In the United States, the typical homeless shelter only allows homeless people to stay at night, kicking people out in the morning even in bad or cold weather.
Tammy is disabled and homeless in Denver, Colorado. The homeless shelter where she stays wakes people up at 4:30 am to be out of the building by 6:30 am. Tammy says she is walking “bone on bone.” She doesn’t have any cartilage in her left knee causing her to fall a lot. Tammy can hardly walk. She cannot work. After exiting the shelter in the morning, she has absolutely nothing to do all day.
Tammy ended up homeless after having surgery. The cost of housing was too much and she ended up in a homeless shelter. When I asked her what she would like people to know about homelessness she responded, “we cannot afford a thousand dollars for an apartment.” Tammy continues that people who are elderly or disabled need low-income housing”
Your voice can help end homelessness. If we do not fix the affordable housing crisis, homelessness will continue to get worse. Click here to tweet, email, call, or Facebook your federal and state legislators to tell them ending homelessness and creating more affordable housing is a priority to you.
Special thanks to Mayors and CEOs for US Housing Investment.
