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Petition Tag - homelessness
1. Pétition pour l'élimination du problème des sans-abri et de la pauvreté au Canada : 
Le Canada a ete dans une crise qui s'ait degrader depuis le milieux des annee's 90 qu'ant il concerned le probleme des sans abrit, se probleme a ete causee par des mauvaise legislation qui ont ete introduit par le Gouvernment federal de ses temps aet na jamais ete addresser depuis se temps. le resultat de cela est que beacoup de nos concitoyens ont deceder dans nos rues et nous voulont une fin a cela. Le probleme de la pauvrete aux Canada a aussi degrader depuis plusiuers annees et nous voulont une fin a cela car nous croyont que tout les citoyens Canadiens on le droit a une vie decente.
2. Lower rent range on (hud)affordable housing
The street homeless population in new york city is increasing, 47% from last year. We need solutions right away on homelessness, shelters, affordable housing.
Why can't shelter residents get the same amount of shelter allowance for a regular affordable housing apartment unit, and it's less then what they pay for each individual in the shelter system?
3. Eradicate homelessness and poverty in Canada
In the mid 90's the Federal Government of the day cancelled the National housing program Canada used to have, this decision created the housing and homeless crisis we now have to deal with and none of our federal Government to date have been dealing with this issue properly.
As a result the crisis has been growing at a steady pace and many of our most vulnerable have died because of it.
As well the poverty crisis in Canda has been growing at an alarming rate due to cut backs at both the both the Provincial and federal levels over the past several years.
4. Allow Houseless & Homeless a Safe place to Camp in Nelson.
There is a housing crisis in Nelson BC. According to the Annual Report Card on Homelessness for Nelson & area: Nelson has the lowest vacancy rate in BC, one of the highest rates of people paying more than half of their income on rent and homelessness has increased by 24% in the last 3 years.
43% of women and over 40% of local homeless men have been diagnosed with mental health issues, people with disabilities receiving PWD income make up 30% of the shelter population and there are many more still not receiving benefits. Of people on income assistance with disabilities 38% are homeless, 44% are in unaffordable or unsafe housing with only 18% living in stable affordable housing.
The local support services in Nelson are doing amazing work, but are stretched beyond their means and unable to provide services adequate to all of these needs. Many local organizations and services are already in full support, as they have been trying to encourage this idea for years.
As the Occupy Nelson camp has brought more attention to the vital need for action on this crisis, there is now more support to move this forward; but, for an action of this scale we believe community encouragement and involvement would get this up and running quicker, more effectively and as soon as possible.
5. Do More To End Homelessness in the UK
I am appalled at the number of homeless people on the street and I am also appalled by the prejudice that these people face every day.
Things NEED to change for the better.
NEWBURY HOUSE SUPPORTED ACCOMODATION PROJECT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR OVER 30 YRS. WE THE RESIDENTS OF NEWBURY HOUSE WERE RECENTLY INFORMED OF A PROPOSAL TO CLOSE US DOWN.
7. Protect Devon Homelessness Services from dangerous cuts
Devon County Council receives a government grant (called Supporting People) to support vulnerable people. This includes helping to prevent homelessness, as well as helping homeless people get off the streets and have a better future.
This grant has only been cut by around 12%, but DCC intends to cut services supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness (mostly run by local charities) by up to 40%! This is extraordinary disproportionate and against instructions by government Ministers.
Vulnerable people WILL lose their homes as a result of these cuts, which take effect in April 2011. Young people WILL be forced to stay in abusive and unsafe situations because there will be nowhere else to go. Supported housing projects helping people get back on their feet WILL be closed or dramatically cut back their services.
This will create untold human misery to people whose lives are already difficult enough.
But even if you have no heart, these cuts make no economic sense. If homeless people are deprived of housing and support, their lives will become more chaotic. Crime will go up. Antisocial behaviour will go up. Drug and alcohol misuse will go up. Mental health problems and hospitalisations will go up. A&E admissions will go up. More people will be in prison.
The list of consequences of these badly thought out plans goes on, and every one creates problems for the wider community and extra costs to the taxpayer. These cuts will COST money, lots of money, not save it.
All this will happen unless we, the voting public, make our views known. So join this cause, and let's tell DCC councillors what their voters think.
