SSIHC Good News..2009 Client Advisory Board SSIHC proudly announces its brand new Client Advisory Board (CAB). The brainchild of Bernadine Johnson, a former SSIHC client and our former Executive Director, Ashley McSwain, the CAB is quickly becoming an important voice in designing client programs. 
CAB Meeting
These program recommendations are not only for SSIHC but also for sister agencies that jumped at the chance to be represented by their own former clients. The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), the County's Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC), the Montgomery County Prison Release Center and Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) all have client representatives on this Board and look to it for insight. Thanks to the Washington Area Women's Foundation for funding this innovative initiative through their Open Door Capacity Fund. Catalogue for Philanthropy
selects SSIHC
The prestigious Catalogue for Philanthropy which "connects effective, trustworthy non-profits with individuals who want to contribute to and make a difference in their community" has listed SSIHC in its 2009/2010 edition. SSIHC is deeply honored to be recognized by the Catalogue which every year "chooses our Region's best, brightest and most promising non-profits to feature." Wachovia Bank
donates $10,000 to SSIHCWachovia Bank, a Wells Fargo Company, has selected SSIHC to be a recipient of their Community Needs Grant. These funds will be used to support critical SSIHC client needs. Wachovia is also sponsoring SSIHC in the Fannie Mae "Help the Homeless" Walk!
Betsy Sharon -
New SSIHC Executive DirectorWe would say welcome but SSIHC has been home to Betsy Sharon for quite some time. Her commitment to SSIHC started as a Board member a few years ago. Since April 2009, she has served as our Interim Executive Director. Now it's official and we are pleased to call her our Executive Director. Along with her experience working on Housing initiatives in Montgomery County, she brings with her a passion to help eradicate homelessness and carry out the mission of SSIHC. Betsy said, " I am thrilled to be part of the future of SSIHC". |
SSIHC Hamlet Fundraiser
Betsy Sharon provides information on SSIHC to Hamlet Restaurant guestThanks to everyone that came out to support the Hamlet Restaurant fundraiser. A special thanks to Hamlet Restaurant in Bethesda!!! |
Staff
Betsy Sharon, JD
Executive Director
Liz Anne Ganiban, JD
Deputy Director
Candace Jack, MSW
Case Manager
Mary Mulholland, LCSW-C, LICSW
Case Manager
Tiffany King
Grant Writer
Sandra Miller
Administrative Coord.
Board of Officers
Dominique Smith, President
Dick O'Connor, 1st VP
Julia Jarvis, 2nd VP
Nancy Lawrence, Secretary
Ron Benfield, Treasurer
For a complete list of our extremely dedicated member and supporting congregations and Board Members, please Click Here |
| Dear Friend of SSIHC,
Welcome to SSIHC's first electronic newsletter, a quarterly publication to keep you informed about our partnerships, initiatives, and events. As you may already know, Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition has been ending homelessness one family at a time since its inception in 1991 by a group of local congregations.
In these difficult economic times, the number of homeless families continues to rise. The most recent Montgomery County, MD Homeless Census indicates that the number of homeless families with children is up 29% over 2008 making the need for our services even more critical.
I am constantly encouraged by the passion and dedication of our staff, volunteers and supporters. Without their time and effort and the financial support of member congregations and private donors, we would not be able to exist and help the many families that need housing. Only with this continued support can we meet our increasing challenges.
Our clients are also a real inspiration to us all. They have experienced the difficult circumstance of homelessness and survived. When provided with housing and support through our mentoring and case management services, they have risen above, persevered, and succeeded. Meet one of these strong human beings in the Client Story below.
As one staff member so eloquently said "Housing is and should be a basic right, not something for the deserving but something for the human". Thank you for your support in our mission to help end homelessness one family at a time.
Thank you,
Dominique Smith, SSIHC Board President |
| Client & Volunteer Spotlight Client Story - The Story of V.S.I was addicted to drugs and homeless. However, through a 12 step program and the help of SSIHC, I was able to take advantage of the opportunities that SSIHC afforded me. I was able to reunite with my son and become the father and parent I always knew I could be. I have started my own business thanks to SSIHC allowing me to go back to school. They even hired me to the Client Advisory Board to help with issues concerning homeless, incarcerated, and chemically dependent individuals that want to change their lives. I just celebrated 4 years of being drug free. Thank you SSIHC. I wil always be grateful to this organization for giving me a second chance at having a new lease on life. I thank God for SSIHC. Volunteer Story - Sean RileyMeet Sean Riley, Eagle Scout. Sean chose SSIHC as the place to donate his time and energy for his Scout award. He single-handedly raised over $1300 and recruited fellow scouts to put up new exterior shutters and totally re-landscape two major planting areas, transforming one of our residential properties. Not only did Sean and his fellow scouts revitalize the property, they gave our clients a new sense of pride in their home! For his extraordinary work and fundraising efforts, Sean was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the Executive Director and the SSIHC Board.  Sean Riley with Board Member, Dominique Smith Please see www.ssihc.org - real stories - for more client & volunteer stories. |
| | Cedar Ridge Farm PartnershipWe are happy to announce that Cedar Ridge Community Church is one of our newest supporting congregations. They have selected SSIHC and our families to be recipients of the vegetable and fruit crops that they are growing as part of the Cedar Ridge Farm Mission. Their mission is "to nurture a community of hope and spiritual transformation that serves God and our neighbors by growing wholesome fruits and vegetables in an environmentally responsible way and sharing them with those in need." Thank you Cedar Ridge for partnering with us and our families. See more on the Cedar Ridge Farm Mission at www.ccrc.org. |
Fannie Mae "Help the Homeless"
SSIHC Mini-Walk, November 8
The Fannie Mae "Help the Homeless" Walk is one of our biggest fundraising events of the year. We rely on schools, private businesses, and individual donors to help us make this successful. SSIHC has been selected as a beneficiary organization for the 2009 "Help the Homeless" Program. The date and further information on the Annual Fannie Mae "Help the Homeless" Walkathon is forthcoming. In the meantime, please mark your calendar for November 8, 2009 for the Fannie Mae "Help the Homeless" SSIHC Mini-Walk.
If you want to find out how your child's school can help us, please call Sandra Miller of SSIHC at 301-562-0520.Advocacy News
Hate Crimes Law Protects the Homeless starting October 1, attacks against the homeless can be prosecuted as hate crimes in Maryland, the first state in the nation to grant this protection.
County Funds Homeless Programs $8.9 million of Montgomery County's Housing Initiative Fund in FY 2010 goes for Housing First to meet the needs of the homeless. |
How can you Help? - In Kind Donations
- Monetary Donations
- Volunteer (ie, Tutoring)
- Family Mentoring
We have many new families with young children joining us. They are in need of gift cards (ie Target, Wal-Mart, Giant, Safeway, etc) and $15+ Metro/SmartTrip Cards.
To help us, click here or reach us at 301-562-0520 |
Join us on Facebook at "Friends of SSIHC" and
on Linked-in at the Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition (SSIHC) group.
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Newsletter
