Homeless Helping Homeless, Inc. uses a unique system that would end homelessness. One of the key problems facing any attempt to end homelessness is that therapy and support services are ultimately ineffectual when one’s living conditions are as horrid as those the homeless experience. To counter this, HHH approaches the problem from the other direction. If you house the homeless first, supportive services become enormously more effective.
Our evidence-based system starts with providing emergency housing, where the homeless can stabilize themselves for a week. Then the homeless move into transitional housing, where they are able to undergo therapy, counseling, and job training. These programs can help them overcome the problems that drove them to homelessness in the first place. The final step is permanent housing, when they receive a lease to affordable housing provided by HHH that guarantees them a place to live. With this lease, they are officially homeless no more. Even if they lose their jobs, the HHH program is designed to support them until they can get back on their feet. Through social enterprises, our clients generate the funds necessary to house themselves and each other.
The most significant barrier preventing HHH from helping more clients is our lack of housing. Our program works so well because we can provide the transition and permanent housing ourselves, even to tenants without a job. But whenever we completely fill our capacity, it becomes a struggle to secure housing for the remainder of our clients. Currently our transitional program is completely full. Every donation helps get more individuals off the street and into permanent housing.