Birmingham leaders host 2nd State of Homelessness summit

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Birmingham city leaders say they are working to reduce chronic homelessness by 40%.

A report shows 40% of people who come through the city’s system are homeless for the first time. Leaders and advocates believe they can solve this problem. Through partnerships and programs, they are committed to getting it right.

Alanah Melton, the city’s director of unhoused strategies, says there is work to be done, but she has hope.

“That offers me so much hope that we do have realistic numbers that together, not the city alone, the city could never have the infinite resources that are required, but together we absolutely can do it,” Melton said.

Last year, the city announced a roadmap for tackling the issue. Melton announced updates relating to the Home for All Safe Sleep program and the Jimmie Hale Emergency Plus Shelter.

A focus for the upcoming year is the Bham Goes Home initiative, which will focus on how the city addresses and helps people living in encampments.

“It is one of the hardest things to do, to have to move an encampment and not offer a place to go. So we are working on targeted efforts as we begin to close encampments that we have housing to offer people,” Melton said.

The city has been working with Birmingham police through the HOPE program, moving at least one encampment at Underwood Park.

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