Community
National Conference on Ending Homelessness
Friendship Place participated in the 2012 National Conference on Ending Homelessness, which was held on July 16th through the 18th. People came from all over the country to attend the conference, and to unite in the fight against homelessness. There were several tracks on different aspects of homelessness in order to address the issue from many different angles.
Members of
Friendship Place’s staff participated in the Veteran Homelessness Workshop Track, where three staff members presented on veteran benefits and services. Kally Canfield and Jill Carmichael presented on rapid re-housing and prevention for homeless veterans and their families. Geoff Millard facilitated a presentation on helping veterans access benefits.
The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grant that Friendship Place just received makes Kally and Jill’s presentation especially relevant. They covered the aspects of SSVF, such as who is eligible and how to apply. Geoff’s venue featured representatives from the Veteran Benefits Administration (VBA). Benefits assistance services, homeless veterans outreach programs, and legal issues were covered.
It is inspiring to see that people are able and willing to come from all over the country to share their knowledge and services, as well as learn how they can help fight homelessness. It is a national issue, and we will keep fighting unless every homeless man and woman is off the streets.
