Grant to fund pilot program to better address homelessness
Official says housing holds key to changing lives
By Elaine Allegrini
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
Posted Feb 24, 2009
Dennis Carman, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Plymouth and chairman of the Regional Network to End Homelessness, says the key to ending homelessness is through housing initiatives. |
BROCKTON - A local group is ready to show the state a better way to address homelessness.
Prevention and getting homeless people back into housing is the answer, said Dennis Carman, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Plymouth and chairman of the Regional Network to End Homelessness.
With an $837,913 state grant, the group has 18 months to show the way with a pilot program funded by the state Division of Housing and Community Development. "We need to do things differently," said Carman. "The ultimate outcome is to find housing for the homeless."
In Plymouth County, the number of homeless families has skyrocketed, said Michele Wakin, a professor at Bridgewater State College.
"The majority of families are in shelters," said Wakins.
A Jan. 28 census of homeless found 104 families and 236 individuals in shelters. In a definite drop, only 33 were on the street, down from 81 last year.
In the next 18 months, a group of social service providers will be using flexible resources to better address the needs of the homeless, looking to take care of them locally and more efficiently.
The money should be available by March 1. Half of it will go to providing for the homeless, in rental payments and other ways through appropriate agencies.
Lt. Gov. Murray to present grant |
In the end, Carman said the hope is to move 85 families and 30 to 40 chronically homeless individuals into housing.
Part of the plan for individuals is the the completion of apartments under construction next to MainSpring. Those apartments will provide some help for individuals, Carman said. The Brockton Housing Authority may be called on to provide more.
"We're trying to make radical changes in the system," he said.
The plan covers Brockton, Quincy, and Plymouth and includes input from Father Bills and Mainspring, Quincy Community Action Council, South Shore Community Action Council and Brockton Area Multi Services Inc.
Carman said the state is on the right track, moving the administration of homelessness from the Office of Transition Assistance to the Division of Housing and Communities.
"We want to set an example of what can work," Carman said. "I'm very heartened by the way the (Deval) Patrick administration is looking at this."
Elaine Allegrini can be reached at eallegrini@enterprisenews.com