Latest news with #Vassell
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
If Atlanta Is a Black Mecca, Why Are 8 Out of 10 Homeless People Black?
Forty-seven percent of Atlanta residents are Black, but the city commonly referred to as the Black Mecca had a homeless population in January that was 80% Black, according to the latest Point-In-Time homelessness census count released on Monday. Of equal concern, on Jan. 27, the city logged 131 homeless families, an 18% rise from the same month last year. Roughly 90% of the individuals in those families were Black, down about 2 points from 2024. Like many cities in America, Atlanta has seen an increase in homelessness — primarily fueled by Black people living on the margins — for a third consecutive year. But city leaders and advocates alike are touting that the rate of increase has slowed considerably. The annual survey of homeless people in the metro area revealed a 1% rise in Atlanta's overall homeless population. The city saw a 7% year-over-year increase in 2024, and a 33% surge in 2023. The results from this year's PIT count show the city's homeless crisis appears to be 'stabilizing,' according to Cathryn Vassell, CEO of Partners for HOME — the nonprofit that manages Atlanta's PIT count on behalf of the federal government. Vassell told Capital B Atlanta that Black Atlantans remain overrepresented among individuals experiencing homelessness due to 'continued disproportionate inequities' in the metro area. The stark disparity underscores the ongoing economic challenges and affordable housing crisis many Black people face in a gentrifying metropolis fueled by a booming economy that has become known as the most unequal city in America. 'We know that there is gross income inequality that is disproportionate racially in our community as well,' Vassell said. 'That is all contributing to the disproportionate representation of people of color in our system.' The PIT count data showed Atlanta's higher cost of living has fueled a sizable rise in the city's number of homeless families this year despite signs that municipal leaders have reached a turning point in their battle to provide housing to people living on the margins. Read More: Atlanta's Largest Homeless Encampment Is About to Be Cleared The nearly 27% rate of consumer price inflation in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metro area between January 2020 and August 2024 was the third highest in the nation, according to a Pew Research study released in October. The fact that 8 out of 10 homeless people are Black in a city known as a Black Mecca should 'stop everyone in their tracks.' Liliana Bakhtiari, Atlanta City Council member '[The data] is a signal that the house is still on fire, and the scale of the crisis is bigger than what cities alone can handle,' Atlanta City Council member Liliana Bakhtiari told Capital B Atlanta after attending a briefing on this year's PIT count last week. The fact that 8 out of 10 homeless people are Black in a city known as a Black Mecca should 'stop everyone in their tracks,' according to Bakhtiari. 'That's not a coincidence, that's the product of a system that's failed Black families for generations — due to redlining, due to wage discrimination, due to mass incarceration, due to unequal access to healthcare and education,' she added. 'Homelessness isn't just a housing problem. It's a justice problem.' The report noted the strides the city has made addressing homelessness in recent years, citing that the overall homeless population has declined 30% since 2016 and about 11% since 2020 despite increasing for the past three years. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has made increasing affordable housing and combatting homelessness two of his signature issues since taking office almost four years ago. Last year, the Atlanta City Council allocated $60 million at Dickens' request to addressing the growing homelessness problem. Those funds, Vassell said, are paying for construction of 500 rapid housing units for the homeless, including 40 apartments at the Melody Project, located in southern downtown Atlanta, and 23 at the Bonaventure, both of which opened last year. Dickens' office hasn't responded to requests for comment. Read More: Revamped Motel Gives Atlanta Unhoused Second Chance— But for How Long? 'By the end of the year we will have brought on 500 units from that $60 million,' Vassell said. Unfortunately, Vassell warns, the progress Atlanta has made housing its homeless population could be undone later this year if President Donald Trump advances his plan for significant budget cuts. The Trump administration has proposed cutting rental aid by 40% in its 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' which the U.S. House approved in May. Vassell called the proposed cuts 'terrifying' and said it could eliminate Atlanta's permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing programs funded through the city's Continuum of Care resources. As many as 2,000 people could lose stable housing, according to Vassell. 'This would be a tragic impact across our community,' she said. The post If Atlanta Is a Black Mecca, Why Are 8 Out of 10 Homeless People Black? appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Proposed cuts could make housing homeless people harder, advocates say
