Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing
Ending homelessness must begin with the understanding that people who are or have been homeless are our neighbors and members of our community. Public perceptions and attitudes toward persons experiencing homelessness or in danger of becoming homeless need to change in order for positive, long-term solutions to be realized.
Most Americans rarely interact with people who are or who have been homeless. The lack of interaction between different groups of our society, combined with impersonal or inaccurate descriptions of homelessness posed by the media and public officials, contributes to a distancing of those who have housing from those who do not. As a result, homelessness is perceived as an abstract social problem.
Those who experience homelessness are seen as the sources of their own misfortunes, and the socio-economic policies and practices that give rise to homelessness are then too easily ignored. This abstraction, in turn, lessens the degree of urgency and commitment needed to work strategically and consistently toward solutions to end homelessness that are long-term, outcome-based, and not simply responses to crises.
Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing wishes to teach and challenge tomorrow's leaders as well as empower those who have experienced homelessness first-hand, that by fostering an environment of self-worth, respect, and understanding for all people, we can and will end homelessness.
Operated by NATH, Frederick Place is a 16-bed emergency, temporary shelter for families, women and men who are experiencing homelessness.
If you are homeless and need temporary housing, NATH and Frederick Place can help!
There are numerous ways to partner with NATH and Frederick Place!
Partner with us through professional business relationship and community agency referral.
Testimonials and stories from Frederick Place residents
Nath Notes is a monthly newsletter reporting the latest NATH news and events.
Items and donations needed at the Frederick Place Homeless Shelter.
About half of people experiencing homelessness suffer from mental health issues. At any given point in time, 45 percent of homeless people report having had indicators of mental health problems during the past year. About 25 percent of the homeless population has serious mental illness, including chronic depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
People experiencing homelessness also have a high rate of substance use. According a 1996 survey, 46 percent of homeless respondents reported having an alcohol use problem in the past year,
and 38 percent reported a problem with drug use in the past year. Mental and physical health problems are exacerbated by living on the streets and in shelters. Health conditions that require ongoing treatment — such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, addiction, and mental illness — are difficult to treat when people are living in shelter or on the streets. Medication can require special steps, including refrigeration or special storage, that can be difficult to execute for people experiencing homelessness. Preventative care can also be difficult for this population to access due to its often prohibitive cost, so people experiencing homelessness may wait to seek medical care until a trip to the emergency room is necessary.
These mental and physical health conditions should be considered when designing effective, efficient strategies to end homelessness. Permanent supportive housing provides stable housing coupled with supportive services as needed – a cost-effective solution to homelessness for those with the most severe health, mental health, and substance use challenges.
In doing some research I came upon this great article. This article is able to articulate what I talk about in my speaking engagements about the fact that with rural homelessness you never know where the next person who steps foot into Frederick Place may have come from or where they may end up.
Please take some time to read this article and reflect on how you may encounter either of the main characters when you are walking the streets of Antigo, Crandon, Tomahawk, Merril, Rhinelander, Eagle River or any of the towns in the NATH Service Area. I believe that you will be as affected by this article as I am.
To read the Reap What You Sow article - CLICK HERE
Sincerely,
Tammy Modic
NATH Executive Director
If you have a couple of hours that you can volunteer your help with our Support/Relief Staff at Frederick Place, it would be appreciated.
Many people think of homelessness as strictly an urban phenomenon because homeless people are greater in number and more visible in urban areas, but homelessness is also pervasive in rural areas.
Rates of homelessness among rural areas vary widely. According to the Alliance’s Geography of Homelessness report, there are approximately 14 homeless people on average for every 10,000 people in rural areas, compared with 29 homeless people out of every 10,000 in urban areas. However, some rural areas have extremely high rates of homelessness; in fact, three of the CoCs with the highest prevalence of homelessness in the country are rural.
The same structural factors that contribute to urban homelessness—lack of affordable housing and inadequate income—also lead to rural homelessness. Perhaps the most distinguishing factor of rural homelessness, however, is access to services. Unlike in urban areas, many rural homeless assistance systems lack the infrastructure to provide quick, comprehensive care to those experiencing homelessness. Reasons for this difference abound, including lack of available affordable housing, limited transportation methods, and the tendency for federal programs to focus on urban areas.
Additionally, rural areas tend to have higher rates of poverty, only compounding the risk of becoming and staying homeless in those areas. Due to these barriers, one of the most important strategies in ending rural homelessness is prevention.