CONGRESSMAN PAT TIBERI'S CAPITOL NOTEBOOK

For the week of October 5, 2003

WASHINGTON-Officials from the Community Shelter Board received some well-deserved recognition last week.  Board officials spoke at a conference on homelessness here in Washington chaired by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.

You may not have heard of the Community Shelter Board, but you should know about the organization's efforts to move people off the streets and into housing in the Franklin County area.  The board was founded in 1986 to operate as a public-private partnership to help the homeless.  The late Mel Schottenstein was one of the founders, and his daughter, Holly Schottenstein Kastan, is on the group's advisory board.  She visited my office in Washington before speaking at the conference.

Her remarks centered on how the Community Shelter Board works to bring the community together to tackle homelessness. 

"First," said Kastan, "both public and private sector leaders appreciate and respect one another and are willing to roll up their sleeves and do their fair share of the work.  They all understand that addressing homelessness is critical to our community's continued health and development...

"Second, all participants, be they from local government, business, philanthropy or faith-based organizations recognize the value of a central funding and coordinating body."

Currently, the Community Shelter Board allocates $7.5 million annually to support programs at 15 agencies. Last year, these programs served more than 11,000 individuals through emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, and housing programs.

One of the board's most innovative programs is the Rebuilding Lives plan, which provides supportive housing to homeless men and women.  Supportive housing targets chronically homeless individuals coping with mental illness, addiction or chronic illness.  Supportive housing is affordable housing - from a single family home to an apartment - that is linked with mental health, substance addiction, employment, and other supportive services.

The CSB has used commitments from local governments and the United Way to provide 400 units of supportive housing in Franklin County.  Three new emergency shelters and on-site employment resource centers at four CSB partner shelters have also been developed through the Rebuilding Lives program.

While they were in Washington, CSB officials received some good news.  The federal government has okayed a $3.3 million grant for 80 additional units of supportive housing.  The money will be targeted toward adults with mental disabilities who have experienced chronic homelessness.

Organizations such as the Community Shelter Board make an immeasurable contribution to our economy, but often do so without fanfare or credit.  We sometimes don't recognize that we have a gem sitting right in front of us until someone else tells us we do, so I was really pleased to see the shelter board receive the recognition it deserved in Washington last week.   

Congressman Pat Tiberi represents Central Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives.  He can be reached by email through his website, www.house.gov/tibei.