For Immediate Release January 5, 2007
Contact: Kesha Brooks, (614) 221-9195
Franklin County Continues Support for Programs to End Homelessness
Community Shelter Board 115 West Main Street, LL Columbus, OH 43215 614-221-9195 614-221-9199 (Fax) www.csb.org
COLUMBUS, OHIO—Franklin County Commissioners Paula Brooks and Mary Jo Kilroy expressed their support for programs to end homelessness on December 19, 2006 by approving continued funding for the Rebuilding Lives initiative and the Safety Net programs of the Community Shelter Board. These funding commitments were adopted as part of the 2007 Franklin County general fund budget. “The Community Shelter Board knows that some people in our community continue to experience financially difficult times. We see this directly in the families and individuals who are struggling to keep their housing or to find a way out of homelessness. With this support, CSB will work to achieve our founder’s pledge and our community’s expectations that no one should be homeless for even one night. By granting this request for funding, Franklin County Commissioners enable CSB and its partner agencies to continue to provide an effective and compassionate response to meet the needs of families and adults experiencing a housing crisis in our community”, stated Patricia P. Cash, CSB Trustee. The Rebuilding Lives initiative continues to change the way Franklin County and Columbus address the issue of homelessness. CSB was recently highlighted in the September issue of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for the success of Rebuilding Lives, which has to date, created over 760 units of supportive housing. The initial Rebuilding Lives plan called for the creation of 800 new units of permanent supportive housing. CSB, with the support of the Commissioners, is on track to surpass that goal. The Community Shelter Board’s Safety Net programs include emergency shelter, direct housing, and supportive services in shelter. Beyond providing a secure and clean place to stay, all programs are geared toward assisting homeless families and individuals quickly exit the shelter system and move into appropriate housing. More than 7,400 families and individuals are served annually by these programs. The Community Shelter Board, established in 1986, is a non-profit intermediary organization that coordinates community based efforts, fosters collaboration, and funds services to assist families and individuals in Central Ohio to resolve their housing crisis. The Community Shelter Board allocates over $9 million annually to support homeless programs and services. Last year, these programs served more than 7,800 individuals. The Community Shelter Board is funded by the City of Columbus, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the United Way of Central Ohio, The Columbus Foundation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of Ohio, and other public and private donors.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Roger P. Sugarman Chair James D. Curphey Vice Chair Elfi DiBella Vice Chair Patricia P. Cash Secretary William Wright Treasurer Chad A. Jester Hal Keller Mary Lou Langenhop Robert Lazarus, Jr. Karen M. McClain Timothy T. Miller Debra Plousha Moore Greta J. Russell Mark C. Russell Jonathan J. Sadler Mark F. Stauffer Deborah L. Stein Chuck Turlinski Nancy Jeffrey Chair Emeritus Barbara Poppe Executive Director
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Gail Gregory-Thomas Jerry Hammond Joe Harden Nancy Jeffrey Holly S. Kastan Cynthia Lazarus Mark Milligan Thomas B. Ridgley Rev. Leon Troy Ric Wanetik
SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS
City of Columbus Franklin County Board of Commissioners United Way of Central Ohio Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce ADAMH Board Metropolitan Area Church Council The Columbus Foundation
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The CSB, by coordinating community based efforts, fostering collaboration, and funding services, assists families and individuals in Central Ohio to resolve their housing crisis. S:\Advocacy-Leadership\Media\Press Releases\2007\County Conitnues Support.doc