Housing stability is the foundation of our health and well-being.
Without housing, our ability to obtain an education or job and even meet our basic needs to live a healthy lifestyle is not only in danger but nearly impossible.
When basic needs are not met, like housing, an individual’s general health, mental health, job stability, and financial stability will also struggle, creating a ripple effect on many other issues.
The factors affecting housing security and homelessness, locally and across the country, are extremely complex. There are many reasons why individuals and families face homelessness. The two root causes we see most often in the Mohawk Valley are struggles with mental health and lack of affordable housing.
We are working to mitigate homelessness and housing insecurity.
United Way of the Mohawk Valley (UWMV) is working diligently with community leaders and our local Continuum of Care (CoC) to find innovative solutions to address these overarching issues facing the Mohawk Valley.
Factors of the United Way of the Mohawk Valley and our community partners include:
- define, understand, and prevent the root causes of homelessness
- assist families who are homeless in obtaining secure housing,
- connect households with necessary resources such as food, clothing, mental health and/or substance abuse services, additional outlets to education and employment skills, and more
- decrease the number of households in danger of becoming homeless
UWMV housing staff ensures individuals identified as homeless are linked with the proper agencies and services based on their specific needs, plus lead the local database efforts.
Homeless Management Information System
Each CoC is responsible for selecting a software solution that complies with HUD’s data collection, management, and reporting standards, or HMIS. This local information technology system is used to collect client-level data and data on providing housing and services to homeless individuals, families, and persons at risk of homelessness. The SNAPS Data Strategy provides a multi-year vision and specific goals and objectives for HMIS.
Data and Prevention
Data is the most valuable resource in helping us understand what causes homelessness and how we can work to prevent it. This data drives decisions for housing developments, funding, programs and services, and solutions for homelessness.
The following data is from the HMIS technology system between the timeframe of October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024: 1,211 families* were served
- Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing: together, these projects served 704 families
- Permanent Supportive Housing: this project served 399 families that moved into housing
- Rapid Rehousing: this project served 108 families that moved into housing
*The HUD definition of a family is: "A single individual or family who applies for housing together to a continuum project for assistance and who live together in one dwelling unit, or, for persons who are not housed, who would live together in one dwelling unit if they were housed."
Funding and Partnerships
Through federal, state, and local grants, United Way of the Mohawk Valley receives thousands of dollars assisting those who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. United Way MV and our local Continuum of Care (CoC) partners follow the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) and Homelessness Assistance Programs rules and regulations.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD is the federal body that supports a variety of interrelated policy areas that are fundamental to creating strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality, affordable homes for all. The policy areas include affordable housing development and preservation, community and economic development, environment and energy, fair housing, health, and housing, ending homelessness, homeownership, rental assistance, and supportive housing and services.
The Continuum of Care Program is designed to promote communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness, provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers and State and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness; promote access to and effect utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families, and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Mohawk Valley Housing and Homeless Coalition (MVHHC)
Locally, our CoC (NY-518 HUD) is known as Mohawk Valley Housing and Homeless Coalition (MVHHC), comprising multiple agencies, government departments, Social Science Associates and United Way MV staff, and a Board of Directors. MVHHC and the Board of Directors meet regularly to collaborate and work to end homelessness in our community.
You can help.
A donation to United Way of the Mohawk Valley is the most effective and efficient way to allow us to continue to identify and address the needs of our community, including housing and homelessness. Donate today.