Guilford County Task Force To End Homelessness
Mission: To improve the quality of life for all residents of Guilford County by ending chronic homelessness and reducing all types of homelessness by 2016.
The Guilford County Task Force to End Homelessness was a comprehensive and focused effort by the community with the goal of ending chronic homelessness in Guilford County by the year 2016. At the urging of the Homeless Prevention Coalition of Guilford County, the task force was summoned by Mayor Keith Holliday of Greensboro, Mayor Beck Smothers of High Point, and the Chair of the County Board of Commissioners, Carolyn Coleman. The Homeless Prevention Coalition, along with the United Way of Greater Greensboro and United Way of Greater High Point, were assigned the task of administering the development of the plan. Neil Belenky and Jehan Benton from United Way of Greater Greensboro; Bobby Smith, President of United Way of Greater High Point; Jackie Butler of the Homelessness Prevention Coalition of Guilford County and Alcohol and Drug Services; and Nancy Parks Hunter, taskforce consultant, formed the administrative team given the task of convening the taskforce and overseeing the plan’s development.
The task force was comprised of a panel of more than 50 leaders of government, faith communities, social service, advocacy, law enforcement, business organizations, and people who themselves have experienced homelessness. Carole Bruce, was appointed as Chair of the Guilford County taskforce to End Homelessness and Jim Roskelly, Ed Kitchen and Donna Newton were selected as subcommittee chairs. Together, these four dynamic individuals guided the research, planning, and development efforts of the taskforce. The taskforce worked diligently to draft a plan to end chronic homelessness in Guilford County in ten years.
Task Force: draft and implement a concrete plan to end chronic homelessness in Guilford County
Guilford County Task Force to End Homelessness
Chairwoman Carole Bruce
Smith Moore LLP
Research and Data Analysis: Analyze data and community input; develop a cost study and unit need assessment
Research and Data Analysis Committee
Jim Roskelly, Chair
Moses Cone Health System
Support Services and Prevention Committee: Research and analyze best practices in prevention and supportive services for applicability to Guilford County; provide recommendations to Task Force
Ed Kitchen, Co-Chair
Joseph M. Bryan FoundationRobert Newton, Co-Chair
Moses Cone-Wesley Long Community
Housing Committee: Research and analyze best practices for housing for applicability to Guilford County; provide recommendations to Task Force
Opening the Back Door Committee
Donna Newton, Chair
Greensboro Neighborhood Congress
Implementation: Develop business plan, structure for plan implementation, and plan for community engagement
Chairwoman Carole Bruce
Smith Moore LLP
Leadership/ Administrative Team: Convene Task Force meetings, communicate with members and community, and oversee plan development
