1. The Face of Homelessness 2009
Foundation for the Homeless
Mobilizing communities of faith to end homelessness in a spirit of
compassion, hope and love.
Sharon Lowe
St. Edward’s University April 3, 2009
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2. Sharon Lowe, Executive Director
Foundation for the Homeless
B.A. Political Science; J.D. (Law); M.A.
Pastoral Ministry; Certificate in Spiritual
Formation and Direction. Sharon is
currently enrolled in the TANO/CCBNO
Nonprofit Leadership Management
Institute Certificate Program. Sharon’s
experience includes 13 years as a
government attorney in Massachusetts
and Texas practicing in the areas of labor,
employment, education, civil rights,
energy, contracts and procurements, 5
years in human resources and supply
chain management for a high technology
company, and 8 years working in
volunteer and paid roles in nonprofits
serving the poor and poor in spirit. At
FFH, Sharon previously served as Interim
Director of IHN, Director of IHN-Katrina
and as Interim Executive Director before
accepting the role of Executive Director.
Sharon has served on the boards or
governing bodies of The Seton Cove,
Wisdom At Work, RiverStone Retreat
Center and Central Texas Volunteers
Active in Disaster.
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3. Agenda
How I got involved with poverty

Chronic vs. “Invisible” Homelessness

Myths and Facts About Low Income Families

The homeless impact 2007-2009

Impact of the Recession

The Foundation For the Homeless (FFH)

Family Promise/Interfaith Hospitality Network

Passages Case Management, Life Skills & Supportive Services

Feed My People Breakfast Program

Performance Metrics 2008

How we represent the faith community

Future goals

How you can serve

Summary

3

4. HUD vs. Educational Definitions of
Homelessness
HUD defines homelessness as:

an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate

nighttime residence; and
an individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is

a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed

to provide temporary living accommodations (including
welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing
for the mentally ill);
an institution that provides a temporary residence for

individuals intended to be institutionalized; or
a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used

as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
Educational definition reaches “doubled-up” families—those

typically served by Foundation for the Homeless.
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5. HUD Definition of Chronic
Homelessness
 A chronically homeless person is “either (1) an unaccompanied
homeless individual with a disabling condition who has been
continuously homeless for a year or more, OR (2) an
unaccompanied individual with a disabling condition who has
had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three
years.”
 This definition is adopted by HUD from a federal standard that was
arrived upon through collective decision making by a team of federal
agencies including HUD, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.
 HUD definitions of homelessness favor chronically homeless
individuals. This population has a higher percentage of veterans and is
disproportionately male. These definitions make it harder for low-
income families to get help.
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6. Myths & Facts About Low-income
Working Families
MYTH Low-income families do not work.
FACT 72% of low-income families work.
MYTH Low-income families do not work
hard.
FACT The average annual work effort for
low income working families is 2,552
hours, roughly one and one-quarter
full-time jobs.
MYTH Low-income working families are
headed by single parents.
FACT 52% of low-income working families
are headed by married couples.
Source: The Working Poor Families
Project, www.workingpoorfamilies.org
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7. Myths & Facts About Low-income
Working Families
 MYTH Low-income working families are headed
by immigrants.
 FACT 69% of low-income working families have
only American-born parents.
 MYTH Low-income working families have very
young parents.
 FACT 89% of low-income working families have
a parent between the ages of 25 and 54.
Source: The Working Poor Families Project, www.workingpoorfamilies.org
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8. Myths & Facts About Low-income
Working Families
 MYTH Low-income working families are
overwhelmingly minority.
 FACT 43% of low-income working families have
white, non-Hispanic parents.
 MYTH Low-income working families are dependent
on public assistance.
 FACT Only 25% of low-income working families
receive food stamp assistance.
Source: The Working Poor Families Project, www.workingpoorfamilies.org
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9. Changed Conditions Nationally for
Working Poor Families 2002-2006
Number % Number %
Working families below 200% of poverty 9,202,809 27.4 9,572,450 28.2
Children in working families below 200% of
poverty 20,208,334 32.3 21,061,465 32.8
Working families spend more than a third of
4,615,876 51.9 5,537,965 59.5
income on housing
In working families at least one parent without
health insurance 3,382,083 36.7 3,772,324 38.7
Adults 25–54 high school degree/GED or less 51,205,868 41.7 53,615,975 42.2
Jobs paying below poverty threshold 24,702,000 19.4 29,390,000 22.2
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10. The homeless impact 2007
• Estimated 744,313
homeless people in US
•Each night, 100,000+
families across the U.S.
are homeless
•As many as 1 of 12
poor families are
homeless each year
•43,000 to 60,000
homeless in Texas
•25,000 children ages
5-12 living below
poverty line in Travis
County and average
January 2007 Research Report on Homelessness age of a homeless 10
The National Alliance to End Homelessness person is 9 years old.

