The Homeless Mentally Ill Committee Meeting
KCBY, Aug 12, 2008
This will be the first public meetings of the Homeless Youth Committee and the Homeless Mentally Ill Committee, and will include a review of the current information on the topics, and offer an opportunity for the community to provide input and a discussion of goals and objectives the committees might recommend to be adopted as part of the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness.
When We All Have Homes was formed in 2007 to solve homelessness in Coos County – and provide a 10-year plan to work toward a future where everyone in the county has a place to call home. Despite the best efforts of local human service providers, homelessness in Coos County is increasing, said Robert More, director of Housing and Emergency Services for Oregon Coast Community Action.
“The 10-Year Plan is a vital community partnership between human service organizations and agencies, and the larger community of Coos County. Without the support of the entire community to end homelessness, families, businesses, and city and county agencies will continue to struggle with the effects of homelessness on our region,” More said. “With the help of our Coos County communities and partners, we hope to develop an action plan with achievable steps that will provide a future where everyone in our communities has a home of their own.”
In order to coordinate the strategic planning process for the 10-year plan, Community Action has secured funding resources and will be utilizing this fund to help move the efforts of the plan forward quickly. The results of the committees, including the Homeless Family Committee, which met on July 31st, will be provided to the 10-Year Plan Steering Committee. The work of all three committees, as well as recommendations and goals will be considered by the Steering Committee and drafted into actions and strategies of the 10-Year Plan. The Steering Committee is expected to meet three times between July and November, as strategic planning gets off the ground.
“Coos County is one of the first rural communities in Oregon to develop a 10-year-plan to end homelessness. Although the effort is just beginning, our communities are demonstrating great dedication to helping the vulnerable in our region, by working together to find ways to address the root causes of homelessness in Coos County,” said Mary Schoen-Clark, CEO of Oregon Coast Community Action. “The hard work before us to end homelessness will not be solved in a day – and many not be solved even in 10 years. But through the determination of the Coos County community, I believe we will see a future where every South Coast household is thriving, and living with security, dignity and hope. ”
Oregon Coast Community Action provides a variety of services that house, feed, warm and educate vulnerable children, individuals and families in Coos, Curry and Western Douglas counties. For more information on the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, those interested can call 888-7022. For more information on Oregon Coast Community Action, those interested can visit www.orcca.us or call 888-7108.
http://www.kcby.com/features/calendar/26900574.html