Cameron County Homeless Partnership
Contact: Abel Morales, abelmorales_45@hotmail.com

The Cameron & Hidalgo Counties Continuum of Care
Coalitions held preliminary meetings with intent of submitting a joint application with a regional impact for the next SuperNOFA funding cycle. Representatives of both coalitions met with Mr.Steven Shum, ICF representative and Mr. John Elper, Consultant, who have been providing technical assistance in preparation of the upcoming application. Meetings were held in June, July and August to discuss options available for consideration for both coalitions. In July 2005, a meeting was held in Hidalgo County with Paula Harper, Consultant to discuss Balance of State Application via Texas Homelessness Network where general orientation of Balance of State was discussed. A follow-up meeting in Cameron County in October 2005 discussed in more detail the role and responsibilities of entities participating in Balance of State.

In separate meetings in October both coalitions approved a joint venture between respective coalitions to submit a regional application. Thus the action signifies the homeless providers in both counties have decided to join in an effort to obtain resources and implement new activities to progress toward ending homelessness. This will require both a strong organizational framework to support the implementation of new homeless programs and and a visionary plan to serve as a road map to action. A meeting is to be held on Friday, December 2, 2005 to begin the process. Mr. Ken Martin, Executive Director THN and Ms. Paula Harper, Consultant will be in attendance to discuss the Balance of State Application. Mr. Steven Shum, ICF representative and Mr. John Elper, Consultant will also be attending to discuss organizational framework.

This joint venture represents institutionalizing collaboration that already exists between respective counties and coalitions. Acknowledging homelessness has no boundaries, this is an effort to address the unique homeless conditions existing in South Texas.

Central Texas Homeless Alliance
Contact: Jan Moffit, jbakke@hot.rr.com

The Central Texas Homeless Alliance conducted its
annual Health and Hope for Holidays, serving approximately 600 individuals.  The Health and Hope for the Holidays is an event co-sponsored by the local homeless alliance with its partner, Walmart.  Walmart generously provides the food and a crew of volunteers.  Scott and White Hospital provides flu mist and a local business provides free haircuts.  Almost a dozen local agencies and businesses, including Central Texas Youth Services Bureau, the Temple HELP Center, the Veterans’ Administration, Central Counties MHMR and Central Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug abuse participated, along with many others.  The meal/resource fair is in its fourth year, and is hosted the day before Thanksgiving in an area of Temple that is frequented by homeless individuals.  This year, for the first time, volunteers surveyed participants to gather data on needs and demographics.

The Central Texas Homeless Alliance, which has brought over $1 million to the Temple, Belton, Killeen and Copperas Cove area, holds monthly meetings at 302 E. Central Ave in Belton, TX.  Meetings are on the third Monday of the month, with the next meeting being on January 23rd, 2006.

Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County
Contact: Anthony Love, Executive Director, alove@homelesshouston.org

Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris
County, Inc. and The DeGeorge SRO will commemorate Homeless Memorial Day on December 21, 2005. There will be a Candlelight Vigil for Homeless Kids at Covenant House Texas on December 7, 2005.

The next meeting of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, Homeless Services Coordinating Council will be on January 4, 2006 from 8:30-10:00 at the MHMRA Conference Center, 7033 SW Freeway, Houston, TX.

Laredo Homeless Coalition
Contact: Barbara Kazen, Bethany House, gbkazen@sbcglobal.net

The Laredo Homeless
Coalition’s “March Against Hunger and Homelessness” was a resounding success.  More than 90 participants in both events included city officials from Community Development, agency members of the LHC, staff from Bethany House and the Shelter Complex, Diocese of Laredo Vicar General, Chancellor and staff, KHOY staff, Laredo Housing Authority, Sister of Mercy novitiate, U.S. District Court clerks, Wells Fargo staff, several homeless and ”friends” and volunteers from Bethany House.  Agency representatives in attendance were from Bethany House, South Texas Food Bank, Gateway Community Health Clinic, SCAN, Border Region MHMR PATH, Retama West, Habitat of Humanity and Laredo Health Department.

Laredo March information:  The “March Against Hunger and Homelessness” was organized and sponsored by the Laredo Homeless Coalition, whose president is Jose Ceballos.  Daniel de la Miyar from SCAN helped to organize the march. Following the march was the second annual Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week luncheon. Sponsors for that event were Bethany House, the South Texas Food Bank and the Laredo Homeless Coalition.

NET Homeless Consortium
Contact: Iris Stankorb, CHIN011251@aol.com

Highway 80 Rescue Mission plans a Christmas Dinner for 3,000 people on December 23 and plans to distribute 3,000 toys to 2,000 children.

The NET Homeless Consortium now has 130 members from 56 organizations in Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Panola, Rusk and Upshur counties.  This is a very active group and members continue to collaborate and share their values, successes and expertise. Our next meeting will be on February 6, 2006 at 11:30 am.

San Antonio Area Homeless Action Coalition
Contact: Mary Mendez, St. Mary’s University, mmendez@stmarytx.edu

We celebrated our 11th annual Christmas Under the
Bridge on December 10.  It is a HUGE event with lots of sponsors and included a full turkey dinner and new clothing for men, women and children.  Two stages were set up for the children’s area and one for the adults with a Christian Band, DJ, and a children’s dance company. 

The coalition and the continuum of care will become one effective Jan. 1.  If the name is approved by the membership our new name will be San Antonio Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH).

Our homeless census was done on November 15.  The City of San Antonio and Dr. Flores, Dean of the Graduate program at St. Mary’s are working on the results.

Tarrant County Coalition for the Homeless
Contact: Mike Doyle, Cornerstone Assistance Network, mdoyle@canetwork.org

On October 12, 2005, Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director, Phillip Mangano, and Cornerstone Assistance Network Executive Director, Mike Doyle, announced Fort Worth’s commitment to the Ten Year Plan in 2006. The announcement was held at The Cornerstone New Life Center, an 18 bed SRO in Fort Worth that has a 75% success rate for homeless men who leave clean from drugs and alcohol, working full time with benefits, living independently with NO public support.