HousingWorks Board Member Laura Morrison opens the forum

On Thursday, November 16, HousingWorks Austin assembled dozens of Austin professionals who work with homeless families in the Austin area. Sponsored by Seton Healthcare Family, the forum was a follow-up to our Housing + Health Summit, which took place in November of 2016. It’s purpose was to set into motion an actionable and well-conceived plan to end homelessness in Austin.

The effort aligns with the HUD goal of ending homelessness of families with children nationwide by 2020, taking inspiration from our community’s successful efforts in ending veterans’ homelessness and the ongoing effort on the Coordinated Community Plan to Prevent and End Youth Homelessness.

The event featured a panel discussion moderated by Mark Williams, an Austin Community CollegeTrustee. It including four people who are on the front line in terms of assisting homeless families with children –

• Rose Coleman, Coordinator and District Homeless/Foster Care Liaison, AISD Project HELP
• Tara Greendyk, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, UT Austin Dell Medical School, General Pediatrician
• Kathleen Ridings – Director of Social Services, Salvation Army
• Julie Weeks, RN, MSN. – Austin Voices, Director of AVEY Family Resource Centers and Webb MS Family Resource Center

Ann Howard ECHO Executive Director

The discussion was followed by the presentation of a proposed framework for ending homelessness among families with children by Ann Howard, the Executive Director of Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO). ECHO and HousingWorks Austin plan to work together to make this framework a reality. The event wrapped up with questions and comments from those in attendance. They were also encouraged to submit comments in writing, including ways they can help move this initiative forward.

Look for more information about this in our December newsletter.