Christie Angel is president and CEO of YWCA Columbus.
Compassion for individuals experiencing homelessness is deeply rooted in Columbus’ DNA.
As a neighborhood, we discover it unacceptable to see any of our neighbors spending a single day with out satisfactory meals and shelter.
Putting this compassion into action is a persistent problem. I do know this firsthand, as YWCA Columbus is one in all a number of neighborhood organizations offering direct providers to unhoused neighbors. This work is extraordinarily rewarding – but additionally sophisticated.
YWCA Columbus is an advocate for housing justice.
Housing justice means equitable entry to houses for all individuals of our numerous and rising neighborhood. Prioritizing building more affordable housing in a mixed-income setting with entry to sources, corresponding to meals and well being care, transportation, in tandem with a healthy and well-funded shelter system will contribute to a thriving Columbus ecosystem.
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As Columbus continues to grow at an astonishing charge, there’ll proceed to be an rising want to assist our unhoused residents, which was some extent the homelessness service sector advocated round final 12 months with our public sector companions.
This 12 months, the Metropolis of Columbus provided increased funding for shelter operations and facility enhancements, and only in the near past, the town contributed an extra $2 million to construct capability for nonprofits that deal with homelessness.
This elevated funding is on high of the annual funding to the Community Shelter Board to assist homelessness providers, together with – however not restricted to – these supplied by YWCA Columbus.
There isn’t any one-size-fits-all strategy to addressing homelessness. Our system is continually pursuing new partnerships to create progressive options to assist meet the altering wants of our residents.
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For instance, with assist from the Metropolis of Columbus — to the tune of practically $5 million — our workforce has partnered with our peer organizations to develop a new crisis intervention network to help these in shelter with elevated psychological well being wants. Concurrently, we’ve additionally labored with Nationwide Insurance coverage to pilot new workforce growth providers within the household shelter system.
These are simply two new providers developed by our unbelievable employees members working inside this sector to enhance the lives of people and households who’re with out everlasting housing. We have to take a equally collaborative and considerate strategy in an effort to help our neighbors dwelling on the land.
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Our information tells us that people and households living in outdoor encampments are in want of supportive providers, together with well being care, wholesome meals, clear ingesting water, clothes, veteran’s advantages, and mental health services.
Our expertise has been that the easiest way to ship these providers is to for the recipients to be housed or in shelter.
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That is work I oversaw throughout the early 2000s, after I labored for the Metropolis of Columbus. We all the time had the most effective intentions, however wanting again, I acknowledge that we didn’t all the time get it proper.
We proceed to be taught from our errors, however I’m happy that the town is now following the rules of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.
These rules embrace collaborating with different entities, immediately partaking residents towards options, and addressing their fundamental wants, together with instant shelter and eventual pathways to more permanent housing.
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That is laborious work. If it had been simple, earlier generations of leaders would have figured it out. However as I look to the longer term, I’m inspired.
Our collective efforts to aid our unhoused neighbors should not good, and they aren’t sufficient, however due to the dedication of the homelessness providers sector and our companions, they’re all the time getting higher.
Lastly, I might encourage anybody who’s in want of lease and housing sources to please go to rentful614.com. For emergency shelter providers, please name 614-274-7000.
Christie Angel is president and CEO of YWCA Columbus.
