Let’s talk about Homelessness

In order to be more effective housing advocates, it is important to begin talking about affordability and homelessness in an educated, solutions-focused way. This is not always easy because the issue is multi-faceted and complex, with many terms and buzz-words.

This section is meant to provide a quick and clear reference guide when talking about homelessness with our friends and neighbors.

“HOUSING FIRST”

“Housing First” is the idea that the first step towards ending homelessness is providing a stable living situation. (Source: https://housingfirst.marinhhs.org/housing-first)

  • Ask ourself the question: “How can you apply for a job without a shower, clean clothes, and a good night’s sleep?”

  • Housing First programs also cost less money than not housing people, due to the cost of emergency services such as jails, hospitals, and shelters.

  • Housing First is currently the leading standard practice as compared to traditional shelter programs.


Common Myths about homelessness

Myth - Homelessness is really about mental illness and substance use. Treatment is the answer!

Reality - Treatment is an important tool, but meaningful treatment is impossible when those experiencing homelessness are focused mostly on survival. Furthermore, the traumatic experience of homelessness can create or worsen mental illness and substance use.

Myth - Those experiencing homelessness prefer to sleep outside or are “service resistant”.

Reality - The experience of living in a shelter may be unsafe or may impose onerous requirements, such as giving up a pet, partner, or possessions. Shelter beds are also in short supply. The perception that the unhoused “prefer” to sleep outside is a reflection on their mistrust of the system that has failed to provide a humanizing experience.

Myth - Those experiencing homelessness will require intensive support for the rest of their lives.

Reality - Many assisted households can move on to independent housing without experiencing homelessness ever again.


Types of “affordable” housing

We cannot talk about ending Homelessness unless we talk about affordable housing, period!

When we hear the term “affordable housing”, what many believe to be a monolithic class of housing is, in fact, an umbrella term used to describe many different forms of housing. Nearly ALL housing projects, be it affordable or market rate, consist of a variety of the unit types as defined below. In recent years, there have emerged a number of new buzzwords to describe new housing types, which we have also tried to define.

The following housing types have specific definitions and they ALL qualify as “affordable housing” as defined by the State:

  • Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) - This category is what we consider formerly homeless housing. Residents in PSH will likely need social service support on a permanent basis.

  • Extremely-Low Income Housing (ELI) - Residents in ELI earn 30% of area media income which places them “at-risk” of homelessness. A family of 4, in 2022 Alameda County, would be making a maximum of $41,100 / year to qualify.

  • Very-Low Income Housing (VLI) - Residents in VLI earn 60% of area media income. A family of 4, in 2022 Alameda County, would be making a maximum of $82,200 / year to qualify.

  • Low-income Housing (LI) - Residents in LI earn 80% of area media income. A family of 4, in 2022 Alameda County, would be making a maximum of $109,600 / year to qualify.

  • Moderate-income Housing (MI) - Residents in MI earn 110% of area media income. A family of 4, in 2022 Alameda County, would be making a maximum of $150,700 / year to qualify.




The following terms are a descriptor of a category of housing:

  • Market-Rate Housing - Housing that is sold at current market rates. Depending on the price of a home, a unit can be BOTH market-rate AND affordable. (For example, a Moderate-income household in Alameda can afford a unit that costs approximately $600,000. If a habitable unit is worth equal or lower than that under current market conditions, it would be considered both market rate AND affordable.)

  • Workforce Housing - A descriptor term referring to housing tailored towards community service providers: (e.g. teachers, fire-fighters, police, paramedics). This housing typically falls within the “LI” and “MI” categories.

  • “Missing Middle” Housing - A descriptor term referring to housing tailored towards young working professionals or young families. This housing typically falls within the “MI” category. It is known as “missing middle” housing, because “MI” housing often does not qualify for public funding, and are often not viable to build because of high construction costs.

  • Mixed-income Housing - A housing project that consists of both market rate and affordable housing.

  • Affordable by Design Housing - A descriptor term referring to the design of smaller units than typically seen in the area, which would be more affordable simply due to its smaller size. This category does not qualify as affordable housing under the State definition.

  • Multi-generational Housing - A housing project that is geared towards a range of age groups. For single-family housing types, this term refers to the presence of live-in, usually senior, relatives.




The following housing types are specific solutions to housing challenges.

  • Navigation Centers - A non-permanent residential facility meant to provide “Housing First” services, with the goal of transitioning occupants onto permanent housing options.

  • Homeless Shelters - A care facility where occupants can receive food, services, and some provide nightly congregate housing.

  • Wellness Centers - A daytime use facility that provides services such as laundry, dining rooms, internet access, cell-phone charging, etc. Some, but not all, have social workers on staff.

  • Safe Parking Sites - A vacant parking lot where underhoused people living in vehicles can safely park overnight. These are oftentimes paired with temporary sanitary facilities and wraparound social services.

  • Tiny Home Communities - A permanent residential community consisting of smaller single-room occupancy dwellings. Some have in-unit facilities (bathroom, efficiency kitchen, etc) while others have common use facilities.

  • Co-housing - A group living arrangement in which individuals live in close proximity participate in the communal activies such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, gardening, maintenance, etc.

  • Transitional Housing - A temporary housing solution that is meant to be time-limited, with occupants needing to demonstrate efforts to secure permanent housing while in residence. This model is falling out of favor with the rise of Rapid Re-Housing (see below).

  • Rapid Re-housing - A generic term for a housing solution that falls between permanent and transitional housing. The idea is to secure housing as quickly as possible with the option of permanant residence. This is sometimes achieved through landlord partnerships, rental vouchers, subsidizing the rent for market rate rentals, or building new housing.

Alternative Living Arrangements

There is not always a term to describe someone’s living situation as they are as unique as the individual. Some examples of alternative arrangements include:

  • Reuniting and living with family.

  • Renting a room in an extended stay facility.

  • Living in an accessory dwelling unit

  • Moving out of the area to where they can afford rent.

  • Pooling resources with several participants to rent permanent housing together.