Events
As we learn of new events you may be interested in, we will try to keep you posted. If you have an event that would be appropriate for us to share please let us know.
Be There!!
The 2019 OCHH Annual Conference
"A Place to Call Home"
September 25 & 26, 2019*
(We will have an early registration check-in event, beginning at 6:00pm, September 24th. Please join us!)
(*please see conference updates below)
We will be returning to the beautiful
Resort at the Mountain in Welches, OR.
Come for the education, networking and fun...stay and be rejuvenated by the peaceful feel of the resort!
Room Block Will Close September 10th.
Don't forget to reserve your room - Call the Resort at 1.800.733.0800 or 503.622.3101. Please inform the hotel that you are requesting the Oregon Coalition on Housing & Homelessness rate .
Room block is limited so get yours while we have them!
Conference Updates
*OCHH is doing something new this year. We have changed our format and will now offer two full days of our conference.
We will have an early registration check in set up at our opening event, the evening of September 24th, beginning at 6:00pm.
We hope you can join us for an evening of networking, music &, of course, food!
Do you enjoy music? Bring your guitar, banjo, or musical instrument of choice. Bring your voice. Join Wayne (OCHH board member) as he entertains us with his acoustic show with 70s, 80s, & 90s cover tunes.
Conference Registration
REGISTRATION FORM FOR OCHH CONFERENCE IS NOW AVAILABLE!!
Conference Scholarships
Scholarships are now closed.
Please email your request with the following information to ochh@ochh.org
-Who the scholarship is requested for?
-Who is the organization requesting?
-Individual's position?
-Why is there a need for a scholarship?
-Have you been granted a scholarship in the past? When?
Call for Presenters 2019!
Thank you for your proposals! You are the heart of what makes this conference so great!
The "Call for Presenters 2019" submission form is now closed:
http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07egct935wjw2288kw/start
2019 Keynote Speakers
Alan Evans, Founder & CEO of Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers
Alan Evans was homeless and addicted for over 25 years and overcame childhood trauma and drug & alcohol addiction to transform his own life. Alan has lived his new life driven by purpose, and is the Founder and CEO of Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers based out of Seaside, OR. The transformative program he founded 17 years ago focuses on helping individuals experiencing homelessness to build healthy skills and habits to gain sustainable self-sufficiency, and houses over 220 homeless people per night in 4 counties in Oregon. Alan was the recipient of the 2017 OCHH Beverly 'Ma' Curtis Award in recognition of his efforts to end homelessness in Oregon.
Gus Bedwell, Veterans Housing Integrator, Oregon Housing and Community Services/Public Affairs Division
Gus was in the Army from 1992 to 1998; leaving as a Sergeant. After the Army, Gus returned to Oregon to start a family with his high school sweetheart, Kimbrely. Gus' career in veteran advocacy began in 2001 as a Disabled Veteran Outreach Specialist with the Oregon Employment Department. In 2005, Gus accepted a position as State Veteran Service Officer (VSO) with the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA). While at ODVA he led a pilot project called the Campus VSO working with several schools across Oregon. This experience allowed him to refocus his advocacy work as the Military and Veteran Resource Coordinator at Oregon State University in 2012. In 2014 Gus returned to Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs as the Training and Development Specialist. During this time, he trained over 100 County Veteran Service Officers July of 2018 Gus joined the Oregon Housing and Community Services Public Affairs team as the first ever Oregon Veteran Housing Integrator.
Kenny LaPoint, Assistant Director, Acting Assistant Director, Housing Stabilization, for Oregon Housing and Community Services
Kenny has over 13 years of housing and community development experience. Prior to his service with the State of Oregon, Mr. LaPoint spent six years as the Housing and Resident Services Director for Housing Works, the Central Oregon Regional Housing Authority. Mr. LaPoint also served for over three years as a Homeownership Counselor for NeighborImpact, Central Oregon’s Community Action Agency. Other prior service includes Co-Chair of Central Oregon’s Homeless Leadership Coalition (the region’s Continuum of Care); a member of the City of Bend’s Affordable Housing Committee, President of the Cascade Chapter of NAHRO (National Association of Housing Redevelopment Officials), Neighborhood Partnership’s Board of Directors, member of the Community Advisory Council for Central Oregon’s Coordinated Care Organization and one of the founding members of Icon City, a Central Oregon non-profit organization.
