Community Shelter Board Launches One Day to End Homelessness

Campaign with WBNS-10TV and the Dispatch - Media Group responds to neighbors in crisis

Columbus, Ohio - The Community Shelter Board today announced January 31 as One Day to End Homelessness, a campaign to raise money to house adults and families who are swelling Franklin County shelters beyond capacity.

The slow pace of economic recovery has prompted a second year for the campaign. "The sharp rise in demand for emergency shelter has grown from a temporary problem to a prolonged crisis. People who land in shelters have exhausted their bank accounts and desperately need our safety net," said Michelle Heritage, executive director of the Community Shelter Board.

The campaign urges central Ohio residents to donate the equivalent of just one day's rent or mortgage payment to the One Day to End Homelessness campaign. All money raised will support the Community Shelter Board's innovative and time-tested programs, including prevention and rapid re-housing.

Also for the second year, WBNS-10TV and other members of the Dispatch Media Group are teaming with the Community Shelter Board to promote the campaign through its vehicles, including The Columbus Dispatch and WBNS-10TV. Stories and ads will begin appearing on January 18 and will culminate in a day-long telethon on January 31.

"Everyone in the community has a responsibility to help people struggling through tough economic conditions. We feel an obligation to use our resources to help people through this crisis and get back on their feet," said WBNS-10TV and ONN president and general manager, Tom Griesdorn.

Based on the average market rent, the occupant of a two-bedroom apartment would donate approximately $30 and help the community reach the campaign goal of $300,000. Donations and pledges can be made online anytime at www.10tv.com or by calling the 10TV phone bank on January 31 between 4:30 a.m. and midnight.

Heritage said the outpouring of support during last year's campaign helped save the community from a rash of street homelessness and enabled emergency shelters to shelter every family in need.

Trends underscore the community crisis:

* 1,700 children were homeless last year; most were 7 years old or younger.

* The average monthly income of families entering shelter is only $480, not enough to pay the average market rent of $780 for a two-bedroom apartment.

* More than 207,000 residents lived in poverty in 2009, up 7 percent in the decade since 1999.

* There has been more than a 5,000% increase over last year's overflow usage by families, both in nights of shelter and associated costs.

"Funds are desperately needed to give a hand up to men, women and children struggling with the ravages of the recession. On January 31, neighbors can help neighbors keep their homes, access stable housing, and keep emergency shelter doors open. If we all help just a little, everyone will have a place to call home," Heritage said.

The Community Shelter Board, established in 1986, is a public-private partnership organization that creates collaborations, innovates solutions, and invests in quality programs in order to end homelessness in Columbus and Franklin County. CSB allocates more than $13 million annually to support homeless programs and services. Last year, these programs served more than 8,000 individuals. CSB is funded by the City of Columbus, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the United Way of Central Ohio, The Columbus Foundation, Nationwide, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of Ohio, and other public and private donors.

WBNS-10TV is a member of The Dispatch Broadcast Group, which also includes WBNS-AM/FM, Ohio News Network and Radio Sound Network in Columbus, Ohio; WTHR-TV and SkyTrak Weather Network in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Homeless Families Foundation (HFF) is a Community Shelter Board (CSB) Partner Agency. The Community Shelter Board creates collaborations, innovates solutions, and invests in quality programs in order to end homelessness in Columbus and Franklin County. CSB is conducting One Day to End Homelessness to raise funds. As a Partner Agency HFF is a service provider for homeless families and is reimbursed for a portion of our expenses by CSB. If you have any questions about this press release please contact Susan Davis, Director of Development, The Homeless Families Foundation, 614-461-9247 ext. 121 or sdavis@homelessfamiliesfoundation.org.