For Immediate Release: September 6, 2005
Contact: Ruth Peebles, 463-1367
National Homelessness advocate to speak
at Durham Forum
Phillip Mangano will answer "Can we end homelessness?"
on September 13
Durham, NC - The 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Durham Project will kick off a series of public forums addressing homelessness on Sept. 13 at the American Tobacco Campus (Bay 7) in Durham from 7 to 9 p.m. The keynote address will be delivered by from Phillip Mangano, Executive Director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. Mangano's address entitled " Can We End Homelessness?" will be followed by a community question and answer session.
Community members are strongly encouraged to attend this and other forums scheduled in the upcoming months to discuss the homeless issue in Durham. Currently there are approximately 535 homeless individuals in Durham; including 71 children according to a Point In Time Survey conducted in January 2005 by the Council to End Homelessness.
"Community input is key to developing a 10-year plan to end homelessness," said Steering Committee Co-Chair Peter Anlyan. "Neighborhood associations, faith-based institutions, service providers, business leaders, advocates, those individuals who are homeless or previously homeless and the community-at-large are encouraged to attend."
"The tours allow the work of the agencies to be seen and to provide a better understanding of what United Way and its partner agencies are all about," said Nell Barnes, Executive Director of Learning Together, Inc. "Getting people get out to see the issues and the programs addressing those issues creates an increase in understanding that will hopefully increase giving as well."
Prior to his appointment by President Bush to lead the Interagency Council, Mangano was the founding Executive Director of the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA), a statewide coalition of 80 agencies, which operate over 200 programs. During the 12 years of his tenure, MHSA developed statewide strategies to reduce and end homelessness in Massachusetts. Mangano's formulation of the front door/back door paradigm of advocacy response was adopted by the National Alliance to End Homelessness and is now central to the national strategy to end homelessness.
Sponsored by the City and County of Durham and Triangle United Way, the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Durham will move the city and county from managing homelessness to preventing and eliminating homelessness. Over 80 representatives from diverse professional backgrounds, including Mayor Bill Bell and County Commissioner Chairman Ellen Reckhow, will be participating on the Steering Committee lead by co-chairs, Carolyn Thornton and Peter Anlyan. These representatives have committed to an eight-month process that includes a series of committee meetings, focus groups and public forums and the writing of an action plan to end homelessness in Durham that will focus on strategies related to prevention and engagement, services and support, permanent housing, and interim housing.
For more information visit www.EndHomelessnessInDurham.org or e-mail questions or comments to info@endhomelessnessindurham.org .
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