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e-Network News - July 2016
Save the Date: Bring it Home annual fundraising event
Save the Date! Join us for this year's Bring it Home event on Thursday, October 13, at a new location, The Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, MI.

A portion of the proceeds from Bring it Home will go directly to our Critical Needs Fund and will help to keep closing gaps and provide more people with a pathway to success and the privilege of saying, "Welcome to my home."

Guests at Bring it Home will enjoy a fun evening featuring networking, an open bar, a delicious sit-down dinner, the opportunity to bid on silent auction items, and more.

Community Housing Network's annual fundraising event, Bring it Home would not be possible without the generosity of our donors and corporate sponsors. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available here.

If you are interested in sponsoring, attending or donating to Bring it Home, please contact Lisa Fuhr, Special Events and Volunteer coordinator, at LFuhr@chninc.net or 248-824-7313 or visit Bring it Home.
                                    
Art Van Charity Challenge thank you!
Thank you for helping us raise $6,349 in our first-ever Art Van Charity Challenge for the Critical Needs Fund, providing crucial resources to overcome barriers to housing. 100% of the donations to this fund are used to provide for the unmet needs of the people we serve.

The need for those moving from homelessness to supportive housing knows no season. Donations are always welcome at Community Housing Network Donations or contact Lisa Fuhr at LFuhr@chninc.net or 248-824-7313.      
                                  
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This month I'd like to introduce you to Jeanette Felton, the director of our Wayne Division who recently helped create an interactive housing choice tool.

Through Jeanette, our involvement with Wayne County, specifically our work with our partner, Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority (DWMHAhas greatly expanded over the last few years! 

Most recently, during a meeting where inclusive living for people with disabilities was the discussion topic, Jeanette had an "ah ha" moment. She realized we had the necessary skills to build a tool that would empower community mental health consumers to have choices, while selecting specialized and permanent supportive housing options in Wayne County. With the help of fellow CHN employee, Nate Barnes, the Community Housing Integration Portal (CHIP) was born. CHIP works as a searchable interactive mapping tool showing housing availability as well as bus routes, grocery stores, post offices, hospitals, schools, libraries and other amenities. Read more about CHIP here.
Jeanette shared that, "CHIP doesn't exist anywhere else in the state or even the country. I would love to see CHIP expand to include more populations and geographic locations. This is a very exciting program filling an unmet need."

Let's turn to Jeanette now and give her a chance to answer a few questions.

How did you become involved with CHN?
I was originally a volunteer for our annual fundraising event (now called Bring it Home). I was invited to attend another event and met Dawn Calnen-Pischel, Vice President of Operations, who asked me to come interview for a new position that would be based out of our Wayne office.  At the time I was working in the foreclosure industry and wanted to make a career change where I would be able to impact people's lives in a positive manner, versus always being in charge of giving bad news.  

What are the benefits of CHN having more of a presence with Detroit/Wayne?
I attend lots of meetings with various levels of community partners, and I LISTEN. I listen to hear what's going on and how we can be part of what needs to happen. There is a natural fit for us as partners with DWMHA due to the relationship between housing and health issues. The opportunities in Detroit and Wayne County are endless, there is so much to be done, and we will be part of it.
You work out of all of our offices (Troy, Wayne and TechTown), can you talk a little bit about our newest office, located in TechTown?
TechTown allows me to be centrally located to conduct business with our partners in Wayne County, specifically in Detroit. The concept of the building is so cool - it's an incubator for small start-up businesses who need to share resources in a centralized location in Detroit. The M-1 rail system will be about a block away, allowing even more access to downtown Detroit. I'm typically there one day a week, I can also be found at our Wayne and Troy offices.

Is there any special training you had to complete to do your job?
Although my best training comes from just doing my job, and embracing all that needs to be done, my background involves working in the foreclosure industry and obtaining my real estate license. Everyday is a learning adventure.
 
Is there a particular case that sticks out in your memory?
One part of our job is to get people into safe housing that works for them. There was a time we needed to rescue a three-person family (child and grandparents) from an unsafe living situation. We worked with the family's support coordinators and had the family moved out and into new housing within 24 hours. It was intense, but needed to happen, and I was so glad to be part of it. This family didn't have anything when they moved in, they needed clothing, housewares, toiletries, you name it. I'm glad that our Critical Needs Fund can sometimes provide for these unmet needs. 
 
Any parting words of wisdom?
"Don't be afraid of change and taking chances, embrace it and reap the rewards. Laugh loudly, laugh often and most important, laugh at yourself."
I am grateful for Jeanette's work, as well as the work of all CHN team members.  
Thank you for your ongoing support!
Marc Craig
President
  With support from: Fair Housing Logo
OCCMHA

Community Housing Network | 248-928-0111 | jgiglio@chninc.net | http://www.communityhousingnetwork.org
570 Kirts Boulevard, Suite 231
Troy, MI 48084