By: Kamaron Collier- Coston

Did you know that over 150,000 Ohioans are homeless but can be provided with help? Did you know some people are homeless because they don’t know where to get help from? Are you aware that homeless people are overlooked because people tend to act like they’re homeless at times even though they are not?

Homelessness is basically people who don’t have a key to a permanent place to stay for multiple reasons. Homelessness statics show the number of homelessness which has remained stubbornly high across the United States. Homelessness in America persists in part because many urban areas remain economically depressed, housing costs have risen rapidly in the past decade. The most proximate cause of homelessness in America is poverty The homeless also face persistent deprivation and constant threat of harm

COHHIO has provided voice for the underrepresented for more than 30 years, originating as the Ohio Housing Coalition (formed in 1974), then merging in 1994 with the Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (formed in 1984) In Ohio, more affordable housing is badly needed. Last year, approximately 150,000 Ohioans were homeless. Approximately 327,000 households spent more than 50 percent of their income on housing, leaving little for other necessities. Foreclosures in 2010 totaled 85,483. Ohio's foreclosure crisis is now in its 16th year. COHHIO supports a range of housing assistance services in Ohio, including homeless prevention, emergency shelters, transitional housing and permanent affordable housing with linkages to supportive services, as needed.

Helping hundreds of housing organizations and homeless service providers pursue their missions, COHHIO provides public policy advocacy, training and technical assistance, research and public education. Since 1994, COHHIO has worked on behalf of every Ohioan in need of housing, in hopes that someday these simple physical structures can become lasting homes filled with life's possibilities August 16, 2011 diversion is a strategy that prevents homelessness for people seeking shelter by immediately indentifying alternate housing arrangements.

100,00 homes campaign is a national movement of communities working together to find permanent homes for 100,000 of the country’s most vulnerable homeless individuals Plan on accomplishing this by July of 2013, In place for all communities Campaign is fundamentally altering America’s response to homelessness by giving communities concrete tools that work and connecting them to likeminded advocates across the country Far more than the usual suspects the campaign team should be an action-oriented group drawn from as many local sectors as possible. The best teams are not afraid to overhaul systems to drive tangible housing outcomes and sustainable change. The local team will consist of more than you will ever expect. Local team will create a by-name and-photograph registry The information found will facilitate data-given negotiations

Dayton and Montgomery County, have more than 960 of our fellow citizens that are considered homeless Individuals make up 61% of the overall population nearly 39% are families with children. There is an unmet need of nearly 200 permanent supportive housing units The state of Ohio have more than 12,000 people that are homeless with more than 1,500 of those persons going unsheltered The fair market rent for a two bedroom is $714  Ohio minimum wage is to be able to pay for a fair market rent The state feels like the homeless rate is out of reach

Estimated that 154,000 were homeless in Veterans make up approximately 15 percent of the homeless population. In 2008, approximately 131,000 veterans were homeless.

 I collaborated with a man name Dr. William Howard and he told me the main reason people are homeless because of poverty. Then he went on to say poverty is rapidly increasing because the economy is not good. So he felt that in order to prevent homeless the economy has to get a lot better and there needs to be more jobs.

 My plan is to find homeless people permanent housing and jobs. My program’s main focus is to get homeless people off the street and help find them permanent places to stay and jobs if their conditions allow them to. So ill start off with 150 people.  I found that a building Downtown on Race Rd. has two floors of open space for $975 a month.  Two security officers for minimum wage is $54,000 a year. Cooks are only $750 a month for 4 cooks. Security system is between  One counselor minimum wage a year is 35,000 a year and so is one nurse.  The job trainers they have volunteer service from different jobs. Food is about a 1000 a month.

 To furnish the place with the correct things will be about 10,000. So all that together is about $175,840. So I still have money left over for emergencies and anything else that’s “needed” or “wanted”  My program will last for 24 months.

 I can get a grant with Red Cross and they will grant me $200,000 for renting, food, employer pay, utilities, supplies, furniture, etc. and there is no deadline for this grant  Also my grandmother owns her own landscaping business called J&J for over 35 years and she said she will grant me $75,000 to get started and/or unexpected expenses.

 Now that you’ve seen my plan you now know what I am trying to accomplish.  What inspired me to do homeless was when I was younger up until now you can’t walk around the corner without seeing someone homeless so I plan to do something about it.  Thank you for taking the time out of your day to watch and learn more about homeless!