Housing First Forums

 

 

 

 

2008 Series

New Approaches to Reducing Family Homelessness:
A Series of Three Forums Examining Best Practices from Around the Country


Homes for Families, in partnership with the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, Family to Family and One Family will hold three forums examining new approaches to reducing family homelessness. These events will bring together an array of invested stakeholders including shelter providers, service providers, policy makers, advocates, funders and state agencies. The forums will examine best practices from around the country that have successfully reduced family homelessness. Critical issues regarding funding, public policy, organizational policy, program management and general learnings will be discussed.

HFF intends the forums to act as a catalyst for systems change and to provide fresh perspectives regarding how shelter and service providers work with extremely low income families. HFF envisions that providers and other stakeholders will use information from these events to implement new policies, programs and pilots that more effectively address this important issue in their towns, cities and regions.


Forum 1: Prevention and Diversion Strategies (January 17, 2008)

Presenters included:

HomeBase, award winning prevention and diversion program, New York City Julia Kehoe, Commissioner, MA Department of Transitional Assistance Tina Brooks, Undersecretary, MA Department of Housing and Community Development Norm Suchar, National Alliance to End Homelessness Donna Haig Friedman, University of MA Boston, McCormack Institute

Download forum flyer: pdf, word
Materials coming soon.


Forum 2: Workforce Development Strategies (April 28, 2008)

Please join us as we discuss the lessons, tools and stages of creating a workforce development program within your organization or through a partnership with an external stakeholder. The event will feature Massachusetts’ workforce development programs that assist homeless families.

Presenters:

Joe Antolin, Executive Director, Heartland Human Care Services
Tress Antworth, Career Development Manager, Project Hope
Thomas Beleski, President, Employment Resources Inc.
Lyndia Downie, President/Executive Director, Pine Street Inn
Nancy Goodman, Director of Community Education, Wellspring House
Suzanne Kenney, Executive Director, Project Place
Rebekah Lashman, Senior VP, Commonwealth Corporation
Dana Mohler-Faria, President, Bridgewater State College
Marianne Pelletier, Welfare to Work Coordinator, MA Community College Executive Office
Deborah Putnam, Director of Program Development, HopeFound
Jerry Rubin, President, Exeutive Director, Jewish Vocational Services
Victor Vasquez, Assistant Commissioner, Department of Transitional Assistance

When: April 28, 2008 from 10 a.m.- 3:15 p.m.

Where: College of the Holy Cross, Hogan Center, Worcester MA (directions here)

Cost: $25 and includes lunch

Register here
Download forum flyer: pdf
Download forum agenda: pdf


Forum 3: Affordable Housing (June 2008)

In this forum, we will explore resources that connect homeless families to affordable housing.

 

Past Workshops

May 9, 2007

This was Homes for Families' first Housing First forum. Over 100 participants learned how community agencies are implementing Housing First models throughout Massachusetts. Click here for the invitation, agenda and directions. Materials coming soon.