24 Hour Hotline
Serving Buffalo and Erie Co.
716-834-3131

Kids Helpline
716-834-1144
1-877-KIDS-400

Chautauqua County Hotline
1-800-724-0461


 

Understanding Homelessness

True or False… What is the federal definition of homelessness?
  • Living on the streets: True
  • Living in a shelter: True
  • Living in subsidized housing: False
  • Living in transitional or supportive housing: True
  • Doubled-up with family or friends: False
  • Facing eviction within one week: True
  • Living in a rooming house: False

Staggering Statistics:

  • The number of individuals’ nation-wide who are homeless in one year?
    2,000,000
  • The number of Erie County individuals who are homeless in one year?
    8,000
  • The number of homeless individuals nationwide on any given night?
    700,000
  • The number of homeless on any given night in Erie County?
    2100
  • Buffalo’s rank in the list of American cities with the highest poverty rate?
    2nd
  • The number of people in the United States who have no health insurance?
    Forty-four million
  • The poverty threshold for a family of four?
    $18,244
  • The hourly rate a single mother with two small children would have to earn in Erie County to be considered economically self-sufficient?
    $16.42

What causes homelessness?

  • Family Break Ups:  divorce, domestic violence, family dysfunction, etc.
  • Inadequate income
  • Fragmentation of Services (especially for MI and Substance Abusers)
  • Lack of affordable housing
  • Complexity of social services system (needing to meet requirements, fitting into a category)
  • De-institutionalization without community supports
  • Contributing factors: Mental illness and/or substance abuse, developmental disabilities

So what does Crisis Services Homeless Outreach do about it?

  • 24-hour homeless hotline providing information, referral and individualized counseling to callers in need of homeless services.
  • Direct provisions of goods to meet immediate basic needs: transportation, food, and clothing, household items.
  • Case management services: assessment, goal development, advocacy, referral, linkage, and follow-up.
  • Prevention Services – Assists qualifying individuals at high risk of becoming homeless
  • After-Hours Homeless Assistance - When DSS-Emergency Housing is closed, Crisis Services responds to the needs of homeless individuals
  • Case Management & Advocacy at Dept of Social Services
  • Prevention services to suburbs & rural areas in Erie County

Outreach in Erie County (where are we?)

  • Cornerstone Manor
  • Little Portions Friary
  • City Mission
  • St. Luke’s’ Mission of Mercy
  • Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen
  • Small towns & villages throughout Erie County

Providing Basic Needs:

  • Food (food pantries, assistance w/food stamp entitlements)
  • Limited Transportation
  • Seasonal appropriate clothing and blankets when available
  • Basic household items & referrals for household items

Case Management Services:

  • Assessment of needs, i.e. counseling, emergency shelter
  • Develop goals (short term & long term)
  • Assist client establish an income, if needed
  • Assist client obtain identification
  • Advocate for clients to receive entitlements
  • Assist client find housing & negotiate the best possible rent
  • Provide short-term follow up services
 
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