Home for the Holidays

According the 2019 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of Persons Experiencing Homelessness in the District of Columbia by The Community Partnership For The Prevention of Homelessness released in May 2019, there were 6,521 homeless people on the streets of DC the night of that report, including 608 persons who were unsheltered, 4,679 in emergency shelters, and 1,234 in a transitional housing programs. 

Following an approach used in Finland, the Hive Social Garden is raising funding for a Housing First program in Washington, DC, providing housing immediately and without preconditions to residents in need. The underlying principle of Housing First is that having a stable and secure home is a fundamental human right and a critical foundation for tackling other issues contributing to homelessness, such as mental health issues or substance abuse.  

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a chronically homeless person costs the taxpayer an average of $35,578 per year. Chronic homelessness refers to people who have chronic and complex health conditions including mental illnesses, substance use disorders, and medical conditions who experience long-term homelessness— and can be found sleeping on the street or in shelters. However, costs on average can be reduced by 49.5% when these individuals are placed in supportive housing. Supportive housing costs on average $12,800.