Bulletin Board
The place where you can stay up to date with the latest events, stories, news, and opportunities for our City Relief community.
Autism, Homelessness, and the Safety Net We Still Don’t Have
When I first started working on the streets of New York City and New Jersey, I was 24. I didn't have kids. I knew almost nothing about autism—especially how overwhelming noise, bright lights, and chaos could be for someone with sensory sensitivities.
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.
Megan’s Resilience—and Why It Shouldn’t Be This Hard
This week, I want to continue our conversation about the realities of homelessness for women by highlighting the immense challenges single moms face as they try to juggle work, school, and childcare—all without the stability of a home.
From Survival to Stability: The Fight for Safe Housing After Abuse
Women escaping domestic violence often face an impossible choice: stay in a dangerous situation or risk homelessness. With shelters full, affordable housing out of reach, and support systems often broken by abuse, many women are left with nowhere to go.
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.
The Power and Impact of Our Words
Words matter. I have seen firsthand how our guests at City Relief can often be described with language that would dehumanize and demoralize any of us. Let’s face it, the words we use to talk about people inevitably end up impacting the way we engage with people.
Lifelines Beyond Shelters - Access to Basic Necessities
As we wrap up our focus this month on Access to Food & Basic Necessities, I'd like to delve deeper into the role of shelters in addressing homelessness and where they sometimes fall short.
Climate Change and Homelessness: A Crucial Connection
We often hear about climate change and its devastating impact on our planet—melting ice caps, endangered polar bears, and extreme weather events. But have you ever considered how it affects the people who are the most vulnerable?
Waking Up Hungry: Help Us Battle Food Insecurity
Imagine waking up hungry and uncertain where your first and perhaps only meal of the day will come from. This is the harsh reality for many homeless individuals every single day.
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.
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.
Why Dental Care Matters for the Unhoused
As we continue the month of June, our focus remains on the healthcare challenges faced by the unhoused community. Today, I want to address an often-overlooked issue: dental and oral health among people experiencing homelessness.
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.
The Hidden Struggles of Unhoused Women
Did you know that almost one-third of the unhoused population are women?
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.
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.
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?
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.
Five things to know about our neighbors experiencing homelessness
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are five things I’ve learned over the last seven years about how to best love my neighbors experiencing homelessness.