This Thursday, DCF will present its proposal to reduce the department's budget by 15 percent - a proposal that would include a 100 percent reduction in homeless funding - to the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations committee staff. (This is line 10 in the proposal.)

ACTION IS NEEDED TODAY!!!

1. Call/Email/Fax ALL your Florida State Senators NOW - every Senator that represents all our part of your County(ies). Tell them what these funds mean to your community.

2. Forward this to every homeless advocate in your Coalitions and communities.

Don't know who your Florida State Senator(s) is - use the Florida Senate Member Page to find out.

Sample Message:

More and more Floridians - including families with children - are facing and becoming homeless every day. As a state with one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, now is not the time to turn our backs on our neighbors in need. During the 2009-2010 FY, these programs have/will assist more than 30,000 Floridians who were homeless or on the verge of becoming homeless.

These programs and funding are needed more than ever before. Do not cut these funds - people's lives are depending on them.


The Details:

These reductions would end the State's commitment to provide resources to help those facing homelessness in Florida.

The cuts:

Would eliminate the Office on Homelessness and its two state funded positions

Would eliminate the funding to support the statewide Council on Homelessness, causing it to no longer function.

Would eliminate the homeless Challenge Grant and funding for local homeless service providers

Would end the funding of a staff position at the 28 local homeless coalitions around the state.

Would end the state's only emergency aid program to keep families with children from being evicted.

The Homeless Education Curriculum

The Speakers Bureau had the pleasure of spending last week at Chamberlin High School with Mrs. Johnson's AVID class. The Homeless Education Curriculum on Homelessness was developed to increase the awareness and sensitivity in order to provide support for those who are experiencing the alienation, stereotyping and discomfort of homelessness.

24 HOURS

WE ARE CHANGING THE START TIME TILL 4 PM BECAUSE OF THE RAIN WE ARE SUPPOSE TO GET TOMORROW! IF IT IS STILL RAINING AT 4 PM CALL 813-495-1813 TO SEE IF THE EVENT WILL STILL HAPPEN!
24 hours is a project that is planned, run and executed by kids under the age of 21. Kids from all over the state of Florida ages 12 and up will spend 24 hours simulating being homeless. We sleep in cardboard appliance boxes that we have decorated with different homeless themes. We also assemble backpacks to be donated to homeless kids, with food and supplies. With over 1.3 million homeless kids in this country we must do something to educate the general public about this issue. This is your chance to Stand Up and let your voice be heard. You gain community service experience and hours, you will learn about homeless youth and what is being done to solve this issue in your community. You will also have the opportunity to actually do something to make difference. Your registration fee includes a t-shirt, dinner, snack, and breakfast and all activities during the event. Money raised from this event is used to help homeless youth.
Although the event begins at 11 am....we understand this is a school day for most of you, it is ok to come after school lets out. That is when most activities will begin. If you come at 11 am make sure you eat lunch before you arrive or bring lunch with you. Lunch on 02/05/10 will not be provided as part of the event. Dinner and breakfast the next morning are the only two meals served.
In case of rain event will be canceled and no refunds will be given. There will be an opportunity to help assemble the 400 backpacks though at an alternative location to be announced.

Housing for ALL Floridians 2010

Homeless advocates will have another chance to impact policies and funding to help homeless Floridians as the 2010 Florida legislative session will soon begin in March.

Learn more about the statewide issues and how you can help make these changes a reality and positively impact the lives of our homeless neighbors.

We have scheduled advocacy tele-trainings again this year to help new and seasoned advocates prepare for the 2010 state legislative session and homeless advocacy day.

The following dates are scheduled for teleconference Advocacy Training Sessions:

• Friday, February 5 - Introduction to Advocacy

• Friday, February 12 - 2010 Homeless Issues

• Friday, February 19 - Introduction to Advocacy (repeat)

• Friday, February 26 - 2010 Homeless Issues (repeat)

All trainings are from 10 to 11 a.m. To join the teleconference training please contact Lesa Weikel at lesa@homelessofhc.org.

Please pass this information on to your co-workers and fellow homeless providers, volunteers and advocates. An advocacy training flyer has been prepared to help you share this information.


We hope that you will be able to join us to advocate on behalf of those experiencing homelessness in the State of Florida. For your benefit, we have provided the following documents on the Advocacy page of the FCH Web site, www.fchonline.org.


If you have any questions, you may contact Lesa Weikel at Lesa@homelessofhc.org.


We look forward to your participation this year in Legislative Session.

Florida Coalition for the Homeless
P.O. Box 3764
Tallahassee, FL 32315
1.877.205.0021
admin@fchonline.org