Community Housing Network’s “Spring into Action” Week
May 3, 2008 to May 10, 2008

At Community Housing Network
we believe it is possible to end homelessness. We are making a difference one family at a time -- securing permanent solutions through
proven strategies of prevention, housing assistance, community
education and referral, advocacy and collaborative wrap around services
that support families from start to finish.

• Every year 600,000 families with 1.35 million children experience homelessness in the United States.
• The average age of a homeless person is nine.
• A disproportionate number of these families have members with disabilities.

The term "affordable housing" does not mean project based housing where many poor people were placed under one roof and lived in one part of town. CHN is moving affordable housing toward what we call inclusive communities.

This does not mean that there should be a quota of low-income families or people with disabilities in each neighborhood. It does mean that social and economic diversity can contribute positively to each community. We believe that homelessness can be addressed when we can ensure that persons with disabilities and people with low or no incomes have places throughout our communities where they can live.

Since the beginning, Community Housing Network has grown dramatically and thousands of people have been served. Our history is best defined through our success stories -- positive chapters in the lives of families that are marked by home ownership, quality rental housing, selection of living environments, and a celebration of firsts. Our office walls and our hearts are lined with first homes, first keys, first beds, first tears of joy -- because we offer whatever it takes for as long as it takes, to navigate the difficult terrain of life. We have shown through passion and persistence -- that housing is as important to homeless individuals and those with disabilities, as it is for us all.