Birmingham targets 40% drop in chronic homelessness
City officials report that nearly half of new arrivals to the shelter system are experiencing homelessness for the first time.
By Yara Nasser ·
Birmingham city leaders are aiming to reduce chronic homelessness by 40 percent in the coming year. A recent report indicates that 40 percent of individuals entering the local system are homeless for the first time. Officials say this data provides a realistic baseline for their efforts to address the crisis through new partnerships.
Alanah Melton, the city’s director of unhoused strategies, stated that the city cannot solve the issue alone due to limited resources. She emphasized that a collaborative approach is necessary to meet the target. “That offers me so much hope that we do have realistic numbers that together, not the city alone, the city could never have the infinite resources that are required, but together we absolutely can do it,” Melton said.
The city announced a roadmap for tackling homelessness last year. At the recent summit, Melton provided updates on the Home for All Safe Sleep program and the Jimmie Hale Emergency Plus Shelter. These initiatives are part of the broader strategy to stabilize those currently without permanent housing.
The primary focus for the next year is the Bham Goes Home initiative. This program specifically targets how the city manages and assists people living in encampments. Melton acknowledged the difficulty of relocating residents without immediate housing options. “It is one of the hardest things to do, to have to move an encampment and not offer a place to go. So we are working on targeted efforts as we begin to close encampments that we have housing to offer people,” she explained.
The city has been coordinating with Birmingham police through the HOPE program to manage these transitions. Underwood Park was the site of at least one encampment relocation under this joint effort. The summit marked the second annual State of Homelessness event held by Birmingham leaders.
