Collaborative pilot initiative on homelessness

Home Browse Search

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