What Has Caused the Crisis of Homelessness in our Community?

NEOCH often gets calls during November asking how folks can help our unhoused neighbors. While acts of service are helpful, at NEOCH we believe the best thing we can do this November is learn about the root causes of homelessness and work toward systemic change in our community.

Wednesday evening, NEOCH presented the Part 1 of our education series, Root Causes of Homelessness. During this webinar, we explored common ways people lose their housing, and systemic issues behind those experiences. Though the webinar is over, there’s still time to register for free and get access to the recording. We’ll be following up on the concepts covered in that presentation with an in-person community tour tomorrow, which we’re very excited to offer to the public for the first time. NEOCH Board President Bishop Chui will lead a community tour, pointing out modern examples of the legacy of redlining, block busting, gentrification and other root causes of homelessness in Cleveland. (We will be walking and driving, so a vehicle is required!) To attend the tour Saturday, Nov. 20, please register though Zoom, which will get you access to the recording from Wednesday, and the route for the tour.

Here are some of the key takeaways from Wednesday:

MYTH

Most unhoused people don’t experience these issues, and they are actually symptoms of the root cause: TRAUMA.

Black, Brown Indigenous & LGBTQ homelessness

To address housing disparities, we must first accurately diagnose them. Oppression is the root of the issue, not identity.

Homelessness is a Social Problem

It has been caused by centuries of racist policy, extractive economic practices, & housing as a commodity. We need to shift the narrative away from individual responsibility, toward systemic accountability.

Criminalization compounds the problem.

Our laws turn everyday activities into “crimes.” The more we ticket, arrest and prosecute unhoused people, the longer people stay on the street.

This series is only the beginning of the conversation! Learn from the voices of people who have experienced homelessness. Request a Street speaker for your next event.

We invite you to join NEOCH’s work to end homelessness by dismantling the root causes, while radically loving our diverse community. As we continue to advocate, educate, organize and outreach, there will be many opportunities for us to come together as a community. Sign up for updates!