The Kiwanis Club of Jackson, along with Jackson Helping Hands Foundation, STEPS (Solutions to Ending Poverty Soon) and The Monmouth Presbytery, sponsored a forum on homeless solutions at Hope Presbyterian Church in Lakewood Sept. 21, 2010. More than 80 people attended.
"Providing an Address for the Homeless: Ocean County Solutions" had three components. The first put a face on the homeless as four people who are or were homeless told about themselves and their circumstances. They all told how they never imagined in their lifetime that they would ever be homeless. Their stories shattered the popular characterizations and prejudices many have about homeless people.
The second segment presented options and strategies that have been tried elsewhere to eliminate homelessness.
The third segment was a time for questions and answers.
The evening showed that a lot of people are doing things to assist people who are homeless and to eliminate homelessness. It also showed a need to provide a single location where people can go to find answers, offer help, and let people know where they can go to help.
This blog is a first-step to meet that need. It will provide a calendar of events, contact information for the various organizations, and media reports about local housing matters. In the future I hope we can expand this to a Web site with expanded coverage.
