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 November 17, 2011:
Ben Morton Honores with Phyllis M. Frank Volunteer Award
Ben Morton has been an invaluable volunteer for Project Homeless Connect and our 5K Run for the Homeless. He has year after year taken on the responsibility of volunteer coordinator and put countless of hours into this job. Ben truly cares for our homeless neighbors and we are proud to say that many of our volunteers for Project Homeless Connect give great feedback. They return to volunteer year after year because they have a positive volunteer experience – THANKS to Ben. He goes above and beyond the needs of his volunteer job and while this is an annual event, he is available to everybody and anybody within the homelessness service provider community to help and assist wherever possible. Ben Morton truly deserves this recognition.
Channel 4 News featured the Vulnerable Veterans Program on July 4, 2011:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Service men and women wind up homeless and on the streets, but a new program is hoping to make a difference for vets who need it most.
Clinton Turner served in the Vietnam War as a member of the Tennessee National Guard.
But when he got out of the service, the soldier said he faced many obstacles, including jail time, no job, health issues and eventually homelessness.
"The next thing I knew, I was at the mission and I've been at the mission for years and years," said Turner.
After more than 20 years on the streets of Nashville, a desperate Turner looked to the Veterans Affairs for help.
Now, he has an address, refrigerator, a spacious closet, and a place to lay his head at night.
It's all thanks to a pilot program that started in February called Vulnerable Veterans that partner with the Metro Homeless Commission and the VA. So far, they've moved 15 veterans off the streets and into homes.
"We don't want our veterans out on the street. We want to get them into housing. They served our country. We owe them that much," said Clifton Harris of the Metro Homeless Commission.
The executive director wants to expand the program after recent success.
"To do that, we need case management, support from the private sector and from congregations and if anyone wants to do that they can go to our website The Key Alliance and donate online," said Harris.
For veterans like Turner, that kind of help means so much more than just a one bedroom apartment.
"The whole time that I was on the street, I didn't have any hope, but now look what I got. I've got a place to stay. A roof over my head, and I'm so grateful. It's a new beginning for me," said Turner.
The Key Alliance Press Release from June 2, 2011:
New Initiative Calls on Congregations to ‘Adopt a Unit’
The Key Alliance launches new program to help formerly homeless individuals set up house
Nashville, Tenn. (June 2, 2011) – The Key Alliance, the nonprofit fundraising arm of the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission, launched a new program called Adopt A Unit that invites congregations to help formerly homeless individuals establish a household.
Clifton Harris, executive director of The Key Alliance, said when a person moves into permanent housing under the Housing First program, their low-income apartment is unfurnished.
“People may remember when they moved from their college dorm room into their first apartment,” Harris said. “Many of us started our first apartment with nothing. But a group of friends and family pitched in with a bed, a couch, a few pots and pans, towels and other things.”
The Adopt A Unit initiative follows the same principle. The Key Alliance is looking for congregations who are willing to help a person entering the Housing First program by collecting new or gently used household items and furniture to start their apartment.
The Key Alliance’s Housing First program takes people experiencing homelessness off the street and offers them permanent housing coupled with intensive case management.
“When we as a community come together, we can end chronic homelessness and reduce overall homelessness in our city,” Harris said.
-more-
Covenant Presbyterian Church was the first congregation to participate in the Adopt A Unit initiative.
“We kind of fell into the program,” Barry Gammons, a church member who also chairs The Key Alliance board of directors, said. “We came to know a now formerly homeless individual and as a church decided to help him. With my role in The Key Alliance, I was fortunate to have the resources at my finger tips to bring in the expertise of the staff to help us coordinate our efforts.”
Gammons said the Adopt A Unit program provides the church members an opportunity to see, first hand, the difficulties faced by a homeless individual moving into housing. Many members become more curious about how they can help, in constructive ways, to deal with issues other than just material possessions. Some members have even begun to seek out other ways to serve the homeless community as a result of their experience with this program.
“This program gives all of those who participate a chance to get involved to whatever extent they feel comfortable,” Gammons said. “For some, that may mean donating furnishings. For others, it may mean exploring more deeply the issue of homelessness and seeking out ways to bring their resources and talents to bear on the issue.”
