Opening more homeless shelters in winter won’t solve problem, advocates say. Here’s why.
“Right now is an especially insecure time in the housing market. Rents are climbing across the country. Local energy costs are expected to spike. And the federal eviction moratorium was recently lifted.
Getting enough low-income housing to meet the need here will not be an overnight fix, said Connie Sanderson, executive director of Partners Ending Homelessness. The organization receives funding from HUD to manage and coordinate support for people who are homeless.
‘It’s been a long-standing issue,’ Sanderson said. ‘We aren’t going to be able to build our way out of the affordable housing crisis in probably my lifetime.’
Simmons doesn’t have that kind of time. He’s holding onto a vision of the life he wants for himself: one of simplicity, stability, and family.”