Monroe county agencies gear up to find ways to end homelessness

10/18/2006

MONROE - A long-term plan to tackle homelessness in the county aims to create more affordable housing through state and federal funds and to build collaborations between the county's social service agencies.

"We need to start communicating more between agencies so that we can create steps to help homeless individuals have long-term, sustainable home ownership," said Sandie Pierce, the continuum of care coordinator for the Monroe County Network on Homelessness and the project coordinator for the 10-year advisory committee.

The Monroe County Board of Commissioners endorsed the submission of this plan at its last board meeting.

The Ten-Year Plan Advisory Committee submitted its plan to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority last Friday.

The first Michigan Homeless Summit is Oct. 24-25 in Lansing, Mich., to celebrate that It is in celebration of the fact that all the state's 83 counties have submitted 10-year plans to end homelessness.

The state awarded each county a $10,000 planning grant in May.

Monroe's advisory committee will introduce its plan on Nov. 12 as part of activities for Homeless Awareness Week.