Positions
1.These are difficult times. But, as DCC's leader has said, we have to protect the most vulnerable at this time. This includes those at risk of homelessness
2.£1 spent on housing support saves over £2 in the long run through reduced crime and antisocial behaviour and improved physical and mental health
3.Central Government has only cut Devon's funding by 12%. It is grossly unfair to target homeless people with cuts of up to 40%
8. Let's End Rough Sleeping By 2012
We believe that everyone has a right to shelter in 21st century Britain. There must be an alternative to the streets for every person in every area.
Rough sleeping numbers have fallen over the last decade, however between 2006 and 2008 the figures remained static. We believed it was time for fresh thinking and campaigned for more than three years, alongside our members, for a new strategy not only to help stop the flow onto the streets, but also to help those already there move on to independent lives.
Progress so far...
On November 18 2008, the previous Government launched No One Left Out: Communities ending rough sleeping, a 15 point action plan developed with leading rough sleeping charities to help end rough sleeping for good. This was followed by a pledge from the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to end rough sleeping in London. This is significant as London accounts for more than half the national rough sleeping population. In July 2010, Grant Shapps MP, Housing Minister, announced a consultation on how street counts of rough sleepers are carried out.
A Challenge for our time...
We are campaigning for an end to rough sleeping ‘once and for all’ in this country by the time the Olympics come to Britain in 2012. Often homelessness is swept out of sight for the Olympics, this time we believe it can be different. The goal is ambitious, but grounded in the success of the last ten years, when Government, charities and local councils have worked together to reduce the problem.
9. Stop discrimination on the basis of homelessness and irrelevant criminal record
The current provisions of the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (Vic) (EO Act) do not make it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the basis of their homelessness. Law reform to include homelessness as an attribute under the EO Act is necessary to protect some of the most vulnerable members of our community from unfair and unjust treatment.
The experience of discrimination is destructive for individuals experiencing homelessness and for society more generally. Discrimination can lead to and further entrench homelessness in cases where it prevents individuals from securing accommodation and accessing services. Discrimination can also lead to negative health consequences for individuals who feel anxiety, depression and a sense of loss of control as a result of being discriminated against.
For more information, visit http://pilch.org.au/Social_Status_Discrimination/
10. Build Vision House Jacob's Well
Support Homeless Families by Bringing the Vision House Jacob’s Well Housing Complex to the Sno/King Community.
1. Homelessness continues to be one of the most significant issues in King and Snohomish Counties.
2. The need is great – more than 11,000 people are homeless in King and Snohomish Counties.
3. Sadly, 40% of the homeless are families with children.
11. Make Victorian rooming houses safe
Call this a home?
Campaign for safe rooming houses in Victoria
Victoria has a severe shortage of affordable housing. This has caused increasing homelessness and a proliferation of privately operated rooming houses.
More and more individuals and families, including women and children, are turning to rooming houses as their last option before sleeping on the street.
Privately operated rooming houses are the most dangerous form of accommodation in Victoria. Poor regulation and the lack of minimum standards mean that rooming houses can operate for maximum profit, with little regard for the safety or amenity of residents.
They do not offer residents security, privacy or safety. Shared areas such as bathrooms and kitchens are often stages for violence, intimidation, drug dealing and other illegal activities.
There is no control over who enters or stays in the house. Some residents lack an adequate lock on their door. Imagine your food and possessions being regularly stolen or having to stand outside the bathroom door to make sure your daughter is safe. Would you call this a home?
Victoria lacks the regulatory tools to adequately control this segment of the private housing market. It is time for the introduction of a statewide set of standards and a regulatory scheme that will protect vulnerable residents from exploitative practices and conditions.
Call This A Home? is a coalition of peak bodies, organisations and individuals committed to safe rooming houses in Victoria.
We believe every Australian has a fundamental right to safe, secure and affordable housing.
12. Address Homelessness in BC
BC government continues to cancel funding for social housing units. BC government introduced new welfare rules cutting benefits to many and creating punitive barriers to those needing welfare. Yet welfare rates are 25% lower than in 1995, once inflation is factored in.
The three biggest factors for homelessness:
* The Federal Govt. pulling out of an "annual" social housing program.
*Provincial barriers to accessing welfare and welfare rates that don't meet basic needs.
*The loss of affordable rental housing due to redevelopment.
And do you know who is in charge of this in BC?
Rich Coleman.
And do you know what Mr. Coleman did before becoming a politician?
He was in Real Estate! He knows the value of the land and likes development, no matter who suffers in the face of progress!