Carolyn Grossley Cooper, housing coordinator with The Key Alliance, said the Adopt A Unit initiative is only possible through collaborations.
“The role of The Key Alliance is to help identify basic needs and offer guidance to a congregation so that as members step up to help a formerly homeless neighbor transition from street life into the Housing First program, they do not overwhelm themselves or the person they want to help,” Grossley Cooper said. “My role truly is to ensure that we define boundaries while meeting the needs of a person.”
Gammons said the program works.
“We have had nothing but positive experiences,” Gammons said. “One of the missions of our congregation is to reach out to the poor. Programs such as Adopt A Unit allow us to have a positive experience that keeps us wanting to stay involved.”
Congregations interested in learning more about the Adopt A Unit initiative can email Carolyn Grossley Cooper at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call her at 615-880-2293.
For more information about The Key Alliance and its programs visit www.thekeyalliance.org.
MDHA Press Release from May 4, 2011:
Nashville Receives Grant to Expand Support for Homeless Programs
NASHVILLE – The Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency and three partner agencies will receive $486,329 in additional grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide housing for homeless persons in Nashville.
“These grant funds will allow MDHA and our partners to provide additional housing for the homeless in Nashville,” said MDHA Executive Director Phil Ryan. “When combined with traditional funding from HUD, we’ll be able to reach and assist almost 1,300 homeless or formerly homeless people.”
The four grants, totaling $486,329, will be used to develop 50 new beds and will serve at least 75 homeless individuals.
- Peace Unlimited in Recovery will receive $51,861 for a two-year program to provide permanent housing for women struggling with domestic violence, addictions or other circumstances as they move from transitional housing programs.
- Safe Haven Family Shelter will receive $75,728 for a two-year program to renovate a property to provide housing for homeless families.
- Urban Housing Solutions will receive $255,300 for a two-year program to provide subsidized housing to at least 30 homeless men and women with disabilities.
- MDHA will receive $103,440 for the Shelter Plus Care Program for a five-year program to provide rental assistance to vulnerable, visible homeless individuals.
The grant funds announced today will be combined with nearly $3.3 million in HUD’s Continuum of Care funds awarded to MDHA and partner agencies in February to renew existing homeless assistance programs throughout the city. The grants will help keep more than a dozen programs in Nashville/Davidson County operating in the coming year. Homeless service providers who receive renewal funding in Nashville include: Welcome Home Ministries, Operation Stand Down, Safe Haven Family Shelter, The Next Door, Urban Housing Solutions, Room in the Inn, Renewal House, Matthew 25, Park Center, Mary Parrish Center, Salvation Army, YWCA and MDHA. MDHA’s Shelter Plus Care Program received $1,827,000 of the total $3.3 million award to continue providing rental assistance to more than 250 homeless individuals.
HUD’s Continuum of Care grants provide permanent and transitional housing to homeless persons as well as services including job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care. Continuum of Care grants are awarded competitively to local programs to meet the needs of their homeless clients. For more information visit http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/states/tennessee/news/HUDNo.2011-01-19
The Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency administers a variety of urban and community development projects, works to increase the availability of affordable housing, and leads and supports revitalization efforts in downtown and neighborhoods throughout the city.
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Recent Media Coverage:
March 2011
From the Nashville Post: Local attorney named chair of The Key Alliance
 The board of directors of The Key Alliance — the nonprofit fundraising arm of the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission — has elected local attorney Barry J. Gammons as its chair. Gammons is the owner of The Law Office of Barry J. Gammons, a law practice focusing on creditors' rights. He has been a member of the nonprofit's board since April 2010.
"After careful consideration I have accepted the nomination to chair The Key Alliance board of directors," Gammons said. "This is an exciting time to be involved in the work that is going on citywide with cooperation from Metro Government, private industry, homeless advocates, centers of faith, and many others in the commuity."
Gammons is a graduate of Belmont University and received his legal degree from Nashville School of Law. He replaces Erik Cole, who continues to chair the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission and remains a member of the Key Alliance Board.