Conference Sponsors
We would love your support. If you would like to be a conference sponsor or would like more information please click on the link below. You may also contact us via information available on this website. Thank you!
2019 - OCHH Sponsorship Letter - levels.[...]
Microsoft Word document [52.9 KB]
Thank you so much to our 2019 Conference Sponsors!
Red Diamond Sponsors
Diamond Sponsors
Alexandrite Sponsors
Fire Opal Sponsors
Scholarship Sponsors
Conference at a Glance
2019 Conference At A Glance1 9-4-19.docx
Microsoft Word document [21.1 KB]
Workshops
2019 Conference Workshops & Presenters
Jack Koran - Winter Shelter of Forest Grove & Cornelius
"Hospitality, Compassion and Community: Ingredients of a direct service meal program"
Winter Shelter of Forest Grove and Cornelius is a low-barrier shelter operating as part of the Severe Weather Shelter System of Washington County. Centering food safety, nutritional awareness, and hospitality, this presentation shares the operational framework that guides our meal program, including the key community partnerships that make it all possible.
Juliana Marez - Douglas County School District #4 & Roseburg
"Point of Contact- Foster Care, Schools, Foster Parents, Bio-families and Children"
Point of Contact in practice. Each school district has a point of contact with Child Welfare. Effective communication, record keeping, and strategies help build a strong safety net of support for foster children and their foster parents. Going into foster care can be traumatizing for children but best practices can minimize the trauma and help them succeed. Caseworkers and school staff working well together with foster parents and bio-parents puts the child first.
Sanyelle Wilson - Looking Glass Community Services
"Coordination in the Classroom: Incorporating trafficking prevention and intervention in the school system"
The sexual exploitation of children is an issue that disproportionately affects marginalized youth populations. While there are many complex factors that contribute to the issue, early intervention and prevention are realistic goals. Educators are aptly positioned to help identify and support trafficked youth as well as incorporate preventative measures within schools.
Jimmy Jones - Mid-Willamette Community Action Agency
"Building a Local Homeless Continuum from Scratch: Best Practices"
Best practices and building a local homeless system from the ground up. What's working in 2019, and what's not. General focus is on ending older practice models that are creating barriers for clients, and frequently the greatest barriers are the social service agencies working to house folks.
Alison McIntosh - Neighborhood Partnerships, Oregon Housing Alliance
"Effectively communicating about affordable housing and homelessness, and 2020 Legislative preview!"
In 2019, the Oregon Legislature made progress in addressing our housing challenges. Come learn what happened in 2019, and what advocates will work on in 2020 and 2021, and how you can get involved! This session will dive deep into communicating more effectively with decision makers about housing and homelessness.
Kay Cockerill - Native American Rehabilitation of the Northwest (NARA NW)
"Lessons Learned in a Collaborative Project with Culturally Specific Case Management while using the Housing-First Approach"
Culturally Appropriate and Trauma Informed Case Management with a marginalized population of newly housed individuals and families in a single location served by Native American Rehabilitation Association in collaboration with Central City Concern, the Joint Office of Homeless Services, and Home Forward has rewarding and challenging lessons to be shared.
Julie Akins, Sam Engel - Freelance journalist & AllCare
"A Place to Call Home: Stories of Homelessness and Hope in Southern Oregon"
A Place to Call Home builds on Julie's 30+ years of experience and compassion working with homeless persons as a
journalist and advocate - paired with AllCare's goal for healthy, livable communities that include All our residents and provide the same opportunities and resources to everyone.
Through 250 interviews in SW Oregon, we hope that this project provides a unique view of the housing crisis through the eyes and voice of those most affected. We'd like to share how this partnership
came about, where it’s going, and what we have learned from our neighbors in the process.
Material sample:
https://www.allcarehealth.com/articles-events/blog/a-place-to-call-home-stories--
of-homelessness-and-hope-in-southern-oregon
Nicole Swearingin - Luke-Dorf
"Integrating Peer Support into Homeless Outreach in Washington County"
Peer delivered services is a growing component of trauma informed mental health approaches, with this in mind Luke-Dorf applied for and was granted ESG funding to hire two part-time peer support specialists to integrate into the Homeless Adult Outreach team in order to provide peer services to individuals contacted by outreach. There have been many lessons learned over the last year, but the most important is that successful integration is a benefit to those being served.
