Most people assume that a job and housing are all people experiencing homelessness need escape homelessness.
Unfortunately, maintaining a job and independent housing remains near impossible until other basic needs can be met.
People experiencing homelessness may need a safe and secure environment, mental health treatment, physical healthcare, substance misuse treatment, and a safety net in order to achieve long-term employment and housing stability.
Another reality of homelessness is that our neighbors nearest the bottom of the economic ladder are still greatly impacted by larger macroeconomic trends.
When the job market is tight, someone working to overcome homelessness will have a much harder time finding a job – especially with big gaps in their employment history or a criminal record. When the housing market is tight, someone working to overcome homelessness will have a much harder time finding affordable housing – especially with no rental history or a criminal record.
These trends are usually correlated. When everyone is hiring and guests can find good employment easily (like in 2021), it is virtually impossible to secure an affordable rental. When rental prices are down and affordable housing is readily available (like in the early 2010’s), employers are much more selective and guests have a difficult time finding work.
When the job market is tight, someone working to overcome homelessness will have a much harder time finding a job – especially with big gaps in their employment history or a criminal record. When the housing market is tight, someone working to overcome homelessness will have a much harder time finding affordable housing – especially with no rental history or a criminal record.
These trends are usually correlated. When everyone is hiring and guests can find good employment easily (like in 2021), it is virtually impossible to secure an affordable rental. When rental prices are down and affordable housing is readily available (like in the early 2010’s), employers are much more selective and guests have a difficult time finding work.
This is why at The Davies Shelters, we utilize our housing first model to journey with our guests through the complexities of their need, knowing that their restoration to wholeness is not a linear process. We seek to cultivate programs and community partnerships in order to holistically address the needs of our guests.