We have two great pieces of news!
First, in spring, we were notified that we were successful once again with a HUD application for the LINKs TWO Project, a commitment to develop safe, decent and affordable housing for five chronically homeless and disabled adults. As you know, because the HUD grant is a matching grant - seed money - we are now working diligently to find matching funds. When some of those details are in place we will begin purchasing the units at scattered sites around the county. To date, we have won municipal support for our project in the towns of Teaneck, Garfield, Elmwood Park, Fair Lawn and Englewood, which has allowed us to apply for county HOME dollars. Stay tuned as we move ahead.
Our second piece of great news is that our challenge from the Domain Fund – to raise $40,000 by the end of September – was surpassed! With your generous support we have added another $40,000+ to our Capital Campaign to fund the LINKs TWO Project. Your generosity allows us to keep doing our work…thank you.
Our annual fundraiser Wine and Food: a Perfect Pairing is just one week away. This year's honoree is a man you know quite well: Aldo Cascio, of the Brick House. He has been a good friend and generous supporter through all these years. I hope that you will come and give him the standing ovation that he so richly deserves.
One last bit: the county is moving ahead, albeit slowly, with developing a ten year plan to end chronic homelessness. Not only is this a pragmatic thing to do – if it doesn't, the county can't effectively compete for HUD funding, which impacts our organization tremendously - but it is the right thing to do. And HUD is moving forward with some of its own changes, which will emerge in the coming weeks and months as congress puts its final touches on reform legislation.
These are exciting developments. I, for one, look forward to the day when affordable housing is no longer an oxymoron, when no one has to worry about having a roof over her head, when the work that we do now is no longer necessary.
Warm regards,
Karen E. Amy
President
October 2007