11/3/2005
Media Contact:
Justin Ohlemiller, [317] 327-6709 |
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Mayor calls for more community-wide involvement in effort to end homelessness; launches new initiative to get citizens and local businesses engaged in issue
New initiative brings first corporate donations to city’s Housing Trust Fund
INDIANAPOLIS - Robert Starkey knows the positive impact supportive services and community outreach can have on the homeless. Starkey was once homeless and struggling with drug addiction before his life was changed with the help of friends, family and the counselors at the Action Coalition To Ensure Stability (ACES), a local organization that has assisted hundreds of local homeless residents.
Now Starkey will use his experience to help those experiencing homelessness and spread the word to the community that their involvement is key to ending and preventing homelessness in Indianapolis. Joined by Starkey and dozens of homelessness advocates, business leaders and service providers, Mayor Bart Peterson today launched Indy Homeless Connect, a new initiative aimed at connecting homeless residents with a myriad of supportive services and getting more citizens and businesses engaged in homelessness issues.
Modeled after a nationally renowned program in San Francisco, Indy Homeless Connect is an outgrowth of the city’s Blueprint to End Homelessness that will bring together several core services for the homeless into one location. These services include medical care, food, mental health counseling, vision care, legal advice and housing assistance, as well as non-essential, add-on services like free phone calls, massages, a book give-away and haircuts. This care and outreach will be provided with the direct help of many homeless service providers, additional corporate participation, and hundreds of volunteers, including Starkey, who has joined the organizing committee for Indy Homeless Connect.
The Inaugural Indy Homeless Connect event is set for December 13, at the Indiana Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Event planners expect to serve at least 750 homeless residents that day with the help of up to 700 plus volunteers and service providers.
"This past September, Indianapolis and communities across the country came together in an unprecedented fashion to aid the thousands of victims left homeless in the aftermath of Katrina," said Mayor Peterson. "After seeing the tremendous results of this relief effort, I am convinced that we as a community can and will do more to help the homeless and those in housing crisis within our own neighborhoods. Indy Homeless Connect is Indianapolis’ opportunity to get more engaged in this long-term effort to end pervasive homelessness in our city."
The Mayor thanked the many service providers - like those at ACES helping Starkey - who work every day to stem the tide of homelessness in Indianapolis. He said their support in Indy Homeless Connect would be essential, but added, that the aim of the initiative is to bring "new people to the table" in the city’s effort to further the goals of the Blueprint to End Homelessness.
"Indy Homeless Connect is more than a single day of outreach and service," Peterson said. "It’s about getting the Indianapolis community - from residents to corporations - to make a commitment to being part of the long-term solutions to homelessness."
To that end, the Mayor announced that two local companies have stepped-up to make the first corporate donations to the Indianapolis Housing Trust Fund, a public account dedicated to expanding affordable housing opportunities for low and very low income households.
Creations Title Agency, LLC, a joint venture between Oak Street Mortgage and Nations Holding Company, and AAR Aircraft Services, have both committed to donations totaling $75,000 to the trust fund. In addition, AAR is planning a fundraising event on January 19 at their facility at the Indianapolis International Airport. All of the proceeds from that event will go to the Housing Trust Fund, as well. The fundraiser will seek contributions from other corporations and entities within the private sector.
Both companies also plan on being a part of the Indy Homeless Connect event on Dec. 13.
"We are grateful that AAR and Oak Street Mortgage have made this commitment to investing in the creation of more affordable housing units in Indianapolis - something that is key to achieving the long-term goals of the Blueprint to End Homelessness."
Today’s announcement marks the kick-off of a large-scale, volunteer recruitment effort by event planners to sign-up hundreds of volunteers and attract more corporate sponsorship. As part of this outreach effort, the official Indy Connect website, http://www.IndyHomelessConnect.com was launched today. IndyHomelessConnect.com allows residents and businesses to access information on the event, sign-up to volunteer, make donations to the Housing Trust Fund, and contribute in-kind services or donations for the Dec. 13 Indy Connect event.
The Indy Homeless Connect initiative is being led by the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention in collaboration with a number of local service providers and the City of Indianapolis. Private sector partners include: The Homeless Initiative Project; Marion County Health Department; Indianapolis Eye Care; Midtown Mental Health; Horizon House; The Protective Pro Bono Project; Indpls./Marion County Public Library; Sprint; the Indiana Convention Center and RCA Dome; Silly Safaris; Excel Academy of Cosmetology; Wheeler Mission; Indianapolis Private Industries Council; Goody Two Shoes, LLC; Maribeth Smith and Associates; Gennesaret; Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association; and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
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