Latest Homelessness News
Massachusetts will phase out use of hotels and motels to shelter homeless families, governor says
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' reliance on hotels and motels to shelter homeless people will be phased out in the next couple of years, Gov. Maura Healey said Friday, outlining changes to the state's emergency family shelter system. The Democratic governor said the changes would help...
In Portland, Oregon, political outsider Keith Wilson elected mayor after homelessness-focused race
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Voters in Portland, Oregon, have elected political outsider Keith Wilson as their new mayor, following a campaign in which he capitalized on years of growing frustration over homeless encampments, open drug use and quality of life concerns to outperform three City Council...
Haitian activists demand halt to deportations as gang violence and poverty soar
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haitian activists on Thursday demanded that other countries temporarily stop deportations to their country due to a surge in gang violence and deepening poverty. Tens of thousands of people have been deported to Haiti in the past month, mostly from the...
California sues LA suburb for temporary ban of homeless shelters
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California filed a lawsuit against a Los Angeles suburb on Monday, alleging the city's recent moratorium on homeless shelters and temporary housing violates the state's fair housing and anti-discrimination laws. The lawsuit is part of an ongoing effort by...
Vermont is opening two emergency family shelters, and planning a third
WATERBURY, Vt. (AP) — The state of Vermont is opening two emergency family shelters on Friday after hundreds of the most vulnerable people experiencing homelessness had to leave state-funded motel rooms this fall as new caps on that pandemic-era emergency housing program took effect. ...
Maui considers new law to regulate homeless sweeps
Maui County Council members are working on a bill to establish procedures for sweeps of homeless people to ensure their rights are protected after a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling against the county. “We have to treat these folks with dignity. We cannot put trauma upon trauma to some...
Judge blocks further sweeps of homeless camp in New Orleans ahead of Taylor Swift concerts
A judge in Louisiana has temporarily blocked further efforts by state officials to clear homeless encampments in New Orleans — stalling a push that came ahead of three Taylor Swift concerts in the city this weekend. The effort to relocate about 75 people living in tents beneath an...
Before Taylor Swift show in New Orleans, a homeless encampment is forced to move
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — In anticipation of three Taylor Swift concerts, which could draw around 150,000 visitors to New Orleans' Superdome this weekend, state authorities on Wednesday began clearing a nearby homeless encampment. Roughly 75 people who were living in tents beneath an...
New York City's $4B shelter system rife with mismanagement, nepotism, investigators say
NEW YORK (AP) — A yearslong investigation of New York City's $4 billion homeless shelter system found widespread mismanagement, self-dealing and nepotism. The review of dozens of nonprofit organizations that contract with the city to provide shelter to unhoused individuals and...
Vermont works to set up 3 family shelters for households leaving pandemic-era motel program
Vermont is working to set up three shelters in the coming weeks for families experiencing homelessness who had to leave state-funded motel rooms this fall after new caps on that pandemic-era emergency housing program were imposed, officials said Wednesday. The family shelters are...