13. Do not withdraw funding for the homeless
Aberdeen City Council intends to cut c£900,000 from the grants to the Cyrenians as part of their overall £27m cuts to services in the city in 2008 - 2009.
The Cyrenians aim is to meet the needs of people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or affected by homelessness in any way. We to listen to their difficulties, understand their needs, share their burden, provide support and ultimately find permanent solutions for their problems.
Over the last 40 years the range of services offered by the Cyrenians has grown considerably. Originally just providing food and shelter, the services in 2008 aim to meet all the varying needs of people affected by homelessness in Aberdeen and the surrounding area.
These services focus on:
• Prevention of homelessness - through advice, information and education programmes
• Alleviation of homelessness – at our day centre and in 84 places short-term accommodation
• Rehabilitation – tackling underlying issues such as alcohol, drugs, mental health and abuse
• Resettlement – practical help to gain employment, to learn the skills needed to live in the community and to sustain a tenancy
The consequenses of these cuts will mean the CLOSURE of 4 services for homeless people in the city including 3 residential rehabilitation homes.
Homelessness in Aberdeen rose by over 40% between 2004 – 2007 (2,300 in 2007) and is continuing to rise
The extension of “priority need” to include young people up to 25 will place an additional burden on services
There is not enough temporary accommodation in the city to meet current needs
The waiting time to get into a tenancy has increased as the voids in Council housing have decreased
Homeless people currently have to wait over 3 weeks to be seen
£250,000 put aside for the past two years for an advice service that could prevent homelessness is still not spent
Grampian has been criticised for its long waiting list for those trying to get off drugs and homelessness services such as The Cyrenians are vital to providing the wraparound services that support people with substance misuse problems
A planned review of homelessness services keeps getting put off
YET
Major cuts are planned in homelessness services
14. National Homeless Awareness Day
In a given year 3.5 million Americans will experience homelessness. 800,000 men, women, and children are homeless each night in this nation.
The homeless population is 49% African-American, 35% Caucasian, 13% Hispanic, 2% Native American, and 1% Asian. 40% of the male homeless population is veterans. About 16% of the homeless in the U.S. have severe chronic mental illness. From the 1960's to the early 1980's, 367,000 patients were released from mental institutions, and ended up homeless for lack of having anywhere to go.
About 26% of the homeless population suffers from some form of drug or alchohol abuse. The National Coalition for the Homeless found in 2001 that 42%of the homeless population are employed by day labor agencies, characterized by low pay,no health insurance,no job security and inadequate worker protections.
The federal government says affordable housing should be no more than 30% of a person's income. In 1999, the national two-bedroom housing wage was $11.08: in 2006, the national housing wage was 16.31, a 47% increase. The lack of affordable housing is widely considered to be the main cause of homelessness in the United States today.
15. Veteran's Support for California Senate Bill 2
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs estimates that 200,000 veterans are homeless each night in the United States. 11% of the national homeless veteran population is in Los Angeles County alone. California State Senate Bill 2, as introduced by Senator Gill Cedillo, can assist in alleviating this problem.
Senate Bill 2, if enacted into law, states that each city/county must accommodate for the housing needs of all income levels. Each city/county must make a program with a 5-year schedule of actions that the local government is undertaking, or intends to undertake, to implement the goals and objectives of the housing element.
Senate Bill 2 will address the needs of those individuals and families, including veterans, whom have traditionally been treated either unfairly or discriminatorily, or even denied their rights to adequate housing.
16. H.O.M.E - Rebuilding Lives
Homelessness is as old as the United States itself. When the first settlers came to America they were homeless.
Today more families are needing support services and are not being provided those services because the current definition of homelessness is based on individuals and not families. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) definition prohibits services to families with children. However, today, more and more families are becoming homeless.
The United States Conference of Mayors (2005) shared that the causes of homelessness is due to “lack of affordable housing, low paying jobs, mental illness, the lack of needed services, substance abuse, domestic violence, unemployment and poverty. There are many consequences for families being homeless.
When families become homeless they not only loose their homes, they also loose all of their possessions. Children may not receive an education or may have to change schools, family separation becomes an issue because most shelters do not allow women, men and children to be together.
Therefore, the current definition of homelessness as defined by HUD must be expanded to include families with children.
17. petition to end homelessness in canada
Canada has experienced a serious shoortage of affordable housing over the past few years. As a result many peole have died on our streets and it is a shameful situation for our country. If you wish to sign this petition you must be a Canadian citizen.