Breaking News about Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum of Care


	Support of the Muscogee Creek Tribe
	Ginny Barr, representatives from COPE Center, and the newspaper joined just about the entire Opportunity, Inc. staff on a trip to meet with the Creek leaders and get a glimpse of the crisis this tribe, and their neighbors, find themselves in. It was a memorable day, one that will remain inspirational for years to come. Full Story >>
	Cold Night Report
	We are very fortunate to have a large number of cold night providers this year. The City of DeFuniak Springs was added to the roster, when it opened the community center and staffed it with County Emergency Response Team members, the Red Cross, and volunteers from First Baptist Church and other faith-based churches and agencies. The cold night shelters in Crestview have been open nearly every night this winter. Churches in Fort Walton Beach have been bursting at the seams, and have been opening early often. We are deeply grateful for everyone who has been a shield between those living in the open, and the harsh winter conditions. All of this continues to highlight the need for permanent emergency shelters, where homeless persons can not only get out of the rain, cold and wind, but can access the services to provide permanent solutions to homelessness.
	Opportunity Place
	Before last week, Annabelle had been our youngest resident, joining us at the age of 8 days. Last week, however, we welcomed our first newborn, a little boy born to one of our shelter residents. Hope and life are constant residents at Opportunity Place. Six adults started full-time jobs with good pay and benefits the past two weeks, and two families have transitioned into permanent housing. CC Fearson and Lydia Barton work miracles each day, and cannot be commended enough.
	Homeless Prevention/Rapid Rehousing
	The invoice we submitted the end of December has completed all rounds of state review, and went to the Department of Financial services the week of January 25. We expect payment by the end of this week. Staff in Crestview, Walton County and Fort Walton Beach have been processing applications, and we are ready to begin releasing checks the moment our check arrives. Please stay tuned to this site to find out when the funds arrive, and our schedules for screening, applications, and check disbursement.
	Homeless Prevention Funds Update
	Homeless Prevention/ Rapid Rehousing Program (HPRP) Funds Update The Homeless Prevention/ Rapid Rehousing Program is in full swing, as we have disbursed $22,181.69 in rent and utility payments for persons newly evicted or facing eviction. In Fort Walton Beach, we have assisted 11 families facing eviction, spending $9,891.73 for rent, $700.04 for utilities, and $170.87 for water payments. We have assisted an additional three families with $1527 in deposits through the rapid rehousing program. In Crestview, we have assisted seven families facing eviction, spending $7300 for rent, $2205.33 for utilities, and $386.72 for water bills. In addition, we have spent $3850 for liability insurance, and $11,218 in staff salaries, mileage, and overhead. Total dollars spent to date equals $37,249.87, leaving us with a current balance of $86,691.13 of our original $124.041 received October 19, 2009. We have been slower to get started in Walton County, as the first families referred to us did not meet federal eligibility guidelines. However, we do have qualified families now, whose bills will be paid as soon as all documentation requirements are met. More families are being referred, so we doubt it will take long before Walton County is fully represented. Although HPRP funds can help many people, they cannot help everyone. Qualifying clients must have been negatively impacted by the economic recession, so those who have no work histories in the last few years will not be eligible. Also, clients must demonstrate the ability to use these funds to regain self-sufficiency, meaning that they must either have a job, demonstrate marketable skills, a desire to work, or engaged in job retraining. Clients already being assisted by one federal government program, such as SSI, SSDI, or Section 8 housing, are not eligible for this one. If you or your clients feel you meet these basic guidelines, please call our office at 850-226-7694 for a telephone screening.
	Bridgeway Center, Inc. Receives Grant for Treatment and Support of Homeless Persons with Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration of the US Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Bridgeway Center a five-year grant to provide services for the most fragile and challenging of our populations. As part of this effort, Bridgeway Center has enlisted the help of Opportunity, Inc., OASIS, the Workforce Development Board, and the Mental Health Association. These organizations are charged with community education as to the services offered, and to make appropriate referrals. Bridgeway Center hopes to initiate services for 80 clients this year, and 40 each succeeding year. A full list of services and a brief screening tool will be available soon.
