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SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Homelessness is increasing in Onondaga County, but the availability of federal funds may decrease the number of individuals and families that are homeless.
Fred Hintz is a Central New York Housing and Homeless Coalition Data and System Analyst. He specializes in homelessness trends and why they are happening.
Hintz said there are three top reasons as to why people and families are or become homeless. First reason being verbal or physical conflict in the household, second being recent release from a mental or detention institution or jail and lastly he said there is a lack of affordable housing within the area.
Hintz said to combat the top causes of homelessness, organizations need more resources and high-quality assistance.
“We are excited about some of the federal assistance that’s been coming out, things like the Federal Homelessness Assistance funds that came out with the CARES Act and the American Rescue Act,” Hintz said.
The CARES Act assistance allows the local government to have more flexibility in areas like rapid re-housing, homelessness prevention, and the bettering of homeless shelter facilities.
Similarly the American Rescue Act helps community members with job lose, shortages of food, needing help paying bills, and more.
Hintz said looking forward our community is expecting to get more housing choice vouchers to help low-income families and individuals. He said he’s hopeful and believe we are moving in the right direction.