Rosanne Haggerty is working to end homelessness by housing the chronically homeless and convincing governments and developers to commit to large-scale projects that serve as models for public policy. Community Solutions identifies the chronically homeless within communities and then works to finance an effective alternative housing system. Her approach to supported housing for the homeless is to get the community involved in engineering a new kind of neighbourhood. It is not a top down approach, it is empowering for all involved in the project. Community Solutions has grown from one project in New York to 19 other US cities and she has also brought the concept to Australia.

Presently Community Solutions is focused on the 100,000 Homes Campaign. This is a national movement of communities in the USA working together to find permanent homes for 100,000 of the country’s most vulnerable homeless individuals and families by July of 2013.

Problema

While volunteering in a homeless shelter Rosanne Haggerty recognized the need for an innovative approach to homelessness. This approach facilitates a community based response to homeless men and women. Homelessness is a preventable condition that Community Solutions believes is key to creating healthier communities. It holds a vision of communities where everyone has a home, the support of caring neighbors, and opportunities for a healthy, promising future. This perspective on homelessness is based on twenty years of experience ending street homelessness, developing and operating permanent supportive housing and bringing a range of community partners together to create and share cost-effective solutions to support the most vulnerable neighbors.

Solución

What others might see as the toughest problems, Community Solutions see highest-leverage opportunities. The focus is on people and places facing the most complex challenges, where effective solutions can have the widest impact on health and housing outcomes, practices and policies. Research highlights that a small percentage of homeless people – five per cent – have extremely complex needs and a disproportionate impact on the ability of public systems to deliver cost-effective results. Community Solutions identifies these high-need individuals and families and connects them to housing and services that end their homelessness and dramatically improve their health and self-sufficiency. This insight drives the efforts of Community Solutions to share innovations nationally and accelerate the pace of change. There is a focus on the “tipping point” within communities that account for the majority of homelessness in the United States. Ultimately, the goal is to change public systems so that homeless families and individuals can get the transformative help they need at a lower public cost. Community Solutions develops effective solutions to homelessness that can be shared broadly. We convene local leaders, non-profits, businesses, and public agencies to create a national network to end homelessness and strengthen communities. Our work is defined by partnership and meaningful collaboration.

Ejemplo

We offer communities expertise and strategies based on 20 years of experience ending homelessness. Our partnerships create sustainable, cost effective solutions and build broad networks capable of implementing and sustaining them. We measure impact in lives improved and public costs saved. Community Solutions works with partners to preserve and expand housing opportunities for those not served by the conventional housing market. Attractive, affordable residences are created that promote health and spur community development. These often include retail, arts and community spaces. Community Solutions helps communities mobilize partners and resources to connect vulnerable people to the health, employment, and other services they need to succeed in their homes and communities. This approach costs far less than responses to homelessness such as shelters and hospitals.