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Notes by Summer D Clemenson
AmeriCorp Vista
To help improve the coordination of and access to homeless and housing services in Cowlitz County, the Vista member will work on a number of initiatives and tasks, including data collection, outreach and PR for our homeless coalition, acting as a liason for our annual homeless Point in Time count, coordinating our volunteers for Project Homeless Connect, helping coordinate our SOAR initiative, and acting as a liaison between Love Overwhelming and local services for their resource case management.
AmeriCorps VISTA Roles/Responsibilities:
- Collect data from hospitals, jails, police and other public service providers related to our work on homelessness.
- Conduct outreach and PR for the Cowlitz Housing First! Coalition.
- Coordinate volunteers for annual Project Homeless Connect event in January 2014
- Act as liaison for annual homeless Point in Time count.
- Coordinate SOAR trained service provider meetings; data collection; SOAR trained volunteer coordination; and trainings.
- Coordination of referral process for ACA expansion of Medicaid; data collections; and coordination of volunteers assisting with Medicaid applications.
For more information contact:
Chuck Hendrickson
chendrickson@loveoverwhelming.org
360-560-3913
Dawn Hanson
dhanson@cwcog.org
360-577-3041 x 2574
Point In Time: Official Count from Commerce
322 Homeless People Total
77 Unsheltered
245 Sheltered in Emergency Housing or Transitional Housing
>>>Download 2013 Cowlitz County Point in Time Count
>>>Download System Performance Measures January 1 – March 31, 2013
SOAR
- We have 12 trained people in our area.
- Chuck with Love Overwhelming and Caleb from Community House will be trained to be trainers.
- Community Forum is being planned to help prepare the community for Coordinated Entry System.
Ending Family Homelessness
- Cowlitz County has been asked to test.
- Families that our HUD qualified will be helped with Rapid Rehousing and wrap around services.
- Time limit will be 6 months in permanent housing, with an additional 6 months if they still qualify for TANF after the 1st 6 months.
Cowlitz County has been recognized state wide by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for their collaborative efforts.
Advocacy 101 – How to Become an Advocate for Ending Homelessness
Facilitated by Kevin Solarte
kevin@wliha.org
206-442-9455 x 213
Statewide Outreach & Homelessness Coordinator Staff for The Housing Advisory Committee
Washington Low Income Housing Alliance
49 State Legislative Districts each with 1 State Senator and 2 State Representatives.
Cowlitz County are the 19th and 20th districts.
The Number of Votes for a Bill to Become a Law
- House of Representatives: 98 positions and you need 50 votes.
- Senate: 49 positions and you need 25 votes.
- Governor: 1 position and you needs a signature.
Find a Legislator
or join the WLIHA email club for reminders and tools to make it easy to communicate with your legislator at:http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2685/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup;jsessionid=104F404DFB4444D37A30901644FE92CB-n4?signup_page_KEY=3317&key=54471443
Consolidated Homeless Grants
The Following Programs will be Affected by cuts in CHG:
- CAP Rental Assistance
- Community House on Broadway
- Emergency Support Shelter
Commerce decides how programs are cut. It wont be evenly, but if 50% of government funding is cut, then it will be felt.
Take Budget Action Today – we are running out of time.
Meet your legislator in person at Housing & Homelessness Advocacy Day
Wednesday January 22, 2014
This meet and greet helps legislators put a face with all the numbers they are given.
Can’t make it? Write letters!
It is also great to engage cities & counties involved in passing resolutions to end homelessness.
You may also make a difference testifying in Olympia to legislators. Usually you are allowed 2-3 minutes, although they may cut you off at 2 min.
Stay involved in advocacy year round – Elect 2 members to the Homelessness Advisory Committee per county.
Storytellers Project – Used to educate the community through stories in local papers and new stations.
Share stories about your experience with homelessness or entering affordable housing programs.
Offer site tours to showcase important programs.
Voter registration allows people to have a voice @ the ballot and beyond.
Advocacy: Education is very legal and has no limits
It is everyone’s job to advocate.
Learn more at http://wliha.org/advocacy/overview
Through Lower Columbia CAP 672 unduplicated households were served from July 2012 to March 2013 with CHG dollars. All these families live in Cowlitz County.
