Homelessness is a critical local issue. In 2023, 6,142 people in Hamilton County experienced homelessness, residing in an emergency shelter, staying on the streets, or fleeing domestic violence. This includes 1,167 children under age 18. Homelessness is damaging to both physical and mental health and can be fatal. A household’s descent into homelessness often follows this progression Crisis: family experiences setback that jeopardizes their housing (job loss, illness etc.) Housing Loss: unable to pay rent, the family is either evicted or abandons the unit to avoid eviction Doubled-up: the ..read more

Spike in Street Homelessness Cincinnati is seeing a spike in people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. In fact, there was a 46% increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness who slept outside in the Cincinnati area, from 2022 to 2023 (from 752 individuals to 1,100). Sleeping unsheltered is dangerous, even deadly, and in many parts of the country, criminal. Is it a crime to sleep outside – with a blanket – when shelter is unavailable? That’s the case making its way to the Supreme Court, right now. We agree with many of our partners across the country ..read more

“If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.” No one entity can create lasting, impactful change in a silo. That’s why creating collaboration and partnerships will help achieve our shared mission to end homelessness. We are honored to have partnered with Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub and the City of Cincinnati on the recent Housing Stabilization Hackathon. More than 20 data scientists, programmers, market research professionals, real estate investors, and community development advocates came together. All with a common goal. Improving early intervention to keep f ..read more

Central Access Point (CAP) Helpline (513-381-SAFE) assists community members experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. They can access information about services, check for space in emergency shelters, and be placed into housing programs. Anyone experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness can call to get information about services. And check for space in shelters and other homeless programs. Trained Intake Specialists determine if the caller needs shelter immediately. Or if a referral to a homelessness prevention program is an option. One of the first centralized emergenc ..read more

Thank you for being a partner in the fight to end homelessness! You make Cincinnati a kinder and more equitable community. Read on for recent news and views about homelessness and affordable housing here, and across the nation. Have a question or a comment? Let’s hear from you!   We Can End Homelessness   Locally, 2022 marked the first year that unsheltered homelessness dropped below pre-pandemic levels. Only 6% of people who are literally homeless in Hamilton County exclusively sleep outside on the streets and unsheltered, never entering an emergency shelter. An additional 6 ..read more

Help can’t wait. Families need help now. The causes of homelessness are simple: lack of affordable housing, job loss, medical debt, and often no support from family and friends who, too, are struggling to make ends meet. Right now, the needs of our neighbors are critical. Can you help? Please consider a donation to help those in need. Whenever possible, the goal is to prevent homelessness and spare families the trauma of homelessness. Sadly, nearly 25% of people experiencing homelessness in Greater Cincinnati are children, under age 18. Homelessness prevention programs are the most cost-effec ..read more

Strategies to End Homelessness added Direct Cash Transfer as part of services offered within the Shelter Diversion program for 2023. What is Direct Cash Transfer? Direct Cash Transfer is a tactic to help households experiencing poverty or homelessness meet their needs. The program is simple. It involves giving heads of households a prepaid debit card and allows them to meet their needs the best way they see fit. It gives households choice and autonomy. The COVID-19 pandemic showed just how successful these programs can be for creating housing stability. People know what they need to ..read more

What are Social Determinants of Health? Social determinants of health are any factors outside of a traditional medical setting that influence a person’s health. Some are education level, working conditions, income level, or food insecurity. You can dive deeper with a detailed description of them are here. Increasingly experts are pointing to housing conditions (or the lack of housing) as a major social determinant of health. Housing as a Social Determinant of Health Stable housing is essential for good health. Along with other social determinants of health, housing plays an important role in h ..read more

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. One cause of homelessness is individuals and families fleeing domestic violence (also called intimate partner violence). When people leave domestic violence, it often involves leaving their home. And some become homeless. Additionally, it sometimes involves leaving the household’s main source of income. And because they have experienced trauma, counseling and other mental health services are essential. Finally, many intimate partner violence victims need low-cost or free legal assistance. Help Available Locally Support for those fleeing domestic v ..read more

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