Durham sells land for $1 to help homeless

Housing for New Hope received support from the city of Durham in obtaining property to build permanent supportive housing for those who are homeless. Check out the story in the Durham Herald-Sun.

Resolutions at the US Conference of Mayors

Last week was the annual meeting of the US Conference of Mayors. As part of the work that was completed on their trip to Los Angeles the Mayors adopted many resolutions, including ones specifically designed to end homelessness (you'll have to scroll to page 58). There were three key resolutions:

• Endorsing innovative policies to successfully end and prevent chronic homelessness across the nation;
• Endorsing the innovation of national project homeless connect to end homelessness; and
• Ending homelessness for veterans by increasing permanent supportive housing resources.

Project Homeless Connect

Those folks in Chapel Hill have not wasted time in putting the media training to work. They have already started getting press for the Project Homeless Connect that is to be held in October. There will be three events, one in each county. Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities.

Learning about the media

Wednesday was a great day. Members from all three county 10 year plans to end homelessness learned all about developing relationships with the media and think strategically about how to use the media. Capstrat is a local public relations firm that spent a full day with all three county plans. Some of the highlights of the training included:

• Building relationships with reporters
• Looking at the media from within the perspective of the media
• How to find what is newsworthy
• The development of a 6 month calendar of story ideas for each month.

In addition, the group of about 22 people was a mix of Public Information Officers, as well as homeless service providers. This diversity created a rich conversation and a great learning environment for both sides.

Outreach and Engagement

The Orange County version of the News and Observer ran a great article on the challenges and successes of street outreach. Take a look here.

Letter to the Editor

Last Friday the News and Observer had an article that talked about the poor conditions that people were living in. Today's letter to the editor was a response to that from our CEO here at Triangle United Way.

Support Given for Regional Homeless Initiative

On Thursday, May 31, 2007, leaders from across the Triangle, including elected officials, met at Triangle United Way to renew their commitment to ending homelessness. Triangle United Way hosted a similar meeting four years ago, as all three counties, and the cities and towns within each county, launched the creation of three county 10 Year Plans to End Homelessness. As of this month, all three of those county plans have been completed.

At the meeting, CEO Craig Chancellor announced that Triangle United Way will also continue supporting plans across the region to prevent and end homelessness. According to Chancellor, “Triangle United Way currently invests a little over $ 1.3 million in programs for basic needs, counseling, emergency assistance to prevent homelessness. In addition, $10,700 from contributions to the 2006 Community Care Fund were set aside by the board to support a regional ending homelessness initiative. Three organizations will be awarded support to implement a Project Homeless Connect event. Project Homeless Connect is a one-day effort designed to match those who are homeless with the services that are available throughout the community at one central location. It is a one-stop shop.”

The South Wilmington Street Center, the Durham Affordable Housing Coalition, and the Town of Chapel Hill, will receive grants up to $3,500 each to complete a Project Homeless Connect in each county on October 25, 2007.

CEO Craig Chancellor says, “Four years ago, we began this process. This month Orange County’s plan will be adopted and it is time for all three counties to focus on the implementation of the plan. The City of Raleigh and Wake County are beginning their third year, Durham is in the first year of implementation and Orange County is just starting.”

All three communities continue to agree that homelessness is not just a problem within their county and that in order for the region to be successful in ending homelessness; all three counties will have to continue working toward that common end. Along the way they hope to learn lessons from each other and share success stories in order to sustain the long-term work.

At the meeting, Chancellor announced that Triangle United Way will also continue supporting the efforts across the region to end homelessness. According to Angie Welsh, the Senior Vice President for Resource Investment, “Triangle United Way allocation volunteers made an unprecedented decision this year and set aside $10,700 from the Community Care Fund to go towards the ending homeless initiative. Specifically, volunteers chose to invest in a Project Homeless Connect in each of the three Triangle Counties. Project Homeless Connect is a one-day event designed to match those who are homeless with the services that are available throughout the community at once central spot. It is a one-stop shop.”

The South Wilmington Street Center, the Durham Affordable Housing Coalition, and the Town of Chapel Hill, received up to $3,500 each for the purposes of completing a Project Homeless Connect. In an unprecedented application the three communities worked together to submit one application to hold Project Homeless Connect on October 25, 2007.

Special funds were also made available to Triangle United Way from Time Warner Cable to pilot test an employment initiative targeting people who those who are chronically homeless in Wake County. Through a competitive application process, United Way selected the South Wilmington Street Center to receive an additional $10,000 towill be recei implement this new ving $10,000 for that initiative.

According to Chancellor, “We know that in the long haul we must continue to invest in the financial stability of those who are homeless and those who are at risk-of becoming homeless. Individuals and families across the Triangle need both a safety net and a place where they can start rebuilding their income and savings. Our bold new new vision at Triangle United Way is to make sure that “all who need help find it,” is something we want to live in to guides our work toward preventing and ending homelessness in the Triangle.