THE 10-YEAR ACTION PLAN
A PARTNERSHIP OF THE CITY OF RALEIGH, WAKE COUNTY, TRIANGLE UNITED WAY,  AND THE WAKE CONTINUUM OF CARE
WITH RALEIGH/WAKE CITIZENS, BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY AND FAITH ORGANIZATIONS 

CITY OF RALEIGH DONATES PROCEEDS FROM DOWNTOWN HOME TOUR TO HELP HOUSE HOMELESS FAMILIES

On Sept. 16, 2008, Mayor Charles Meeker presented a check totaling $3,000 to the Support Circles Program that helps local homeless families with housing. The check presentation was made during the City Council meeting.

For the past four years, the Urban Design Center of the Raleigh Department of City Planning has sponsored the Downtown Home Tour to showcase the variety of housing available in downtown.  Last year, the City of Raleigh began setting aside 10 percent of the proceeds from the tour to help the Raleigh-Wake County faith community support the Support Circles Program. The program provides assistance to homeless families as they move into housing, start work and regain stability in their lives.

Among the more than 1,000 persons -- including 200 children -- who are homeless on any given night in Wake County, there are more than 50 households with members who are ready to work and move into housing. However, they need help from such efforts as the Support Circles Program. With several downtown Raleigh churches participating in the program, “this was something we felt was very appropriate and the right thing to do to help this very worthwhile cause" said Dan Douglas of the City’s Urban Design Center.  “We hope this will set an example for area businesses and others to donate to the program and help the faith community as they help those families who are most in need.”   

The Support Circle Program is an effort led by the Raleigh/Wake Ending Homelessness 10-Year Action Plan. The Support Circle Program has received a "Home For Every American" award from the United States Interagency Council for Homelessness, and is being used as an example in other communities as they begin similar programs.

If you have questions or would like to send in your comments, please feel free to contact City, County, Triangle United Way, and Continuum of Care partnership representatives:

Ken Maness (City of Raleigh) kmaness@unitedwaytriangle.org 605-8933

Dr. Jean Williams (Wake Continuum of Care/Women’s Center of Wake County) jeanwms@bellsouth.net  829-3711

Emily Fischbein (Wake County) emily.fischbein@co.wake.nc.us 212-7874

For additional details of ending homelessness, visit the “Links” page.