by Gary Toebben

Walk to End Homelessness on November 19

Each night 51,000 people are homeless in Los Angeles County.  This population, which is the size of a small city, makes Los Angeles County the homeless capital of the nation.  For years, our community’s elected leaders and social service agencies were focused on managing this challenge, but today we are focused on solving chronic and veteran homelessness in Los Angeles County. 

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with United Way of Greater Los Angeles created the Home for Good community action plan to end chronic and veteran homelessness in Los Angeles by 2016.  The Home for Good plan was developed by the Business Leaders Task Force on Homelessness, a group of 22 incredibly committed business leaders who represent the partnership between the Chamber and the United Way. 

HomeWalk, United Way’s annual 5K Run/Walk to End Homeless is Central to Home for Good's success is mobilizing thousands of Angelenos to make the collective statement that homelessness is solvable through a community focus on short term services and long-term permanent supportive housing.  HomeWalk will take place on Saturday, November 19 in Exposition Park.  All walker/runner proceeds will go directly to funding permanent supportive housing to meet the goals of Home for Good.  This year we are fortunate to have L.A. Laker Kobe Bryant serving as Honorary Chair for HomeWalk 2011 (click here to view the PSA).
 
The Chamber is inviting its members and their employees to participate in HomeWalk on Saturday, November 19th in Exposition Park.  Over the past 4 years, HomeWalk has mobilized 18,000 walkers, raised $1.7 million and funded organizations that have moved thousands of people living on the streets into permanent supportive housing. 

Please join us this year by running or walking in HomeWalk as a member of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and spread the word to your colleagues, friends, and families.  You can register to join the Chamber's team or start your own team online at www.homewalkla.org. 

51,000 people who live on our streets and missions need your help.  This is a fun and easy way to lend your support to a serious and important community challenge.    

And that's The Business Perspective.