Many homeless people are not accessing services because of systemic barriers that intimidate or alienate them, with the result that they don't get the help they need and therefore remain homeless. This includes key benefits programs such as SSI, TANF and Medicaid as well as health care, mental health services, and drug and alcohol treatment. HomeBase is working with communities to address these systemic breakdowns by restructuring how services are provided to the homeless population. Strategies being implemented include targeted outreach programs that take services to the streets and other places homeless people congregate, out-stationing services at homeless programs, and training to enhance staff abilities to meet the special needs of homeless people. Where necessary, we propose and advocate for legislative or regulatory changes and/or engage in litigation to force systems to change their mode of operation to better accommodate homeless people.
A hallmark of the HomeBase approach to social justice is that we regularly select a new programmatic theme which we then subject to special investigation and attention. The goal is always the same: to assess the concerns and needs of our clients/constituents and develop a platform for advocacy, lobbying, ongoing advice, and/or litigation. In this way, we are instigators of change and specifically of reforms to major systems which are needed to prevent, reduce, and eventually end homelessness. Past examples include our pioneering work on homeless access to closed military bases, and our outreach and service approaches for the hardest to serve. Ongoing examples include our special foci on the healthcare needs of homeless people, especially persons tormented by serious mental illnesses, and the plight of homeless families.
