HEARTH ELDER HOMELESSNESS OUTREACH PROGRAM
Mark Hinderlie-President.
Boston, MA, USA
Program Description
"Hearth was founded as The Committee to End Elder Homelessness, Inc. (CEEH) in 1991 by a group of seven professional women with diverse experience in housing, finance, health, and human services. They realized that elders were a growing percentage of the homeless population and that no one was expressly addressing the issue."
"33%... The amount elder homelessness is predicted to increase between 2010 and 2020. It is estimated that it will more than double by 2050."
-hearth-home.org
Staff of the Hearth Elder Homelessness Outreach Program canvas homeless shelters weekly to identify and place homeless seniors in permanent housing.
Older adults at risk of homelessness may find themselves in one of the following situations:
· Living in housing that cannot accommodate them.
· Leaving nursing facilities with no housing in place.
· Facing eviction or foreclosure.
· Low income individuals in financial crisis.
Before, during and after placement seniors are able to maintain long-term housing by having access to financial and legal assistance and social services.
To goal is to stabilize seniors in their new homes and help them to build social and community networks.
Hearth aims to:
-Increase the supply of permanent, affordable, and supportive housing for homeless elders and elders at risk of homelessness.
-Place more homeless older adults into existing permanent, affordable housing.
-Help prevent homelessness for older adults who are at risk of homelessness.
-To achieve national, state, and local recognition of elder homelessness as a distinct problem requiring specific policy responses and tailored service solutions.
The Hearth Shares Program supports ending homelessness through participating restaurants. Diners are invited to add $1 donation to their during the holidays (November and December). Donations contribute to the work being done in the community to enable the homeless and vulnerable to rebuild their lives, and to regain their dignity. The program is based on the StreetSmart program in several countries which asks those eating out to consider donating to the homeless.
Individuals and organization looking for other ways to help homeless elderly can do so through Hearth’s donation programs which include:
Vvirtual volunteering - individuals looking to volunteer with seniors who are transitioning out of homelessness can do so through video chats on Zoom. Virtual volunteers are able engage in activity and interaction from the comfort of their own home or other chosen location. Example of activities to engage in may include, bingo, card and board games, a poetry or jam session, karaoke, comedy night, and more.
Housewarming Box - volunteers may also help older adults who are transitioning off the streets or out of a shelter and into permanent housing by putting together a housewarming box filled with home supplies. Items may include, bedding, kitchen supplies such as dishes, cutlery, pots and pans; bathroom supplies, such as shampoo, soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste; and household supplies such as trash bags, and storage containers.
Letters, Cards, Gifts - volunteers can send in letters of encouragement cards and artwork or holiday gifts to seniors transitioning from homelessness.
Larger donations may include a TV, furnishing/adopting a room for the homeless and monetary or in-kind donations.
source:hearth-home.org
Temporary Senior Housing, Homeless, Senior Shelters
Senior Housing & Assisted Living
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