HHH Hosts Philip Mangano from Washington, DC

above: Philip Mangano pictured talking with HHH leadership members Jerry Gray and Rollon Washington. Jerry and Rollon were eager to invite Mangano to our annual fundraising dance this coming spring.

Philip Mangano, head of the Interagency Council on Homelessness, from Washington, DC joined over a hundred individuals at the Urban Ministry Center last Friday to celebrate Charlotte's 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. Though the City and County have not officially endorsed the plan (though they have "received" it), Mayor McCrory, Councilman Anthony Foxx, Commission Chair Jennifer Roberts, and Commissioner Normal Mitchell were all in attendance and spoke of the importance of the plan and addressing the issue of homelessness. HHH members were happy to see Representative Mel Watt once again, who continues to work to educate himself on the issue. The 10 Year Plan is a collaborative effort and will need each branch of government, as well as the private and independent sector to be effective.

HHH members took charge of logistics of Friday's event, serving as parking directors and greeters. We stood out in our T-shirts, vests, and loud clapping at Mangano's insistence that housing is the key to ending homelessness and that we need to look for solutions, not just management of a problem.

HHH looks forward to upcoming individual meetings with our elected officials to further discuss the plan and the need for their leadership in its implementation.

If you would like to learn more about the plan, you can read the executive summary at: http://www.awayhome.org/MoreThanShelterExecSum.pdf

HHH members are also planning a presentation on the plan that could be brought to your church, synagogue, or civic organization. Contact Liz at 704-926-0608 to set up a presentation.