SR-011309-13D13-D
January 13, 2009
Council Meeting: January 13, 2009 Santa Monica, California
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE -MEMORANDUM
To: City Council
From: Councilmember Bloom
Date: January 13, 2009
13-D: Request of Councilmember Richard Bloom that the City Council authorize
the use of Council travel funds for the purpose of attending the February
12-13 National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness, sponsored by
the National Alliance to End Homelessness
(http://www.endhomelessness.org/) in San Diego, California.
13-D
January 13, 2009
1
February 12-13, 2009 ~ Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina ~ San Diego, CA
Ending o elessness...
...Making 1'rog~ess in a Time of Challenge!
For the first time since the rise of homelessness more than 25 years ago,
communities have been able to articulate a detailed, practical strategy for ending
homelessness among families with children; a strategy that works.
Leading communities are using proven program models and systemic reforms to
save children and their parents from homelessness. These communities are rapidly
moving families from shelters and the streets back into housing, finding families
who are about to lose their housing and heading off the crisis, and targeting the
most intensive interventions where they are most critically needed.
And these communities have achieved results: in those that have concentrated on
getting programs right and have made the tough decision to focus on solutions, the
number of families that bear the trauma and pain of homelessness has declined.
Today's economy makes the path toward ending homelessness steeper. With rising
unemployment and housing problems caused by foreclosures, some communities are
finding more families falling into homelessness. This challenges the homelessness
system to be more effective, while stressing the importance of larger efforts to
improve incomes and make housing more affordable.
At the same time, there are significant opportunities. In a season of political change,
new leaders will be looking for meaningful and practical new undertakings. Recent
events have highlighted the importance of housing affordability and significant new
resources will most certainly be invested in housing over the next few years.
Further, the critical role the public sector must play in creating a workable housing
system in the nation has been underscored. Finally, people working on homelessness
have developed an impressive track record that is becoming better known. And all
of this is taking place in an environment that is open to improvement and change to
increase effectiveness and achieve goals.
Amid these trends and counter-trends, the National Alliance to End Homelessness is
holding its fifth national conference aimed specifically at ending homelessness
among families with children: Making Progress in a Time of Challenge.We are
looking for ways to work together, cross borders, and make progress. We hope you
will ,join us in San Diego on February 12-13, 2009 to learn about the most effective
practices and to share what is happening in your community, so that together we
can put an end to family homelessness.