Disabled and homelessness

 First, welcome to the Living With Disabilities Advocacy Website. It's run by none other than Katrina Smith, a person with a learning disability. Her mission behind Living With Disabilities is to bring awareness to all people with disabilities.

Disabled and homeless is a topic that Living With Disabilities wishes to discuss.

Let's start with this idiom: To leave no rock unturned, America needs to make sure that everyone has a housing that fits their needs. Additionally, it would generally address a lot of issues. especially for those with disabilities. Knowing that many individuals are dealing with this, it is really difficult to write this article. With 161,548 homeless people on any one night in California, it has the highest rate of homelessness among the 10,000 largest populations worldwide. Again, only California's rate of homelessness is being counted here.

 Homelessness is not a recent phenomenon in either America or the rest of the world. Homelessness has been worse and worse since the outbreak. Since we're discussing sheltered individuals based on their level of disability, 38.6% of sheltered individuals and nearly 4 out of 10 sheltered homeless individuals have a disability. Homelessness statistics from 2018 show that the US has to improve its support policies seriously.

And here, Living With Disabilities is fired up over this topic, and here is why. It is said that people who are chronically ill have mental health conditions that are left without a home, and that's 30%.

 How can this problem be solved so that disabled individuals don't have to live on the streets? Invest in these structures with trustworthy resources and convert them into shelters for those with disabilities. Because not every person with disabilities requires aid in living alone, there is a nurse on call if someone needs medical attention. What may therefore be given to those who require no support, minimal assistance, or only medical assistance? That would necessitate a lot of thought because each person is unique and will require different accommodations in their home.

 
 Should we continue with the idea of living with disabilities? So we covered a nurse on call. What about individual accommodations for residents who have a visual impairment or hidden disabilities? People who are visually impaired need Braille labels or a phone entry system that allows them to talk to the person who comes to the door. Installing slippery flooring with non-slip flooring.

 
 Before tackling accommodations for hidden disabilities, Living With Disabilities wants to say this: Just because you don't see the condition or disability does not mean the person does not need the accommodations to help them live independently. Each person's accommodations may require different supplies. Grip bars installed in the shower, and shower chair as the list may go on from there. depending on the resident request. 
 Lastly, what about a person with physical disabilities? A ramp to and from their residences, an elevator, and an accessible push button. Note that not everyone can turn the knob on doors. So having a push button at every entrance is NECESSARY. It does not stop there; wider entranceways, roll-in showers, grip bars, and shower chairs. Soap dispensers are at a lower level. Adjustable cabinetry, with the push of a button, will lower an item from a higher level to an accessible reach. As the list goes on from there for a person with a physical disability.

People with disabilities need proper housing that will fit their needs and some if not all accommodations need to be applied in all the housing. What are some things that should be on-site, a nurse on call and caretaker too? This vision is similar to a nursing facility. But, not quite because this housing facility does allow all residents to have independents and there is live on-site staff available when needed. 

 What would be next to get this ideal plan through, Reaching out to the ADA and different medical insurances, if you know what Living With Disabilities means the struggle is real when you know there are cracks in the ADA system and then you have different issues with medical insurance not paying for some medications or supplies need. And Social security benefits. How would a person address their needs every person's needs are different, and this gives you something to think about. 

Reference link 

State of Homelessness: 2022 Edition - National Alliance to End Homelessness

Policy Advice - Homelessness statistics in the US for 2021 | Policy Advice

Podcast link
https://anchor.fm/livingwithdisabilites/episodes/Disabled-and-Homelessness-e1pdhlh