Thursday, May 31, 2012

National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty webinar

The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty's recently hosted a webinar previewing its upcoming report, "Welcome Home: The Rise of Tent Cities in the United States."

We wanted to let you know that full audio and video of the presentation is now available at http://www.nlchp.org/news.cfm?id=196

Rally of Hope for Ocean County's Homeless

Several community service groups and religious organizations will host the Rally of Hope for Ocean County's Homeless Sunday, beginning at 12:30 p.m.in Lakewood's Town Center on Clifton Avenue, between Third and Fourth streets.

The rally will include a lunch of participants, seminars geared for the homeless, for people who want to learn more about homelessness, and for people who want to learn about successful strategies to end homelessness that is used in New Jersey.

The League of Women Voters will conduct a voter registration drive; a few groups will distribute food, clothing and toiletries; about 15 groups will host information tables; blood pressure screenings; and a discussion by leaders of four religous groups about homelessness as a social justice issue.

Everyone is invited to attend the rally.

With Nowhere Else to Turn, the Homeless Turn to the Hospitals

The Bergen Record has recently published an article that shows once again how costs for caring for the homeless are driven up when a county does not have a shelter in place.  The homeless turn to local hospital ERs for warmth and shelter, and by law the hospitals have to examine them and treat them.  Those costs are high.  And hospitals are inadequately compensated for their services.

Here is a link to the article: http://www.northjersey.com/englewood/052512_More_homeless_in_NJ_using_hospital_ERs_for_shelter_and_food.html?page=all

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Press release: Rally of hope for OC Homeless

Press Release: for immediate release
Contact: Larry Meegan, (732) 740-5878
                ochomeless@gmail.com
Community groups to rally for the homeless June 3
Several local community and religious organizations will sponsor the Rally of Hope for Ocean County’s Homeless Sunday afternoon, June 3, in Lakewood’s Towns Square on Clifton Avenue, between Third and Fourth streets.
The rally will begin at 12:30 p.m. and feature a meal for the participants, free haircuts, blood pressure readings, and information tables with distribution of toiletries and food.  It will also present seminars for the homeless and their supporters and a discussion of homelessness as a social justice issue by leaders representing four religious heritages.
The League of Women Voters will also conduct a voter registration during the event.
In addition to assisting the homeless, the rally will give the public an opportunity to learn about homelessness and how they can take part in ending it in Ocean County.
The rally will also recognize the many groups that have helped the homeless during the past year.
The rally is free and open to the public and will end around 4 p.m.
Sponsors include the Kiwanis Club of Jackson, Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity, New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness, the Luminer Foundation, The Monmouth Presbytery, Homelessness Ended through Local Partners, the Forked River Presbytery, The Rotary Club of Jackson, Jackson Helping Hands Committee and the Jackson 501c3 organization.

Individuals with Disabilities Housing & Resource Guide available

The Ocean County Department of Human Services Office for Individuals with Disabilities Housing and Resource Guide 2011-2012 edition is available http://www.co.ocean.nj.us/ocdhs/oftd/index.html

Human Services Advisory Council meeting 5/24

The HSAC is scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 24th at 2:30 pm in the Department of Human Services Conference Room; all are welcome to attend.

In addition, the Legislative Advocacy Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday, May 21st at 8:30 am in the Department of Human Services Conference Room; all are welcome to attend.

The Conference room is located @ 1027 Hooper Av, Building 2. (Building 2 is found at the back end of the complex.)