Research shows that reading to children and creating interactive experiences with books is central to a child’s future reading success. In fact, reading books to young children is not only one of the best activities to stimulate language and cognitive skills, but also builds their motivation for reading along with curiosity and remembering what was read. As reported by the National Center for Educational Statistics, “20 minutes…of daily reading beyond the regular reading program significantly increases student reading achievement.”

This week, January 23-27, 2012, the Department of Education’s Just Read, Florida! and the Florida Office of Early Learning are partnering for the fourth annual Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! The intent of the weeklong celebration is to promote the enjoyment of reading for children and adults of all ages. The theme of Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! 2012 is “Take the Lead and Read!” This represents the idea that administrators, teachers, students, and parents are all leaders and can take the challenge to lead others toward success.

The kids at Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida are no exception to this week’s celebration. As an agency that provides services to more than 250 children a night, early literacy is extremely important to us. The youngsters in our fully licensed daycare and VPK classroom have been “reading” Chicka Chicka 123 with their teachers in order to do their part in racking up minutes for the state-wide initiative’s Million Minute Marathon. In addition to keeping track of the time they’ve spent reading, our tikes are truly interacting with this year’s designated book by participating in several fun extension activities related to the story.

Check out the Celebrate Literacy, Florida! 2012 event and activities to find out exactly what the Coalition kids have been up to this week!

The National Alliance to End Homelessness recently released their second of The State of Homelessness in America series. The report uses the most recently available national data to examine homelessness between 2009 and 2011.

Despite being a period of economic downturn in the nation, homelessness in America reportedly decreased by one percent from 2009 to 2011. The National Alliance to End Homelessness attributes the decrease in homelessness to innovative, federally funded approaches, such as the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). HPRP was initiated in January 2010 with a focus on preventing a recession-related increase in homelessness. The program has assisted more than one million people to date, but unfortunately is only temporary. Funding will run out this year.

The 52-page report takes a close look at not only homelessness data, but also the associated economic and demographic data. Although we highly suggest that you read the full report, here are a few especially noteworthy findings:

• Over the course of a year, the odds of experiencing homelessness for a person in the general US population are 1 in 194;
  • for a person discharged from prison or jail, the odds are 1 in 13;
  • for a person living doubled-up (living with friends, family or other nonrelatives for economic reasons), the odds are 1 in 12;
  • and for a person who has aged out of foster care, the odds are 1 in 11.
• Of the approximate 636,000 individuals who are homeless [on a given night] in America, nearly 4 in 10 are unsheltered (living in the streets, cars, abandoned buildings, or other places not intended for human habitation).
• Although the national homeless population decreased, the homeless population increased in 24 of 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
• About 69% of the homeless population is located in the 100 most populated metropolitan areas.
  • Florida is 1 of 2 states that account for 13 of the 24 total metro areas where the rates of homelessness are higher than the national rate.
  • Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL is the metro area with the highest rate of homelessness in the US.
• The average real income of the working poor increased slightly from $9,300 in 2009 to about $9,400 in 2010.
  • However, there’s not a single county in the nation where a family with an average annual income of $9,400 can afford fair market rent for a one-bedroom unit.
• The number of poor households which pay more than 50% of their income on rent increased 22% from 2007 to 2010.
• Nationally, 1 out of every 45 housing units had a foreclosure in 2010, a more than 100% increase from 2007.

As The State of Homelessness in America 2012 reveals, there is much work left to do to end homelessness in America. Research from this report delves into important risk factors for homelessness; but the good news is the success of the HPRP has demonstrated that homelessness can be reduced. A number of strategies to do so are in the report.

What do you think?

Coalition for the Homeless could not exist without the dedicated volunteers and donors who help us in our mission to transform the lives of homeless men, women and children. Periodically, we like to highlight an individual or group who has gone above and beyond to help us.

Expedia Local Expert – Orlando is undeniably deserving of this recognition. “I realized that we didn’t do any philanthropy in Orlando,” said Eric David, Regional Manager. So, after a series of votes to determine which local organization they would partner with, Expedia employees chose Coalition for the Homeless!

To begin their service to the Coalition, Expedia made an in-kind donation to the 2011 Golf Challenge. Since then, they have quickly become known around the Coalition for far more than their online travel services. In fact, over the past eight months, the Expedia team has exceeded any expectations we could have for our volunteers and donors.

