Public Forum on Homelessness in Shawnee County

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

 

DATE: 08/29/2011

 

 

Contact: Melissa Nolte, Chair                                                

               Topeka/Shawnee County Homeless Task Force

               785-233-2068

                Kansas Legal Services

      or

               G.R. Laughlin, Vice Chair

               Topeka/Shawnee County Homeless Task Force

               785-233-1365

               Community Resources Council

 

Public Forum

on

Homelessness in Shawnee County and Topeka

Presented by the Topeka/Shawnee County Homeless Task Force and

the Topeka Rescue Mission

 

September 1, 2011

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., City of Topeka – Holliday Building

620 SE Madison

 

This forum will cover the emerging crisis in Topeka/Shawnee County of rising numbers of homeless families and individuals and how the community can work together to alleviate the many problems. 

 

We will cover the current status of Shelter and Transitional Housing Capacity/Shortage with  Barry Feaker, Executive Director, the Topeka Rescue Mission; the Barriers for Persons and Families Experiencing Homelessness including "Mental Illness and Homelessness" with Glea Ashley, the Chief Executive Officer of Valeo Behavioral Health Care, and "Education and Children in Poverty" with a Topeka USD 501 Representative.  We will also discuss issues with Crime and Safety with Sally Zellers, Director, Safe Streets.

 

Nancy Johnson, Executive Director, Community Resources Council, will lead us in a discussion of Short Term Plan/Outcomes (60 Days) and Long Term Plan/Outcomes (One Year). 

 

The Topeka Rescue Mission's website reports that "Throughout the course of this year, we have seen the needs for shelter and food continue to increase in overwhelming measures."  Homeless-ness is a public health care emergency and a rising natural disaster in communities all over the United States.  Let's work together in Topeka to stem this tide and find people the help they need.

 

Funding Opportunity: Increasing Access to Mental Health Services

FYI,

Funding Opportunity Deadline Approaching   This notice is sent as a reminder that there is currently an open Sunflower Foundation Request for Proposals (RFP)  - Increasing Access to Mental Health Services (RFP 11-102).  This funding is to help establish or expand mental health services at Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), or Community Health Centers (CHC).  Click here for General Criteria regarding this RFP.   There is one call for proposals in response to this RFP.   ·         Proposals must be submitted by 5:00 p.m., CST, by Friday, September 2, 2011 - funding announcements will be made by Friday, October 28, 2011. PLEASE NOTE THAT PROPOSALS MUST BE SUBMITTED USING OUR ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS.   Click here for complete RFP details and application instructions.