The Homeless Assistance Coalition of Racine County needs help with its countywide homeless census on July 28.
The coalition is a group of agencies in Racine County that facilitate and coordinate the provision of emergency food, clothing, shelter, transitional and permanent housing and supportive services to those at risk of becoming homeless and those who are experiencing homelessness.
On July 28, the organization is asking people to help count the local homeless population by reporting if someone experiencing homelessness is spending the night at their home or in out buildings on their property. If you have a person experiencing homelessness sleeping in your home or staying at your property on Wednesday, July 28 please contact Justin at 262-633-3235, x110.
The Homeless Assistance Coalition is also seeking volunteers to help with the census, to assemble “care packages” and to provide donations on our wish list.
The homeless census is important because it is required by the state for the distribution of Continuum of Care Supportive Housing Program money. Agencies in Racine County receive over $1 million in CoC SHP funding each year. These funds provide transitional and permanent supportive housing, and supportive services to persons experiencing homelessness.
Recipients of these funds are Bethany Apartments, Center for Veteran’s Issues, Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization, HOPES Center, Legal Action of Wisconsin, Project New Life, Racine Vocational Ministry, and Women’s Resource Center.
The coalition's wish list for donations includes: Backpacks (new or used), socks, sealed bottled water, clear plastic bags, emergency space blankets, can openers with HITF resource/safety tag, large garbage bags, regular blankets, sterno to heat food, flashlights with batteries, packaged baby items, plastic eating utensils, rain slickers, personal items such as bar soap, shampoo, hair grease, combs, Afro-picks, deodorant, fingernail trimmers, tampons, multivitamins, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss, hearty soup, non perishable foods, nutrition bars, trail mix, bandages/ band-aids, safety pins, toilet tissue, matches, playing cards, bus tokens, phone cards, small toys (packaged) for children, and gift cards or cash donations.
Please deliver donations by Friday, July 23, 2010 to these locations in the City of Racine: Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization at 2000 DeKoven Avenue (24 hours); and the HOPES Center, 506 7th Street (9 am – 6 pm, Monday-Friday).
If you live in Burlington, Union Grove, Waterford or a rural area and would like to make a donation, would like more information or want to volunteer to help HAC make this a success, please contact Nina at (262) 633-3235, x207.
