News

The Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on January 24th has been POSTPONED. Please check back for information on a future date.

Currie Avenue Partnership Update

The Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness have raised $130,00 for the Currie Avenue Partnership! This has surpassed our goal of $70,000. With this funding, 3 and 1/2 case workers are being hired! To learn more, click here to read the media coverage and an update on the partnership.

Save GAMC Rally on the Opening Day of Session!

The 2010 session of the Minnesota Legislature began yesterday in the midst of cheering and chanting from concerned Minnesotans about the loss of General Assistance Medical Care. Over 700 participants listened as Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman pumped us up about the need for spiritual audacity. We listened to GAMC recipeints and what losing their health care coverage would do to their lives. We are here to protect the poorest and sickest Minnesotans. Check out the media coverage of the GAMC rally!

http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2010/02/04/15653/session-opening_save_gamc_rally_makes_its_point_with_the_power_of_the_pen

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4350

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/83561352.html?page=2&c=y

http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/83575082.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUKcOy9cP3DieyckcUsI

http://www.echopress.com/event/article/id/72060

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9DLL2H00.htm

TELEVISION:

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=840290&catid=396

http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/83607187.html

http://wcco.com/politics/2010.legislation.starts.2.1471350.html

http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S1402129.shtml?cat=10335

RADIO:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/02/04/construction-wishlist/

Got Lawyer Skills?

Volunteers are asked to commit one evening a month, three hours, for a five month period starting at the end of March. Please consider using your professional skills and becoming a part this exciting new program that will contribute to the fight to end homelessness. Contact Annie at annie@dceh.org or 612-767-9219 for more information and to receive a volunteer application.

Bike Mechanics Wanted

Volunteers* are needed during the following times  Tuesdays and Thursdays 6-9PM and Sundays 12-4PM. Come once and fix one bike or come on a regular basis and fix many bikes, we need your help! Bikes, tools and bike parts will be provided.

Please contact Benita Warns at warns@pclink.com or 651-641-1037 for more information and to sign up to volunteer.

*We are currently only seeking volunteers with bike repair experience, for information on free bike repair classes visit Sibley Bike Depot

Bike Repair Blitz

Join us for the DCEH bike ministry kickoff event the week of February 22^nd. Volunteers with bike repair experience are needed to fix bikes on:

·Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, February 23^rd-25^th from 6-9PM

·Saturday February 27^th from 10AM-4PM

·Sunday February 28^th from 12-4PM.

Stay for an hour or two or three to fix a bike, build community and make a difference! Bikes will provide clients of our outreach centers with sustainable ways to get to school and work. All supplies including tools, bikes and parts will be provided.

Please contact Benita Warns at warns@pclink.com or 651-641-1037 for more information and to sign up to volunteer.

Kickoff to a Year of Advocacy

On Monday January 11th over 70 DCEH congregants and community members gathered at Central Luth er an Church for a one-stop advocacy workshop on ending homelessness.  Cathy ten Broeke, Director of Heading Home Hennepin, gave an update on the Currie Avenue Project and talked about some of the challenges that still remain in the push to end homelessness. Key issues for the upcoming legislative session include the unallotment of fu nds for General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) and cuts in funding for Emergency General Assistance.  Jeannie Fox from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits discussed the dos and don’ts of advocating and the most effective ways to have your voice heard.

Participants sat at tables with others from their legislative districts and were given time to discuss how faith and poverty connect and what actions and strategies they could take as a district.  At the end of the evening everyone was asked to fill out a call to action form outlining what actions they would take in an effort to end homelessness.   57 people committed to taking 203 actions in the coming months. These actions included attending their precinct caucus February 2^nd, reading and taking action on Action Alerts twice a month and writing a lett er to the editor regarding ending homelessness. People placed their call to action forms in a basket at the front of the room as everyone sang “We Are Called.” This hymn served as a reminder that through advocacy and working together we are able to act with justice and energized the crowd to take action in the fight to end homelessness.

Our Mission

Work together to end homelessness by using our civic voice to educate and push the community from managing homelessness to ending homelessness and poverty through our support of Heading Home Hennepin and multiple relationships with the homeless, near homeless, congregations, volunteers and community organizations.