Housing-first strategy sure to undergo dramatic change if Project 2025 plans enacted | Opinion

Project 2025 and the unhoused

One of the nation’s most widely embraced strategies to combat homelessness — getting people housed first and then addressing other needs, could be impacted by Project 2025.

Project 2025 has been characterized as a Christian nationalist plan that has the potential to erode the separation of church and state.

Like administrations before it, the Biden White House has employed this housing-first approach to help people get off the streets, but Project 2025 could roll back the model supported by many housing advocates.

The housing-first approach was created in the 1990s to address veterans who lacked housing.

While Republicans have attacked housing-first plans, the Biden administration has advanced them.

Biden’s budget for the 2025 fiscal year calls for expanding HUD rent vouchers.

Critics claim that HUD programs discourage the formation of traditional families, and keep people trapped in poverty.

Homelessness is a multifaceted issue and is a growing problem among the elderly and disabled.

If the next administration adopted the HUD “reset” outlined in Project 2025, it could place federal funding at risk for programs that combat homelessness.

Now that cities are empowered to criminalize people sleeping outside, Project 2025 could risk placing more Americans in harsh circumstances.

Meta Griffin, Spartanburg

Help is a 988 call away

Note: The writer is CEO of Three Rivers Behavioral Health, which partners with the local 988 network as a resource for those needing help.

We can all help prevent suicide.

July marked two years since our nation launched 988, the easy-to-remember nationwide mental health crisis hotline.

Since being launched, 988 has receive more than 8 million calls from poeple in distress seeking support.

This number is confidential, effective and available to everyone via phone, text or chat.

Spread the word that help is available.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:

– 988 callers connect quickly with trained crisis counselors;

– Less than 2 percent of 988 calls require response from emergency services though many callers report that their call prevented them from taking their own life;

– Numerous studies of 988 indicate that the majority of callers were significantly more likely to feel more hopeful after speaking with a crisis counselor;

– About a third of 988 calls are about mental health concerns other than suicide.

If someone you know is struggling emotionally, you can help them get the care they need by calling 988.

Shannon Marcus, Columbia

U.S. against persecution

July 20 marked the 25th anniversary since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Jiang Zemin decided to eradicate Falun Dafa/Gong.

In June, the U.S. House unanimously passed the Falun Gong Protection Act.

Falun Dafa/Gong continues non-violent resistance and is practiced around the world, now in more than 100 countries.

Falun Dafa/Gong is a spiritual practice that includes moral teachings centered on the principles of truth, compassion, forbearance and five meditative exercises.

The Chinese authorities estimated there were between 70 and 100 million Falun Dafa/Gong practitioners in China.

Falun Gong practitioners once comprised about one third to one half of labor camp detainees in China.

Many were beaten and tortured, some never to be seen again. Even today, many practitioners are still imprisoned for their beliefs and continue to die in custody.

Allegations of organ harvesting have also been attached to the treatment of those detained.

We sincerely appreciate every kind-hearted person’s support and hope the end to this discrimination is coming soon.

For additional information, click here.

Akiko Tsutsui, Greer