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The Rocky Mount Telegram Geoffrey Cooper November 4, 2010 Officials throughout the Twin Counties have stepped forward to embrace the growing homeless population in the area. Both Nash and Edgecombe counties Board of Commissioners unanimously approved proclamations at their recent monthly meetings designating November as Homeless Awareness Month for the region. The unified decree from commissioners contain steps officials say they hope will bring a sense of urgency and community involvement. United Community Ministries Executive Director Chris Battle addressed both boards on the current growth of area homelessness — which he dubbed as the “invisible population” — and how it has blossomed beyond shelter walls. Battle — who has served with the local ministry for 10 years — said that his nonprofit has identified more than 500 homeless individuals in the Twin Counties. More than 625 …
The Corporation for Supportive Housing has published "Housing Credit Policies in 2009 that Promote Permanent Supportive Housing". The report provides a synopsis of 2009 Low Income Housing Tax Credit Qualified Allocation Plans (QAP) and describes the strategies used in different states to support the creation of supportive housing within the QAP – such as scoring incentives, set-asides and the use of thresholds. Tax credits have been an important source of capital financing for permanent supportive housing projects (PSH) for some time and the report describes how an increasing number of Housing Credit Agencies are also now using them to promote a diverse array of supportive housing models. These models range from projects with 100% of units dedicated for PSH, to projects with only a small proportion of units (10%) dedicated for supportive housing. Click here to read the full report.
The SOAR initiative is a federally funded partnership (HHS, HUD) that seeks to assist adults who are homeless to apply for SSI/SSDI, which generally provides health insurance as well. SOAR involves a comprehensive approach that includes training for community and hospital staffs in the intricacies of the SSI/SSDI application process and ensuring that approved individuals receive health insurance, treatment, and other services to begin recovery. This initiative is a “win” for all medical providers, including hospitals, as services and medications are then covered under Medicaid or Medicare, depending on the disability benefit received. Read the full description here.
Noel Edwards was homeless and staying at Good Shepherd Center when Sharron Cain found her. Shameeka Winfield was struggling with the effects of having a criminal record, the result of a mistake she made years ago. Both will graduate Friday from the fall classes of Project Uplift Career Pathways Academy, a training program for adults of low to moderate incomes. It’s operated by the Countywide Community Development Corp., which serves Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender and Columbus counties. Both have landed good jobs, Edwards at AME Zion Housing Development Corp. and Winfield at Family Perspectives LLC. They are among about 30 graduates of Project Uplift classes. One morning last week, Edwards and Winfield were in the office administration class at the Hillcrest Recreation Center off Dawson Street. About 15 women were working at computer terminals under the tutelage of Carmenitha Berry, …