Cuyahoga County's Housing First coalition says it's on track to end long-term, or chronic homelessness by 2020, with it's 13th housing project expected to be completed in 2019. Chronic homelessness refers to a subset of our homeless population - people living on the streets more than a year, or there repeatedly; and who struggle with a "disabling condition" that might include serious mental illness, an addiction, or a physical disability.
Utah was first to take the Housing First model statewide, recording success reducing the number of chronically homeless over a decade. Many credit the work of Lloyd Pendleton, former director of Utah's Homeless Task Force. Pendleton was in town this week and stopped by the ideacenter to reflect on his experience and how that can translate to areas like Cleveland.
Lloyd Pendleton, Homeless Advocate & Former Director of Utah's Homeless Task Force