Is the city of New Orleans making progress in getting the homeless off the streets and into better situations? Members of the city council get an update today.
The council's Quality of Life committee will get an update on efforts to reduce street homelessness, from Homeless Services and Strategies director Nate Fields, city health director Dr. Jennifer Avegno, and others.
Martha Kegel, director of Unity New Orleans, says they have been working with the city to transition the homeless into housing, but it's a constant battle, because some people may not have been homeless yesterday, "but they're homeless today, because they finally ran out of places to go."
Kegel says they have helped hundred find more stable housing, but it is a never-ending battle.
"Every week there are people out on the street who weren't there last week."
She says a lot of it is due to unaffordable rents.
"Rents have gotten so high that people are constantly showing up on the streets.," Kegel said.
The council will also work on the housing trust fund, to appoint a Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee to find ways to preserve and create affordable housing.
