Shepherds of Good Hope’s Post

💡🏡 Communities are making progress by working differently. They define success by whether homelessness across their entire geography is being reduced, not whether individual programs are performing well. Local nonprofit and government agency staff work as a team toward the single goal of reducing homelessness. They know — by name and in real time — all those experiencing homelessness. This clear, comprehensive view allows them to see quickly what policies and investments are leading to success and to focus on what works. #HomelessnessIsSolvable Learn more: https://bit.ly/3WD6gSc.

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🧡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 🧡 When you sign up to give monthly, this offers a significant long-term impact, allowing us to foster a deeper connection to our mission of helping those experiencing homelessness. Learn about the benefits of becoming a monthly donor, and 𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍 𝐭𝐡𝐞 #𝐑𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘! https://bit.ly/4apD4Bp

I was on a call this week with a large nonprofit that said even the most compassionate donors and volunteers expressed a growing impatience—they want homeless people gone immediately. As visible homelessness increases, so does the flood of media coverage, intentional propaganda, and misinformation aimed at stoking public fear. This has led to a disturbing shift in public sentiment: the overwhelming desire to simply make homelessness disappear, regardless of the human cost. This is now the most significant driving force behind public attitudes toward homelessness. We have failed to properly educate the public on the realities of homelessness and the humanity of homeless people, and we are now witnessing the consequences of that failure. We continue to believe that we can change minds through statistics and empathy. It's clear we must rethink our approach to public communication. We need to critically examine what we’ve communicated in the past and why it hasn't worked. We must invest in strategies that resonate with today’s culture and effectively reach the hearts and minds of the public.

🏠 This Giving Tuesday, help us make a difference! Every day, the Housing Resource Line (HRL) answers calls from individuals and families facing the unimaginable—eviction, homelessness, and housing insecurity. Over the past year, the HRL has successfully connected more than 170 Richmond residents to over $250,000 in financial assistance, providing hope and stability when it’s needed the most. But we can’t do it alone. This Giving Tuesday, we’re aiming to raise $10,000 to ensure no call for help goes unanswered. Every dollar you give makes a difference: it provides the resources, guidance, and support to keep our community housed. 💡 Your Impact: $25 provides resource referrals for one family. $50 supports personalized housing stability plans. $100 connects residents to emergency financial assistance. Join us today to create a future where everyone has a place to call home. Together, we can make housing stability a reality for all. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e_-NJ58Z ❤️ Every gift counts. Let’s make this Giving Tuesday unforgettable. #GivingTuesday #SupportHRL #AffordableHousing

🎥 When we create space for connection, amazing things happen. Last week, our son Jordan showed me the power of community in action. For Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week (Nov 17-23), he decided to take the lead on a project close to his heart: creating care packages for our unhoused neighbors in Middle Tennessee. 💛 We had an honest conversation about the challenges—times are tight for many, including our family. But rather than feeling discouraged, Jordan asked, “What can I do to make this happen?” With that spark of determination, he recorded a video to rally our community, inviting them to help make his vision a reality. The response was incredible: ✅ Over $230 in donations ✅ Supplies for 42 care packages ✅ Friends and neighbors from across the area contributing their time, resources, and encouragement Together, we assembled care packages filled with essentials, love, and handwritten notes on November 23rd. Last week, these were delivered to Murfreesboro Cold Patrol, a local organization providing direct support to those in need. This experience was about more than just care packages. It was about: 🌟 Fostering leadership in our youth: When we empower young people to take ownership of projects, they learn to lead with compassion and confidence. 🌟 Building community: By bringing people together for a shared purpose, we strengthen the bonds that make meaningful change possible. 🌟 Cultivating gratitude and action: It's not just about what we have, but how we use it to uplift others. As a parent and a community builder, this project was a reminder that creating opportunities for connection and contribution is one of the greatest investments we can make. If you’re passionate about nurturing the next generation of leaders or want to build stronger communities, let’s connect. There’s so much we can do together to create spaces where good energy thrives. 💡 Check out the full event recap here: https://lnkd.in/efkSm-6N #CommunityBuilding #YouthLeadership #GratitudeInAction #GrowthMindset

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced a £150k goodwill grant to fund seasonal meals and small gifts for people experiencing homelessness. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d5BrYAVi

As of August 1st, around 43% of ARP-HCY funding remains unused. With the September 30th spending deadline fast approaching, “There is real urgency to maximize the use of these funds for children who have very significant needs,” shared SchoolHouse Connection Executive Director Barbara Duffield with Education Week. “We know that the numbers [of homeless students] are going to show an increase. Homelessness is actually higher now than it was before the pandemic.” 🚨 Use our ARP-HCY Quick Spending and Cost Guide to help maximize impact of these one-time funds! 👉 https://bit.ly/3V5WZQq 🔗 EdWeek article: https://bit.ly/3AqFALG

As the temperatures drop, it’s hard not to think about the impact on those most vulnerable: those who lack stable housing. Recently, Homeward Iowa released a report detailing the challenges of unsheltered families in our community. This is important for many reasons, but primarily, it allows a first-hand account of how we can do better to support those who are trying to meet the most basic of needs. When I say we I mean: nonprofit organizations, donors, funders, neighbors, neighborhood and business associations, elected officials…literally all of us. Making these changes is no small feat–it will take financial investment, policy shifts, and collective voices. It will take all of us. It will not be solved in one year or by any one person or group. Consider, as you look towards the holidays and new year, what impact you would like to see in our community next year and how you can play a role. There are many individuals and nonprofits working in our community to solve homelessness and housing insecurity. We are grateful to know and support so many. It is incumbent upon us to support those doing this work and challenge ourselves to do better for the change we want to see in our community and world. https://lnkd.in/gxV4dXPv

Our CEO Nicola McCrudden responds to the news of the Department of Communities £150k goodwill grant to fund seasonal meals and small gifts for people experiencing homelessness.   https://lnkd.in/d5BrYAVi