Allentown Homeless.. We're On It!

It's just taking us a while.
     Maybe the city leaders think everyone should chill out for a few more years.

I've always been of the mindset that if those in charge don't want to deal with a problem they form a committee.

Committees are a great way of getting everyone involved to work around a problem without actually having do something.

What follows are some brief copy/paste excerpts regarding Allentown dealing with it's homeless problem in chronological order.


Allentown’s Plan to End Chronic Homelessness by 2017
First Lady’s Commission to End Chronic Homelessness Commission Report
June 4, 2007"Allentown’s ten-year plan consists of an evaluation process that includes a Data Collection Process Evaluation and a Planning Process"

SOURCE: City Of Allentown
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Allentown details its homeless strategy
City looks to end issue with 10-year plan that includes more housing
June 05, 2007
By Kathleen Parrish Of The Morning Call"Some of the goals of the plan include: Making 15 permanent housing units available each year for a total of 150."

SOURCE: The Morning Call
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

NEWS RELEASE
October 8, 2009
HOMELESSNESS COMMISSION ISSUES 2ND YEAR REPORT

The Allentown Commission to End Chronic Homelessness says its second year efforts have reflected a greater integration of successful practices and a more unified community approach to the issue of homelessness in the City of Allentown....

Steering Committee Co-chairs First Lady Lisa Pawlowski and Allentown Deputy Director of Community & Economic Development Lauren Giguere and commission members released a summary of second year activities during a morning news conference in city hall....

The commission was formed in June 2006 to create and implement a plan to end homelessness within 10 years in the city. At its inception, the commission was comprised of 53 members representing civic and government offices, private business, social service and religious professionals. Participants recognized a need to address the needs of chronic homeless and to tighten up the safety net.

SOURCE: City Of Allentown
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Allentown on track to end chronic homelessness in city
October 09, 2009
By Arlene Martinez OF THE MORNING CALL"The mayor also discussed the $1.2 million the city received in federal stimulus funds to help combat homelessness... It doled out the rest of the money to Catholic Charities, the Lehigh Valley Conference of Churches, the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living, the Salvation Army and Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley.... The agencies will use the money for homelessness prevention, education and outreach, job training and and help move others into permanent housing."

SOURCE: The Morning Call
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Allentown residents urge city hall to open its doors to the homeless
January 15, 2014
Colin McEvoy | The Express-Times"Councilman Joe Davis said a council committee will host a public meeting on Feb. 12 to discuss the ongoing implementation of a long-term housing plan, which would include homelessness issues."

SOURCE: Lehigh Valley Live.com
~ ~ ~ ~ ~


As you can see Allentown has been pondering this problem for almost eight years now (since 2006). They set a goal not too steep for themselves. The hopes are by 2017 this committee will have this problem licked. So hence everybody needs to chill out. The freezing homeless still have 3 years to wait and see how this all turns out.

BTW
Anyone else notice which months these stories were released in 2007 and 2009?

Like I said, one sure fire way to get out of doing something is to form a committee



UPDATED
(01/22 & 23/2014)
The Morning Call- Allentown: We have enough shelter space for the homeless
Lehigh Valley Live: Allentown rejects call for more homeless shelter, says space already exists
WFMZ: Francis Dougherty indicates Allentown has enough shelters

Letter Courtesy of...
Grass-Roots Alliance for Neighborhood Development (GRAND)

Also Check Out My 01/23/2014 Post Follow-Up...
Allentown issues Code Blue and opens YMCA as a shelter


UPDATED
(10/07/2014)
WFMZ is reporting, "A homeless shelter that can accommodate at least 50 people will open in the middle of Allentown on Nov. 1"