11. 2008 Update Nationally
Source: U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, August 2008
 The Number Of Americans Living In Poverty Has
Increased By Nearly 5.7 Million Since 2000. The
number of Americans living in poverty was almost 37.3
million in 2007. The official poverty line for a family of
four is $21,027.
 The National Poverty Rate Is More Than One
Percentage Point Higher Than In 2000. The poverty
rate in 2007 was 12.5 percent, increasing slightly from
its level of 12.3 percent in 2006. The poverty rate
increased for four straight years from 2000 to 2004. In
2007, the poverty rate was 1.2 percentage points
higher than it was in 2000.
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12. 2008 Update Nationally
Source: U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, August 2008
 More Than One In Six Children Lives In Poverty. The poverty
rate for all children under 18 years of age was 18.0 percent in
2007, increasing from its level of 17.4 percent in 2006. In 2007,
approximately half a million more children under 18 lived in
poverty than in 2006. Since 2000, the number of children living
in poverty has increased by 1.7 million, with the child poverty
rate rising from 16.2 to 18.0 percent.
 Blacks And Hispanics Are More Likely To Be Living In
Poverty. The poverty rate was 24.4 percent for blacks in 2007
and 21.5 percent for Hispanics. The recent increase in the
poverty rate among Hispanics is significant. In 2006, the poverty
rate for Hispanics was 20.6 percent. Since 2000, the poverty
rate among blacks has also increased significantly, rising by
almost 2 percentage points. The poverty rates among black and
Hispanic children were even higher, at 33.7 percent and 28.6
percent, respectively.
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13. Poverty Trends for States 2008
Source: U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, August 2008
 Since 2000, The Number of People in Poverty Rose By 20
Percent In The Midwest And The South. The number of poor
people in the Midwest region of the country increased by 20
percent while its total population in-creased by only 3 percent.
 One-third of states in the Midwest experienced a statistically
significant increase in the number of people in poverty. In the
South, poverty levels increased by 19 percent, or 2.5 million
people.
 Half of the states in the South experienced a statistically
significant increase in the number of poor people. Mississippi
and Texas were hit the hardest. In Mississippi, the poverty rate
increased by 6.1 percentage points.
 In Texas, the number of people living in poverty increased
by over 700,000 people—more than double any other state.
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14. Projected Impact of Recession 2009
Source: National Alliance to End Homelessness report January 23, 2009
 Projections indicate that if the current recession
unfolds as expected, the number of persons in deep
poverty will increase by approximately 5.4 million.
 866,000 additional Americans will experience
homelessness at some point during each of the
next two years. Some would be homeless in both
years, so the total for both years combined is
approximately 1.5 million people who will be
homeless as a result of the recession, over and
above the number who would experience
homelessness under normal circumstances,
unless effective countermeasures are adopted.
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15. Texas and Austin- 2009
 NPR reported that Texas has the fastest growing
homeless population in U.S.
 National Center on Family Homelessness rated Texas
50th for homeless children, meaning the highest
number of actual and at risk children in a state with
few interventions
 Most recent homelessness count in Austin was 4,600.
Estimated about half in families. This number is
understated as it does not include the doubled-up and
other “invisible” homeless– the families typically
served by Foundation for the Homeless
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16. Austin Homeless Families
 Beyond the estimated 2300 homeless individuals in
families, AISD estimates 3000+ students are homeless
or at risk of homelessness.
 52,000 households in Austin spending 50% or more of
total income on housing. These families are one lost
job, serious illness or divorce away from
homelessness.
 Prevention through rent assistance is key but this is
normally one time only in 12 months.
 Very few shelters serve families and even fewer serve
two parent families.
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17. Community Responses to
Homelessness
 The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (1987)
provides for a range of services and programs through
HUD, HHS, the Department of Education, FEMA and
the Department of Agriculture.
 Since 1994-95, HUD has utilized a coordinated
approach to distribute shelter, housing and supportive
services funding within communities known as the
Continuum of Care. The CoC is an annual community
planning effort. The community rates and ranks
proposals first, then HUD grants funds to the entire
community based on the strength of their overall
proposal.
 ECHO is the CoC for Austin Travis County.
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18. What are we called to do?
 “ But if there are any poor people in your town when
you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you,
do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them.”
Dt 15:7
 “Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, God
blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is
given to you” Lk: 6:21
 “Do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry.
Do not take as the aim of you life fame, profit, wealth,
or sensual pleasure. Live simply and share time,
energy, and material resources with those who are in
need.” Thich Nhat Hanh
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19. Foundation for the Homeless
 For 20 years, FFH has mobilized communities of
faith and other resources to end homelessness in
a spirit of compassion, hope and love.
 We partner with homeless families, 70+
congregations and community groups to build
new opportunities for housing, economic and
personal wellness through 3 core programs:
Family Promise/Interfaith Hospitality Network

