Boston Faith and Community Leaders Join Forces to Prevent Family Homelessness

BOSTON - April 19, 2016 - PRLog -- More than 100 faith and community leaders working to end family homelessness will gather on Tues., April 26, 2016, to participate in "A Summit on Homelessness Prevention." The event is being produced by City Mission, the oldest multi-service social justice agency in New England, and Trinity Church Boston, Copley Square, where the summit will be held.

The number of Boston families without homes has increased by 25 percent in the past year, according to the annual census conducted by the U.S. Department of Human Health and Services and tracked by FamilyAid Boston. Against this critical backdrop, the goal of the summit is to recommend and drive actions to end family homelessness in the city, thereby averting the social, emotional, and cognitive harms that have long-lasting consequences for homeless children and their parents or caretakers, as well as for the entire community.

Attendees, including Homestart, ABCD, Children's Health Watch, Homes for Families, representatives from eight Boston congregations and faith-based programs as well as families that have experienced housing insecurity themselves, will focus on finding ways for the nonprofit, private, and public sectors to work in partnership to prevent homelessness.

"There are many great institutions, organizations and efforts focused on serving Boston's homeless families," said Rev. June Cooper, City Mission's Executive Director. "We must couple compassionate service with actions to stem this epidemic of family homelessness. By holding this summit, we hope to pull together disparate efforts and end the day with one impactful next step to end homelessness for families in Boston."

Attendees and speakers at the summit include:

·          Chrystal Kornegay, Undersecretary at the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development

·          Dr. Donna Haig Friedman, UMass Boston Center for Social Policy

·          Dr. S. Atyia Martin, Chief Resiliency Officer, City of Boston

·          Christine and Sandy, City Mission's A Lift Up homelessness prevention program

·          Lyndia Downie, Executive Director, Pine Street Inn

The event will also honor Sister Margaret Leonard, the founder of Project Hope, of North Dorchester/Roxbury,a pioneering organization founded by the Little Sisters of the Assumption in the movement to prevent family homelessness. Sister Margaret has been a catalyst in forging strategic alliances, partnerships, and collaborations at local, city, and state levels that create a continuum of care and support for low-income families in the movement from crisis to stability. She has long served on the boards of the Pine Street Inn, Homes for Families, and the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1694797080732918/.

City Mission is the oldest multi-service social justice agency in New England, and celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2016. With an emphasis on homelessness prevention, CM's mission is to root out poverty in our neighborhoods through programs and activities that engage, empower, and educate. Learn more at www.citymissionboston.org, and on Facebook.

Trinity Church in the City of Boston has long been recognized as an urban crossroads for contemplation, culture, and conversation. Home to a thriving Episcopal parish, Trinity bustles with worship, music, education, and community service activities seven days a week. In partnership with others, Trinity hosts lectures, concerts, and other events. More than 100,000 people annually visit this National Historic Landmark, recognized as one of the ten most architecturally significant buildings in the U.S., to tour, pray, or come together. Learn more at www.trinitychurchboston.org, and on Facebook.