Still Room for Next Teach In

NEOCH Focuses on Identification and Homeless Voting

The next Teach In will focus on identification and voting registration issues. This is critical to the assisting homeless people with voting in-person on election day. There is still space for the next Teach In on September 16, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. at the NEOCH conference room. Please RSVP to Joshua Kanary at 216/432-0540 if you can attend this meeting. We will have Linda Stamm from West Side Catholic and an expert on identification issues. We will go over all the issues that the Coalition is focused on with regard to voting, and opportunities to volunteer. We will have a representative of Ohio Votes and most likely a representative of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. This should be a interesting 3 hours of information as we prepare for the 2008 Presidential election. We also tour one of the local shelters to look at their work in getting homeless people to participate in the democratic process.

If you cannot make this time, we will have a training on September 27, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. for those who want to help get homeless people to vote. We are still looking for vans and van drivers for September 30-October 6. If you can help call 432-0540.

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

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.

Youth Issues Discussed at NEOCH

Teach In -- Thursday of this Week

You can RSVP for a 3 hour discussion on homeless children and youth in the Cleveland area. This photo is from the last teach in, when we talked about homeless outreach efforts. We will meet at NEOCH at 5:30 p.m. on May 22, 2008 at the Coalition offices to participate in this forum. There is a presentation by a group of current or formerly homeless people, and presentations by a few agencies who serve homeless people.

You can call NEOCH or go to the website under Programs to reserve a space (www.neoch.org).

Brian
216/432-0540
3631 Perkins Ave. Third Floor
Posts by Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless staff and Board.

Correction and Ione Biggs

Teach In and Biggs Award

The next Teach In is actually set for Thursday February 28, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. This is a 3 hour tour of homelessness in Cleveland and a chance to hear from people who have moved out of homelessness in Cleveland. The focus will be on those who are resistant to shelter. There is full description of the Stand Down at http://www.neoch.org/teachin.htm on our website. We had mistakenly listed it as next week.

Also, the Coalition is announcing today submissions for the Ione Biggs Social Justice Award. The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless would like to recognize the amazing work of Ione Biggs and keep her legacy alive in Greater Cleveland. We have partnered with representatives from Women Speak Out for Peace and Justice, the Empowerment Center of Greater Cleveland, the Cleveland Tenants Organization, Women’s Re-Entry Network, and the Church of the Covenant to select a representative to receive the Ione Biggs Award for outstanding contribution to advancing social justice in 2007 and to encourage others to follow in her footsteps. We intend to announce the winner of the award at the NEOCH Annual event “Help us End Homelessness” on May 2, 2008. This application is due to NEOCH by March 17, 2008. You may also submit your entry online through the NEOCH website.

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

Updates from Homeless Coalition

Ways to Get Involved...

1. Teach In set for this week

2. Please renew your membership if you have not done so

3. Volunteer Open House July 19

1. The AmeriCorps*VISTA members of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless will host a Homeless Teach In on Wednesday June 27, 2007 at 6 p.m. to focus on the homelessness and mental health issues. The Teach In is a 3 hour tour of homelessness in Cleveland with speakers from the homeless community and profiles of programs that serve homeless people with a mental illness. Please RSVP to Emily at 216/432-0540 to join us for this event. We will provide a light meal, and materials to provide a glimpse of homelessness in Cleveland.

2. Our membership renewal went out this week, so if you have forgotten to renew your membership for 2007 please do it this week. Celebrate freedom in America on this upcoming July 4th weekend by renewing your membership in the Homeless Coalition. You can do that online at our website at www.neoch.org or by returning the envelope that we sent to you.

3. NEOCH is hosting an open house on July 19 to provide information to potential volunteers. We will talk about all of the exciting opportunities for helping the Coalition. There are special events, planning parties, major donor efforts and increasing membership in the Coalition. We need your time and talent. If you are a good writer or have good people skills we need your help. Join us on Thursday July 19 at 7 p.m. and learn how your talents can be put to good use.

If you have any questions give us a call at 216/432-0540

Brian

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