| The Connection
a publication of the Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness, Inc. |
| ...keeping you up-to-date on local, state and national homeless issues | |
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Thought for the Day
A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done.
Vince Lombardi
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Dr. Mark Lerner
presents
"The Power To Overcome"
at GCEH's 5th Annual Conference and Learning Institute. | |
GCEH To Host Speakers From Around The Nation at 2008 Conference
The Georgia Coalition To End Homelessness is hosting it's 5th Annual Conference and Learning Institute 'Bringing Georgia Home" at Callaway Gardens Resort and Conference Center in Pine Mountain, Georgia.
"This year looks to be our best event yet", said Katheryn Preston, Executive Director of GCEH. "We have so many high caliber speakers from successful organizations with proven track records, we are bringing all this skill and knowledge to Georgia's Homeless Provider Network".
The two-and-a-half day event including pre-conference round tables, full day institutes and mini breakout sessions, is planned around presenters from nationally recognized organizations like the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, the Institute on Homeless and Trauma and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. GCEH will also include some of Georgia's own best practices from the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, The Department of Community Affairs, Department of Community Health, Department of Human Resources, Department of Labor and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Also presenting at this year's event will be facilitators from Capital Strategists Group, Support Housing Atlanta, Caring Works Inc.,The Womens Empowerment Program of Denver, Partners for the Homeless of Memphis, the Hearth Program of Boston and Tabor Community Services of Lancaster, Pennsylvania..
"We have so many knowledgeable speakers coming from all across the country, participants can't help but leave with skill sets from organizations with proven track records" said Tom Plamann, Program Coordinator for GCEH, "Attendantees will have the tools they need when they return home to serve their homeless and at-risk clients in their communities".
Among several scheduled keynote speakers for the conference are Dr. Mark Lerner, a clinical psychologist, author and international speaker and traumatic stress consultant.
Philip Mangano, the Executive Director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and Walter Huntley, Chairman of the Georgia State Housing Trust Fund.
For more information call 770-575-5785 or go to www.gahomelsss.org or to register online go to:
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 11 Year Old Zack Bonner Walking 280 Miles for Homeless On October 17, 2008, 11 year old Zack Bonner will begin his 280 mile journey from Tallahassee, Florida to Atlanta, Georgia, to raise awareness to homeless youth.
Zack is the founder of the Little Red Wagon Foundation, Inc. A non-profit he founded so he could help kids in distressed situtations. Zack collects and donates backpacks filled with food, school items and other supplies to disadvantaged children nationwide. In 2007, when Congress made November National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, Zack created an event to raise awareness about homeless children: a marathon walk from Tampa, Fla. to Tallahassee, Fla. covering 250 miles over 23 days. Through the walk, Zack and his team raised money and awareness for the nation's estimated 1.3 million homeless children. This year Zack has even bigger plans to walk 280 miles from Tallahassee to Atlanta. "I believe the answer is education, the more people know and understand homelessness among youth the better chance we have of solving it", said Zack "With over 1.3 million kids homeless in this country we must do something".
GCEH is pleased to support Zack and the works of The Little Red Wagon Foundation. "Zach is an inspiration to all of us who work to better the lives of other people", said Katheryn Preston, Executive Director of the Georgia Coalition to End Homelesss "If an eleven-year-old can touch so many in need, think of what each of us can do with the right energy, focus, and support.
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Community Concerns Inc. To Open 32 Housing Units For Homeless Families
When the Rev. James Milner saw an opportunity to buy the Vineyards Apartments in the Vine City community of Atlanta, he jumped on it.
Once a foreclosed property, the apartments, when renovated into two- to four-bedroom units, will house up to 32 homeless families. Scheduled to be completed in December, the project also will provide an on-site facility for a community center, and a place where case management and other social services can be provided by Fulton County and the city of Atlanta.
"While in past years we have provided rooms to accommodate single homeless persons, now we will be able to unite husbands and wives and children in a common space that will become a real home for them," Milner said." This adds a dignity and integrity to their lives that is not as prevalent in the dormitory dwellings we've provided in our initial phase of providing homeless housing."
Housing the homeless and serving the chronically mentally ill has been Milner's mission for 20 years, since he founded the nonprofit Community Concerns Inc. The organization sprang up as a ministry of his church, the Chapel of Christian Love Missionary Baptist. "We go from the Bible verse Matthew 25, verses 31-46 -- to serve the population that's identified in those verses and build our ministry that way, rather than a megachurch," Milner said.
Community Concerns Inc. has partnered with the city of Atlanta and Fulton County, providing housing and transitional programs for homeless men and women, as well as services for the chronically mentally ill, such as case management, counseling and addiction treatment programs. The facilities also provide job training.
While the organization accepts donations, Milner said it also needs volunteers in different capacities. They are in need of retired social workers or counselors to donate their time as mentors and counselors.
