November 2015

Serving Those Who Serve The Homeless

Coalition Staff Attend National Data Conference

Left to right Erol, Takeshia, and Ryan

Three Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County HMIS staff members attended the National Human Services Data Consortium (NHSDC) Fall 2015 Conference on October 22-23 in Miami, FL.

Coalition staff Ryan Clay (HMIS Reporting Manager), Erol Fetahagic (HMIS System Administrator/Analyst), and Takeshia Richardson (HMIS Senior Manager) greatly benefitted from attending the conference, which offered sessions on everything from using data to drive public education, to Coordinated Access and street outreach.

Click here to read more and learn why Ryan said this was the best conference she has ever attended!

Coalition Celebrates Successful October Events

October was a busy month at the Coalition for the Homeless!

Coalition Board Chair Andy Teas presents Mayor Annise Parker with an award recognizing her support of The Way Home.

On October 8, the organization hosted its "Solving the Puzzle of Homelessness" luncheon and panel presentation to a full ballroom at the Crowne Plaza Houston - Downtown. The panel focused on the importance of connecting to other systems to prevent homelessness and help those who are newly housed achieve long-term housing stability. Mayor Annise Parker was also honored at the event for her commitment and support of The Way Home.

You can view photos from the event here.

The following Monday, on October 12, the Coalition hosted staff from partner organizations at the River Oaks Theatre for its second annual World Homeless Day Awards event. In addition to the award presentation, staff were treated to a private screening of the documentary "@Home," and the event was an opportunity to recognize all of those working "behind the scenes" to end homelessness in our community. Click here to view the list of 2015 World Homeless Day Award winners. Click here to view photos from the event.

The Way Home Welcome Basket Campaign

The Coalition for the Homeless is participating in The Way Home's social media campaign to raise $12,500 for 50 Welcome baskets for individuals and families who are housed through Coordinated Access.

Click here to donate today and learn how you can spread the word!

Since 2012, The Way Home partners have housed more than 2,800 chronically homeless individuals and has effectively ended Veteran homelessness, housing more than 3,900 homeless veterans. Since the beginning of this year more than 120 families have been housed through Rapid Re-housing. However, once individuals and families are housed, they often lack home goods to turn their houses into homes.

To make it interesting, Unity of Houston has challenged The Way Home to fundraise for 50 Welcome Baskets, having already pledged 55 baskets themselves. The Way Home partners are working to "meet them or beat them" and raise enough money!

The campaign page has all of the information needed to share this opportunity to give with your friends, families, and other networks. If you have any additional questions, please contact Sara Brown at sbrown@homelesshouston.org.

The Proof is in the Numbers...

Veteran Progress graph taken from the Communications Dashboard. Click to view larger.

Did you know that as the lead agency to The Way Home, the Coalition for the Homeless works to provide up-to-date and accurate data, not only for service providers, but for the general public?

Click here to view the most recent Communications Dashboard. The dashboard will always have the most recent Point-In-Time Homeless Count numbers, and reflect the progress being made in our community, as well as any data trends worth noting. The format makes it easy to take a screenshot of any (or all!) of the graphs and share our successes in emails, social media, and more.

The Dashoard will be updated on a regular basis, and can be found on the Coalition's website.

For more information on homelessness in Houston, Texas, and the U.S., ways we are working to prevent and end homelessness,

and how you can advocate and get involved, visit...
Latest Coalition News

In This Issue

Coalition Staff Attend National Data Conference

October Event Wrap-Up

Donate Today and Turn Houses into Homes!

Featured Recipe

Upcoming Events

CoC Steering Committee Meeting