Mayor Annise Parker will give an opening address to Charrette participants on Monday, August 20 at 9:15 a.m. Experts from across the country will speak at the Charrette including: Michael DeVos, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness; Joyce Probst MacAlpine of Montgomery, Ohio; Britt Shawver, Housing Opportunities for Women, Chicago; Mike Shore, Community Solutions, 100,000 Homes Campaign and Kim Walker of the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

“Houston is proud to facilitate this convening of leading experts to help prevent and end homelessness through the development of a Community Action Plan,” said Mayor Annise Parker. “Homelessness is an epidemic in Houston – one that is preventable. I look forward to the recommendations that come out of this planning process.”

The Charrette sessions will be held at the Harris County Department of Education, located at 6300 Irvington Boulevard, Conference Room 502, Houston, 77002. The public is invited to attend these meetings, which will address the causes and propose solutions to the multiple facets of homelessness in the greater Houston area. For information on how to participate in the Charrette, please contact Gary Grier, Director of Community Engagement, Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County at ggrier@homelesshouston.org or please call (713) 739-7514.

“Homelessness is a concern for our entire community,” stated Marilyn L. Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County. “The Charrette process is an opportunity for all voices to be heard on this issue. We need to work together to develop an effective action plan to prevent and end homelessness.”

A Charrette is an intensive planning process that jumpstarts and streamlines how a community develops or updates its Community Action Plan. The upcoming Community Charrette on Homelessness, which will encompass Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County, is an opportunity for collaboration among diverse stakeholders to solve community problems related to homelessness. The Community Charrette is a direct result of the current Continuum of Care work being led by the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County.

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Welcome and Overview

9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Integrating Housing and Services

12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Performance and Accountability3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Right Sizing CoC Housing Models

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Welcome and Overview

9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Prevention and Diversion

12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Coordinated Access

3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Building Political Will/Advocacy

10:00 – noon Open office hours for Community Feedback

2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Presentation of Initial Findings/Community Feedback

Session

10:00 a.m. – noon Presentation of the Final Report