November 2011
bttopCleveland Homeless Legal Assistance Program
Issue No. 14
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week - Nov. 12-20

 

Greetings! bread

 

Each year, one week before Thanksgiving, the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness co-sponsor National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. During this week, a number of schools, communities, and cities take part in a nationwide effort to bring greater awareness to the problems of hunger and homelessness. Last year during this week, more than 500 high schools, colleges, community groups and faith-based groups across the U.S. came together to increase awareness.  For a list of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness events in your area, click here.

 

November is also recognized as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month.  National statistics report that each year more than 1.5 million children are homeless at some point in their lives, and that number is increasing (The National Center on Family Homelessness).  For more information and for additional resources, visit the National Child Traumatic Stress Network online here.

 

 Back to the top  

Upcoming clinics & events

  

Y-Haven "Steps & Stages" Benefit

Nov. 19 at Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) at 6:30 p.m.

Since 1998, Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) and Y-Haven have annually collaborated to create an original theatre production, performed by the residents and based on their personal experiences. Y-Haven's annual "Steps and Stages" silent auction and benefit is held at CPT at 6415 Detroit Ave., to help raise funds for the Y-Haven program.  Following the auction will be this year's original play "Lost and Found."

Tickets and more information here.

 

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Night with the Lake Erie Monsters

Nov. 19 at 6:00 p.m.

Partnership event with the Lake Erie Monsters Hockey team and NEOCH, the Cleveland Foodbank, Cogswell Hall, EDEN Inc., and Transitional Housing, featuring guest speaker Neil Donovan, Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless.  Each ticket sold will give $5 back to purchaser's chosen organization.

For more information and tickets click here.

 

Woodchopper's Ball Fundraiser to benefit NEOCH

Dec. 3 at Kent Stage at 7:00 p.m.

Annual event featuring some of the area's best guitarists.

Details and tickets here. 

 

Legal Aid Society of Cleveland Clinics

For a calendar of Legal Aid brief advice/intake clinics, please visit the Legal Aid website at www.lasclev.org. 

Cleveland Lawyers' Initiative on Reentry (CLIR)
Brief Advice/Intake Clinics
North Star Neighborhood Reentry Resource Center, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
2011: Dec. 9
Periodic training sessions for new volunteers TBA - call Brian Lamb at (216) 566-5590 for more information.
In the News 

  

Cleveland Homeless Served Four-Star Meal During Hand Up Gala

News Channel 5 reported that the second annual Hand Up Gala was held on Oct. 21 at the Cleveland's Bishop Cosgrove Center.  The fundraiser, sponsored jointly by the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless and Catholic Charities, seeks to help people that are struggling to find stable housing and food.  Local restaurant chefs donated their time in preparing a four-star meal for people at the Cosgrove Center, who were served by Cleveland City Council members and other civic leaders.  The money raised will be used to purchase bus tickets that will help people get to their jobs, doctor visits and housing interviews. The Cosgrove Center also assists with blankets, winter clothing and a variety of other basic needs throughout the year.

Click here for full article. 

 

More Young War Veterans Wind Up Homeless

On Oct. 28 USA Today reported that as wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down, federal officials are seeing a growing number of young veterans on the street, according to a joint homeless study by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Veterans Affairs recently released.  About 13,000 of the nation's homeless in 2010 were ex-servicemembers between ages 18 and 30, a disproportionately large number of the nation's overall homeless veteran population, the study says. "These findings are particularly concerning given the anticipated number of new veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq," the study concludes. The Department of Veterans Affairs blames the rise in young veterans without shelter on a poor economy and an unprecedented pattern of lengthy warfare in which troops are deployed to combat multiple times. The new study notes that the overall population of homeless veterans has remained largely stable in recent years, with an estimated 145,000 spending at least one night in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program over a 12-month period ending in 2010.

Click here for full article. 

Back to the top
In This Issue
Upcoming clinics & events
In the News
Volunteer Spotlight
Archived Newsletters

Volunteer Spotlightgavel1

Katrice A. McCrae, Esq.

 

Katrice is an attorney volunteer at the May Dugan Intake site.  As a former parole officer, she decided to promote CHLAP at the Adult Parole Authority re-entry program entitled "Successful Transition After Release" or "Star."  At the Star Forum, recently released offenders receive information about community services available to assist them with a successful transition back into the community.   Many of the offenders are homeless upon their release and require assistance with Domestic Relations and Child Support matters.  The forum is held twice monthly.
 

Katrice is currently representing CHLAP clients in Domestic Relations cases. She also has an interest in Criminal and Immigration Laws.  Katrice is strongly committed to community service and the representation of indigent clients. 
Katrice can be reached at (216) 375-3035 or by email at katricemccrae@aol.com.

Archived CHLAP Newsletters

Issue 13 - October 2011

Issue 12 - September 2011
Issue 11 - August 2011
Issue 10 - June/July 2011
Issue 9 - May 2011
Issue 8 - April 2011
Issue 7 - March 2011
Issue 6 - February 2011
Issue 5 - January 2011
Issue 4 - December 2010
Issue 3 - November 2010
Issue 2 - October 2010
Issue 1 - September 2010 
CMBA Logo Clear
Cleveland Homeless Legal Assistance Program
This partnership between the CMBA and the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless aims to serve those in the community in need of help but least able to access legal assistance. Volunteer lawyers staff regularly scheduled sessions at many locations throughout Cleveland, including homeless shelters, to provide legal advice and assistance to homeless or at-risk individuals. Attorneys volunteer at varying levels of commitment, from helping with intake interviews and providing brief advice to accepting referrals for direct extended representation.

Visit CHLAP online - click here for the latest updates, volunteer materials, and other information.

A program of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association  

1301 East 9th Street, Second Level - Cleveland, OH 44114

Tel.: 216.696.3525, Web: www.clemetrobar.org  

 

CHLAP Newsletter author:

Jessica Paine, Assistant Director of Community Programs & Information

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association 

Tel.: 216.696.3525, Email: jpaine@clemetrobar.org 

We welcome your comments and suggestions!