http://rokhlita.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] rokhlita.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] davis_square2010-05-11 01:19 pm

SUNDAY: 7th Annual Save Our Homes Walk

The 7th annual Save Our Homes Walk will be held on Sunday, May 16 at 2:00 pm with registration beginning at 1:30. The Walk begins and ends at Somerville High School’s Atrium and all are welcome and encouraged to join in our efforts to end homelessness in our City.

Organized by the Affordable Housing Organizing Committee (AHOC), the Walk raises money to help those at risk of homelessness to secure housing by providing assistance with security deposits, back rent, utilities, and/or moving costs. Last year, the Walk raised nearly $30,000. The money was used to help prevent homelessness for 162 Somerville residents.

This year, the Save Our Homes Walk hopes to raise $40,000, just a little less than the cost of keeping one family in a shelter for one year. The Walk will follow a 3-mile route through the City, past affordable housing landmarks, and will start and end at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave. For more information or to obtain a sponsor or pledge form, call 617-776-5931, ext 232, email spires@somervillecdc.org or visit http://www.somervillecdc.org/SCCNews/sohwalk.htm.

The Somerville Homeless Coalition, Community Action Agency of Somerville, Greater Boston Legal Services, and the Somerville Community Corporation are the principal organizers of the Save Our Homes Walk.

[identity profile] smoterh.livejournal.com 2010-05-11 06:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm curious about the shelters. Why does it cost 40,000 to keep one family in a shelter. That's like 3300 a month?

[identity profile] icecreamempress.livejournal.com 2010-05-11 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Shelter housing is considerably more expensive than rental housing, as studies have shown. See here (http://homelessness.change.org/blog/view/shelters_cost_more_than_apartments) for an overview of one recent studies.

[identity profile] icecreamempress.livejournal.com 2010-05-11 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"StudY" not "studies". Sorry for the incoherence.

[identity profile] turil.livejournal.com 2010-05-12 12:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, it's insane to put people in shelters when it's far cheaper to just rent them an apartment of their own.

Many places are realizing this, and thus trying to move people out of shelters and into normal homes.

Also, shelter living is hell. They treat you like a prisoner, rather than someone who needs help. It's utterly evil, and they charge tons of money to do it. Clearly, shelters are the last thing we need more of.