No across-the-board solutions exist for resolving homelessness. But, more granular data - specific to a community’s population vs. an entire county - can help identify common causes. TCI’s James Whitford discusses how a recent state bill can help do just that.

According to Muskogee Gospel Rescue Mission Executive Director Rich Schaus, hurdles to employment for former felons are not insurmountable: the key is strong character and thriving relationships.

“There is hope! This is not an empty statement that I say to make people feel better but a fact based on the miracles I see every day; lives are being transformed and families are being restored.” - Stanford on holistic recovery

Housing First is intended to quickly connect people experiencing homelessness to permanent housing “without preconditions such as sobriety, treatment or service participation requirements.” Yet, it has the unfortunate result of trapping people in a cycle of dependency.

In a recent conversation, Jennifer Johnson, a former lawyer turned child care cooperative director, told me, “Many of the women (she) represented were good mothers. They loved and desired to parent their children. However, they just couldn’t figure out how to work and pay for child care.” Jennifer’s story represents similar conversations that I have had with pregnancy care center directors, child care centers and nonprofit leaders.