Dear Community Partner Agencies:
The 2019 Florida Coalition for the Homeless Conference information has been released. This conference offers workshops on best practices, evidence based outcomes, new innovative trends in community partnering for a variety of topics including; mental health, law enforcement, housing (Housing First), and of course ideas to reduce/end homelessness in our communities.
Don’t let this great opportunity to network slip past you – SAVE THE DATE TODAY!
Understanding Housing First and Permanent Supportive Housing
Housing First quickly and successfully connects individuals and families experiencing homelessness to permanent housing
without preconditions and barriers to entry, such as sobriety, treatment or service participation requirements.
For more information about Housing First and Permanent Supportive Housing please click this link Housing Models
Committee Chairs will be providing updates on their respective committees at both the next EXE-COM and General Membership meetings.
CoC Committee Chairs
- Data/HMIS – Chair Michael Overway
- Employment & Supportive Services – Chair Fred Richards
- Grants – Co-Chairs Christine Welton & Ashley Jones
- Housing – Chair Mary Waller
- Planning – Chair Christine Welton
- Youth – Chair Thomas Wedlock
- Veterans – Chair Dale Mullens
The 10 Year Plan to End Homeless in Collier County called Vision 20/20 is: A Clear View of Housing for All Members of Collier County is a community-level action plan for addressing the housing needs of adults, families, youth, and children who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The development of this plan has been a collaborative effort involving individuals and families who have or are currently experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless, unaccompanied youth identified as homeless, service providers, advocates, policy makers, and other community leaders.
***Update May 16, 2019*** The Collier Hunger & Homeless Coalition along with its Continuum of Care partners are updating the 20/20 Vision Plan include new services and programs and amending programs that are no longer needed or viable in Collier County. We will continue to keep you posted as the 20/20 Vision is updated.
To learn more about the Vision 20/20 Plan visit our website https://collierhomelesscoalition.mystagingwebsite.com/10-year-plan/
Throughout Naples and Marco Island and nearby communities including Bonita Springs and Cape Coral, Sizzle SWFL Restaurant Week is a semi-annual charity-driven promotion that celebrates dining out at an affordable price.
Sizzle SWFL Restaurant Week is May 30 – June 12 with over 70 participating restaurants offering three-course prix-fixe dinner menus with special upgrades and deals starting at just $26 or $36. The goal of Restaurant Week is to encourage people to visit the best LOCAL restaurants during a normally slower time of year and help expose more people to our amazing SWFL restaurants!
The best thing about the Sizzle SWFL Restaurant Week is that $1.00 from every Restaurant Week meal (lunch or dinner) sold will be donated to the Sizzle SWFL FGCU Food & Beverage Scholarship! With over 60,000 Restaurant Week meals sold per year (and growing) this scholarship will have profound impact on our local High School graduates that attend the FGCU Hospitality Program and in turn help our local restaurants to be able to hire more qualified staff!
Alter Eagles will kick-off this year’s “Summer Jazz on the Gulf” free concert series on Saturday, June 29, 2019 from 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
Combining beautiful vocals and harmonies with superb instrumental performances, the band consists of professional touring musicians who pool their talents to provide the most accurate, authentic and engaging live recreation of The Eagles music possible. The band performs all of the Eagles classics, such as “Take It Easy,” “Desperado” and “One of These Nights,” as well as songs from their newer albums and solo careers, including “Heartache Tonight” and “Hotel California.” For more information on the band, visit https://www.altereaglesband.com/.
Hotel guests will receive complimentary parking at the resort. For those not staying at the resort there will be metered parking just north of the hotel at Lowdermilk Park and free trolley service to the resort and back. Taxis and ride share services are recommended. Guests may bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating, however no outside food and beverage is allowed. Call (239) 261-2222 for additional information and directions.
The City of Naples 4th of July Fireworks begin at 9:00 p.m. at the Naples Pier.
The presentation will feature a twenty minute display with special effects musically choreographed to patriotic selections that will be simulcast on radio station WAVV 101.1 FM.
Naples residents are invited to bring chairs or blankets to viewing spots in town, as the fireworks can be seen all along the Naples beach. Personal use of sparklers or any fireworks is prohibited per City ordinance.
Strict parking enforcement will take place in marked “No Parking” areas with close attention given to the entire length of Gulf Shore Blvd, blocked intersections, and fire hydrants. There will be no parking allowed on either side of Gulf Shore Blvd. between 20th Ave. S. and 8th Ave. N. (Golf Dr.) Vehicles will be towed. We encourage the use of public parking in the downtown areas and to please respect other’s property and do not block driveways or park on private property without owner’s consent. Fourth Ave. S. will be a designated disabled parking beach end for those with proper disabled parking permits.
Parking meters are enforced daily between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and no parking after 11:00 p.m. is allowed at the beach ends.
Our Mission
To change lives in a spiritual environment that is both compassionate and disciplined as we provide housing for the homeless, food for the needy, and comfort for the addicted and suffering.
Our Vision
To become a model agency to provide services and resources to the homeless, hungry, and addicted while seeking to expand the capacity to meet present and future needs in the most effective and efficient manner.
Our Beliefs and Principles
Helpful
We are called to care for “the least of these”. We are helpful by providing food, shelter, clothing, and care for the sick and by visiting those in jail.
Healing
We work to provide healing words, resources, and structure to all who come to us. The homeless, addicted, mentally ill, and people wounded by life’s circumstances need the opportunity to find healing. We work to ensure this is a safe healing atmosphere for all.
Excellence
We strive for the best business and ministry practices in every area of the organization. In our personal lives, we are expected to live a life that is blameless and carry ourselves with integrity.
God-Honoring
Everything that we do is to reflect the knowledge that God cares for all who come to us. Customers in our stores, residents in our programs, volunteers, staff, and anyone else should see the goodness of God’s blessings in all that we do.
Three Decades of Service
St. Matthew’s House began in 1987 when a group of Naples parishioners followed a calling to bring food to a homeless population living in a nearby wooded area.
The “Task Force for the Homeless” began gathering contributions of both food and clothing, establishing the mission’s food pantry. Throughout the years, community support has helped grow the small mission into a multi-faceted organization focused on spiritual change.
As a 501(c)(3), our 100% donation model allows all of our operating expenses to be covered by unique social enterprises – which enable us to direct 100% of all public donations toward our life-changing programs that continue to enrich countless lives in our community.