ATLANTA - Willie Jeffries spent four years living in a large homeless camp in Atlanta's Mechanicsville neighborhood. He finally received housing in October but was evicted roughly six months later for violating the stringent terms of his lease agreement. On the first day of his return to homelessness, Jeffries said he visited an encampment in the same neighborhood where he had been living in a tent last year - just off Cooper Street Southwest. He didn't sleep there that first night but stopped by because someone in the camp had a tent for sale. "They want $25, and I don't have that," said Jeffries when reached by phone that day, May 9, while killing time near Cooper Street and trying to decide his next move. "It's been six months since I had been out here. I've pretty much got to get back into it." Jeffries, 60, ended up spending the next several nights sleeping in a truck borrowed from a friend. He and 43 other people who used to live in the sprawling Cooper Street camp received "rapid rehousing" after the city closed the camp in October. The area of the encampment was cleared and fenced off to make way for a development that will include housing for more than 100 people who used to be homeless. Rapid rehousing is a program that offers rental assistance for up to two years and case management services. It is designed to help someone experiencing homelessness by giving them a place to live for a set period of time, often without having to pay rent and utilities. The hope is that they can get a job and eventually pay those expenses. Advocates for the homeless population emphasize that it takes some people, like Jeffries, more than one housing placement before they find the right fit. They fear the problem might get even worse, given President Donald Trump's proposal for massive cuts to programs that play a role in local efforts to prevent homelessness. "Rapid rehousing is also a very challenging housing intervention," said Cathryn Vassell, chief executive officer of Partners for HOME, the nonprofit that works with the city of Atlanta on its strategy to reduce homelessness. "There's less-intensive supports provided, and yet we're sometimes housing people that are highly vulnerable in what's designed to be a more independent - ultimately self-sufficient - intervention," Vassell said in an interview this month. Vassell said cities like San Francisco and Denver have many more resources dedicated to stemming homelessness. "These are incredibly resource-rich communities with Medicaid expansion and county mental health at the table and all kinds of funding mechanisms to support that work of stabilizing somebody in housing," she said. "We're operating on a shoestring and desperately trying to get people out of a very unsafe and terrible situation of being unsheltered and homeless and then trying to make sure they are stabilizing in housing and being a good neighbor and being a good tenant and all those things that collide." The Trump administration has proposed a $33.6 billion cut to funding for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a funding decrease of nearly 44%, and allowing states to design their own rental assistance programs. U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner called the proposal bold and said it would reimagine how the federal government addresses affordable housing and community development. "It creates the opportunity for greater partnership and collaboration across levels of government by requiring states and localities to have skin in the game and carefully consider how their policies hinder or advance goals of self-sufficiency and economic prosperity," Turner said in a statement. The White House recommendations for the fiscal year 2026 budget also call for cutting $532 million by consolidating the Continuum of Care Program and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS into an Emergency Solutions Grant program that provides short-term housing assistance, capped at two years for homeless individuals. The proposal also includes eliminating the Community Development Block Grant program and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which provides grants to state and local governments to create affordable housing for low-income households. "Less people will be housed, and more people will be forced into homelessness" if Trump's proposed cuts take effect, said Donald Whitehead Jr., executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. Referring to Jeffries and others like him, Whitehead added: "His path is exacerbated by these cuts. It's going to make it a lot harder for him to be rehoused." In Atlanta, one of Partners for HOME's key goals is to move people experiencing homelessness into "permanent housing," which includes rapid rehousing, as quickly as possible, and into the right program for the individual, Vassell said. The term "permanent housing" does not guarantee someone a home for life. It usually involves an initial term of at least one year that is renewable for no less than one month. Permanent supportive housing involves long-term leases or rental assistance and consistent supportive services for issues like mental illness and substance use. Studies have shown its effectiveness, but it also costs more than other types of housing over time. "If somebody is chronically homeless, then we're trying to get them into permanent supportive housing," Vassell said. "If they are not chronic, then we are using other tools like rapid rehousing." If Partners for HOME doesn't have sufficient permanent housing options available on the day of an encampment closure, "then we are rallying (emergency) shelter as an interim solution while that person works on their housing solution from shelter." About 75% of people who leave rapid rehousing in Atlanta either stay housed or