Jennifer Langston - Transition Projects & Village Coalition
"In Our Footsteps
Voices of the Lived Homeless Experience"
Join us for a journey through homelessness following in the footsteps of those with lived experience. Former houseless persons will share their stories of survival, trauma, and triumph. We will hear from people who survived homelessness and now give back to those on a similar path. We will touch on how getting housed can lead to a loss of community and support network. We will explore the traumas and tragedies that lead to housing instability. Through understanding who experiences homelessness and why, we can bridge the gap between the housed and unhoused.
Julia McKenna, Sarah Louise - OHCS & Right 2 Survive
“Best Practices for Ensuring Access to Services for Transgender Oregonians”
Having access to homeless shelters, healthcare, social services, and veterans benefits can be lifesaving. The gap in provider competency and ability to appropriately serve transgender people in social service environments varies wildly across the state. Come learn about transgender identities and best practices in a hands-on, inclusive environment. All that is required is for you to bring respect, a desire to learn, and the ability to assume good intentions of others. This session welcomes all learners and encourages everyone to "Be where they are at" in their understanding of transgender people. We will build in flexibility and ample opportunity for interactive dialogue
.
Dona Bolt - Oregon Dept of Education
"A Focus on Unaccompanied Youth"
Minors who are both unaccompanied and homeless face unique obstacles and have unique needs. Presenters will share information on state and federally funded youth shelters and drop-in centers in Oregon, host home programs, education resources available to unaccompanied students and strategic planning underway to develop programs and locate sustainable funding.
Ibrahim Mubarak - Right 2 Survive & WRAP
"Sleep Not Sweeps, House Keys Not Handcuffs"
Right 2 Survive was started because of the need for houseless people to band together to survive and advocate for changes to housing, environmental, police, and healthcare systems.
Lisa Fay - Right 2 Survive & WRAP
"RESTING SAFE: Criminalization, Environmental Hazards, and Grassroots Collective Action"
One major challenge that houseless people face is that as downtown and residential areas enact laws and practices that
criminalize people for simply existing, houseless people move to both "pristine" green spaces, as well as toxic land. Particularly on toxic land, people are in a catch-22: speak up, and risk eviction
out of liability concerns. Stay silent and continue to live in very dangerous conditions. We started RESTING SAFE in 2018, to learn about environmental hazards and work collectively to mitigate
harm.
In this presentation, we will discuss the intersection of environmental hazard exposure, criminalization, sweeps, and access to harm reduction and healthcare services. We will highlight the
collective action work that Right 2 Survive is leading on this front.
Dylan Weil - Community Outreach through Radical Empowerment (C.O.R.E.)
"Meet "me" where I am at!!!"
Many homeless youth are deemed service resistant but what does this actually tell us? A discussion on the difficulties homeless young adults face while navigating social service systems. We will explore what we can do better as service providers to help coordinate services for homeless youth. We will also take a deeper look at what collaborative outreach can accomplish. Lastly, we will identify better ways to break down barriers for homeless young adults we serve.
Shyle Ruder - Fair Housing Council of Oregon
"Fair Housing Rights for People Living with Disabilities"
This presentation will review housing rights that people living with disabilities have under the Fair Housing Act. We will focus heavily on reasonable accommodations when disability creates barriers to acceptance into housing or housing stability. We will also review rights people have in regard to making physical modifications to a unit due to disability.
Ken Kraybill - C4 Innovations
"Overview of Best Practices in Homeless Services"
Understanding and implementing what we’ve learned from experience and research over the past decades is essential to effectively address the complex needs of people experiencing homelessness. This workshop will provide an overview of selected “person-centered, housing-focused, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, peer-integrated, self-compassionate” approaches that inform our work.
Ken Kraybill - C4 Innovations
"Providing Trauma-Informed, Healing-Centered Care"
Using a trauma-informed, healing-centered approach is vital to providing effective services. This session will provide an overview of the bio-psycho-social-spiritual impact of trauma, principles and practices of a trauma-informed approach, and examine ways to foster resilience and renewal for staff in the midst this work.