Only a few months after donating to the Golf Challenge, around 40 Expedia employees volunteered at Share Our Strength’s 22nd Annual Taste of the Nation, which locally benefits Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, as well as Florida Impact. In the same month, the Expedia team held a supply drive and donated about $1,000 worth of diapers and baby wipes. To our delight, merely a few days later, they sponsored a ‘Bounce House’ for the Coalition’s 2011 Back to School Festival.

Expedia’s generosity continued through Fall 2011, as they provided and served several meals to our residents via the Community Meal Service Program. In addition, our wonderful new friends at Expedia held another supply drive and donated approximately $5,000 worth of hygiene items to the men who call the Coalition “home.”

As if all of that weren’t enough, just last week, Eric and his crew brought us a check for $5,000 from the Expedia, Inc. corporate offices in Bellevue, Washington!

“Anytime you guys need us, we step up and try to do our best,” stated Eric. And they do. Every time they walk through our doors, we are floored by their kindness! We can’t thank them enough for all they have done for the Coalition.

As we prepare to break ground on the Coalition for the Homeless’ upcoming Men’s Service Center, we would like to begin sharing with you the stories of some of the men who have called the Coalition “home” on a nightly basis. Although each of their stories is different, they all believe that the new facility will be tremendously beneficial to homeless men.

Without further ado, meet Roger.

After losing his job in early May, Roger made plans to return to his home state of North Carolina because he felt he had few other options remaining. First, though, he stopped by the Coalition to tell a friend about his situation. At the time, his friend was in the Coalition’s First Steps Shelter Recovery Program for Men and, upon hearing this during his visit, Roger inquired about the program. Roger had been using drugs and alcohol for several years, and the Coalition’s unique substance abuse recovery program sounded like it might be just what he needed in order to turn things around. He recalls, “The more [my friend] told me about the program, the more interested I became… I thought, ‘This is something I want to do.’”

Roger was accepted into the First Steps Shelter Recovery Program only a few days later. This was the beginning of his journey to a better life. During this four-month component of the First Steps program, he attended classes two to three times a day, alongside fellow clients. First Steps includes a variety of services, from 12-step recovery meetings to anger management and yoga. While battling his addictions, health issues that had previously taken a back seat to his habits emerged as well. With the Coalition’s help, however, Roger was directed to clinics that have helped uncover and address some of these problems.

In October 2011, Roger moved into the First Steps Transitional Housing Program, which offers housing in nine on-site transitional apartments to men who have completed the Shelter Recovery component or a similar substance abuse recovery program. This six to eight month program offers clients the opportunity to grow in their recovery, discuss real life issues, learn relapse prevention techniques and benefit from group support.

In addition to working on his own path to independence, Roger facilitates on-site AA/NA meetings and also helps out with the dinner meal in the Men’s Pavilion each night. “Throughout the process,” he said, “I discovered that I have a gift to help others. This place has helped me so much while asking for nothing in return, so I feel like I need to do my part.”

While smiling, Roger admits that he, like many, used to avoid the Coalition because he had the misconception that it was a place for “low lifes.” But after visiting the campus and seeing a friend’s life transform firsthand, he realized how much he, too, could benefit from the services and programs that are offered. At the end of our conversation, Roger shared his enthusiasm for the Coalition’s upcoming Men’s Service Center. He is confident that the new facility will be of great assistance to the most underserved population of the homeless, single men.

Stay tuned for more Coalition men’s stories and for possible updates on Roger, as he continues along his path to self-sufficiency!

According to The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 2010 Summary Report released on December 14, 2011 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States. That amounts to about 12 million women and men a year!

The NISVS, a CDC public health surveillance system designed to describe and monitor the magnitude of sexual violence, stalking and intimate partner violence victimization in the US, reports that one in four women has been a victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner. Likewise, and very interestingly, one in seven men has experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner at some point in his lifetime.

Violent acts have an overwhelming impact on the lives of victims, in particular women, who are more likely to report immediate impacts and long-term health problems caused by their victimization. Victims are more likely than non-victims to face physical and mental health problems. In addition, sexual violence and intimate partner violence can result in homelessness. Victims may flee their home, sometimes with only the clothes on their backs. In fact, escaping domestic violence is among the main contributors to homelessness.

