http://wecanendhomelessness.org/?p=531 The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce (DRCC) has partnered with the Fairfax County Office to Prevent and End Homelessness in hope to eliminate homelessness for veterans. As part of the Homeless Mannequin Campaign our lobby will be housing two mannequins with information about the project. Be sure to stop in to take a selfie with them or to learn more! Awareness of our ending homelessness for our veterans initiative is being promoted this summer through the mannequin project. You can help end homelessness for veterans here by contributing $200 and winning the opportunity to help further promote at your business establishment. This is especially effective for storefronts and large businesses. Please contact Eileen Curtis at 571-323-5301 or ecurtis@dullesregionalchamber to learn more.

DATE: Friday 17 April
TIME(s): 3pm -9pm
LOCATION: 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035

Volunteers will receive instructions on how to build the Mannequin’s – gather donated clothing, shoes, hats, coats, tape, shredded paper and other
products. If possible, the Mannequins could be placed throughout the Government Center until the launching on the 28th April when they will be
placed throughout Fairfax County. If this isn’t doable, no worries, we will store in warehouse. This Campaign is in support of the Partnership to
Prevent and End Homelessness – Mayor Challenge and Homeless Awareness Campaign. Mannequin’s represent our Fairfax County Homeless Population:

• Veterans
• Working families
• Students
• Domestic violence victims
• Chronically homeless
• Immigrants
• Mental Health
• Intellectually Disabled
• Substance Abuse
• LGBT
• Human Trafficking

Please find site information attached concerning the “Collecting” on 15 April – We’ll be collecting paper to shred on-site and bring stacked. We will have a truck on-site. We will not be responsible of disposing of any additional materials after the workshop on the 17th .

Wednesday 15 April 2015
Homeless Mannequin Campaign Clothing and Paper Drive
We need clothing (Shirts, Pants, Socks, T-Shirts…, Shoes, All Types All Sizes and Paper!
DATE: Wednesday 15 April
TIME(s): 4pm -8pm
LOCATION: Mount Vernon High School 8515 Old Mt Vernon Rd, Alexandria, VA 22309
VOLUNTEERS: Operate Shredders, Collect and separate clothing and paper, load truck.

Friday 17 April 2015
Homeless Mannequin Campaign Assembly Workshop, “Can You See Me” and in Support of Mayors Challenge to End Homelessness for our Veterans
We will be building and dressing Mannequins – that will be placed throughout the county in support of our Awareness Campaign

DATE: Friday 17 April
TIME(s): 3pm -9pm
LOCATION: 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035

Volunteers will receive instructions on how to build the Mannequin’s – gather donated clothing, shoes, hats, coats, tape, shredded paper and other products. If possible, the Mannequins could be placed throughout the Government Center until the launching on the 28th April when they will be placed throughout Fairfax County. If this isn’t doable, no worries, we will store in warehouse. This Campaign is in support of the Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness – Mayor Challenge and Homeless Awareness Campaign.
Mannequin’s represent our Fairfax County Homeless Population(•Veterans •Working families •Students •Domestic violence victims •Chronically homeless •Immigrants •Mental Health •Intellectually Disabled •Substance Abuse •LGBT •Human Trafficking)

Please fill out this form if you wish to attend
[contact-form-7]

Wednesday 15 April 2015

Friday 17 April 2015

Mannequin’s represent our Fairfax County Homeless Population:

• Veterans
• Working families
• Students
• Domestic violence victims
• Chronically homeless
• Immigrants
• Mental Health
• Intellectually Disabled
• Substance Abuse
• LGBT
• Human Trafficking)

“Making a difference in the lives of our Veterans, Homeless Veterans, Service Members and their Families”

Through the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness, mayors and other state and local leaders across the country will marshal Federal, local, and nonprofit efforts to end Veteran homelessness in their communities. Ending Veteran homelessness means reaching the point where there are no Veterans sleeping on our streets and every Veteran has access to permanent housing. Should Veterans become homeless or be at-risk of becoming homeless, communities will have the capacity to quickly connect them to the help they need to achieve housing stability. When those things are accomplished, our nation will achieve its goal.

To aid the mayors in pursuit of the goal of ending homelessness among Veterans, the Federal government has provided resources and enforced programs to strengthen our country’s homeless assistance programs. These resources and reforms, when implemented in local communities, can include:

• Using a Housing First approach, which removes barriers to help Veterans obtain permanent housing as quickly as possible, without unnecessary prerequisites
• Prioritizing the most vulnerable Veterans, especially those experiencing chronic homelessness, for permanent supportive housing opportunities, including those created through the HUD-VASH program
• Coordinating outreach efforts to identify and engage every Veteran experiencing homelessness and focusing outreach efforts on achieving housing outcomes
• Targeting rapid re-housing interventions, including those made possible through the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, toward Veterans and their families who need shorter-term rental subsidies and services in order to be reintegrated back into our communities
• Leveraging housing and services that can help Veterans who are ineligible for some of the VA’s programs get into stable housing
• Increasing early detection and access to preventive services so at‐risk Veterans and their families remain stably housed
• Closely monitoring progress toward the goal, including the success of programs in achieving permanent housing outcomes

To publicly commit to ending Veteran homelessness in your community and learn more about joining the Mayors Challenge, send an email to mayorschallenge@hud.gov and visit http://bit.ly/mayorschallenge.

Q.  Why should a mayor join the Mayors Challenge?

A.  As laid out in Opening Doors, our nation’s first strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness, we have a goal as a country to end homelessness among       Veterans in 2015 – less than two years from now. And, thanks in large part to the progress we have made over the last four years, we are seeing unprecedented levels of federal commitment and investment in programs for Veterans experiencing homelessness.

B.  However, we know that we will only end homelessness nationally by ending it locally – something that requires the continued leadership and support from mayors and other local elected officials.

C.  By publicly committing to ending Veteran homelessness in 2015, mayors will lend a powerful voice to their communities’ collaboration and efforts, enabling them to build momentum to reach the finish line.

D.  Moreover, we have seen the incredibly powerful impact that national recognition has made on the efforts in communities like Phoenix and Salt Lake City,

Can you see me? This is the message we are sending to the public about our homeless individuals, families and youth on our streets. We are gearing up to launch the Homeless Mannequin Project to help spread awareness.