The Executive Director of Housing Resource, Inc. in Kalamazoo has been recognized for work in the Campaign to End Homelessness in Michigan.
Ellen Kisinger-Rothi recently received the 2010 Carla Javits Award from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. The honor was awarded at the fifth annual Summit on Ending Homelessness, the largest event of its kind in the nation. It draws more than 400 speakers and policymakers with expertise in ways make quality housing more affordable and accessible.
She has been instrumental in leading the effort to end homelessness in Kalamazoo County and throughout the West Michigan region.
Among the activities Kisinger-Rothi has helped move forward is a new initiative within Kalamazoo County's 8th District Court called the Eviction Diversion Program.
The pilot project includes partnering with tenants, landlords and Department of Human Services and Housing Resources Inc. staff to prevent or resolve evictions more quickly. The program also improves coordination of legal and social service interventions at the court facility, to prevent homelessness for numerous families facing eviction.
"Despite the economic challenges facing our state, she has not wavered in her desire to secure safe and affordable housing for every resident in Kalamazoo County," says MSHDA Interim Executive Director Gary Heidel.
The Housing Resource Center also received one of 23 national pilot grants for the Supportive Housing Program Rapid Re-housing Demonstration Project.
With Kisinger-Rothi's guidance, the Housing Resource Center, the city of Kalamazoo, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation Affordable Housing Partnership collaborated to distribute funds that will provide approximately 200 to 225 households with homeless prevention assistance and 50 to 75 households with rapid re-housing assistance.
The Michigan Campaign to End Homelessness, coordinated by
MSHDA with state agencies, is the nation's only statewide strategic initiative.
Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source Mary Lou Keenon, MHSDA
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