Last fiscal year, nearly 1,000 victims of crime received shelter, counseling and support through Coalition for the Homeless. The Coalition’s Women’s Residential and Counseling Center (WRCC) has evolved over the years to become an important resource for homeless single women and women with children, many of whom are victims of crime. Last year, in fact, over 84 percent of the women who came to WRCC were victims of crime, predominantly domestic violence. Clients who live at WRCC are case-managed and have access to a wide variety of resources and services, including a victim services program located on-site. WRCC also operates a 24-hour Crisis Hotline, which addressed over 4,500 calls last year.

As highlighted in the CDC’s release, but often unrecognized by the public, men, too, are often victims of domestic violence. This has resulted in significantly more physical and mental health problems than in non-victims, and also causes us to wonder what role such violence might have played in the lives of some of the men who seek shelter nightly at the Coalition’s Men’s Pavilion. Perhaps, the answer will become more apparent when we are finally able to provide case management and supportive services to these men through our upcoming Men’s Service Center.

“The information collected in this ongoing survey will serve as a vital tool in the Administration’s efforts to combat domestic violence and sexual abuse,” said Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Have you ever linked domestic violence with homeless men?

According to a report recently released by The National Center on Family Homelessness, Florida has one of the worst rates of child homelessness in the country. In fact, on a scale of 1-50 (1 being the best; 50 being the worst), Florida ranked 42^nd, which is only a slight improvement from last year’s 43^rd position. The rankings are based on data and research from 2006-2010 and take into account the extent of child homelessness, child well-being, risk for homelessness, and state policy and planning efforts.

The revealing 124-page study, America’s Youngest Outcasts 2010, recounts that more than 1.6 million children are homeless annually in America, a 38% increase from 2007 to 2010. The streets of Florida were home to nearly 84,000 of these children in 2010. “There are more homeless children today than after the natural disasters of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which caused historic levels of homelessness in 2006,” stated Ellen Bassuck, MD, President and Founder of The National Center on Family Homelessness and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Homelessness can foster a myriad number of problems for children, such as low self-esteem, behavioral problems, poor social skills, and stigmas about homelessness. In addition, the report highlights that “children experiencing homelessness in America suffer from hunger and poor physical and emotional health, as well as limited academic proficiency in reading and math.” Coalition for the Homeless recognizes these unique struggles faced by children experiencing homelessness.

The Coalition is the largest residential facility for children in Central Florida. On any given night, we serve over 250 children with an average age of eight years old. Because of the growing number of children calling the Coalition “home,” numerous services specifically designed for kids are available.

Help us in our mission to transform the lives of homeless men, women and children by donating and/or volunteering today! Together we can improve the grim statistics.

This past weekend was a very eventful one here at Coalition for the Homeless. With the holidays right around the corner, there was something exciting for all of our residents to do.

In the scramble of preparing and celebrating, we sometimes forget that the holidays are, most importantly, a time for family and friends. Families at both the Coalition’s Women’s Residential and Counseling Center and Center for Women and Families were able to capture a day of family fun on film, however, thanks to Help-Portrait Central Florida.

Help-Portrait, a movement of photographers using their time, equipment and expertise to give back to those who are less fortunate, gives professional quality portrait photographs to people who could otherwise not afford them. Between looking for a job or going to school and trying to save money for the future, homeless individuals often don’t have the time or opportunity to slow down and smile for a camera. But alongside Paul Mitchell The School make-up artists and hairstylists, image editors, and videographers, the Help-Portrait photographers were able to give the men, women and children who call the Coalition “home” a truly special gift – a professional quality portrait. Thanks Help-Portrait!

Also last weekend, Hands On Orlando hosted the beloved monthly children’s birthday party. The homeless children with December birthdays were given a bona fide birthday party including gifts, party favors, cake, drinks and decorations. Of course, all of the other children were also invited to attend the party to help celebrate. Hands On Orlando has hosted children’s birthday parties at the Coalition every month since 2002 to ensure that every child has a happy birthday!

In addition to the Help-Portrait’s photo shoot and children’s birthday party, a group of Coalition kids took a field trip to the Orlando Repertory Theatre to see “A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas.” The musical comedy, which puts a fun twist on the traditional Nutcracker tale, is Orlando Rep’s holiday production. Combined with the trees, lights and tinsel decorating the Coalition, the viewing of this musical certainly helped put our homeless families with children at the Coalition in the holiday spirit.

The weekend did not end there, however. For the kids with an interest in sports, Mark Cavalleri and friends provided a great time playing flag-football on Saturday afternoon. In fact, Coach Mark plays flag-football with the kids every Saturday!

