Homelessness & Housing
Everybody Counts!
Sisters Kathy Littrell and Elaine Sanchez (above) joined a large number of volunteers in Alameda County for the 2019 Homeless Count: LET’S MAKE EVERYONE COUNT.
Every two years, during the last 10 days of January, communities across the country conduct comprehensive counts of the local homeless populations in order to measure the prevalence of homelessness in each local area. This important event assists in assuring needed funding and services are provided in each locale.
The early morning event began at 5:30 a.m. We gathered in Fremont to receive our map assignments and became part of a team composed of a Driver, Guide, Spotter (Elaine) and Recorder (Kathy). We drove, walked, and searched our assigned areas looking for the homeless. Our guide Abdul, who happens to be homeless and employed, was an excellent and compassionate teacher who raised our awareness on the issues the homeless experience each day.
Perhaps this early morning adventure to “seek out” was another way for our Sisters of the Holy Family to support efforts in addressing the needs of the homeless.
Longtime Collaboration with Abode Services
Our Sisters are proud of our longtime support of Abode Services, which is a leading practitioner of Housing First – a proven way to successfully re-house people experiencing homelessness.
Studies have shown the power of this approach in improving the lives of people placed in housing:
- Costs related to visits to the ER by people who are homeless reduced by 34.3%
- Incarceration costs reduced by 76%
- Chronic homelessness reduced by 42%
As this essay points out, “Housing First isn’t just cost-effective. It’s more effective, period.”
