Housing for Veterans (Page under construction)

The Problem

The Four Definations of Homelessness (varies from one agency to another)

1. Transitional Homelessness
There is a popular misconception that homelessness is a chronic condition. While it’s true in some cases, in reality, the most common type of homelessness is transitional.

Transitional homelessness is “a state of homelessness that’s a result of a major life change or catastrophic event”.  These life changes might be job loss, a health condition, divorce, domestic abuse, a substance use disorder, or personal or family crisis, among many others, resulting in people being in unhoused situations for less than a year.

People who experience transitional homelessness may enter a transitional housing program for a limited time. They may also sleep in their cars or outside. Oftentimes people experiencing transitional homelessness still have jobs, but cannot afford housing and other expenses.

Many people experiencing transitional homelessness tend to be younger. Youth are often harassed and discriminated against when they seek alternative housing, contributing to their disproportionately high rate of homelessness. Compared to older people, young people are often considered "invisible homeless," and statistics about them are scarce as they don't typically access services. The first sign of homelessness for them may be couch surfing or sleeping over with friends, which is considered less serious and obvious than sleeping on the street. About 8% of those who are experiencing homelessness identify as youth or young adults. On average, there are around 550,000 people under the age of 24 and 380,000 under the age of 18 experiencing homelessness per year.

The LGBTQ community faces unique challenges and is often more likely to face violence, abuse, and exploitation. According to the Williams Institute, the most common factor to LGBTQ homelessness is family rejection based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

2. Episodic Homelessness
People can also experience “episodic homelessness”, whether they are currently unhoused or experienced at least three periods of homelessness within the last 12 months. In contrast, those confronting the realities of “chronic homelessness” usually experience four periods within a calendar year without a home.

Like transitional homelessness, many of those facing episodic homelessness are younger or dealing with a disabling condition. These conditions could be substance use disorder, mental illness, and other mental and/or physical health conditions. In some cases, some episodically unhoused people have seasonal or minimum wage income jobs.

Episodic homelessness can eventually become chronic homelessness without adequate resources and support.

3. Chronic Homelessness

People experiencing chronic homelessness is defined as "an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition" who has been homeless for more than one year. It’s more common for people experiencing chronic homelessness to also deal with a certain disability, mental health condition, addiction, and other debilitating conditions that restrict their ability to escape homelessness.

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, chronically homeless people tend to be older and makeup about 17% of the homeless population. Many chronically unhoused people have complex, long-term health issues and live on the street, in parks, in cars, or in other places that are not suitable or safe for living.

4. Hidden Homelessness

People who live with others temporarily without a permanent home are considered “hidden homeless,” as it is often most unnoticed. Since they lack access to housing support resources and cannot be identified, they are 'hidden' from national statistics on homelessness.

Since they lack access to housing support resources and cannot be identified, they are 'hidden' from national statistics on homelessness.

CouchSurfing: People who experience hidden homelessness, often turn to friends, family, and neighbors for a shelter or a place of refuge. In a lot of cases, many of these people cannot afford to pay rent or afford other living expenses.

Many in the “hidden homeless” population are younger people who have experienced a sudden catastrophic life change, trauma, or challenges as a result.  Youth are often harassed and discriminated against when they seek alternative housing, which contributes to their disproportionately high rate of homelessness. Compared to older people, young people are often considered "invisible homeless" - and statistics about them are scarce as they don't typically access services. The first sign of homelessness for them may be couch surfing or sleeping over with friends, which is considered to be less serious — and obvious — than sleeping on the street.

The Solutions (The path to getting off the street to getting their own home)

Definitions of types of Housing (varies from one agency to another)
Here is what we need; the question is, how do we get there?

1.  Emergency Shelters (ES)

Emergency Shelters are often the first place people turn to during or after experiencing an economic or domestic crisis. Emergency shelters provide support services and short-term stabilization for individuals and families before finding appropriate housing that meets their long-term needs.

• Examples: Wheler Mission (men & women) | Good News Mission (men only) | Queen of Peace | Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis | Holy Family Shelter | Stopover (youth) | Dayspring Center | Salvation Army | Julian Center

2.  Safe Havens (SH)

A Safe Haven is where someone who is homeless needs a place to stay while seeking housing.  Additionally, the phrase Safe Haven can refer more generally to a place, situation, or activity in which one finds an escape from things that they may find unpleasant or problematic, such as a battered spouse.

• Examples: A friends or family members house | Hotels or Motels |

3.  Transitional (Temporary or Short-Term) Housing (TH)

Transitional shelters are a program that provides temporary residence, ranging from six to 24 months, for people experiencing homelessness. It is often called a “transitional” or “interim” shelter. Transitional shelters typically include supportive services to improve employability and to help individuals obtain permanent housing as quickly as possible.

• Examples: Pathway to Recovery | Progress House | Stopover | Coburn Place

4.  Rapid Rehousing Housing (RRH)

Rapid Re-Housing is a housing model that provides assistance to help individuals and/or families find a home of their own as quickly as possible. It is a housing-first solution for non-chronic homelessness where individuals or families rent an apartment and are provided temporary community support services, which can include case management and time-limited financial assistance, to bring them quickly out of homelessness.

• Examples:

5.  Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)

Permanent Supportive Housing is a program designed to provide housing and supportive services on a long-term basis to formerly chronically homeless people. These are individuals who have a diagnosed disability and who have been continuously homeless for one year or more for one reason or another. For a significant number of homeless Americans with physical or mental disabilities, long-term homelessness can only be addressed by providing permanent housing combined with intensive supportive services. Permanent Supportive Housing offers safe and stable housing environments with flexible and voluntary services.

• Examples: Subsidized housing in supportive housing, apartments, condos, or homes

6.  Affordable & Obtainable Permanent Housing (APH)

Affordable Permanent Housing is when a person and/or family has recovered from homelessness and can afford to buy their own home.

• Examples: Usually obtained after a full recovery from homelessness, addictions, etc., being employed, and a good credit score.