"Champion" -- "defender, protector; backer, supporter; victor, winner" (Roget's College Thesaurus)

	Are YOU a champion for ending homelessness?
	Are you interested in or actively involved in some aspect of working together to end homelessness?
	Would you like to see our community's people who are homeless and at-risk of being homeless be victorious in obtaining or maintaining stable housing?
	Have you familiarized yourself with Destination: Home?
	Do you agree with the spirit and philosophy of the plan?

If you can say "yes" to many of these questions, would you consider sending in your signed endorsement, whether as an individual or as your organization, business, congregation, or other group?

We welcome recent endorsements from these "Champions" for ending homelessness:

	Southwestern Indiana Building Trades Council
	Evansville Police Department
	Evansville Housing Authority
	Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation -- New Directions
	Temple Adath B'nai Israel
	Kat Kreations
	Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority
	Senator Bob Deig -- Indiana District 49

Click here to print an endorsement form. Please send in your endorsement if you support the spirit and philosophy of Destination:Home.

Advocates for our community’s people who are homeless joined with Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, Doug Karl and Tom Vargo, of Vectren Corporation, Patty Avery of Old National Bank, Luzada Hayes of Aurora, and other community leaders at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 12, in the Vectren Community Room, One Vectren Square, in Downtown Evansville to celebrate the second anniversary of the implementation of Destination: Home—A Ten-Year Journey to End Homelessness in Evansville and Vanderburgh County.

Over 60 community members attended the event, with media representatives from WIKY, the Evansville Courier & Press, Fox 7 WTVW, and News 25.

This ambitious ten-year plan to end homelessness as we’ve known it, instead of merely “managing” the problem, continues to move forward. Those who attended the anniversary celebration had the opportunity to hear updates on projects and accomplishments related to the plan’s strategies. Announcements of new partnerships and projects were made as well.

Special guests were on hand too. Sherry Seiwert, Executive Director, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, spoke of State efforts and encouraged us locally. Frank Hagaman, President, Partners in Housing Development Corporation, shared photos and his optimism in working with us locally to develop a supportive housing project in the near future.

Area businesses, organizations, and congregations present signed Organizational Endorsements to note their support of the spirit and purpose of the plan. These new endorsements, or champions for ending homelessness, will join the 55 others who have already signified their support. (See article above for new additions.)

This event annually celebrates our achievements as a community toward ending and preventing homelessness in our city and county.

Copies of Destination:Home are available at all local libraries and online at www.destination-home.info .

This City-County commission was established in June 2005 to oversee the implementation of Destination Home.

As 2007 unfolds, the following items are some of the priority strategies:

	Begin development of the Prevention System
	Begin development of supportive housing for singles and couples
	Create a Homeless Youth Council
	Launch Compassionate Connections – equipping congregations for ministry with people in our community who are poor and homeless
	Promote activities related to the "Bridges--a community response to poverty" project

To view more of the 2007 Priority Strategies, click here.

Commission on Homelessness
The next meeting is set for 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007 at Mayor Weinzapfel's office.

Destination: Home, the city-county ten-year plan to end & prevent homelessness, now has its own home on the Internet: www.destination-home.info
The expanded space allows visitors to the site to access more information, photos and documents related to the plan and its various projects.

BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE - Strategy 2: Promote Destination:Home--A Ten-Year Journey to End Homelessness

PRESENTATIONS
Over the past two months, presentations regarding "Destination:Home" and issues related to ending homelessness have been made to groups or representatives of the following entities in this community:
WorkOne community service providers' bi-annual conference; Meet Your Legislators participants; East Evansville Kiwanis; IMPACT Ministries staff; Wheeler Mission Care Center, Indianapolis staff; USI students; YMCA staff; North Park Baptist Church members; and at the 2nd Anniversary Celebration event.

IN THE NEWS
Homeless issues and "Destination:Home" have received media coverage in recent months.
Visit the "In the News" page on the Destination:Home website to select the media coverage or press releases you'd like to view.

OTHER
"Housing Matters! sweatshirts are still available. See order information at the bottom.

The annual Homeless Memorial Service was held Wed., Dec. 20 at Trinity United Methodist Church. For information, photos, and more, click here

LOUISVILLE, KY -- Between 150 and 200 people participated on Tues., Dec. 19, 2006 in the "Home for the Holidays" rally for the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund! The gathering was featured in an article in the Courier-Journal. Rep. Jim Wayne pledged publicly, "I will make the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund my number one priority in Frankfort in 2007!"

Open the Door Campaign advocates that: "The Mayor and the Metro Council must make the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund a top priority in January 2007 by creating a Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund and funding it at the necessary level of $10 million annually in ongoing dedicated public revenue. The immediate passing of the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund is necessary to gain leverage for passing bills to enable Louisville to raise more funds and dedicate them to the Trust, working with Kentucky Representatives and Senators in the 2007 Kentucky General Assembly, which begins Jan 2007."

What is the Housing Trust Fund? A distinct fund established by a city, or other government entity, that permanently dedicates a renewable pubic revenue source to support local affordable housing efforts.

Nationally, Housing Trust Funds have been part of the solution for over 350 cities, counties and states struggling to offer affordable housing for their citizens. For more on Louisville's fund details, visit www.openthedoorlouisville.org/what

In Indiana, the Indiana Affordable Housing and Community Development Fund was established in 1989. The Fund can only be used to support housing for those earning less than 90% of the Area Median Income (AMI), and at least 50% of spending must serve Hoosiers living at or below 50% of AMI. (For Evansville & Vanderburgh Co., our AMI is $56,000. So, 80% would be $44,800 and 50% is $28,000. The greatest need for affordable housing in our area is most often for households at 30% or $16,800, since very little exists yet that is truly affordable.)

Visit www.ourindianahome.org to learn more about the State level fund.
Discover what organizations, businesses, etc. have already endorsed the Fund and consider doing so as well. Click here to see the current partners list.

Contact us to find out how to advocate locally for housing that is affordable to everyone in our community:
Email- info@destination-home.info or Phone: 812.428.3246

Accessing the Full Plan
Destination Home can be found on-line at www.destination-home.info. Copies are also located in the Reference Section of all branches of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Public Library and the Willard Library.

Getting Involved
If you would like to explore a strategy for development, participate in an ongoing strategy or would like more detailed information, please contact
Destination Home Resource Coordinator, Luzada Hayes, at 428-3246 or
e-mail info@destination-home.info.

Funding Sources
Destination Home is funded in part by: Bussing-Koch Foundation, City of Evansville, Fifth Third Foundation, Mission & Ministry Inc., Trinity United Methodist Church and Vectren Corporation.

Your donation supports the city-county implementation of "Destination:Home" strategies, which ultimately aims at empowering ALL residents to arrive at their Destination: Home.

"We are called to heal wounds,
to unite what has fallen apart,
and to bring home
those who have lost their way.
- St. Francis of Assisi

To financially support Destination:Home
strategies and endeavors,
send checks made payable to
Aurora, Inc., 1100 Lincoln Avenue, PO Box 74, Evansville, IN 47701-0074.
You may also make donations online via PayPal or your checking/debit card by clicking on the "Make a Donation" button above.

Mail or drop off payment (check or cash only) to:
Aurora, 1100 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN 47714

PRE-PAID ORDERS ONLY!