Passages

Feed My People

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20. City of Austin Rapid Re-Housing
Demonstration Project- Began January 2009
 FFH is one of nine Basic Needs Coalition partners
participating in a 29 month City of Austin grant
demonstration project aimed at reducing barriers to
housing for low income families and individuals.
RRDP will provide a Housing Specialist to broker

housing arrangements with landlords, case managers in
the 9 agencies and their clients and provide shallow
subsidies to help families move into housing sooner and
stay longer.
Case Managers must serve RRDP families for minimum

of 12 months. No funds are provided for case
management.
 9 Agencies: Caritas-lead, Salvation Army, Safeplace,
Lifeworks, FFH, Catholic Charities, Any Baby Can,
AIDS Services of Austin and Goodwill.
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21. How is Foundation for the Homeless
unique?
 Only organization in the Austin area that
routinely provides temporary housing/shelter
and case management services to two parent
families and keeps them together using
borrowed congregational facilities.
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22. How is Foundation for the Homeless
unique?
 We are not a “big box” shelter that
warehouses people. We offer comfortable,
homelike conditions in our Day Resource
Center and in the facilities provided by
congregations.
 Each evening, caring volunteers at two
congregations make and share a meal with
four to five families who are their dinner,
overnight and breakfast guests.
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23. How is Foundation for the Homeless
unique?
 We provide free van transportation to IHN families
helping them save money and maintain continuity of
work, school, day care, etc, as they shift to a new
congregation each week.
 By coordinating equipment and borrowed facilities as
temporary housing and by actively recruiting and
preparing volunteers, we offer cost effective, homelike
conditions for homeless families and help create
ministries of care within and across congregations.
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24.  FFH’s Family Promise is based on a national model
Provides temporary housing and direct assistance for

homeless families
 Operating in 38 states and the District of Columbia
 Major Components of Family Promise/Interfaith Hospitality
Network (IHN)
 Host and support congregations work in collaboration to
provide shelter space, meals, volunteer support and
companionship.
FFH provides:

Administrative oversight, fundraising, program coordination,

and equipment to participating IHN congregations.
Case management, transportation, direct assistance and

supportive services for participating families.
FFH recruits and trains congregations, community groups and

volunteers.
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25. Foundation For the Homeless
Focusing resources from communities of faith
on the needs of homeless and working poor families
 Passages Case Management - federally-funded collaboration among 7
agencies- Salvation Army (lead), Caritas (fiscal agent), Lifeworks,
Family Connections, Safeplace, Foundation Communities and FFH
 At FFH, serves current (homeless) and “graduated” (working poor) IHN
families to provide:
Case Manager- Works with to access resources and advocates for families as they

create and work through their service plan to address issues and improve family
economic security and wellbeing.
Housing Assistance-

TBRA for 6 or 12 months with possible extension for 6 months; or

1st month’s rent and deposit for families entering open market housing.

