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The place where you can stay up to date with the latest events, stories, news, and opportunities for our City Relief community.

The Overlooked Crisis of Period Poverty
Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti

The Overlooked Crisis of Period Poverty

At outreach in New York City, it is not uncommon for women who are experiencing homelessness to approach me and ask if I can help them access menstrual products. These requests are often whispered, almost as if they're ashamed to ask. But there's nothing shameful about needing basic hygiene—it’s a human necessity.

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Women & Homelessness: Breaking the Cycle of “Stuckness”
Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti

Women & Homelessness: Breaking the Cycle of “Stuckness”

One of the first women I met doing outreach in New York City was Tricia (not her real name). She was in her mid-forties, trying to escape a cycle of trauma, addiction, and violence. Taking methadone for opioid recovery, she also needed anxiety medication for PTSD, but the combination left her drowsy and vulnerable on the streets. Shelter rules forced her outside during the day, leaving her exposed to dangers she couldn't fend off. She couldn't work, couldn't stop treatment without unbearable withdrawal, and most of all—she couldn't find a way out. She was stuck.

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The Impossible Equation: Housing Access for Hardworking Individuals
Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti

The Impossible Equation: Housing Access for Hardworking Individuals

As we continue our series on shelter and housing access throughout July, I want to discuss the impossible equation that many hardworking individuals face: the soaring cost of housing versus stagnant wages. It feels like this is one of the major issues in America these days. I personally want to invite you to you to join us in challenging the stereotypes and advocating for affordable housing solutions that align with people's incomes.

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Advocating for Better Health Care for Our Unhoused Neighbors
Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti

Advocating for Better Health Care for Our Unhoused Neighbors

As we conclude our series on healthcare in June, I want to address the challenges that individuals experiencing homelessness face when it comes to accessing vital health care services. It is crucial that we understand these obstacles and work together to advocate for a more equitable and compassionate health care system for people on the margins.

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Empowering Health Education and Preventive Care for the Homeless
Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti

Empowering Health Education and Preventive Care for the Homeless

Throughout the month of June, I'd like to focus on the critical topics of homelessness and having access to healthcare. In my years of experience working with City Relief I've seen time and time again how not having the right information or preventative care has disastrous effects. I can't stress enough the importance of health education and preventive care initiatives specifically tailored for the unhoused community.

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Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti

Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story

I wanted to take a moment to talk about a number that has been weighing heavily on my heart. Did you know that there are over a half million people in America without a place to call home? 582,462 moms, dads, children, friends and loved ones to be exact. That’s larger than the population of Sacramento, CA. 

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Understanding the Hurdles
Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti

Understanding the Hurdles

A few weeks ago I was made painfully aware on Instagram of just how many people still don’t know that many people experiencing homelessness are already employed. We posted a video, and the comment section lit up with people sharing many common myths about homelessness.

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The Myth of Choice
Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti

The Myth of Choice

Too many of us believe that homelessness is simply the result of an individual’s poor decision-making. This widespread assumption inevitably leads to the feeling that it is their choice, instead of acknowledging and fixing the complex and systemic issues that cause and maintain homelessness. I like to say that if someone chose homelessness, what were the other choices they had?

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A Walk in the Dust
Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti Weekly Newsletters Elizabeth Fischetti

A Walk in the Dust

“Walk in the Dust” is a day during which someone on our staff walks in the footsteps of many of our outreach guests. Most recently, our Follow-Up Care Coordinator, Nelson Maldonado, had the opportunity to Walk in the Dust and he shared his experience with us.

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