Thanks so much to all of our wonderful volunteers for giving us such a great weekend! Our clients’ spirits are up and the halls are buzzing as we prepare for the upcoming holidays.

While shopping for the holidays this year, don’t forget to pick up a few items for the Coalition for the Homeless 2011 holiday gift-giving tradition. Although we are grateful to those who have already signed up, we still need more gift-givers! In light of this, we have extended the deadline for submitting your web-based form to Monday, December 12, 2011. That only gives us one more week to accumulate enough items to spread holiday joy amongst the homeless adults and children who call the Coalition “home.”

We need your help!

Please visit our website to learn more about our longstanding gift-giving tradition, view the wish list of the most-asked-for items, and sign up. Simply select the gifts and quantities you’ll buy, submit the web-based form, and bring your unwrapped gifts to the Coalition’s Women’s Residential and Counseling Center (WRCC) by December 15, 2011. We also ask that you join us on December 22, 2011 at our main campus as we distribute the gifts and celebrate the holiday season. You will truly help make the holidays special for our homeless residents.

While thinking about which purchases you’ll make, keep in mind that we are especially in need of gifts for adults, gift cards, and baby dolls for African-American and Hispanic children!

Thank you for reaching out to the Coalition’s homeless residents this holiday season.

Please contact marty.vevera@cflhomeless.org or jenn.hollern@cflhomeless.org with any questions.

Thanksgiving is an extra-special day at Coalition for the Homeless.  Thanks to our wonderful community partners, the men, women and families with children who have turned to us for food, shelter and services get to experience “Turkey Day” much like others in Central Florida.  As past residents have shared, the day provides a respite from their current crisis and feelings of hope for the future.

For the 19^th year, about 130 Orlando Magic staffers and volunteers will serve a delicious Thanksgiving breakfast of eggs, grits, bacon, biscuits, pastries and juice to more than 700 residents and members of the community who are hungry.  Hot chocolate, coffee, and fixings are donated by Panera Bread. To host the occasion, the Coalition’s Men’s Pavilion will be decorated to a tee; and our guests will be thrilled to meet and be served by Orlando Magic President Alex Martins, President of Basketball Operations/GM Otis Smith, Coach Stan Van Gundy, and Community Ambassador Bo Outlaw!

The Magic will also host a special carnival for children, immediately following breakfast, at the Coalition’s main campus.  Festivities include guest appearances by STUFF the Magic Mascot and the Magic Dancers, the Fanbulance, face painting, and music by Star 94.5 and Power 95.3.  Adults and children are treated to haircuts by 50 stylists from Paul Mitchell The School, as well as yummy cookies, Danish and bagels from Panera Bread.  A special carnival thrill for the kids this year will be Puddleby Pony and Smooch the pig.

In past years, clients from our Women’s Residential and Counseling Center (WRCC) came to the main campus to enjoy the morning festivities.  This year, thanks to Refuge Touch Church, Hilton Grand Vacations, Orlando Health, Winter Park High School Fishing Club, Life Center Church, Break Thru the Generation, Blessed and Delivered, VTICU/CRCU nursing teams, the Dorman and Tajudeen families, and several of our regular volunteers, a special breakfast and carnival will take place there as well.

And how about the traditional turkey and fixin’s?  We are grateful that Walt Disney World Resort is serving Thanksgiving dinner at both main campus dining areas, as they have done for many years.  Chef Tony Marotta and his team began Sunday to prepare for the feast, which includes roasted turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans, and pumpkin pie, when the team started making sauces, gravy, stuffing and cranberry relish – all from scratch.  A delicious dinner will also be served at WRCC thanks to Carter Tabernacle CME Church.

Another tradition is tonight’s Thanksgiving eve meal cooked and served by Planet Hollywood and radio station XL 106.7.  We can almost smell the wonderful aroma in the hallways already!!

Thank you to all who continue to give of themselves to the men, women and children who call the Coalition “home.”  A special debt of gratitude to volunteer photographer Frank Mitchell, who will make sure we’ll have loads of photos to post after the event.

Rollins College Office of Community Engagement ensured that the kids would arrive in style, arranging for a Mears “Disney Cruise” bus to transport everyone across town. Even more special, the bus driver entertained the group with jokes and quirky magic tricks (even revealing a few of his secrets!) during the ride.

This group of goofy kids also did a lot more than cheer during the game. Check out their thank you video below for a look into the lives of these young soccer/dance enthusiasts.