Job Search and Training Assistance

Childcare Assistance- accessed through Family Connections or WorkSource

Life Skills Training

 Budgeting
 Stress management
 Household management
 Communication & Parenting skills
 Nutrition
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26. Foundation For the Homeless
Focusing resources from communities of faith on the needs of
homeless and working poor families
 Feed My People
 Serves the downtown chronically homeless
 30,000 hot meals a year
 Hot showers
 Haircuts & massages
 Eyeglass referrals, hygiene articles & clothing
 Bus passes and help with Greyhound tickets
 Birth certificates and ID documents on hold pending
new grant award.
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27. How we represent the spirit of
compassion
Do not avoid contact with suffering or close
your eyes before suffering. Do not lose
awareness of the existence of suffering in the
life of the world. Find ways to be with those
who are suffering by all means, including
personal contact and visits, images, sound.
By such means, awaken yourself and others
to the reality of suffering in the world.
-Thich Nhat Hanh
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28. How we represent faith communities
Thomas Merton said:
The saving grace of God…is proclaimed to
man existentially in the love, the openness,
the simplicity, the humility, and the self-
sacrifice that we show to one another.
It is through the active application of faith to
problems that we make God visibly present in
the world.
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29. Foundation For the Homeless
Focusing resources from communities of faith
on the needs of homeless and working poor families
Performance Metrics 2008
 Served 40 families, (131 individuals) through IHN,
91% exited into safe, stable housing.
 Served 59 current and former IHN families, (184
individuals) through Passages for up to 18 months.
 Served 300-400 individuals hot breakfasts and
services through Feed My People twice each week or
30,000+ meals.
 3,000 volunteers provided 60,000 meals, nearly
12,000 bed nights and 50,000 hours of caring
presence.
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30. Future Goals of FFH
“Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of
old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you
not see it?”
(Isa.43:18-19)
Work with more low-income families and individuals

Recruit new congregations for a third IHN network

Increase capacity and options for temporary housing/shelter

Collaborate to provide prevention and shelter diversion benefits,

more transitional and affordable permanent housing
 Build a sustainable package of programming, goods and services
available to Austin’s low-income families that will help them gain
self-sufficiency and escape poverty.
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31. Ways You Can Help- Learn more about
child and family homelessness
 National Alliance to End Homelessness-
www.endhomelessness.org/
National Association for the Education of Homeless

Children and Youth -www.naehcy.org/
National Center for Homeless Education

-www.serve.org/nche
National Center on Family Homelessness-

www.familyhomelessness.org
National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty-

www.nlchp.org
National Policy and Advocacy Council on Homelessness

-www.npach.org
One Family Campaign -www.onefamilycampaign.org

Horizons for Homeless Children (MA)

-www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org
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32. Ways You Can Help
 Get involved with community groups such as:
 Community Action Network- Convenes meetings
with interest groups, government and nonprofits
surrounding community needs.
 ECHO- Leads the Continuum of Care federal funding
plan for Austin Travis County
 Basic Needs Coalition- advocacy and think tank for
basic needs services
 CTOSH- UT email list serve for homeless issues
 AAHSA-Austin Area Human Services Association
 ACC/Center for Community Based Nonprofits
 Communicate
 Visit Foundation for the Homeless on Facebook
 Twitter us at: For the Homeless
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33. Advocate to end hunger,
homelessness and poverty
The Capital Area Food Bank of Central Texas
has information on hunger, related legislation
and advocacy tools for beginners that you
can access at:
www.austinfoodbank.org/take-action
Consider writing to local publications and
elected officials about these issues.
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34. Advocacy: Researching Elected
Officials
 U.S. Senate: http://www.senate.gov
 U.S. House: http://www.house.gov
 Texas Senate: http://www.senate.state.tx.us
 Texas House: http://www.house.state,tx.us
34

35. Advocacy: Researching Voting
Records of Elected Officials
 Thomas (http://thomas.loc.gov) provides
records on legislation, votes, committees
 Congressional Record-published daily-http://
www.gpoaccess.gov/crecord
 Other websites of interest for your advocacy:
 Sojourner’s Magazine on-line:
www.sojonet.com, See, The Poverty Forum
 www.change.gov
 www.HUD.gov
35

36. Ways You Can Help
 Volunteer or Donate Goods
 Foundation for the Homeless- contact: Brie Hill,
bhill@foundationhomeless.org or 453-6570
FFH-Furniture and House Wares-contact: Paul Mowry of Movin’ and

Groovin’ at Covenant Presbyterian Church, pmowry@statesman.com
http://www.covenant.org/mission-ministry/movin-and-groovin
 Become “philanthropic”—donate cash for causes
Visit the “I Live Here, I Give Here” website to learn more about the

issues, work and needs of charitable organizations in Central Texas
www.ilivehereigivehere.org
To FFH:

On-line at: www.foundationhomeless.org
Mail: P.O. Box 28006, Austin, TX 78755
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37. Ways you can serve at FFH
 Mobilize your volunteers and contact FFH
 Share our vision with your communities
 Make homelessness and poverty a funding,
mission and service priority for your
congregation and in your charitable giving
 Help drive volunteer service and charitable
giving at your workplace, school and other
community groups
 Take ownership of our shared ministry
37

38. Summary
 Homelessness can be eliminated within 10 yrs
 You have a passion for the solution
 FFH is the productive & cost effective way!
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