What is “Homelessness Prevention?”

From GFW, FYI, Public Education

1,629 words, 9 minutes read time. Over the last few years there has been a push towards “homelessness prevention” as a solution to the ongoing homelessness crisis. GFW has even promoted homelessness prevention opportunities and asked for support in this area in the past. However, the concept of “homelessness prevention” can still appear quite nebulous; so, let’s take a moment to discuss what “homelessness prevention” is, how it’s implemented, and what kind of impact it really has.

It’s Homelessness Awareness Month!

From GFW, FYI

1,521 words, 8 minutes read time. November is a busy month here at GFW and not just because of all the activity surrounding our annual Thanksgiving meals! November is Homelessness Awareness Month, November 16-22 is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, and this month will kick off MC Gives for Monterey County. Let’s take a closer look at what November means for GFW and how you can get involved this year!

Art as Therapy

From GFW, FYI, Public Education

1,289 words, 7 minutes read time

Regular guests, volunteers, and visitors at GFW may have noticed an increase in our program activities centered around art. If you find yourself asking, “Why offer these art classes when they should be doing XYZ?” then this is the post for you. Let’s talk about the benefits of artistic expression, the differences that Art Therapy can make, and the impact it is having on GFW’s guests.

What the “Silver Tsunami” means for people experiencing homelessness

From GFW, FYI, Public Education

1,105 words, 6 minutes read time.
The term “Silver Tsunami” is a metaphor for the increasing number of older adults reaching retirement age. First used in the 2010s, it usually refers to the potential challenges that could be faced by employers, healthcare providers, and the housing markets as record numbers of people begin retiring, needing increasingly complex healthcare, and downsizing their homes. It is now, unfortunately, also an apt metaphor for the changing landscape of those experiencing homelessness.

What is “Homelessness”?

From GFW, FYI, Public Education

1,170 words, 6 minutes read time.
Whether you’ve been working in homeless services for years or are new to the realities faced by this community, you’ve likely got a lot of questions about the information you’re finding. Why does every service provider have a different number of homeless individuals? Why are the numbers so different from each other? How can the Coalition of Homeless Service Providers say there are 2,500 individuals experiencing homelessness, but the school says over 12,000 children are homeless? None of it makes sense!