Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc.

Eviction Prevention: Strategies for Supporting Individuals with Serious Mental Illness & SUDs - a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Homeless & Housing Resource Center webinar w/Ayana Gonzalez, Juanita Spotted Elk, Rachel Post, & Matthew Leslie 7/16, 2-3:30 ET

Where do we go from #GrantsPass?   TAC is outraged and disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass. Based on our 30 years of experience working across the country to #endhomelessness, we know this decision will lead to more individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness being arrested and incarcerated. We also know that disproportionate numbers of these people will have mental illness, substance use disorders, or other disabilities; will be Veterans; will have experienced domestic violence; will be minors; and/or will be Black, Brown, or Indigenous. #SCOTUS has sent the damaging message that government responsibility to address the affordable housing crisis facing this country can be managed by criminalizing people who cannot afford a place to live. Citing and arresting people who live on the street with local public nuisance laws only compounds peoples’ challenges, perpetuates homelessness, causes further traumatization, and results in increased costs to society.   Homelessness is a public health emergency that requires an urgent, all-of-government approach. We know what works: Many communities are working hard to prevent and end homelessness, despite the shortage of affordable housing, and will continue to build on evidence-based solutions such as #HousingFirst, which has bipartisan support and is credited with having cut Veteran homelessness in half since 2010. Federal, state, and local policymakers must intensify their efforts to expand and accelerate affordable housing resources and programs, including rental assistance, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, and other programs. Access to treatment, services and other supports, including eviction prevention, can also help people access and sustain their housing. The Grants Pass decision fails to recognize underlying causes of homelessness, including first and foremost the basic, fundamental need for housing.   Policies that criminalize people who experience homelessness are wrong, counterproductive, and ineffectual ― and public officials who resort to policy solutions based on Grants Pass must be held accountable. But in order to prevent states and communities from defaulting to criminalization, Congress and states must do the right thing and provide funding and tools for the development of real solutions: more affordable housing and services to help all people live and thrive in safe, stable housing in the communities they choose.

Where do we go from #GrantsPass?   TAC is outraged and disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass. Based on our 30 years of experience working across the country to #endhomelessness, we know this decision will lead to more individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness being arrested and incarcerated. We also know that disproportionate numbers of these people will have mental illness, substance use disorders, or other disabilities; will be Veterans; will have experienced domestic violence; will be minors; and/or will be Black, Brown, or Indigenous. #SCOTUS has sent the damaging message that government responsibility to address the affordable housing crisis facing this country can be managed by criminalizing people who cannot afford a place to live. Citing and arresting people who live on the street with local public nuisance laws only compounds peoples’ challenges, perpetuates homelessness, causes further traumatization, and results in increased costs to society.   Homelessness is a public health emergency that requires an urgent, all-of-government approach. We know what works: Many communities are working hard to prevent and end homelessness, despite the shortage of affordable housing, and will continue to build on evidence-based solutions such as #HousingFirst, which has bipartisan support and is credited with having cut Veteran homelessness in half since 2010. Federal, state, and local policymakers must intensify their efforts to expand and accelerate affordable housing resources and programs, including rental assistance, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, and other programs. Access to treatment, services and other supports, including eviction prevention, can also help people access and sustain their housing. The Grants Pass decision fails to recognize underlying causes of homelessness, including first and foremost the basic, fundamental need for housing.   Policies that criminalize people who experience homelessness are wrong, counterproductive, and ineffectual ― and public officials who resort to policy solutions based on Grants Pass must be held accountable. But in order to prevent states and communities from defaulting to criminalization, Congress and states must do the right thing and provide funding and tools for the development of real solutions: more affordable housing and services to help all people live and thrive in safe, stable housing in the communities they choose.

Where do we go from #GrantsPass?   TAC is outraged and disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass. Based on our 30 years of experience working across the country to #endhomelessness, we know this decision will lead to more individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness being arrested and incarcerated. We also know that disproportionate numbers of these people will have mental illness, substance use disorders, or other disabilities; will be Veterans; will have experienced domestic violence; will be minors; and/or will be Black, Brown, or Indigenous. #SCOTUS has sent the damaging message that government responsibility to address the affordable housing crisis facing this country can be managed by criminalizing people who cannot afford a place to live. Citing and arresting people who live on the street with local public nuisance laws only compounds peoples’ challenges, perpetuates homelessness, causes further traumatization, and results in increased costs to society.   Homelessness is a public health emergency that requires an urgent, all-of-government approach. We know what works: Many communities are working hard to prevent and end homelessness, despite the shortage of affordable housing, and will continue to build on evidence-based solutions such as #HousingFirst, which has bipartisan support and is credited with having cut Veteran homelessness in half since 2010. Federal, state, and local policymakers must intensify their efforts to expand and accelerate affordable housing resources and programs, including rental assistance, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, and other programs. Access to treatment, services and other supports, including eviction prevention, can also help people access and sustain their housing. The Grants Pass decision fails to recognize underlying causes of homelessness, including first and foremost the basic, fundamental need for housing.   Policies that criminalize people who experience homelessness are wrong, counterproductive, and ineffectual ― and public officials who resort to policy solutions based on Grants Pass must be held accountable. But in order to prevent states and communities from defaulting to criminalization, Congress and states must do the right thing and provide funding and tools for the development of real solutions: more affordable housing and services to help all people live and thrive in safe, stable housing in the communities they choose.

Since the historic #Olmstead decision 25 years ago, we’ve made great strides toward learning what works. But as Kevin Martone observes in TAC's latest Access blog post, our public systems — and, crucially, our public budgets — are not yet fully aligned with the goal of community integration. What will it take? https://lnkd.in/eUVbmxPE

Check out the latest Community Power Network session! Great conversation about funder-grantee power dynamics, with creative suggestions to prevent retraumatization and frustration for people with lived experience trying to get their innovative work funded. #PWLE Systems for Action https://lnkd.in/ejRmX6pZ

We are delighted to share that TAC Associate Arvind Sooknanan — courageous & visionary activist for rational, compassionate, community-based #mentalhealth services — has been announced as a finalist for The David Prize! Learn more about what landed Arvind in this very honored company: https://lnkd.in/eX3Sp9Bn

Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc. is seeking an independent consultant/subcontractor to assist with the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Technical Assistance Initiative, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The HOPWA TA Consultant must be a person with #livedexperience who is currently receiving, or has in the past received, housing or services through a HOPWA program. Learn more! https://lnkd.in/eCsicABF

The third & final webinar in TAC's series on strengthening mobile crisis response through community partnerships is available for viewing! Feat. facilitators Jordan Gulley Waclawski, LICSW & Megan Lee, LPC, plus guest presenters Xiomara Owens of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) & Anne Wise LISW-S of Child Focus. https://bit.ly/44y0vra

Latest The Commonwealth Fund blog post by Laura Conrad, Megan Lee, LPC, & Dr. Zainab Okolo, LCMFT explores today's challenges & unprecedented opportunities to "reach children where they are." https://bit.ly/4aS3OLv