Homelessness forum slated on Wednesday
Published 12:01 am Monday, November 12, 2012
BLYN — How creating affordable housing contributes to the economy and jobs will be addressed by state Housing Finance Commission Executive Director Kim Herman at the second annual Regional Forum on Affordable Housing and Ending Homelessness across the North Olympic Peninsula on Wednesday.
The free forum is planned from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center’s Red Cedar Hall, 1033 Old Blyn Highway.
It is open to all who are interested in ending homelessness and increasing affordable housing in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
The forum continues the two-county regional approach begun last year to plan and implement effective, cost-efficient affordable-housing strategies to end homelessness across the North Olympic Peninsula, organizers said.
Herman has served as executive director of the state Housing Finance Commission since 1983, and during his tenure, the commission has issued more than $3.8 billion in bonds to finance more than 65,000 housing units and 50 nonprofit capital facilities.
Local units include Fairchild, Evergreen Court, Peninsula Apartments in Forks and Elk Creek in Sequim.
Anthony Sparber of the Washington Veterans Home in Retsil will discuss delivering housing and services for homeless veterans.
Heather Lyons of the Corporation for Supportive Housing in Portland, Ore., will speak on framing intercommunity and cross-jurisdictional success in ending homelessness in rural communities.
Lyons wrote and guided the initial implementation of Portland’s 10-year plan to end homelessness, which served as an inspiration for Clallam County’s plan.
Her expertise in building community and political will to end homelessness in rural areas will set the stage for breakout groups that will frame the next steps for local planning and implementation.
Sponsors are the Shelter Providers Network of Clallam County, Peninsula Housing Authority, Serenity House of Clallam County, the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe and Olympic Community Action Programs.
To RSVP, email shelterprovidersnetwork@gmail.com or phone forum moderator Martha Ireland at 360-452-4737.
