Latest news with #NavigationCenter
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
More cowbell, fewer unhoused: Point-in-time homeless count brings goal slightly more into focus
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – They have a tradition at the Brundage Lane Navigation Center: Graduates get a parade. Not the traditional kind. No baton twirlers, no trombones. It's more like a gauntlet of joy, with employees and fellow navigation center residents sending off a fellow homeless center resident to the world of the housed with hoots and cheers. The closest thing to a musical instrument? Cowbell. Mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile virus in Kern County And Navigation Center manager Theo Dues wants more cowbell. 'We're gonna continue to do this work until we see this crisis resolved,' Dues told KGET on a recent tour of the Brundage Lane facility, managed by Mercy House in collaboration with the City of Bakersfield. 'We truly believe that homelessness is a problem that we can solve. Now just manage. That we can actually solve.' What's the holdup? Primarily this: The availability of affordable housing. California has a shortage. There are signs things are improving. Then there's this positive trend. The Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative's new point-in-time homeless count reveals a decline in the number of unhoused in Kern County. Not a huge decline – just 2.3 percent from last year's count – but a decline nonetheless. The annual count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The collected data is used by state and federal governments to determine funding for counties, cities, and local continuums of care, so it's important – important to know not just how many, but who and from what backgrounds. 'Now, within this count and every count, every demographic is represented,' said Lauren Skidmore of the Open Door Network, which runs the Bakersfield Homeless Center. 'There is a very diverse population of homeless individuals.' Never miss a story: Make your homepage The 2025 Count revealed 2,606 people experiencing homelessness, including 1,393 who are unsheltered and 1,213 individuals who have utilized shelters. This is not an exact science, but it's one of the few tools we have. Counting the number of people living in shelters is one thing, but counting those on the street is quite another. And officials with the collaborative say their ability to gather data that can be trusted is at an all-time high – not just because they continue to tweak their techniques, but because they continue to see buy-in from the broader community. 358 volunteers participated in the three-day count, the third straight year of high volunteer participation. That, combined with a more sophisticated counting process and progress in the creation of affordable housing means the likelihood of more navigation center graduation parades. Because we got to have more cowbell. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Help Nashville's homeless youth find safe shelter and stay off the streets
Nashville's skyline may be booming, but for many young people, the view is far less hopeful. Behind the bright lights and rapid development, many struggle to find stability, facing challenges that often go unnoticed by the rest of the city. Without support systems in place, circumstances like family rejection, the loss of foster care assistance, or financial hardship can leave them with no place to turn. As a result, many end up without secure housing, facing overwhelming odds – from exposure to violence to severe mental health struggles. According to Nashville's Office of Homeless Services, 10,874 individuals experienced homelessness in Nashville over the past 12 months, nearly 1,000 of whom were between the ages of 18 and 24. LGBTQ+ youth and those exiting foster care are particularly vulnerable, often lacking affirming housing or family support. Without secure shelter, these young people face heightened risks of violence, mental health challenges, and long-term instability. Addressing youth homelessness is a community-wide challenge, made more urgent by recent policy changes. In 2024, the Supreme Court's ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson upheld the right of cities to penalize individuals for sleeping in public spaces, further endangering those without stable housing. In Tennessee, the Equal Access to Public Property Act of 2012 already made sleeping or camping on state-owned property a class E felony – punishable by up to six years in prison and a $3,000 fine. In 2022, legislators extended this law to all public property. By criminalizing survival on the streets, these measures force the unhoused – especially vulnerable youth – into hidden or unsafe situations, increasing their risk of violence, exploitation, and chronic homelessness. While city resources and traditional adult shelters are not always equipped to meet the unique needs of youth, local initiatives are stepping in to help. One such effort is LAUNCH PAD, a volunteer-driven organization, providing emergency shelter and transitional housing for young adults. Established in 2014, LAUNCH PAD has worked on creating a safe, inclusive environment filling critical gaps in support services for youth at risk of being overlooked. Executive Director H.G. Stovall and his team at LAUNCH PAD offer three core programs tailored to different levels of need. Its Emergency Shelter runs from November through March, providing meals, overnight accommodations, and hygiene facilities. The Mobile Housing Navigation Center supported by Metro funding offers short-term stays coupled with help connecting to long-term housing options and case management. Finally, the Independent-Supported Living Program ensures a more stable environment where young adults can focus on employment, education, and eventually securing permanent housing. Yet even with these resources, the demand for youth-specific housing and support continues to outpace supply. A lasting solution must go beyond a bed for the night and address broader needs like education, employment, and mental health care. Without a comprehensive approach to solving youth homelessness, cities like Nashville will likely be unable to get a handle on chronic homelessness long term. Volunteer: Whether you're assisting at shelters or mentoring youth as they transition into stability, every hour of your time makes a difference. Donate: Financial contributions and essential supplies—such as clothing, toiletries, and nonperishable food—help sustain organizations that serve unhoused youth. Advocate: Reach out to local officials and attend public meetings to push for policy changes and increased funding for youth-focused services. Support initiatives that expand affordable housing and mental health resources in your community. Youth homelessness is about more than just finding a bed for the night; it's about ensuring all young people have a pathway to stability and success. By investing in youth, Nashville invests in its future – and that begins with making sure no young person is left without a safe place to call home. Authors: Austin Hilvert, MD/MBA Student, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Zachary Scharlau, MBA Student, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management. Melissa Ortiz-Feliciano, MBA Student, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management. Ananya Sarkar, MBA Student, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Homelessness in Nashville affects young people harshly | Opinion
