01 Sep 2021 Disability and Homelessness

An attractive Black woman sleeps on a picnic table. By her is an umbrella and a few neat items. A clothesline is near her, tied to one of many trees.

Photo by NICE GUYS from Pexels

 People Experiencing Homelessness

https://www.ssa.gov/homelessness/?tl=0

US Interagency Council on Homelessness

https://www.usich.gov/

Case Studies: Connecting Supportive Housing and Health Systems to End Chronic Homelessness among People with Disabilities

https://www.usich.gov/tools-for-action/case-studies-connecting-supportive-housing-and-health-systems-to-end-chronic-homelessness-among-people-with-disabilities

Over 40% of homeless in U.S. have a disability

https://blog.easterseals.com/over-40-of-homeless-in-us-have-a-disability/

DISABILITY OVERVIEW

https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/disability_overview

HUD Releases 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report Part 1

Homelessness Increasing Even Prior to COVID-19 Pandemic

https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/hud_no_21_041

HOMELESS

https://www.hud.gov/faqs/homeless

Homelessness Among Individuals with Disabilities: Influential Factors and Scalable Solutions

https://www.naccho.org/blog/articles/homelessness-among-individuals-with-disabilities-influential-factors-and-scalable-solutions

We also talked about bullying in schools. I plan to make this a topic for discussion in a future livestream. I think schools should:

- Allow students at least a 30 minute lunch. My older daughter had 15 minutes for lunch in 5th grade. I know because I ate with her on special occasions.

- Allow students recess twice per school day. I think all high schools should have parks where students can walk, jog or swing at recess, to blow off steam.

- All school systems should integrate mental health care in-school. They should have online therapy available during school hours. 

- All school systems should have a no-bullying policy, on or off campus. This should include colleges and universities. Bullying is abuse. Abuse of any kind should not be tolerated.

- Class sizes should be reduced. Teacher burnout is a sign that classes are too large and paperwork is too much. Reduce homework and reduce teacher workload. 

- Do less testing. Research shows that standardized testing is biased against ethnic groups. Many students suffer from test anxiety.

- Emphasize socialization and working together. Don't tolerate hate speech, name-calling, or making fun of people. Teach students to stand up to this in heathy ways. Have a therapist teach groups about positive communication.

- Make more partnerships between the psychological community and the education community. Child psychologists can show teachers more healthy ways to gain class cooperation.

- Students should have a Bill of Human Rights. Every student deserves a healthy school environment, free of bullying, discrimination, and public health threats. If a school cannot provide a safe environment, students should have a choice to attend remotely. Schools should follow CDC guidelines, including masking and vaccination requirements. COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic to hit us.