Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day was a great opportunity to let our friends, family and other online contacts know about our advocacy efforts and encourage them to join us. To make online advocacy easy and fun, Firesteel set up a photo booth, complete with pre-made signs, dry-erase boards for those who wanted to write their own messages, and props. Hundreds of advocates took pictures, which were shared on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and a slew of websites. Check out some of our favorite shots!
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Today is Social Media Day of Action for #HHAD2014
Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day (#HHAD2014) is Jan. 28, just a couple of weeks away. Help us get the word out by participating in the Social Media Day of Action TODAY. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter to raise awareness about policies that will help end homelessness, and also encourage people to join us in Olympia for #HHAD2014.
From Soldier to Civilian: “Everything Changed” When Homeless Veteran Found A Stable Home
As Veterans Day nears and we celebrate our nation’s heroes, it’s important to also recognize that many veterans face challenges, including homelessness, as they re-enter civilian life. Veterans are more likely than their civilian counterparts to experience homelessness, and women veterans are particularly vulnerable. Fortunately, many people are working to make sure our veterans have safe homes. The Low Income Housing Institute’s Community Engagement & Advocacy Manager Ania Beszterda Alyson shares a story of a veteran and single mom who has experienced homelessness three times, but is now on a path to a better future after finding a stable home.
Back to School: “No One Would Have Known I Was Homeless”
At age 14, Brandy Sincyr, along with her mother and sister, escaped an abusive stepfather and found herself bouncing between shelters and temporary living arrangements. Despite the many challenges of not knowing where she would sleep each night, Brandy graduated from high school -- and then went on to earn a political science degree from Seattle Pacific University in June. Now she's leveraging her own experience to advocate on behalf of the more than 27,000 homeless students in Washington state. Read Brandy's story in the final post of our "Back to School" series on student homelessness.
Back to School: Flexible Diploma and GED Programs Open Doors for Homeless Youth
A YouthCare client works toward his GED. High school completion and GED programs designed for homeless youth must focus on individual students' needs and goals. Photo courtesy YouthCare.
27,390. We've been sharing that number a lot this week because it's how many students in Washington state have been identified as homeless. What that number doesn't include is the thousands of young people who have left the school system because of homelessness. If they never find their way back to school, they are likely to become trapped in the cycle of poverty and homelessness. Melinda Giovengo, YouthCare's executive director, writes today's guest post about how flexible high school completion and GED programs can help homeless young people find a path to post-secondary education and successful careers.