(TheDailyCurrents.com) – Approximately 57% of American citizens are unable to pay $1000 in emergency expenses as a result of the rising cost of living. It means that more than half of Americans are at risk of homelessness.

In such a situation, where will they go if they need emergency housing?
 

How to Contact a Community Shelter System

People and families that need some assistance with shelter can contact the Continuum of Care (COC) program; a homelessness services that provides aid to Americans throughout the country. The program provides resources to homeless Americans by providing them with housing and shelter.

Most areas in the United States have access to a 2-1-1 hotline that has experienced staff ready to help homeless people. The staff provides assistance with food healthcare and shelter.

If your locality doesn’t have an access point that provides shelter to homeless people, you can consider identifying multiple providers like churches, non-profit organizations, libraries, and any human or social service organization.

Below are some of the places you can go if you need emergency housing now.

1. Salvation Army

The Salvation Army provides emergency homeless shelters to individuals who are struggling financially or suffering from homelessness. The organization can assist families and individuals in finding long-term housing, especially if they are living in poverty.

For individuals who have no place to live, the Salvation Army offers a secure and warm place where children, women and men can live. The doors are always open daily, and the organization has multiple group homes, family shelters, transitional living centers and homeless shelters.

2. Local Housing Authorities

Housing authorities like the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) provide families and individuals with a place where they can rest and call home. They provide a fast housing solution to homeless families and persons by offering temporary housing units and support service.

The local government also has a responsibility towards ending homelessness through proper planning and provision of affordable housing. The USICH partners with local government agencies and recently partnered with Medicaid and HUD to provide permanent housing units to homeless families and individuals.

3. Family Service Agencies

Family service agencies like Family Promise aim to assist families who are suffering from homelessness. Their goal is to provide independence to families who can’t afford housing through the use of community-based interventions.

The lack of affordable housing and the increasing rent prices are the key reasons why many families face homelessness, and that’s why family service agencies try to provide these families with a safety net.

4. Faith-Based Organizations

Many faith-based organizations are at the forefront when it comes to tackling homelessness and addressing some of the root causes of homelessness. These organizations provide shelter beds to affected individuals to help alleviate the crisis.

Faith-based organizations operate as leaders who play an active role in the implementation of programs that provide temporary and permanent housing solutions to homeless families and individuals.

5. Non-profit Organizations

Non-profit organizations like Red Cross and YWCA provide assistance to homeless families and individuals by providing them with a place where they can call home. Red Cross has successfully helped more than two thousand people in finding permanent housing. It also provides support to more than one thousand families and individuals who are at risk of being homeless. Apart from providing housing solutions, these non-profit organizations also provide meals to low-income families that are facing financial hardship.

In some cases, these organizations support individuals who are at risk of losing their homes by negotiating with the property owners and landlords. If individuals are facing significant problems that contribute to their housing issues, like drug misuse and bad income management, they can rely on these non-profit organizations for rehabilitation.
 

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