Local opinion: Federal chaos calls for local collaboration

and analysis of the writer:

An early-morning Tuesday text message from a fellow nonprofit housing provider alerted me to the week of uncertainty that followed. For those of us who have weathered the ups and downs of nonprofit giving triggered by national tragedies, climate disasters or financial crisis, we try to anticipate the year ahead with each new budget year. However, what happened this week is unlike any other time. The complete cut-off of all federal funding was a jolt that shocked us all.

Looking for answers on a brisk walk, I instead found solace. Solace in our daily work with our neighbors and community. The walk led me to one of our facilities — a drop-in center that welcomed approximately 200 people a day during this past summer. People and families searching for a place to rest from the heat. Maybe they need a drink of water, a snack, rent or utility assistance, medical attention, are seeking housing, or maybe they are retrieving their mail like some 2,000 others who have no address.

On Tuesday, the drop-in center is closed. Instead of witnessing a large number of people in and outside of our center, I walked up on a man in our lobby seeking medical attention by emergency medical personnel. Face weathered, lips blistered, hair overgrown, he was not feeling well. I asked him how he was and he returned a quiet smile and replied in a soft voice. One of our employees stayed by his side with medical professionals who listened and assisted. This man did not know what had just transpired hours earlier. Our staff knew, but with quiet care, compassion, and patience attended to her duties uninterrupted — being there for our neighbor.

This is one of many stories not covered on Tuesday. For those who call themselves housing providers, there is no interruption or halt to what we do. The need is so great and the crisis of poverty and homelessness in this nation of great wealth has only gotten worse in our post-pandemic existence. Nationally, from 2023 to 2024, the point-in-time count that occurs one day a year reported an 18% increase in homelessness overall. In addition, there was an alarming 33% increase in children experiencing homelessness. For us, in Tucson, Arizona, the increase stands on top of an overall increase of 60%, and a 300% increase in unsheltered homelessness from 2018 to 2023. To wrap our heads around a decrease in federal funding, let alone the complete elimination of entire programs or funding all together for the unhoused and low-income communities, is not comprehendible.

Uninterrupted and undeterred, we must collaborate on the local level. We must pull resources together, fill gaps, meet needs, and prioritize the lifting up of entire communities. It can be done. The existing veterans’ programs funding around this country are a perfect example. In 2024, veteran homelessness decreased by 7.5%. In addition, the number was the lowest since HUD started counting the veteran population in 2019. This is also true of the veteran program we administer. Veteran homelessness has decreased. The difference is due to the significant resources devoted to veterans as compared to civilians, demonstrating that more resources work. Whether through the government, foundation, or donor giving, what is certain is that we can’t relinquish given the great need. We must choose to come together on the local level. We must choose compassion.