Opportunity, Inc. serves as an umbrella agency for local groups addressing homelessness. Participants include county and municipal governments, law enforcement, the judiciary, non-profit agencies, state government offices, the Workforce Development Board, businesses, churches and other faith-based organizations. The Continuum is in the process of creating a 10-year-plan to end homelessness through a public/private partnership.  Click here for an explanation of the functions of Continuums within the communities across the United States.
Vision
The Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum of Care/ Opportunity, Inc. is dedicated to the alleviation of homelessness.
Mission
The Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum of Care/ Opportunity, Inc. is a community partnership dedicated to the alleviation of homelessness through prevention, assistance toward self-sufficiency, the provision of housing options, and advocacy.
Goals
The Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum of Care/ Opportunity, Inc. is committed to the propositions that:
  • Help homeless persons attain the skills necessary for finding and maintaining jobs paying a living wage, using living wage estimates provided by the Workforce Development Board.

  • Link homeless persons with affordable housing, including public housing, section 8 housing, boarding houses, and low-cost apartments.

  • Support life while homeless families and individuals are transitioning into self-sufficiency, through temporary emergency shelter; provision of food, clothing, and health care; opportunities for regular personal hygeine; storage of personal positions.

  • Assist women, families, the elderly and the disabled in obtaining mainstream benefits such as Social Security, Temporary Aid to Needy Families, subsidized child care, food stamps, Medicaid, and Social Security Disability.

  • Coordinate services through a web-based Homeless Management Information System, ensuring the greatest number of homeless families and individuals are served, while avoiding duplication of efforts.

  • Foster collaboration and mutual support among community stakeholders working with the homeless.

Objectives
  • Expand supportive services including food, clothing, showers, storage, work readiness, case management, transportation, personal hygiene, severe weather shelter, education and vocational training.

  • Establish new Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) procedures making it user-friendly for providers and homeless.

  • Reduce incidence of disease and disability through effective use of health systems.

  • Increase transitional and permanent shelter for women and children.

  • Provide emergency shelter and transitional service to all homeless.

Strategies
  • Secure a centralized location for intake and access to services

  • Assist in work readiness through increased shower, laundry, haircuts and bathroom facilities

  • Create HMIS card system for rapid and accurate tracking of homeless persons and services received

  • Provide risk reduction education to minimize spread of staph infection and disease

  • Assist in fund development for transitional housing and emergency shelter

Plans
  • Purchase trailer for use as centralized service access, with fittings for showers and laundry facilities: target date December 31, 2008.

  • Achieve 75% usage of HMIS by direct service providers, June 30, 2008.

  • Train direct service providers in health risk reduction by October 1, 2008.

  • Partner with existing providers to apply for housing grants, June 30, 2008.

What is the “dream in progress”?
  • That every adult willing to be trained, educated and work have a chance at a job paying a living wage.

  • That every family have the opportunity to live in affordable housing.

  • That every child have a place to rest, food to eat, a good education, and people who care.

  • This is not an impossible dream. It just takes community partnerships, volunteers, funds, and public support. It takes you.
Board of Directors and Chairs

Officers
Nate Smith, Chairman:  Verval Enterprises
The Hon. William F. Stone, 1st Vice-President:  Judge, First District Circuit Court
Martin Fancher, 2nd Vice-President:  7th Day Adventist Church
Virginia Glynn Barr, Treasurer:  Mental Health Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties
Charity Parker, Secretary:  COPE Center, Inc.

Executive Board Members
John Jannazo: Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners
Major Larry Ashley:  Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
Patricia Franklin: Acting Operations Manager - Department of Children and Families, District 1
William Garvie: City Councilman - City of Fort Walton Beach
Judy Byrne Riley:  Workforce Development Board
 Member at Large: Mathilda Ravine 
 Alternate: Mike Anderson, Mayor - City of Fort Walton Beach

Committee Chairs
 Grant Review Committee: Butch McKay, AIDS/OASIS
Health Committee: Carrie Ziegler, Okaloosa County Health Department
Supportive Services Committee: Ginny Barr, Mental Health Association
Veterans Affairs Committee: Lisa Jo Spencer, Attorney
Transitional Housing Commitee: Carolyn Ketchel, Catholic Charities
HMIS Committee: Larry Mundy, Bridgeway Center
Shelter Committee: Lenore Wilson
Development Committee: Mathilda Ravine
Contact
Lenore Wilson, Director
941-L Central Avenue
Fort Walton Beach, FL  32547
(850) 226-7694
info@okaloosawaltonhomeless.org

 
 


Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum Care / Opportunity, Inc.
941-L Central Avenue  |  Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
 Phone: (850) 226-7694  |  info@okaloosawaltonhomeless.org

Copyright © 2007 Opportunity, Inc.  All Rights Reserved  |  Site by VTD, Inc.