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History
What began as a small group of advocates in 1984 has become what is now known as the Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless. The first meeting of the homeless coalition was called by two hospitals that were experiencing difficulty with homeless people seeking admission during cold nights to get off the street. As a result, a group of concerned providers and individuals began operation of the Cold Night Shelter Program in 1986.
The Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless was officially incorporated on June 17, 1988.
Here are some historical highlights of the homeless coalition:
1989
- The Annual Sand Sculpting Contest for Month of the Homeless Child was started to collect school supplies for children residing in shelters.
- Kidstart, a curriculum to teach school-age children about homelessness, was developed in cooperation with Pinellas County Cooperative Extension.
1990
- The introduction of the HUD NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) pushed the Coalition to think more globally and to include services and providers that had not been involved in the coalition previously. The Coalition prepared the Continuum of Care document, further helping the Coalition develop its mission and vision of a better community for all, including homeless disenfranchised individuals and families.
1992
- The first By-Laws of the Coalition were codified.
1996-97
- The Coalition received a "Best Practices" award from HUD in 1996 for developing a "common intake form." This form was developed by the Service Providers Committee in an effort to reduce the redundancy of the information collection process for clients seeking services. The form contained basic demographic elements that clients were asked before they could receive services at each agency.
1998
- The Coalition held its First Annual Fall Holiday Auction to raise funds to support the programs and services provided by the Coalition to homeless individuals and families throughout Pinellas County and for hiring staff for the Coalition. This annual Live/Silent Auction is now called “Harvest for the Homeless.”
- Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Coalition’s Advocacy committee, in an effort to bring public attention to the conditions of homelessness, produced a variety of papers called the Ten Point Documents that provided national, state and local facts about homelessness, and ways to assist homeless people.
1999
- The coalition started a new needs assessment survey on March 5th.
- A new strategic planning process began. Diverse organizations, bodies, and individuals came together to find solutions to homelessness.
- PCCH began to administer the Grant-in-Aid program. This was a significant move by the state to recognize the coalition as the leading authority on homelessness in our area. This also marked the beginning of the PCCH’s role as a local funder.
- Community Voice Mail was a major new initiative within the community, and was supported and backed by the Coalition. This program provides homeless individuals with personal phone numbers with voice mail boxes, giving them improved access to housing, work, benefits and social services.
2000
- A homeless survey was completed for the first time in 5 years on January 13th.
2002
- The general meeting approved the Recommended Minimum Shelter Standards: A guide for shelter residents and providers.
2003
- Pinellas County began testing of its Homeless Management Information System called the Tampa Bay Information Network (TBIN).
2004
- The Tampa Bay Information Network (TBIN) begins operation.
2005
- PCCH, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, organizes the first Stand Down in years, serving all homeless people in Pinellas County.
2006
- The Coalition hires its first executive director, Ms. Sarah K. Snyder.
2007
- PCCH, in collaboration with the City of St. Petersburg and other agencies, helps to organize Project Homeless Connect, a one-stop event for homeless people to access health, employment and social services under one roof.
Mission and Values
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