Ken Kraybill - C4 Innovations
"Facilitating Motivational Conversations"
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative conversation style for strengthening a person’s own commitment and motivation to change. This interactive session will provide a “taste” of the spirit, processes, and skills of MI in talking with people about change.
Ken Kraybill - C4 Innovations
"Providing Trauma-Informed Supervision"
They say that people join organizations and leave supervisors. Whether you’re experienced, new, or an aspiring supervisor, learn about trauma-informed supervision – why it matters, useful frameworks and skills to enhance supervisory practice, and specific strategies to help staff thrive in their work.
Diane Hess - Fair Housing Council of Oregon
"Panel Presentation: Addressing Hate and Harassment in Your Shelter"
Sadly, acts of hate and harassment directed at protected classes have increased dramatically over the last few years. About a third of these acts occur where people live, including shelters. This session will explain HUDs requirements for responding to resident-on-resident harassment based on protected class and will explore strategies for addressing these situations. The session will include a focus on how to address situations where the harasser has a mental disability.
Kenny Lapoint - Oregon Housing and Community Services
"Statewide Housing Plan Policy Priorities"
Overviews of the six Statewide Housing Plan policy priorities (Equity and Racial Justice, Homelessness, Permanent Supportive Housing, Affordable Rental Housing, Homeownership, Rural Housing) and how folks can help with Plan implementation
Overview of the 2019 Legislative Session and highlights new and increased resources in Housing and Community Services
Discuss implementation and timing of new programs received in the 2019 Session
Best practices and building a local homeless system from the ground up. What's working in 2019, and what's not. General focus is on ending older practice models that are creating barriers for clients, and frequently the greatest barriers are the social service agencies working to house folks.
Judy Johnston - Cowlitz Tribe- Pathways to Healing Program
" Identify As…Unpacking Self-Identification For Trafficking Survivor/Victims"
Identity is a complex issue-individually, as a group and as a culture. It is often difficult for survivors/victims to find a space for their own identity that includes their lived experience. This will be a discussion that unpacks some of the layers that can be involved in that struggle. Judy invites survivors, service providers and community members to join this discussion.
Gus L. Bedwell - Oregon Housing and Community Services
"Ending Veterans Experiencing Homelessness in Oregon; sharing in the mission."
Come share, learn, and collaborate with OHCS. Gus and Sam will share the outcomes of initiative (Operation Welcome Home) presented on by Gus and Connor during the 2018 conference. Participants will learn about some of the lessons communities learned from the initiative. Presenters and participants will be offered a space to collaborate on next steps for work around ending Veterans experiencing homelessness in Oregon.
OCHH Annual Awards
Do you know anyone or any organization you would like to honor? Now's the time!
We are looking for nominations for our 2019 annual awards
Nomination Information:
* Nominations for the OCHH Awards should not exceed 300 words in length
*Nominations can be supplemented with newspaper articles or public notices
Submission Deadline:
August 31, 2019
Please email your nominations to ochh@ochh.org
or
Mail to:
OCHH
P.O. Box 439
Silverton, OR 97381
Please include '2019 Award Nomination' in the subject line
Honors Given at OCHH Conference
This award is given to a homeless or formerly homeless person who has made a significant contribution to ending homelessness. This contribution can take the form of advocacy for the homeless, as a role model for other homeless people, or as a social service provider. The award is a testimony to the inspirational role that Beverly "Ma" Curtis played in the social movement to end homelessness.
2019 Winner -
This award is given to an individual who has shown excellence in providing services to alleviate the suffering of homeless men, women, and children.
2019 Winner -
This award is given to an organization that has shown excellence in providing services to alleviate the suffering of homeless men, women, and children
2019 Winner -
OCHH Lifetime Achievement Award
This special award is given to a person who has given outstanding service to Oregon's homeless and to ongoing support of OCHH and the OCHH conference
2019 Winner-
Fair Housing Council of Oregon
Fair Housing Exhibit
Adobe Acrobat document [330.4 KB]
Fair Housing Poster Contest...new theme will be announced December 2016 (Click on Link for more details)
Thank you so much for visiting the Oregon Coalition on Housing and Homelessness website.
We hope you will come back again and see what our update crew has been up to!
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