Open Doors for the Homeless: CHAF's new fundraiser

The Cambridge Housing Assistance Fund knows how to throw a party, with nine successful benefit concerts and four dessert tastings raising over $1,700,000 to prove it. Our supporters always look forward to catching up with friends and supporters from Cambridge and nearby communities united in the mission to prevent and end homelessness.

This year’s fundraising event, Open Doors for the Homeless, promises to continue that tradition. It will take place on Thursday, November 1, 2012 from 6-8:30pm, at the Microsoft New England Research and Development (NERD) Center. Join us for an evening of skyline river views, networking, light classical music provided by members of the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra, heavy hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, and networking.

Philip F. Mangano, President and CEO of the Boston-based group American Round Table to Abolish Homelessness will speak about the need for more solutions that emphasize permanent housing over managing the homeless through the shelter system and other services. We’ll also be inspired by a stirring testimonial from a formerly-homeless client whose life was transformed thanks to CHAF funding and the services of one of our agency partners.

We are excited and grateful that Microsoft is donating the use of its NERD Center, with its spectacular views of the Charles River and the Boston city skyline and attractive open space perfect for relaxing and mingling.

Tickets for this event will be available for $65 prior to October 15, then $75 up until the day of the event. Visit our ticket page ( link to http://chafopendoors.eventbrite.com/) or watch for our invitation in the mail this September. CHAF’s 2012 goal is to raise $150,000 to help 125 homeless or at risk households escape or avoid homelessness by assisting with the startup costs associated with rental housing. For more information, visit our web site at www.chafund.org.

Home Sweet Home for the Homeless Oct. 22, 2011

PLEASE FORWARD TO FRIENDS! LET'S GO VIRAL!

YOU’RE INVITED!

HOME SWEET HOME TO OPEN DOORS FOR THE HOMELESS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2011
Hyatt Regency, Cambridge

Please join us at Home Sweet Home on Oct. 22. You can taste delectable desserts donated by local pastry chefs, wine from local vineyards, enjoy a delicious buffet dinner with local ingredients, dance to the amazing LOVE DOGS and help the homeless move from shelters and streets to homes.

There's more info here: http://www.chafund.org/dessert2011.html

BUY TICKETS HERE: http://www.chafund.org/pages/tickets.html

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=162264663824227

Just donate: http://chafund.org/pages/donation.html

About CHAF: http://www.chafund.org/

Love Dogs sound clips: http://www.thelovedogs.com/

AWESOME AUCTION ITEMS INCLUDE:
- TV Diner guest appearance with Billy Costa (http://www.billycosta.com/)
- One week at Provincetown condo
- Basketball autographed by Paul Pierce
- Tour of Formaggio Kitchen Cheese Cave
- Red Sox tickets
- Bruins tickets
- Ski & Stay packages at Sunday River & Sugarloaf

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Homeless police, firemen and teachers

It's hard to believe that city service workers like police, fireman and school teachers are showing up homeless at CHAF partner agencies HomeStart and the Cambridge Multi Service Center for the Homeless.

Who will put out fires and teach our children? It shows how homelessness can happen to almost anyone. A parent gets ill and can't work, the family falls behind in mortgage or rent payments, you're a paycheck away from life on the street and then yes, you lose your home and end up in the state emergency shelter system, which is all to often a motel room with microwave meals.

There's a great video here about a woman with 5 children living in a motel room in California.

Since 1999 CHAF has raised $1.6 million to help 1,500 homeless or near homeless families and individuals to move from a shelter to a home or, to retain the housing they already have. CHAF’s goal this year is raise another $150,000 to assist 125 more families with rental startup costs.

CHAF partner agencies focus on ‘prevention.’ When a family loses their home, it costs the state $40,000/year of our tax dollars to house that family in the state emergency shelter system. For an average $800, CHAF can help that same family to stay in the housing they have, avoiding the devastation and cost of homelessness. With follow up services from CHAF partner HomeStart, 95% of families remain in their home one year later.

For more info about CHAF: http://www.chafund.org/.

We welcome any donation you would like to make.

Cambridge Homeless Tent City

"Cambridge: A tent city is a policy problem"
--Boston Globe editorial Oct. 9, 2009



"In proudly liberal enclaves, there is sometimes an unspoken alliance between the homeless and the wealthy. The homeless take up residence on street corners and in parks, while powerful neighbors maintain a virtuous silence, either out of respect for self-expression or a desire to turn their unfortunate brethren into a political statement: This city will not hide from sight the victims of an uncaring society."


to continue:


http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2009/10/09/cambridge_a_tent_city_is_a_policy_problem/

"Surge in Homeless Pupils Strains Schools" NYTimes 9/6/09

9-year-old Charity Crowel of Asheville, NC lives in a trailer rented for the summer by her parents. She said of her last semester, “I couldn’t go to sleep, I was worried about all the stuff,” and she often nodded off in class.

This New York Tmes story about the dramatic increase of homeless children in Asheville, NC has national implications and relates to the Cambridge, MA area as well.

A few quotes:

"While current national data are not available, the number of schoolchildren in homeless families appears to have risen by 75 percent to 100 percent in many districts over the last two years, according to Barbara Duffield, policy director of the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, an advocacy group.

There were 679,000 homeless students reported in 2006-7, a total that surpassed one million by last spring, Ms. Duffield said."

“It’s hard enough going to school and growing up, but these kids also have to worry where they’ll be staying that night and whether they’ll eat,” said Bill Murdock, chief executive of Eblen-Kimmel Charities, a private group in Asheville that helps needy families with anything from food baskets and money for utility bills to toiletries and a prom dress.

“We see 8-year-olds telling Mom not to worry, don’t cry,” Mr. Murdock said."

Read the full NY Times story by ERIK ECKHOLM:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/education/06homeless.html?_r=1&em

NY Times Op-Ed Video: Scraping By

"Op-Ed: Scraping By
In the first of a series by the filmmaker Stewart Thorndike on life during the economic crisis, a tent city in Redmond, Wash., is filling up with the newly homeless who are forming a makeshift community." New York Times website, 8-7-09

http://video.nytimes.com/video/playlist/opinion/op-ed/1194833176718/index.html#1247463860996

"5-Year Old Girl Feeds Nearly 18,000 Hungry San Franciscans; What Can You Do?" (VIDEO)

Inspirational story (with video) about a 5-year old girl who starts out collecting cans and raises nearly $4,000 to donate to a food bank:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toan-lam/5-year-old-girl-feeds-nea_b_244854.html

---from Toan Lam's blog on the Huffington Post.

Toan Lam is founder of: http://www.GoInspireGo.com/, a website for people to post inspirational stories so others will be inspired and TAKE ACTION!!