exit to a permanent destination, like living with family, in the first two years, according to Vassell. "Shelter is a very challenging environment to document outcomes in general, and transitional housing is as well," Vassell said. "Whether someone is moving to housing or if they're going back to homelessness, they're oftentimes not doing an exit interview with the shelter (or) transitional housing program. "Even if they get housing or they move back in with family, they might be gone even if you were expecting them back the same day, and they're not calling you back to tell you where they went and whether it was a positive exit or not." How difficult it is for someone to transition from living in a homeless encampment to an apartment, of course, depends on the individual. "Sometimes a person gets in and they're able to stay for as long as they have a lease or as long as they have a subsidy," Whitehead said. "Other people will have to be relocated for various reasons." He added: "It is often a sizable adjustment for people who have been living outdoors for various lengths of time to adjust to living in an apartment, for a number of reasons." These include problems getting along with neighbors in an apartment complex and issues such as substance use, advocates say. Jeffries said he was evicted this month for violating his lease, including for letting people sleep there without getting them approved first and for having people over and making noise. His landlord declined to discuss the specifics of Jeffries' eviction. Case managers for people experiencing homelessness say some of their clients make a point of following their lease agreements to the letter, knowing that homelessness awaits if they don't do so. Others still spend time in the encampments they used to live in, making it hard to leave their friends behind and return to their apartments alone. Jeffries said he let people spend the night in his apartment when it was too cold for them to sleep outdoors because friends had done the same for him when he was homeless. "It's very understandable," Whitehead said. "People go to encampments because they are attempting to find a sense of community. When they get a roof over their head, it's a very natural, compassionate thing to try to ensure that other people in that community are safe from the elements and any kind of human danger." On the day of Jeffries' eviction, a friend agreed to keep some of his belongings for him and loaned Jeffries his truck to move them out of the apartment. Jeffries had found work as a handyman but said he owed people money and didn't have any left by the time he was evicted. He was planning to call his mother in California to see if she could send him some. Despite his recent struggles, Jeffries takes pride in some of the positive changes he has made in his life. He said he stopped using hard drugs like cocaine and heroin 38 years ago, quit drinking about six years ago and hasn't been incarcerated since 2003. Now that Jeffries is back on the street, he is hoping for another chance at housing. "If I go to another place," he said, "I'll do the right thing this time." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
The National
22-04-2025
- Sport
- The National
Vassell's Kilmarnock future tied to top-flight survival
Ahead of the final five post-split Scottish Premiership fixtures, Derek McInnes' men are in ninth place, six points ahead of bottom side St Johnstone and one ahead of Dundee, who are in the relegation play-off spot. Vassell, 32, is back from an ankle injury which has kept him out since January 2 and his contract comes to an end in the summer. Ahead of Saturday's home game against Ross County – who are below Killie on goal difference – the striker spoke of remaining at the Ayrshire club, although where they play their football next season may have ramifications. Vassell said: 'The club want me to stay and I want to stay as well. 'I've told the club that I just want to get fully fit and get out on the pitch first and then take care of everything else. 'It's a verbal (agreement), not a written one as I haven't signed a contract, but we are definitely in the right place. Read more: 'I'd like to stay. My kids were born in Kilmarnock, so we have roots here and I've really enjoyed my time here. 'Every team in the bottom six could go down, so we are all in a relegation battle for the next five games.' Asked if Killie's fate could have an affect on where he would be next season, he said: 'I would probably say somewhat, although I have no doubts that Kilmarnock will be in the top flight next season. 'If the club goes down, there are cuts across the board. 'I don't want to ramp up the relegation battle, that's not how we are thinking, we are not worried about people losing jobs or whatever, but that is just the reality of what happens in those situations. 'I am more focused on getting over the line as soon as possible so we can enjoy a couple of games at the end of the season.' Vassell was named among the substitutes for the win over Motherwell two weeks ago, but was missing for the defeat at Celtic Park last week. However, he insisted he was ready for the crunch game against County. He said: 'It was just a flare-up. It has been a really annoying injury, the worst I've ever had and it's been really tough to get it right. 'It's been hard, especially being captain, you kind feel like you are letting the team down and letting the club down, but it's part of football so I can't think like that. 'It's been frustrating and now I can't wait to play the next five games.'
