Escaping homelessness is nearly impossible without systemic change
We are writing to express our deep concern about the persistent issue of homelessness in Ohio and across the United States. Despite our nation's wealth, we continue to fail our most vulnerable citizens. This failure reflects a lack of resources, compassion, and prioritization.
Summit County, with an estimated population of 535,733 as of 2023, has seen a slight population decline since 2008. Housing insecurity has become a growing concern, with fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment rising 26% since 2018.
Extreme housing cost burdens, which occur when households spend more than half of their monthly income on housing, highlight persistent affordability issues. Surprisingly, the current local zip code with the highest number of evictions is 44313, supplanting the 44306 zip code, according to a recent report shared in the local Eviction Task Force facilitated by the local Fair Housing Contact Service.
The annual HUD Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, which was conducted Jan. 28, estimates the number of sheltered and unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night. In Summit County this effort, mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and organized by the Summit County Continuum of Care, helps track trends, allocate federal funding and guide local strategies to address homelessness. While invaluable, the count's single-night methodology underscores the need for sustained attention and resources.
The living conditions for many unsheltered individuals are unsafe and dehumanizing. Exposure to harsh weather, unsanitary environments and lack of access to basic needs like food and health care further exacerbate their struggles. Barriers such as unaffordable housing, limited mental health support, and insufficient job opportunities make escaping homelessness nearly impossible without systemic change.
We must take a multifaceted approach to address this crisis by investing in affordable housing, expanding mental health and addiction services, and creating sustainable job opportunities. Preventative measures like rental assistance, landlord mitigation and prevention are also critical. Above all, we must foster a sense of community responsibility and empathy to reduce the stigma of homelessness.
Homelessness is a societal failure, not an individual one. I urge community leaders and citizens to act with urgency and humanity to ensure everyone has access to safe and stable shelter. Let us not ignore those who need our help the most.
Shana Miller is the interim executive director of the Summit County Continuum of Care and co-chair of the PIT Count. Leesa Bruback is the manager of central intake at United Way of Summit and Medina Counties and co-chair of the PIT Count.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Solutions for homelessness include housing, mental health | Opinion
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