Human Solutions Inc

HUMAN SOLUTIONS COUNTERS THE FORCES THAT KEEP PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES IN POVERTY BY BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND ASSETS THAT CREATE OPPORTUNITY - TODAY AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAMMING - HUMAN SOLUTIONS DEVELOPS AND OPERATES AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITIES FOR LOW-INCOME AND UNHOUSED FAMILIES THROUGHOUT OUTER EAST PORTLAND AND EAST MULTNOMAH COUNTY. HUMAN SOLUTIONS OWNS AND OPERATES 736 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING IN 17 APARTMENT COMMUNITIES, WITH 93 MORE IN THE PIPELINE (TO OPEN IN EARLY 2023). THE FOUR COMPONENTS OF OUR HOUSING TEAM ARE:1. ASSET MANAGEMENT OVERSEES THE MAINTENANCE, RESIDENT POLICIES AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES CHARGED WITH DAY-TO-DAY OVERSIGHT OF THE 736 APARTMENTS AND THREE COMMERCIAL UNITS. 2. REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT STAFF PLAN AND OVERSEE NEW REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, PURCHASE AND REHABILITATION PROJECTS. REHABILITATION FUNDS ARE KEY TO MAINTAINING THE QUALITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR PORTFOLIO AND COMMUNITY.3. RESIDENT SERVICES COORDINATORS WORKED VIRTUALLY AND, WHEN ESSENTIAL AND SAFE, ON-SITE AT OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, EVICTION PREVENTION SERVICES, CLIENT ASSISTANCE FUNDS, AND FOOD BOXES, AS WELL AS SUPPORT CLASSES, COMMUNITY BUILDING AND CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES FOR THE RESIDENTS IN OUR 736 AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS.4. LEARNLINKS ACADEMIC SUPPORT & MENTORING - OUR CREATIVE TEAM SUPPORTED 93 YOUTH IN GRADES K-8 TO SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY AND GAIN THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS THEY WILL NEED TO SET AND REACH THEIR LIFE GOALS. STUDENTS IN THIS PROGRAM LIVE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITIES AND LILAC MEADOWS, OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. WHILE MUCH OF OUR PROGRAMMING WAS VIRTUAL, OUR TEAM ALSO DELIVERED MUCH-NEEDED IT EQUIPMENT (TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE), ACTIVITY KITS AND CULTURALLY-SPECIFIC FOOD BOXES TO STUDENT DOORSTEPS. CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT WAS THE THEME!

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE - THIS DIRECT-SERVICE TEAM PROVIDES HOUSING AND ECONOMIC STABILITY SERVICES FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE UNHOUSED/INSECURELY HOUSED AND/OR HAVE LOW/NO INCOMES. THEY ENGAGE WITH OUR WIDE VARIETY OF SHELTER, HOUSING AND SKILL BUILDING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING:1. PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS - THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PREVENTED HOMELESSNESS WITH SHORT-TERM RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SO THAT 747 FAMILIES (WITH 958 ADULTS AND 914 CHILDREN) COULD REMAIN IN THEIR HOUSING. IT IS THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED AND HOUSING INSECURE AS THEY WORK TO MAINTAIN STABLE, HEALTHY HOUSING AND AVOID THE TRAUMA OF HOMELESSNESS.2. UTILITY ASSISTANCE - THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDED UTILITY BILL ASSISTANCE TO 2,856 HOUSEHOLDS, KEEPING THE LIGHTS AND HEAT ON FOR 6,916 INDIVIDUALS. THIS PROGRAM ALSO HELPS FAMILIES STAY HOUSED, AS UTILITY SHUTOFFS OFTEN LEAD TO EVICTION AND FREES UP SCARCE FUNDS TO PAY RENT.3. LIFE SKILLS CLASSES - IN TYPICAL YEARS, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS LIFE-SKILL CLASSES SUCH AS RENT WELL TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO RENTAL HOUSING, AND OTHER RELEVANT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT SHORT- AND LONG-TERM WELLBEING. THIS YEAR DUE TO COVID LIMITATIONS AND OTHER URGENT PANDEMIC RELATED WORK, WE OFFERED RENT WELL BUT NO OTHERS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO ADDING THIS PROGRAMMING BACK IN WHEN THE PANDEMIC WANES.4. INFORMATION & REFERRAL - DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021, THE ORGANIZATION RESPONDED WITH INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO 8,294 CALLS FROM PEOPLE SEEKING ASSISTANCE (IN MOST YEARS WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE WALKING IN FOR REFERRALS, BUT BECAUSE OUR OFFICERS WERE CLOSED FOR SAFETY WE DID NOT).

SHELTER SERVICES - ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT, HUMAN SOLUTIONS PROVIDED SHELTER AND/OR HOUSING TO AN AVERAGE OF 840 UNHOUSED OR FORMERLY UNHOUSED PEOPLE FROM 310 HOUSEHOLDS. THE EMERGENCY SHELTERS FOR FAMILIES AND ADULTS WHO IDENTIFY AS WOMEN/NON-BINARY/GENDERQUEER DEPEND ON IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS DONATED CLOTHING, BLANKETS, HOUSEHOLD GOODS, AND FOOD THAT THE ORGANIZATION DISTRIBUTED TO PARTICIPANTS AT NO CHARGE. THE ORGANIZATION RAISED FUNDS TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR RESIDENTS AT ALL THREE EMERGENCY SHELTERS, WHICH WAS MORE NEEDED DURING COVID WHEN VOLUNTEERING DECREASED.