Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 December 2002 — Page 4
THE MMANAPOUS RECORDER
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20,2002
BRIEFS
•ngagt In activittes such as games and crafts. Rafrashmants will be served. For more Information, pleas* call (317) 261*7264 or (317) 339-101. BMV holiday dosings The Bureau of Motor Vehicles reminds Indiana residents that all license branches and administrative offices will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 24 and Wednesday, Dec. 25. in obser-
vance of the Christmas holiday. Regular business hours will resume on Thursday, Dec. 26. In addition, all license branches will close at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 due to end of the year inventory. Administrative offices will remain open until 4:45 p.m. Branches and offices will reopen on Jan. 2. BMV Express automated services are always available 24 hours a day to those needing to renew vehicle registrations or driver licenses when branches are unavailable. Visit www.bmvexDress.IN.oov for more Information.
Money foi homeless
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez recently announced the largest amount of homeless assistance in the nation's history. More than 1.1 billion dollars will be funded to thousands of local housing and service programs around the country.
NAACP accepting nominations for 88* Spiqgam Medal The NAACP announced that it is now accepting nominations for the gg* Annual Spingarn Medal, the organization’s highest honor. Its purpose is to highlight and award the achievements of a distinguished African-American in any field of endeavor that also serves as inspiration for young African Americans in pursuit of their dreams and aspirations.
Nominations must Include a detailed typed or printed current biographical profile of the nominee, highlighting relevant activities and achievements. Supporting information, such as news clippings, honors received, etc. should be attached. All recommendations for the award must be submitted on or before Dec. 31 and addressed to the Spingarn Medal Committee, Attention: Office of the Chairman, 4805 Mt Hope Dr., Baltimore, Md. 21215.
tv«ry
Louies Home Improvement Warehouse
Improving Home Improvement'
Sae •tore far datafa.
ir do you stuff 40,000 Korns into ono stocking? With A Lowe’s Gift Card!
Nobody Boats Our Prices...Guaranteod! Our everyday low prices are getting lower. On some items, like the ones below, you'll rind our lowest prices yet. Look for this symbol throughout our store.
fs '*
I
Dishwasher installation in 72 hours!
UUM, Monfry frtfay
•6 hour dalay atart option-S-lavel ^1^)7
Precision Wash System" •High tamp
194734
wssh option #U
White
#194728
$197
•yj ‘.-W-... •• 1 >,
amti Lara* Grill •Grins up to 7 sKtra large burgers, 7 plump chicken breasts, or 4 full-size, Juicy steaks in minutes #184505
Jp £jj £b Delivery on any Whirlpool appliance $ 397 and above. Xharmanufsclurar’aiTiaV-ln rebels. Offer vsHd through Dacamber 31,2002. See atom far details.
Bask: installation on selected garage door openers
SM $5998
•Variable speed control •Convenient interorated blade stomoe # Vibratina control geering for smooth operation -Include! carrying case and 3 blades #173618
Device *30 value
14 HP Screw Drive
$145
•Solid steel screw provides smooth, quiet performance •Advanced safety features - 6 part comprehensive safety package system #104550
with Straight Edga Guide ^99 •5 amp *4 speed ‘LED headlight •In-handle trigger control •Straight edge guide •Duet collection attachment #148170
ADat-TA
*89
•13 aup; 120 voN: 5,200 rpm •Eaey-to-read bevel scats #21304
Capacity Fiberglass
*29“
Oxnptotaly thaw the tufcey before frying ike cooking ntitts to hoU the tufrey mer to praront theporonity of hotof spate touchfag yor tend -Guard ol ckrfag the attended cool down period
morrone
$24 97
•Includes carry case and 40 piece accessory Idt •36X100 rpm
#204711
50°° Off holiday items
For the Lowe’s nearest you, call 1-800-44-LOWES or visit us on-line at Lowes.com SSL
Shelters struggling this holiday season
By LT. «OV. JOSEPH KERMAN
Recently, a number of articles have appeared around the state detailing the financial struggles of homeless shelters. Many shelters are experiencing reduced income streams, much like other not-for-profits, at the same time that demand is increasing - and the combination is threatening their operations. People become homeless for a number of reasons but the most common is that they have extremely low incomes and cannot find housing they can afford. Frequently, these problems are further complicated by other challenges, such as mental illness, substance abuse, limited education or work history or lack of family support While accurate counts of the homeless population are difficult to come by, in 1999 the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP) conducted a study of homeless persons in Indianapolis. Through street and shelter counts, telephone surveys and face-to-face interviews, this study determined that: • About 3,500 people are homeless in Indianapolis every
night
• About 15,000 local residents are homeless every year. • Homeless people cited eviction or inability to pay rent as leading causes of their homelessness. • Many homeless people work, but most have extremely low incomes. • There are many faces of homelessness in Indianapol^ - children and young adults i gpjbputdO percent ofthelc homeless population; twothirds of local homeless people are African American; and one in five homeless adults are vet-
erans.
• Four out of 10 homeless adults are experiencing their first episode of homelessness. • About 4 out of 10 homeless adults on any given night have children with them. • At least 24,000local adults with homes had been homeless at some point in their lives. • At least 88,000 adults with homes had moved in with someone else at some point because they had nowhere else to go. • In about 62,000 Indianapolis households, adult heads ofhouseholds spent half or more of their incomes on rent or mort-
gage payments.
• Many local residents suprt doing more to aid the
omeless population.
Out ofthis study came Mayor Bart Peterson’s “Blueprint to End Homelessness.” It is a 10year strategic plan that sets out an action plan for stemming the tide of homelessness in Indianapolis. Acopyofthedocument is available at www.chipindy.org or by calling
(317)630-0853.
While finding permanent housing is the goal of most organizations serving the homeless population, the first steps are often shelters and transitional housing. In 2002, the Indiana Housing Finance Authority (IHFA) awarded nearly $2.9 million to fund the construction or rehabilitation of 77 units of emergency shelters or transitional housing. IHFAalso awards millions of dollars for tiie development of affordable rental housing and
homeownership.
IHFA does not have funding sources to support the continuing operational expenses of shelters and transitional housing. For this, they rely on other government sources, corporate contributions and other fund-
raising efforts.
po hoi
For more information on IHFA and its programs, visit our Website at www.indianahousing.oig or call tofl-free in Indiana 800-872-0371.
-he