| Who is the Continuum
of Care? We are a consortium of many
agencies in the tri-county area, each of which has a different mission such
as mental health, community government, energy assistance, children's
services, senior services, and so forth.
Based a number of studies, this consortium has concluded that in this area,
the lack of housing is exacerbated by conditions that often characterize the
entire region. These include poverty, unemployment, lower high school
graduation rates, the absence of public transportation, and limited
resources.
Another contributing factor is that in the
Appalachian culture, homeless people will often find refuge with friends and
family, even if the housing is well below sub-standard, over-crowded, and
temporary. Or they will occupy abandoned RV's, trailers, and farm buildings
without electricity, heat, or plumbing.
Finding and identifying the homeless in these situations is critical,
especially for people with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities.
The region is fortunate to have Serenity House, a shelter for women and
children who are homeless or are victims of domestic violence. However, affordable one-bedroom
apartments and housing resources for homeless families are still critical
needs.
Our vision is to move our communities'
residents who find themselves in these
circumstances, along a housing continuum from homelessness or substandard
housing to an appropriate housing situation that meets their needs.
To achieve this vision, we have developed the following goals:
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Create/expand community partners
and linkages. |
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Increase advocacy and outreach.
|
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Increase housing options and
availability. |
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Improve homelessness prevention
systems. |
If you are an entity that provides services that
would fit within our continuum of care, please click on
How You Can Help for more information, or
contact us. |
|
Executive
Committee
Pamela Cox,
Emergency Programs Director, Jackson-Vinton Community Action
Mary Jo Frank,
Ph.D.,
Compliance Director, Woodland Centers, Inc., and Co-chair of the
Executive Committee
Dana L.
Glassburn,
Director/Administrator,
Gallia County
Department of Job & Family Services
Robin Harris, Deputy Director, Gallia-Jackson-Meigs ADAMHS Board
Nina
Keller, Assistant Director/Director of Planning, Area Agency on
Aging District 7, Inc.
Keith Romine,
Housing Director, Gallia-Meigs Community Action
Karen Sprague,
Gallia County Administrator, Gallia County Commis-sioners, and Secretary
of the Continuum
Hilda
Stotts, Executive Director, Serenity House, and Co-chair of the
Executive Committee
Louella Stover, CPA,
Fiscal Officer, Woodland Centers, Inc., and Treasurer of the Continuum
|
The mission/vision of the
Gallia-Jackson-Meigs Continuum of Care is to create a strong coalition of
community partners who collaborate to maximize federal, state, and local
resources and establish linkages to support the planning, funding, and
development of housing options and comprehensive supportive services for
at-risk populations living in the three-county area, one person at a time. |
