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Collaborative Pilot Initiative on Homelessness <br />Page 3 <br />Miller's Vets founded in 2009 by the Honorable Robert L. Miller, Sr., is dedicated to <br />providing a variety of services for homeless veterans — from shelter to burial assistance and in <br />return Miller's Vets provide services back to the community some of which include color guard, <br />flag- raising, parade march, military funeral honors. <br />Yet despite all of these programs, services and centers of outreach, far too many persons <br />are seen holding cardboard signs indicating that they are homeless and in need. <br />The St. Joseph County Health Department's 2013 Annual Report noted that "as a result of <br />the National Public Health Performance Standards Project in 2011, a small working group <br />consisting of individuals within the local public health system (LPHS) continued with strategically <br />creating county -wide health improvement alliance. In November of 2013, more than 40 different <br />public health partners began work collaboratively on major health issues, system infrastructure, <br />and partner communication ". <br />It is believed that a more collaborative pilot initiative on homelessness is needed in the City <br />of South Bend which is aimed at further reducing the cycle of homelessness in our community. <br />By working cooperatively with the South Bend Continuum of Care, the St. Joseph County Health <br />Officer, and the many private and public providers of services to homeless persons living in our <br />City, the overall health and well -being of all residents in our community may be enhanced. <br />/ci aic; C �i < /aiil� < //� ae 61»r»1ci1 <br />Section I Chapter 14 of the South Bend Municipal Code is hereby amended by the inclusion <br />of new Article 12 which shall read in its entirety as follows: <br />Article 12. COLLABORATIVE PILOT INITIATIVE ON HOMELESSNESS. <br />Sec. 14 -116 Purpose and Intent. <br />(a) The following Collaborative Pilot Initiative on Homelessness is created for the purpose <br />of delicately balancing the constitutional rights of all individuals, while recognizing the need to <br />assist in ending the cycle of homelessness in our community. <br />(b) Homelessness is a public health and safety concern, with poor health of homeless <br />individuals and homeless persons being linked to a high rate of premature death.' <br />' "Home & Healthy for Good — A Statewide Pilot Housing First Program Progress Report July 2008 ", Massachusetts <br />Housing and Shelter Alliance www.mhsa.net , p. 1; Hwang SW, Orav EJ, O'Connell JJ, Lebow JM, Brennan TA. <br />Causes of Death in Homeless Adults in Boston, Annals of Internal Medicine 1997; 126 (8): 625 -628 and Hibbs JR, <br />