'Face of homelessness' changes with economy |
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By Katelyn Gendron
Reminder Assistant Editor
The Western Massachusetts Regional Coordinating Network to End Homelessness' goal is simple, on paper: use the $1.1 million grant from the Massachusetts Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness (ICHH) to reduce homelessness in Western Massachusetts by 10 percent in 18 months.
The organization's newly formed 22-member Leadership Council, chaired by Westfield State College President Dr. Evan Dobelle, will take a new approach by viewing homelessness as "a problem that can be solved, not just managed."
"We must recognize that the face of homelessness has changed, especially in this current economic downturn," Dobelle said. "Homelessness impacts families and especially children in heartbreaking ways, which are not readily evident. Homelessness is a very real and startling reality happening right next door. It is not just the people we see on the street. It is our neighbors and their families who have lost everything but their courage in these unpredictable financial times."
Geraldine McCafferty, deputy director of the Springfield Housing Office, said the council -- comprised of human service providers, government officials, businesspeople and private citizens -- will work to strengthen the relationships between providers and the community.
She explained that the organization uses a three-tiered "public health approach to ending homelessness," which focuses on community, target groups and individuals. Communities will be assessed to identify those who "experience chronic homelessness" and targeted for proper services on the group and individual levels.
McCafferty noted that the goal is to serve 43 individuals and 310 families over the next 18 months.
Vice Chair of the Leadership Council Lynne Wallace, also vice president of Dietz & Company Architects Inc., noted that the organization's methods for ending homelessness are "based on tested models" that link individuals with services that will prevent people from losing their residences.
"Every time we prevent a family from becoming homeless, we not only minimize the trauma for those parents and children, but we also stabilize our communities and save Commonwealth funds that would otherwise pay for shelter," she said. "Prevention is a win for all of us."
On Dec. 18, 2008, the Patrick-Murray Administration allocated $8 million to ICHH's recommended eight pilot networks to "lessen shelter needs for the homeless" across the state.
Gov. Deval Patrick formed the ICHH on Nov. 18, 2007, with the mission to end homelessness by 2013. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 15,127 people are homeless in Massachusetts, 18 percent of whom are chronically homeless.
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