The homeless problem has escalated to crisis-levels in cities and towns across the country despite increased spending. Beyond Homeless is a movement to address the root causes of homelessness on an individual basis and help move people off the streets for good.
Estimated number of homeless people in the United States from (2022)
Percentage of San Francisco residents who identify as homeless (2021)
Spending increase on homelessness and its related social issues in San Francisco since 2012.
At the heart of the homeless epidemic are human lives. Many of these unique individuals are suffering from addiction, mental illness, depression, or unemployment in addition to being homeless. An intervention must be staged to save their lives, save our city and provide a model of hope for people across the nation.
Our solution to the problem provides transformational housing along with ongoing individualized 360-degree care. The goal is to help individuals resolve the issues underlying their homelessness to achieve their full potential. Haven for Hope in San Antonio provides living proof that this approach moves those experiencing homelessness beyond homeless.
But to move from the status quo to a more enlightened and effective approach, we need all the help we can get. So please get involved.
We thank you for whatever you can do, and look forward to brighter days on the streets of San Francisco. And beyond.
Mary L. G. Theroux
Chairman & CEO
Independent Institute
BEYOND HOMELESS
The overriding problem is the dire lack of places low-income people can afford to live. “There’s really no way to solve homelessness without seriously addressing this,” says Kushel, the UCSF researcher. “Otherwise, we’re going to be compelled to continue to spend huge amounts of money managing an increasingly out of control crisis.”
Major cities avoided a tidal wave of homelessness during the pandemic because the federal government offered emergency rental relief, eviction moratoriums, stimulus checks and other pandemic-era aid. However, with those protections now vanished.
“We simply don’t have enough homes that people can afford,” says Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. “When you combine rapidly rising rent, that it just costs more per month for people to get into a place and keep a place, you get this vicious game of musical chairs.”