Mall Network Summit A Success!
October 2007
On October 4th, individuals representing nearly 75 US cities gathered in Los
Angeles to convene the National Mall Network Summit. Co-chaired by Los Angeles
County Chair Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, and
former Century Housing CEO G. Allan Kingston, the Summit included a keynote
address by United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and drew
participation from various community leaders across the U.S. involved in efforts
to reduce homelessness.
The Summit discussed what many communities have quietly observed, but only
recently questioned- Are shelters and feeding programs effectively helping
homeless people off the streets or are they part of the problem? Do we really
have the will to end homelessness in ten years? What will it take to overcome
NIMBY-ism (Not In My Backyard) in order to site housing and services for the
homeless?
A MILE IN MY SHOES
The Mall Network Summit program included a special segment entitled “A Mile In
My Shoes,” where Summit participants followed in the footsteps of a family
navigating the social services system and in urgent need of help. Their story is
not unlike the real-life stories and challenges experienced each day by the
90,000 homeless individuals in Los Angeles County. Summit participants walked
alongside this family in their struggle for a place to sleep for the night, food
and a permanent home, in an effort to help participants gain new insights into
the tremendous challenges and frustrations that homeless families and
individuals face – as well as the tremendous courage, stamina and perseverance
that must accompany the journey.
PARTICIPANTS: Nationally recognized community leaders including:
Deputy Secretary Mark Johnston,
US Department of Housing and Urban Development
Philip F. Mangano, Executive Director,
US Interagency Council on Homelessness
Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky- Chair,
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Councilmember Jan Perry- City of Los Angeles
Commissioner Robert V. Hess,
New York City, Department of Homeless Services
Councilmember Angela Hunt,
City of Dallas
Garrison Smith,
Los Angeles County, Chief Executive Office
David Raymond,
Executive Dir., Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust
Tina Shamseldin,
City of Seattle, Homeless Coordinator
Ruth Schwartz,
Executive Director, Shelter Partnership
Dan Buck,
St. Patrick Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Dr. Robert Marbut,Former City Councilmember, City of San Antonio
THE MALL NETWORK HOST COMMITTEE
The Mall Network Summit Host committee includes several public and private
agencies including Century Housing, City of Beverly Hills, City of Glendale,
City of Long Beach, City of Los Angeles, City of Santa Monica, Corporation for
Supportive Housing, Enterprise Community Partners, Los Angeles County, LAHSA
(Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority), Midnight Mission, PATH Partners,
Shelter Partnership, United Way of Greater Los Angeles, US Department of Housing
and Urban Development, and Volunteers of America.
ABOUT THE MALL NETWORK: Led by PATH Partners, The Mall Network is a national
collaborative of communities who have come together in order to reshape the
continuum of homeless services to best meet client and community needs in the
context of changing local and national policies. It supports a multi-service
delivery approach in which services are physically and programmatically
co-located or closely located in order to: 1) Directly link a community’s social
service system to permanent housing, 2) Coordinate efficient intake so that
people are linked to appropriate housing, and 3) position strategic community
street outreach and prevention efforts so that housing becomes a priority. For
more information about the Mall Network and the Mall Network Summit, please
visit our website at www.MallNetwork.org.
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