STV News
22-04-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Vassell wants Killie stay but future could hinge on Premiership survival
Kilmarnock captain Kyle Vassell has revealed he wants to stay at Rugby Park with his contract set to expire at the end of the season. But the 32-year-old forward admits that his future could depend on the club avoiding relegation and staying in the Premiership. Derek McInnes' side are currently ninth in the table and six points ahead of bottom club St Johnstone with five games remaining. They host Ross County this weekend, with both teams joint on points, in what could be a vital fixture in their hopes of avoiding the drop. Speaking on Tuesday, Vassell said: 'The club want me to stay, and I want to stay as well. I've told the club that I just want to get fully fit and get out on the pitch first and then take care of everything else. 'It's a verbal agreement, not a written one as I haven't signed a contract, and we are definitely in the right place. 'I'd like to stay here. My kids were born in Kilmarnock, so we have roots here, and I've really enjoyed my time here. 'Every team in the bottom six could go down, so we are all in a relegation battle for the next five games. 'That's frustrating as well because we should comfortably be in the top six with the squad we have. 'I would probably say that my future somewhat depends on whether Kilmarnock are in the top-flight next season, although I have no doubts that we will be in the Premiership next season. 'We now just want to get over the line as quickly as possible so we can enjoy a couple of games at the end of the season.' Vassell has missed a large part of the season due to an ankle injury. He was named among the subs for the win over Motherwell two weeks ago, but was again missing for the trip to Celtic Park last week. However, he insists that was just a flare-up and he will be ready to go if called upon against County as he prepares for a big end to the campaign. He said: 'It was just a flare-up, it has been a really annoying injury, the worst I've ever had, and been really tough to get it right. 'It's been hard, especially being captain, you kind feel like you are letting the team down and letting the club down, but it's part of football so I can't think like that. 'Now I'm just focused on playing my part for the rest of the season. It's been frustrating and now I can't wait to play the next five games.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Mom of Brooklyn man shot by cops during road rage clash says he has severe mental illness
The mother of the man shot by police in Brooklyn for refusing to drop a box cutter said her son suffers from severe mental illness, and for years she has been worried he would meet an untimely end. Adiel Vassell-Cox, 32, was shot in the chest on Avenue K near Utica Ave. in Flatlands Wednesday after cops say he wouldn't drop a box cutter during a fight with another man. 'He has mental health [issues],' Vassell-Cox's mother, Joan Vassell, told the Daily News on Thursday, shocked to learn of the shooting. Vassell said her son, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, lives in a group home in East Flatbush more than 2 miles away from where he was shot. 'He's a good, kind, quiet kid, stays by himself,' the distraught mother said. 'He grew up in the church, he's a church kid.' 'I keep on telling him whatever medication they're giving him, it's not working.' Vassell said Friday that her son is in a coma at Kings County Hospital, his heart failing, and has undergone two surgeries because his colon has been destroyed. The altercation began around 1:50 p.m. when Vassell-Cox threw an object at a passing BMW, causing the driver to stop, get out of the car and confront him, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said during a news conference Wednesday. As the men struggled, two passing detectives from the 63rd Precinct's detective squad who had just finished lunch spotted the fight and pulled over to intervene. Vassell-Cox was armed with a box cutter. While trying to separate the men, one of the detectives spotted the weapon and ordered Vassell-Cox to drop it multiple times, Kenny said. Vassell-Cox ignored the detective and walked away from the officers, around the parked BMW and back toward the driver, but one of the cops got in the middle of them in an attempt to deescalate the confrontation. But Vassell-Cox walked toward the detective, box cutter in his right hand, and the cop fired off one shot, striking him in the chest. 'This person came within 3 to 4 feet of our detective with a boxcutter out in his hand, refused numerous directives to drop the weapon,' Kenny said. 'So the officer felt he was an immediate threat to himself and to the person this subject was originally trying to stab.' Vassell said when Saheed Vassell, another Black man with mental health difficulties and a similar last name, was fatally shot by police on Utica Ave. in 2018, she rushed to the area where that shooting took place, fearing the worst. 'I ran over there, I thought it was my son. I thought my son was dead,' she said. Vassell said her son went to school in Albany until he smoked marijuana laced with K2, causing a profound change to his mental health and went missing. 'Then he went crazy,' she said. 'We couldn't find him in 2019 to 2020. He ended up in Boston.' 'I thought he was also dead then,' said Vassell. Vassell-Cox was transferred from a mental health facility in Boston to King's County, said his mother. A witness to Wednesday's chaos saw the shocking incident unfold. 'I was standing right across the street,' said Faylynn Dube, 37, a security guard. '[The driver] got out the car and was screaming, 'What did you do that for?' He went into the trunk and pulled out a black metal object and he was using it like a weapon. The other guy pulled out a box cutter. They were in each other's faces. The undercover cop came and intervened. He was trying to stop him from stabbing him up. 'The guy with the box cutter went around the car and came at him,' Dube said. 'The cop pulled out a gun and shot him. It was one, clean shot to the chest and he fell to the floor. 'It was like a road rage incident. It didn't have to rise to the level of gun violence.' Mother and son had made plans to get together the day before Vassell-Cox was shot, but he never answered his phone that day, said Vassell. 'I spoke to him on Sunday,' she said. 'I told him I was going to visit him and we were going to the movies on Tuesday. 'Even people who look sane have mental health,' Vassell said. 'It's a disease and my son has it.' With Rocco Parascandola and Thomas Tracy