	Challenge Grant Contract Signed The Challenge Grant contract, which funds 14 separate community programs, has been executed, and we are awaiting our first draw under that contract. Providers receiving funds should have received copies of their contracts with Opportunity, Inc. via e-mail. If not, please contact Lenore Wilson. The sooner contracts are signed and returned to the office, the sooner providers can begin accruing costs for reimbursement.
	Opportunity Place Open House/ Craft Fair on December 5 Opportunity Place residents and friends have been preparing for weeks to create Christmas ornaments, stockings, wreaths, package decorations and gifts for sale to the public Saturday, December 5, from 10-3. The shelter will be decked out for Christmas, light refreshments served, maybe some music. We are hoping to introduce the community to our programs and skills, while raising some much needed funds for Christmas activities. The quality of our products so far has been very high, and we are certain your Christmas home will be all the more festive when it presents some of our work.
	Opportunity Place Hosts First Wedding Two shelter residents, who have long been in love, celebrated their union at Opportunity Place. The mother of the bride decorated our facility (we'll have to have her back at Christmas - it was amazing), the Mental Health Association covered the license costs, BOD Member Gloria Battle handled the flowers, and Martin Fancher officiated. A resident provided vocals, a thrift store donated the dress, and BOD member Duane St. John provided the reception food. It was one of the loveliest, most joyful weddings I have attended. The facility was so lovely we thought perhaps we should start advertising as a wedding venue. In our short four months of operation, we have seen the full play of life - from newborns, to children heading off to their first day of school, to school graduations, a wedding, illness, and a valued and loved residents facing his last days. It is an honor to be part of this program, providing help through not just our own staff, but from a wide circle of friends and partner organizations.
	Manager Appointed for Opportunity Place
	Lenore Wilson, Executive Director, is proud to announce the addition of Cedric (CC) Fearson as manager of Opportunity Place. Mr. Fearson brings a wealth of knowledge concerning families in trouble and the community resources necessary to bring them forward.
	Wilson and Franklin Honored at Hall of Fame Ceremony Lenore Wilson, Executive Director of the Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum of Care/ Opportunity, Inc., and Opportunity Place, was awarded the Carolyn Spencer Humanitarian Award at the Okaloosa Commission on the Status of Women Hall of Fame ceremony on August 26. Yvonne Franklin, Chairman of the Cold Night Shelter, was awarded the Community Service Award. Ms. Wilson was honored for her work in spearheading the effort to establish the county's first emergency shelter for women and families, Opportunity Place, as well as for past work with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and for securing the funding for numerous programs serving the our most vulnerable neighbors. Ms. Wilson was among the founders of the Okaloosa Walton Domestic Violence Coordinating Council in 1996, and the Sexual Assault Interagency Council is 2001. She has been a member of the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence Board of Directors since 2000, serving as President since 2006. In her capacity as Executive Director of Opportunity, Inc., Ms. Wilson writes and secures funding such as the Challenge Grant in support of 15 homeless providers, as well as organizing the annual point-in-time count, community awareness, and service coordination. Ms. Franklin has dedicated her career to serving the homeless. She has worked at Sharing and Caring, the cold night program at First Presbyterian Church, and the coordination and enhancement of the cold night programs throughout Okaloosa County. Ms. Franklin has traveled to Crestview and Walton Counties recruiting churches to participate in their area. Seven churches now provide cold night programs in Crestview, in part due to her effort, and offer soup kitchens several times a week. Seven churches currently work within the cold night program in Fort Walton Beach, and offer services such as showers, hair cuts, laundry, and both supper and breakfast. Ms. Franklin also collaborates with Dr. Marla Allen in ensuring that many homeless receive essential dental care through the Challenge Grant. Congratulations to Ms. Wilson and Ms. Franklin, two of the hundreds of amazing persons working to prevent and alleviate homelessness in our area, and to bring hope and new energy to thousands of homeless persons each year.


Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum Care / Opportunity, Inc.
Opportunity, Inc. (Admin Office) 203 Cloverdale Boulevard, Suite B Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 Phone: (850) 409-3070 Fax: (850) 409-3071 info@okaloosawaltonhomeless.org	Opportunity Place 305 Lovejoy Road Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Phone: (850) 659-3190 Fax: (850) 659-3191