For information, call CCI at 404-659-3390 or go to www.communityconcernsinc.org.
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Savannah Health Center Receives Major Increase In Funding To Assist Homeless and Unisured
Two new federal grants will allow the J.C. Lewis Health Center of the Savannah Union Mission to enhance its medical care. The four-year grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will allow comprehensive medical care on site at their Savannah location.
The two grants, a $150,000 a year for primary care services at J.C. Lewis Health Center and a $250,000 a year for the center's oral health services will increase the amount of funding the organization has to serve the homeless and the uninsured and working poor.
The grants will allow medical, dental and counseling staff to provide primary care for patients' physical, behavioral and oral health issues. "This is huge," said the Rev. Micheal Elliott, president of Union Mission Inc. "The feds basically doubled the amount of money we have to serve folks." Last year, J.C. Lewis served 4,086 individuals who visited the center 15,755 times. The dental center, which opened in September, has served 543 individuals or 805 encounters. Additional staff will be added as part of the grant.
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" There's No Place Like Home"
Join GCEH To Bring Homeless Awareness To Georgia.
...each year over 70,000 children and individuals become homeless in Georgia
November 2nd- 8th, 2008 is designated as Homeless Awareness Week in Georgia. This year's theme, "There's No Place Like Home" reminds all Georgia residents that we all have a need for a safe and adequate place to call home.
Homeless Awareness Week is a statewide campaign to educate the public about the many reasons people are homeless, the shortage of affordable housing for low income people. And the diligent work homeless assistance providers are doing to bring relief to those most in need. The Georgia Coalition To End Homelessness is spearheading the drive. Many organizations across the state are planning day and week long activities to include:
Awareness Marches - Get a Group Together- Large or Small
Host Mini-Awareness Walk-A-Thons at Schools and Daycares
Set-up Awareness Information Kiosks - Hand Out Fliers and Awareness Ribbons
"Sock- It to Homelessness"new sock collections
"Undie Sunday"new underwear collections
"Make Friends With The Media"- Let them know you're there !!!
Create A Local Call To Action
15 Minute Church Presentations
Posting Wish Lists in Local Merchants w/ Drop Boxes
Have a Latte-a-Day Fundraiser - Ask donors to buy a small latte a day for a homeless shelter when they buy their coffee- $2.00 a day can add up.
These are just a few ideas. Let us know what you are doing in your community. This is a great opportunity for us to get the word out that Homelessness is not someone else's problem. It's everyone's problem.
We have Awareness Ribbons, Lapel Pins and Awareness Posters Available. If you need a supply, please click on the order link below or contact our office at 770-575-5785
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 Georgia Launches Five Fundamentals To Prevent and End Homelessness Campaign
On November 4, 2008, the presidency, all seats of Georgia's U.S. congressional representation and a senate seat will be up for election. Additionally mayors, county executives, local legislators, and some judges with be elected across Georgia. On this same election night, even as confetti drops at victory celebrations across our state, an estimated 20,000 Georgia citizens and residents will suffer from a lack of a safe place to live. Over the course of a year an estimated 70,000 Georgians will experience homelessness. Homelessness has persisted in Georgia for over 20 years. It is imperative that all sectors of society, especially our government-at all levels- take action to eradicate this social evil and shame. Candidates for public office make commitments to all number of actions - largely in response to requests from vocal constituencies. With that in mind, the Georgia Coalition To End Homelessness hopes that you will join with us and an assembly of state and national organizations concerned with homelessness, to launch an opportunity for candidates to pledge to prioritize the prevention and end to homelessness by endorsing Five Fundamentals to Prevent and End Homelessness.
The Five Fundamentals to Prevent and End Homelessness
The twentieth anniversary of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act on July 22, 2007, marked the onset of the third decade of the national governments response to homelessness. An assembly of nonprofit organizations concerned with homelessness used the occasion of the McKinney Act anniversary to declare five fundamental principles that must animate public policy in a nation without mass homelessness.
The Five Fundamentals Are:
1. McKinney -Vento homeless assistance programs should be reauthorized
2. The supply of affordable housing must be dramatically increased.
3. Healthcare, education and social services must be provided to all who need them.
4. Personal Incomes must be sufficient to pay for the necessities of life.
5. Discrimination against homeless persons must be prevented.
Take Action
It is imperative that individuals and organizations concerned about homelessness challenge all candidates for public office to take action to prevent and end homelessness. The five fundamentals are a suitable basis for issuing such a challenge. Action steps to consider include:
- Send letters to all candidates for public offices representing your district to endorse the Five Fundamentals to Prevent and End Homelessness.
- Invite your family members and friends to also take action.
- Host a community forum on homelessness and invite candidates for public office to participate in speaking roles
- Attend candidates outreach events such as town hall meetings, coffees, and meet and greets.
- Invite candidates to tour your homeless assistance program
- Ask candidates to take the homeless challenge
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