100K Homes Blog

Across the country, 100,000 Homes communities have made incredible progress on housing their most vulnerable homeless neighbors. Their stories show that homelessness can be solved!

A Warm New Home in a Very Cold Capital

Bernard grew up in Southwest Washington, DC before falling into homelessness over five years ago. During that time, he stayed on the streets of Chinatown, near the home of his beloved Washington Wizards basketball team. This December, at the start of an unusually cold winter, Bernard moved into a permanent apartment with the help of Pathways to Housing DC, an organization participating in the 100,000 Homes Campaign in the capital region. His favorite thing about the new space?

By Jake Maguire on February 22, 2013

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After 6 Months in Housing, a Remarkable Transformation

Judith spent 6 years on the streets of Austin, TX, weathering bitter cold in winter and grueling heat in summer. Volunteers with ECHO, the coalition of groups leading the 100,000 Homes Campaign in Austin, first met Judith outside a local emergency shelter on a very cold November night. She reported breathing problems and more than 3 visits to the emergency room in the previous 3 months, suggesting serious medical vulnerability.

By Jake Maguire on February 11, 2013

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Sober and Housed after 14 Years

Mr. C. was kicked out of a family member's apartment in 1999 when his drinking got out of hand. Since then, he's been living under a bridge in Arlington, VA, just outside the nation's capital. In July of last year, after more than 20 years of alcohol abuse, Mr. C. took his last drink and checked into a long-term shelter and treatment center. He has been sober ever since.

By Jake Maguire on February 4, 2013

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Counting Them One By One: A Volunteer's Story

Over 8,000 volunteers have participated in 100,000 Homes Registry Weeks across the country since the Campaign launched in 2010. We often get asked to describe the experience to others, but we'd rather let you hear it firsthand from a participant.

By Jake Maguire on February 1, 2013

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Shari Will Turn 50 in Her Own Home

Shari became homeless in Tulsa in 2009. After four years in shelters and on the streets, she resigned herself to the possibility that she might never again have a place of her own. Then, last month, she came to the Mental Health Association in Tulsa, the local organization leading the 100,000 Homes Campaign. Within six weeks, the group had identifed housing options for Shari and moved her into a permanent, fully furnished apartment.

By Jake Maguire on January 28, 2013

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Making Street Counts Count

(PHOTO: Diane Pierce and Stacia Gillet hand knitted 230 woolen caps for Oklahoma City volunteers to use as incentives to get unsheltered homeless people to take the Vulnerability Index survey.)

By Jake Maguire on January 24, 2013

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A Mother and Son Move Home

Lakiesha and her 2 year old son became homeless in 2009. Faced with a very limited income, they stayed at several homeless shelters and eventually began sleeping on the street in the Watts area of Los Angeles. For over two years, Lakiesha lived every mother's worst nightmare as she struggled to provide for her son and keep him safe without a home.

By Jake Maguire on January 14, 2013

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Finally Housed After 12 Years, Ida Looks to Give Back

Ida spent the last twelve years sleeping outside, mostly on park benches near Memphis’ legendary Beale Street. On the streets, she endured so much violence and abuse that even her seasoned case worker at the Community Alliance for the Homeless had trouble shaking off her story. Recently, that group, which is leading the 100,000 Homes Campaign in Memphis, helped Ida move into a permanent apartment where she will be safe from the dangers of homelessness.

By Jake Maguire on December 18, 2012

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Campaign Launches Homeless Connector Smartphone App

Maybe it’s the woman on your block who sometimes asks you for spare change, or the homeless veteran you walk past every day on your way to work. Everyone has a story about a homeless neighbor, but too often we feel like there’s nothing we can do to help.

By Jake Maguire on December 3, 2012

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A Second Chance and a Permanent Home for Fernando

Fernando was born into a family plagued by alcohol and drug addiction and spent many years in and out of prison. During his final incarceration he resolved to do whatever it took to turn his life around, but walking away from his old life hasn’t come easy.

By Jake Maguire on December 3, 2012

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