Since earning an MBA in Finance from the University of Miami, Marguerite Cassandra Toroian has demonstrated career leadership in the financial sector. She has won several industry awards, including the Wall Street Journal All-Star Analyst Award and the Delaware Magazine Five Star Wealth Manager award. Marguerite Cassandra Toroian balances her professional commitments with charitable community service. Sitting on the board member of a homeless shelter in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, she assists people who lack access to affordable housing.
In 2019, there were about 567,715 people in the US who had no access to affordable housing. This number translates to an average of 17 homeless individuals in every 10,000 people. The prevalence of homelessness in today's societies is caused by several different factors, such as child elopement, leaving prison, poverty and unemployment, and mental or physical health challenges. Nonetheless, government officials and a continuum of care can resolve the constraints of homelessness by employing a systematic approach to define and provide for the different categories of people without shelter.
A necessary step to defining the needs of the homeless in society is to establish a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) that will conduct coordinated assessments to improve data collection and obtain accurate information on the homeless population. The data obtained will prove useful for setting affordable housing goals, determining how to allocate resources and programs, as well as developing priorities and plans to meet these goals. These plans can include providing permanent supportive housing for the vulnerable and chronically homeless or rapid re-housing, including temporary rental assistance and programs.
