Homeless People Action Networks HPAN Summary of Accomplishments and Closing Report July 27, 2012 Katherine Nguyen

Opening Comments My name is Katherine Nguyen, and I am the Summer Bonner Advocacy Fellow from the Bonner Foundation for the summer of 2012. I am a rising sophomore at Rutgers University- Camden, and I am a nursing major. I was inspired to work more with people experiencing homelessness after the summer of 2008 when I volunteered for a day at DC Central Kitchen. Prior to my experience there, my perspective on homelessness had been fueled by ignorance on the issues and stereotypes. Now, I am committed to focusing on homelessness issues for the rest of my life. At my university, I am part of a civic engagement program called Civic Scholars, where once a week I am able to volunteer at a community healthcare clinic that provides medical care and counseling to the at-risk, homeless, and uninsured population. I am so fortunate to work locally with such a vibrant, caring community in Camden. To be able to research and tackle homelessness on a national level was a dream for me. I would like to thank the National Coalition for the Homeless for giving me the opportunity to work on a project of this magnitude and undertaking. It is incredible that I worked on this project for 8 weeks and was able to learn so much, not only about community organizing, but also about program development, organization and documentation, networking, taking initiative, and trusting my instincts. The conceptualization and goals of the Homeless People Action Networks project are long-term, and my goal was to establish the foundation for the project and to conduct the initial DC and national outreach. While my primary task, the HPAN development process, was certainly challenging, I know that the biggest challenge of the project will be the recruitment process, and establishing relationships and trust with local homeless advocacy groups.

Summary of HPAN Materials 1. On the H: Drive, all my documents pertaining to HPAN will be in an HPAN folder. . HPAN OUTLINE (Word document) -what is HPAN -why HPAN is necessary -strategic plan for the program . HPAN Outreach Contact Information_1 (Word document) -compiled list of 49 contacts in the US . HPAN Brainstorm of Ideas (Word document) -list of advocacy issues and populations for focus -this list is not meant to bias people, but it can be used by HPAN groups as a guide if they are unsure of what they want to advocate for/what their area of focus should be, or if they feel the need to identify themselves as being in a specific group . HPAN working pitch (Word document) -HPAN proposal and questionnaire that I used in the initial emails/voicemails I sent out to the contacts to recruit people and spark discussion . Outreach Documentation Summer 2012 (Excel spreadsheet) -log of my outreach progress and follow-up status with advocacy groups . HPAN Website Brainstorm (Word document) -brainstorm of what I think a webpage on the NCH website for HPAN should include . *HCH-VAD Year 3 Update (Word document) -this document is from Vanessa Borotz, an AmeriCorps Vista member in Baltimore -talks about her work with the Speaker’s Bureau People who have responded with substantial interest . STEVE (Steve Thomas, NCH Speaker’s Bureau) [email protected] . Nate Fox (Connecticut, Beat of the Street newspaper) [email protected] . Joanna Gervais/Michael Jefferson (Baltimore AmeriCorps Vista members, B’More Housing for All, Word on the Street newspaper) [email protected]; [email protected] . Brian Davis (NCH Board member, NEOCH Homeless Congress) [email protected] . Geoff Millard (Friendship Place, Veterans’ advocacy) [email protected] . *David Pirtle (unofficial leader of HPAN movement at NCH) [email protected] . David Obele (NY Coalition for the Homeless Re: Patrick Markee) 212-776-2003, [email protected]

Possible interest . SOME [email protected] . COHHO [email protected] . DC Central Kitchen [email protected] . DC Catholic Charities [email protected] . Samaritan ministry [email protected] . DASH DC [email protected] . National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty [email protected] . Greg Sileo [email protected] . San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness [email protected] . DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence [email protected] . Vanessa Borotz [email protected] . Patrick Markee [email protected]

Had personal meetings about HPAN with . Geoff Millard . DC Central Kitchen (roundtable discussion)

To Do . Continue outreach and follow-up efforts via -email -telephone -conference calls -personal meetings . Utilize social media by creating -NCH webpage -Facebook group -blog -Twitter . Reach out to NCH Board of Directors and give an updated presentation of HPAN w/David Pirtle . Reach out to Speaker’s Bureau to get videos for promoting HPAN . Develop leadership training program for HPAN groups -NCH has partners that are willing to provide business and management training (American Express) . For HPAN groups that are established, work with them to develop a clear and specific focus to ensure that they can infiltrate public systems confidently . Encourage conversation among HPAN groups by using social media . Investigate past mistakes w/program development and HPAN to ensure the same mistakes don’t get made