"The Key Alliance is an initiative by the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission," Cole said. "The intention was always that after we established our nonprofit fundraising arm, we would find a chair of the board. We are happy that we have found a dedicated leader in Barry Gammons who is devoted to implementing solutions to homelessness in Nashville."
February 2011:
City Paper article on PSA with Chris Johnson and Mayor Karl Dean
The Key Alliance had a chance to shoot a PSA with Mayor Dean and Chris Johnson who are calling on the community to Join The Key Alliance. Click here to read the full article.
Nashville Ledger article on The Contributor and Adopt A Meter program
The Contributor is a great awareness tool that receives high praise by The Key Alliance. This article also mentions The Key Alliance's own awareness campaign called Adopt A Meter.
December, 2010:
Channel 5 News reports on Project Homeless Connect
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nearly 1,500 homeless people took advantage of thousands of services provided by Project Homeless Connect at the State Fairgrounds on Wednesday.
The Key Alliance sponsored the event, which aims to provide people struggling with homelessness with access to a range of services like medical screening, legal services, employment assistance, pet care and foreclosure prevention services.
Many of those attending the event didn't have the basic necessity to get a job: an ID.The Tennessee Vital Records office set up shop at the fairgrounds to help them get new copies of birth certificates.
People filled out the necessary paperwork, and then a runner took the documents to the downtown office to verify the personal information. Within an hour, people had a new copy in their hands, and were able to walk to the next booth and get an identification card.
Many homeless people have lost the valuable records after moving from place to place.
"They'll be able to get ID cards and social security cards which will enable them to get a job," said Bernice Middlebrooks with the Vital Records office.
At least a dozen students from the Paul Mitchell School brought the salon to the fairgrounds, and provided free haircuts for the homeless.
"I know for a hundred percent fact that when they walk out of here and look in the mirror they're going to feel a lot better about themselves," student Adam Lanning said.
Project Homeless Connect Organizer Wendell Bigsby said the makeovers will also help people find jobs.
"You have to look presentable to get a job, a lot of it is how you feel about yourself. If you feel good about yourself you purvey that coming in," Bigsby said.
Some fifteen people were hired on with companies like Kroger, Adecco and Krystal.
September, 2010:
NPR stories on Homelessness
In Nashville, most homeless outreach agencies believe a home is something that must be earned. Roughly four years ago, the Metro Homelessness Commission decided that approach wasn’t cutting it, that too many chronically homeless lingered on the streets and it was costing the city money. The commission adopted a program called Housing First as the solution, but it’s been slow to gain traction.
Audio for this feature is available here.
http://wpln.org/?p=20632
Nashville is halfway into its ten-year plan to end chronic homelessness, and the problem still persists. Some believe with the economy it’s gotten worse. Anywhere from a couple hundred to one thousand homeless fit the “chronic” description – meaning they’re mentally ill or battling addictions and have lived on the street for more than a year.
Audio for this feature is available here.
http://wpln.org/?p=20606
Adopt A Meter Program Launch
Mayor Karl Dean, Erik Cole and Clifton Harris of The Key Alliance as well as Ana Schwager and local artist Ken Smith of Southwest Airlines helped install and unveil the first donation meter at the Bridgestone Arena.
The program will place refurbished "parking" meters in high foot traffic areas Downtown. All change collected will benefit homeless outreach with the goal to place people into Housing First. For a $1,000 sponsorship, contact Laura Jumonville at 780-7014.
http://www.wsmv.com/news/24993799/detail.html
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/officials-unveil-meters-where-citizens-can-donate-homeless
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=13142616
http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=13146979
http://wpln.org/?p=20317
http://www.wreg.com/news/sns-ap-tn--homelessparkingmeters,0,5982563.story
http://wjz.com/watercooler/Meters.Installed.To.2.1911884.html
Vulnerable Veterans Program
The Metropolitan Homelessness Commission has launched a pilot program for The Key Alliance referred to as the Vulnerable Veterans Program. This programs takes 15 vulnerable homeless veterans off Downtown's streets and places them into Housing First. The program is a partnership with the local VA office and Eckman/Freeman.
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100907/NEWS01/9070341/Metro-VA-join-to-help-homeless-veterans-with-housing-counseling-benefits
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=13128062
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