A Rhode Island good Samaritanis stepping up to fight homelessness in Providence, using his own money to house those in need. After a local homeless assistance nonprofit shut down for the second time in a month, David O’Connor took matters into his own hands, placing people in Airbnbs, hotels, and other temporary housing, helping more than 150 individuals so far. He believes stable housing is the key to long-term solutions and is following the model of a Kansas City program that’s successfully reduced homelessness while cutting costs for taxpayers.
O’Connor has worked on community projects across the country and has seen the struggles of the shelter system firsthand. He points out that forcing people out of shelters early in the morning makes it nearly impossible for them to find jobs or rebuild their lives. His goal is to provide steady housing so people have a real shot at getting back on their feet.
To keep things going, O’Connor has tapped into his own savings and raised money through crowdfunding but says more help is needed. He hopes organizations will step up and help support his plan to address homelessness in their community rather than waiting to act. Since launching his initiative, he has been able to keep around 100 people housed at any given time, proving that immediate, practical solutions are possible.
Source: ABC 6
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