Increase in need for services at the Crisis Center

Check out this article posted by the Billings Gazette.

Poverty - Highest Level in 15 Years...

This article, posted via the New York Times, made me start thinking about the impact on poverty in Billings. As the nation continues in recession, more people are unemployed, without healthcare, and are losing access to housing.

The Billings area, typically, lags behind national economic downfalls. However, most local service providers are experiencing 35% to 50% increases in the needs for services.

Billings' Homeless Youth

Housing Conditions in Billings Montana

In Billings, the median home price is $177,500. A family earning the median household income of $48,470 cannot afford the median priced home. Instead, the same family could afford about 40% of the homes on the housing market. Unfortunately these lower-priced homes need improvements that make them too costly for median income home buyers. In addition, 40% of households in Billings earned less than $35,000, and 15% earned less than $15,000. In these situations, families living paycheck to paycheck are unable to afford the improvements required to make their homes decent and safe.

Outta sight, outta mind

Project Homeless Connect 2010

The 4th annual Billings Project Homeless Connect event was sponsored by the Billings Area Resource Network and the City of Billings. Project Homeless Connect is a one-day, one-stop event designed to connect homeless and near-homeless community members to free resources including housing, employment and education assistance, healthcare, legal aid and clothing. The 2010 event featured 50 social service providers and served 577 individuals.

For more information about Project Homeless Connect in Billings, please contact:
Joe Chalupa
Director, The HUB
(406) 248-4803 x 100
jchalupa@scmrmhc.org

Project Homeless Connect: a hand up and out of poverty

Billings Flash Mob: Spare Change for Real Change