Cowtown a fitting hometown for 2000 THN conference

The Texas Homeless Network staff, board of directors, and the planning committee from the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition worked hard to make the Texas Homeless Network’s 11th annual conference in Fort Worth a success. The theme, All Roads Lead to Home, was indicative of the great hospitality and attitudes of the Fort Worth community. Although the frontier has changed, the work among individuals experiencing homelessness in the downtown Fort Worth area Community of Hope is proof that the pioneering spirit is still alive and well.

Pre-Conference events on Oct. 31 included the Higher Education Symposium (see page 4 for details). The 2000 PATH Conference, MHMR’s annual statewide training for its outreach workers, was another of the pre-conference events, along with the Community of Hope Fall Festival and Homeless Fair. This event provided conference participants the opportunity to talk to local service providers and interact with some of Fort Worth’s homeless citizens. The festival featured activities for the kids, including trick-or-treating.

Throughout the conference attendees had opportunities to tour the entire Community of Hope on a shuttle. This community is an example of consolidated services within a small geographical area, including The Union Gospel Mission, the Day Haven (an MHMR facility), the Presbyterian Night Shelter, the Safe Haven (for 20 severely mentally ill homeless individuals), the VA homeless veterans program, the new Women and Children’s Shelter and the Day Resource Center for the Homeless.

The conference itself began on Wednesday morning, Nov. 1, with words of welcome by Forth Worth’s Mayor Kenneth Barr, and a keynote address during breakfast on legislative issues that will impact the homeless by Representative David Farabee. Wednesday morning’s break-out sessions focused on job training services, reconnecting homeless men to their families, vision and healthcare, developing specialized housing, concerns surrounding homelessness and the criminal justice system, and the impact of legislation on homeless policy.

Elizabeth Darling Seale, vice-chair of the Texas Department of Human Services, was the noon luncheon speaker, and she shared information on the state’s implementation and future direction of welfare reform. The afternoon sessions focused on computerized community case management, dual diagnosis and other mental health and healthcare issues, domestic violence and substance abuse, strengthening teamwork skills and model programs for working with the poor and those experiencing homelessness. Wednesday evening conference participants were treated to a reception at the newly remodeled YWCA in downtown Fort Worth.

The next morning began with an address by Debby Kratky on designing legislation that would improve the quality of life for women and children living in poverty. The sessions that followed focused on community building and collaboration, transitional housing and night shelter basics and helping caregivers to the homeless avoid burnout.

Lunch provided the opportunity to distribute the annual membership awards and to hold the general membership business meeting and elections. The Annual Awards presented were as follows: Most Outstanding Shelter Organization Award to Presbyterian Night Shelter of Tarrant County; Executive Director of the Year to Carl Cook of Abilene Hope Haven; Educator of the Year to Sandy Lawrence; Most Outstanding Domestic Violence Agency to The Family Place; Volunteer of the Year to Sylvia Nichols; The President’s Award for Commitment to the Homeless to Clare Nilson; and Most Outstanding Feature Story Award to Yvette Craig.

The sessions following focused on transition and self-sufficiency issues including welfare to work, parole offenders, psychiatric emergencies, creating staff of supportive housing and media relations. The results of the State Homeless Survey completed by THN were also presented, and copies may be obtained from the THN office.

Kindred Sessions concluded the conference on Friday morning during breakfast. These were an opportunity for professionals who work in similar backgrounds to have designated time to interact and grapple with the components of the SuperNOFA grant.

As always, the Texas Homeless Network is committed to ensuring that homeless people are allowed to participate in conference activities. This year was no exception. The Silent Auction held during the conference helps sponsor conference registrations for homeless persons and provides scholarships to be used for homeless individuals from several communities around the state. This year’s auction netted more than $600.

“All Roads Lead to Home” provided participants with the opportunity to share their experiences; to strengthen their skills and learn about how the best practices available to shape and improve the services communites in Texas can use to address homelessness; and to receive a standing ovation for the continued commitment and investment they have made to making a difference in the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness and building communities of hope.