do during the day, the women have a chance to participate in the day program located in the shelter.
When Washington had his troops start building their shelter for the winter at Valley Forge it was already cold. In the Background Essay on page 53 it says “ It was the week before Christmas, 1777. The first job of the men was to build log “huts”.”. It goes on to describe what was in the huts. It was apparent that Valley Forge was not luxurious at all. In my opinion, when I think of the living conditions, the housing would be cold and I know that my body doesn't withstand
There are 2 categories within the count sheltered, or living in homeless housing and unsheltered, meaning a car or tent, 18 individuals in the 2016 survey were considered unsheltered this count nearly doubled from the 10 unsheltered in 2015
The Transitional Living Program was designed to promote a transition for these clients to self sufficient living and prevent long-term dependency on social services. Another strength of this policy both micro and macro is that in 2008 when changes were occurring to the preliminaries of the act, the length of stay was increased in the shelters from 14-21 days and in the Transitional Housing Program from 18-21 months. This amount of time stated in the RHYA for an individual’s stay originally worried me only because what if the client’s needs were not met by this deadline what happens next? On the macro level this extension of time gives the agencies more time for implementation of services and programs. Agencies must try there hardest to not turn away any clients, because it could possibly come across as discrimination. It was rewarding to learn that these agencies are well equipped with information and techniques for the various people inquiring about services. As the National Alliance to End Homelessness states the United States served over 500,000 homeless youth in 2005. But the Department of Human Health Services reported that 2,500 people were turned away from agencies and shelters due to the lack of bed space. If I were a major stakeholder or beneficiary of this Act, I would be concerned that not all people in need are getting what they deserve. Although this number is relatively low compared to how many served this shows some changes
Homelessness will always be a very hard battle to fight. Prior to 2008, things were looking good for homeless advocates. In 2005 to 2007, the number of the chronically homeless dropped about 30 percent (Fagan 1). This shows improvement in the prevention of homelessness, along with the assistance to get people out of homelessness. Although this does show improvement, this report was conducted prior to the economic down fall of the U.S. economy in 2008, which completely changed these statistics.
8- Heading Home is an organization based out of Charlestown that provides a continuum of services and care to individuals and families facing homelessness. In many ways their advocacy efforts match Pine Street Inn as they too provide emergency shelter and permanent housing through systemizing case management services. The mission is “to end homelessness in Greater Boston by providing a supported pathway to self-sufficiency
When the first ships arrived on the ports of Canada, quarantine shelters that were prepared for emigrants became so overcrowded that military tents outside shelters were used temporarily. The tents were often floored with wooden boards and patients were supplied with cots. These tents provided adequately during fine weather, but provided insufficient protection when it was cold and damp. Gradually, as more emigrants arrived, even the tents became overcrowded and emigrants were forced to sleep without shelter on bare ground with no cover except for the clothes they wore. The desperate need for accommodation prevented their immediate removal from quarantine vessels. Their confinement on board caused emigrants to contract more disease that was spread further as a result of lack of ventilation and lack of medical aid on ships as doctors and nurses were desperately needed at hospitals. The overcrowded sheds were unsuitable for hospital services, and, despite the number of complaints about the conditions of quarantines, nothing could be done. More hospitals were built, but remained unfinished, as carpenters refused to complete construction for fear of disease. Yet more emigrants who already suffered from disease were suffering from
Given national recognition, The State of Homelessness in America benefits individuals needlessly suffering from a lack of shelter and a steady income. Efforts such as raising awareness and knowledge about the increase in the homeless population has sparked a number of organizations devoted to lessening the amount of individuals living on the streets in major cities. The state of homelessness is able to provide accurate information and statistics for viewers nationwide.
Homelessness affects an estimated 650,000 Americans in the United States daily and the number of people experiencing homelessness is continuing to rise across the United States and more specifically in Massachusetts. According to the 2014 Annual Homelessness Assessment, between 2013-2014 Massachusetts saw the fourth largest increase in homelessness in the United States and on any given night an estimated 3000 individual shelter beds are occupied ("Basic Facts on," 2016). Furthermore, "homelessness magnifies poor health, exposes those in crowded shelters to communicable diseases, complicates management of chronic illnesses and uncovers deep fault lines in our healthcare system" (O 'Connell et al., 2010). Lack of access to affordable housing is the main driving force behind the rise in homelessness, followed closely by poverty, mental health disabilities, and substance abuse disorders. These individuals need: "services that address their tangible needs for housing, income and employment; access to flexible, low-demand interventions; and long-term continuous treatment and support" (Wells, 2003). Low-threshold housing programs and the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) service model are two promising methods of improving the present situation for the homeless.
During the final twelve months of the Civil War, over 45,000 prisoners that was part of the Union was held as prisoners at the Andersonville Prison located in the southern part of Georgia. The Union soldiers was held in poor sheltered conditions guarded by Confederate soldiers which is seen in the photo. With 45,000 prisoners, shelter was very limited. The picture is showing the endless tents that held all the prisoners. In the picture, someone can see how shelter was provided to the prisoners. The tents was basically a sheet held up by a stick structure and provided limited protection from the elements. If one looks closely to the picture, a person can see how the tents was arrange as living situations for the multiply soldiers who stayed
The homeless- found on city park benches, street corners, and subway grates. Where did all of these people come from? One third, to one half of the homeless suffer from a mental illness. A lot is said about the homeless-mentally ill, but what their plight says about us may be more significant. We still have not found a place for those who are both poor and insane. Once there was a place for them; the asylum fulfilled the basic needs of thousands for decades, but now these institutions lay empty and in ruin. Has the hope to heal the mentally ill also been abandoned? Is there once again a need for the asylum? The disbandment of the asylum was the first step in ending segregation for those
In December of 2014 the Albuquerque downtown experienced the establishment of an ad hoc homeless tent city of approximately 80 homeless living in 36 tents located at First and Iron SW. Over the course of two months city social services along with community agencies attempted to address the needs of the tent city residents. By February 4, 2015 the tent city had been reduced to 14 tents.
Shelter has always been a necessity for mankind. We, as humans, have a relationship with the land that we must respect to live happily amongst it. Spaning back as far as the pre-Colonial Australia, indigenous Australians understood this connection excellently. Their shelters seemed to ‘bend with the land’ as they understood crucial elements within the architecture to compensate for distinctive climate and cultural factors to fit their nomadic lifestyle. Their living style was very minimalistic yet practical. The indigenous Australians only built what they needed to survive. For evidence of this, we will be looking at the text; ‘Gunyah, Goondie and Wurley: the