Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless

Description

Coordination of Services: GCCH has 50 member agencies who all provide a direct service to homeless individuals. By coordinating services within the community we help our member agencies provide their services, share their resources, and work with the homeless population. Advocacy: GCCH works with local officials, the community and homeless individuals to ensure that the rights of homeless persons are preserved, that the trend of criminalization of homelessness is reversed and that just social policy is enacted to end homelessness. GCCH is a regional site for the National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project, which seeks to document and end hate crimes against homeless people and to educate and organize homeless individuals to protect their civil rights. Education: Through our education opportunities and resources, we provide the groundwork for understanding the complexities of homelessness so that our community can work towards sustainable solutions. For nearly twenty years, GCCH has been providing educational opportunities to religious organizations, companies, schools, and universities in Cincinnati. Our Speaker's Bureau is made up of homeless and formerly homeless individuals who share their stories with area schools and civic and faith organizations. Our Cincinnati Urban Experience program invites college students to visit Cincinnati during their school breaks to engage in volunteer activities during the day and reflection and discussion activities in the evening. Streetvibes: Streetvibes is a monthly newspaper that covers the issues of homelessness, social justice, and poverty in our community. Often these stories are not covered by the mainstream media. Homeless and formerly homeless individuals sell the paper to the general public for $1 after purchasing the paper from GCCH for 25 cents. Vendors keep the profit they have earned. In 2007, Streetvibes circulation was over 47,000. In 2008, Streetvibes sold out of papers in both March and April.