InterAgency Council Seeks Comments

Only One Week Left to Comment on Federal Plan

Picture by Cheryl Jones of the Grapevine Photo project 2007.

There is only one week left to make suggestions for the InterAgency Council on Homelessness Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. The Plan was mandated by Congress by May 2010, and very little was done during the Bush Administration. So, now there is a push to get public comment on a plan by March 15, 2010. Here is the link to go to in order to comment in six different program areas. So, all you experts out there it is time to comment. All those who keep saying that there is a better way, you need to add your voice to the national debate. The InterAgency Council has held a series of town halls throughout the country, and they have gathered information from their website. You have one week to submit your thoughts and your ideas and your crazy plans. They will take all this information and run it by the various cabinet offices and come up with a roadmap for the various departments to use. It is hoped that Commerce, Labor, Justice, HHS, HUD and Education will use the information to shape future funding and future program design.

It can't hurt, and at least they are asking. We the people should get to shape the future of our struggle to end homelessness in America. NEOCH will be submitting comments and most of the national groups have submitted. We encourage you to do the same.

Brian
Posts reflect the opinion of those who sign the entry.

A Few Quick Updates

What is Happening in the Cleveland Homeless Community?

NEOCH is Working Through A Strategic Plan

The Plain Dealer is doing a series on “What Ever Happened to…” Exactly, a year ago NEOCH went through its worst financial crisis ever. With the help of the City of Cleveland, Local Foundations (St. Luke’s, Gund, Cleveland, and Deaconess) and a number of individual donors, we made it through the year, and put in place a plan to stabilize a future for the Coalition. We have transferred the Bridging the Gap program to the Cleveland Tenants Organization and the Community Voice Mail Program to 211/First Call for Help. We have downsized the Homeless Grapevine, and the NEOCH Board has set up a Development Advisory Board. So, we have made it to the one year anniversary of the crisis. We are testing some of the assumptions about future funding with a strategic plan. We did a survey of our membership, and we hope to have the final report done by September. We will keep you informed on our progress.

ID Collaboration Out of Funding

One of the NEOCH VISTAs worked on constructing a collaboration of social service providers to assist with identification (birth certificates/state IDs) issues. The collaboration eventually received funding, and was under the guidance of St. Colman’s Church then West Side Catholic. Director Skotch from West Side Catholic was able to secure over $100,000 over the last year and a half, and they have helped thousands of lower income people with identification issues. Just in 2008 in the first six months there were 2,282 separate forms of id were purchased with the help of the program. At this time, the collaboration is out of money, and looking for on-going support in a rough economy. In a Post 9/11 world, being able to prove your identity is critical to getting a job, voting, finding housing, or even getting in a government building.

Mark Your Calendars for the Next Teach In

Speaking of voting and IDs, the next Teach in is set for September 16 at 5:30 p.m. at NEOCH and we will focus on the identification issues as well as our plans for the upcoming election. NEOCH is working to assure that every homeless person participates in the 2008 November election. We have big plans and hope that our members and friends can help with transportation and assistance in getting homeless people to the polls. Please call NEOCH at 216/432-0540 ext. 106 to RSVP for the fall Teach In.

Brian
Posts by Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless staff and Board.