Mayor's Committee on Homelessness
The Mayor's Committee on Homelessness was formed in June 2006 and is charged with "creating systemic, policy-based solutions" in a ten-year strategic plan to significantly impact homelessness in Billings. The Committee is first of its kind in Montana and is considered a pilot program. United Way is represented on the 20-member committee by Kathie Shandera, Community Resource Liaison.
Major accomplishments of the committee include
• Collection and compilation of local data on homelessness
• Hosting a round table discussion on American Indians and Homelessness
• Sponsoring annual Project Homeless Connect events in Billings, a national best practice
• Sponsoring a 2008 Social Enterprise Conference to explore self-sustaining ways to help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with housing, counseling, case management, and employment
• Helping organize local social services providers into an association called Billings Area Resource Network
The Committee expects to release the first draft of the comprehensive ten-year plan in early 2009.
Data regarding homelessness in Billings and other information about the Mayor's Committee on Homelessness can be found on the City of Billings Website: http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.asp?nid=84