COLUMBUS COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS
89 Avondale Ave, Columbus, OH 43222 www.columbushomeless.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: To empower homeless persons to achieve greater self-sufficiency, to advocate on behalf of homeless persons and organizations that serve them; and to work together to educate the central Ohio community about the devastating effects of homelessness upon individuals and families.

The Columbus Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) continued its important work during 2018 as the only advocacy and education organization in Columbus, Ohio. With an extremely limited budget, the organization nevertheless maintained all of its programs and continued to serve approximately 1,200 individuals through its various activities. Accomplishments: Primary efforts throughout the year included the street newspaper, Street Speech where 65 vendors prepared and sold a monthly journal focused on homeless and poverty issues. Street Speech is unique because it offers employment primarily to those whom no other organization will hire. This is because of the vendors past and/or present history of mental illness and chemical dependency, incarceration, eviction, inadequate education and limited skills. CCH continued its monthly meetings attended by most homeless provider agencies in the city. These meetings help homeless persons, staff from community groups, the faith-based community and those wishing to learn about the homeless programs to network and discuss common issues. They also serve to identify system and agency problems and consider solutions. While our approach toward resolving observed difficulties is collaborative, we can also become assertive, when the rights of homeless persons are significantly violated. Monthly meetings also offer participants many educational opportunities throughout the year and to receive updated information about community resources, housing, mental health and chemical dependency issues. In addition to the above, CCH provided its annual Homeless Mothers Day Brunch serving 400 women and children with a banquet. Photographic portraits, library books, health screenings and a gift bag with hygiene items and face painting for kids round out the day. About 80 persons attended The Annual Memorial Service, the largest group ever attending. Honoring those homeless and formerly homeless persons who have died during, the past year, CCH celebrated the lives of 86 individuals, also the largest number the organization has ever identified. To improve and create change for those experiencing homelessness, CCH participated on the local Continuum of Care, the primary group to evaluate programming and determine funding allocations in Columbus. CCH serves as one of only two other groups with primary advocacy agendas. Participation with this group is critical because it is one of the few ways in which non-profit Executives, funders and government agencies can hear about the harsh realities and inadequacies in the current homeless system. Lastly, CCH has revised, updated and expanded its Streetcard, a two-sided document containing the critical shelter, health, and food resources required by anyone in a housing crisis. This service also located on our website is a component of our Information and Referral program, where we received hundreds of phone calls annually by those looking for help. Challenges: CCH faces a number of serious challenges in the future: In any viable organization it is essential to consistently evaluate then strengths and limitations of all aspects of its program. CCHs Board determined this year that it needed to hold a retreat to honestly evaluate the organizations direction for the present and the future. The candid discussion revealed that the Board had a responsibility to make significant changes in certain key areas. These included: a) increasing and diversifying membership at large and the Board; b) identifying an advocacy agenda and building community support to achieve attainable goals; and c) strengthening the organizations street newspaper. The Board also agreed that it must dramatically improve its fundraising methodologies and develop multiple strategies to raise dollars through donations, grants, social entrepreneurships, merger or other formats which could offer firmer sustainability Many of the actions to implement some of the above goals have taken place and the Board is optimistic about the ongoing progress.

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