FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:

July 11, 2005 Janelle Simmons, 614.221.9195

Senator Mike DeWine to give Key Note Address

At National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual Conference

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH) will give a keynote address at the National Alliance to End Homelessness annual conference, “Ending Homelessness: Progress & Challenges”, which will be held July 11-13, 2005 in Washington, DC. Senator DeWine will address the conference on Wednesday, July 13th at 12:15 pm.

Senator DeWine was asked to speak at the conference because of his leadership around the issues of chronic homelessness, family homelessness, and affordable housing. Representatives from Franklin County, Ohio and the Community Shelter Board will recognize Senator DeWine at a conference reception for his leadership in these areas.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness conducts an annual conference that focuses on innovative ways that cities, counties, and states are combating homelessness and strategies to address challenges that still exist. The trainings and workshops at the conference are oriented toward state and local government officials, consumers, advocates, housing providers, and HIV/AIDS, homeless youth, and veteran service providers.

The Community Shelter Board, established in 1986, is a non-profit intermediary organization that coordinates community based efforts, fosters collaboration, and funds services to assist families and individuals in Central Ohio to resolve their housing crisis. The Community Shelter Board allocates $7.5 million annually to support programs at 11 agencies. Last year, these programs served more than 11,000 individuals. The Community Shelter Board is funded by the City of Columbus, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the United Way of Central Ohio, The Columbus Foundation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of Ohio, and other public and private donors.

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