Mar 23 California’s Prop 1 homelessness measure passed by a hair. Here’s what both sides are saying By Hannah Grabenstein Advocates say Proposition 1 will inject much-needed funds into a struggling mental health care system, but opponents worry about who will get left behind. Continue reading
Mar 22 Massachusetts debates how best to keep families housed amid migrant crisis By Michael Casey, Associated Press The Massachusetts Senate has approved limits on how long homeless families can stay in emergency state shelters as part of an $850 million plan to fund the system that has been at the center of the migrant crisis. Continue reading
Mar 21 Watch 6:06 Californians approve plan to address homelessness, critics say it’s not enough By William Brangham California voters narrowly passed a ballot measure that will fund billions of dollars to help the state tackle its homelessness crisis. Gov. Newsom celebrated the victory, but opponents say it doesn’t do enough to keep people from becoming homeless in… Continue watching
Mar 20 California voters pass proposition requiring counties to spend on programs to tackle homelessness By Trân Nguyễn, Associated Press Proposition 1 authorizes the state to borrow $6.4 billion to build housing and treatment beds. It also restricts how counties use money from a 2004 tax on millionaires meant to fund mental health services. Continue reading
Mar 05 Californians vote on measure Gov. Newsom says he needs to tackle homelessness crisis By Trân Nguyễn, Associated Press Proposition 1 would authorize the state to borrow $6.4 billion to build housing and treatment beds and would also restrict how counties use money from a 2004 tax on millionaires meant to fund mental health services. Continue reading
Mar 05 Momentum builds in major homelessness case before U.S. Supreme Court By Claire Rush, Associated Press In 2018, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled it was unconstitutional to punish people who for sleeping outside if there are not enough shelter beds. Many Western officials say it has prevented them from addressing homeless encampments. Continue reading
Jan 16 New York governor wants to spend $2.4 billion to help deal with migrant influx in new budget proposal By Maysoon Khan, Associated Press/Report for America, Anthony Izaguirre, Associated Press The migrant spending plan, which would include shelter services, legal assistance and more, came as part of a $233 billion budget proposal announced on Tuesday. Continue reading
Dec 24 Watch 6:08 How a ‘perfect storm’ of issues is causing a sharp rise in homelessness By John Yang, Kaisha Young The number of Americans experiencing homelessness is now at its highest since records started being kept in 2007, according to estimates in a new report from the federal government. 2023 saw a 12 percent increase in homelessness over the previous… Continue watching
Dec 22 Chronic homelessness is at an all-time high. Here’s why it continues to climb By Hannah Grabenstein Data from the 2023 point-in-time count show that around one-third of all people experiencing homelessness nationwide are chronically homeless. Continue reading
Dec 15 U.S. homelessness up 12 percent to highest reported level as rents soar and pandemic aid lapses By Kevin Freking, Associated Press Federal officials Friday said soaring rents and a winding down of coronavirus pandemic assistance combined to put housing out of reach for more Americans. Continue reading