There has been a meeting of the minds in Fresno…kind of. The December 7, 2007 joint city/county task force voted unanimously to get back to the table early next year to plan for a plan to end homelessness in Fresno City and County.

This is a long process — 10 years. To end homelessness means to give homeless people, especially the chronically homeless — homes. Not soup, not blankets, not even tool sheds, but actual homes. The housing first model is the most celebrated and most cost-effective way to end homelessness.

Housing “first” begs the question: What is second?

Well, after housing, service providers visit the formerly homeless, at their new homes. The counseling and social support services happen inside the home, for as long as those services are needed. It’s surprisingly humane, and actually much cheaper than the less humane option of leaving our neighbors cold and on the streets.

Over 300 other U.S. cities/counties have adopted a housing first model. After December 7, 2007 we’re planning to plan for Fresno to be next. http://www.ich.gov/slocal/index.html

The live interview with LaVerne is being sent to me on a CD, a few people heard it live, but it wasn’t archived like I thought it would be…my bad. When I get the CD I’ll post it. Check back early next week.

I learned a lot during the interview with WELL WOMAN RADIO. It went well, but afterwards I realized what a gift this documentary film is. I don’t have to keep telling the story! The parts that are too hard for me to get through are in the film. I’m going to start allowing the documentary to tell the story of my past.

That pain is no longer alive in me, and it is so far from who I am now that I don’t want to keep reliving it — I gave it all up to the film and now it is time to move on and EMBRACE the future!

Dear EF,

Thanks for viewing the preview of the doc with your friend. (Thanks to your friend for carrying around a DVD with the preview on it and deciding to show it to you.)

Your support and the thoughts you put into your post make a difference.

You had a great point that I’ll summarize as a 1 in 3 chance that something will get done…that kids in Fresno will actually be safely taken off the streets and given shelter, therapy, and other services they’ll need.

1 in 3 — it’s a good thing I like to beat the odds, but I need help!

To combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) in Fresno we need leaders and we need direction! My bet is that Fresno has quite a few residents who are ready to unlock their own potential — so we have the leaders. Ever since I was a little girl roaming the streets, I believed that the grown-ups wanted to help but just didn’t know where I was. In my young mind all they needed was some direction.

This film hopes to give that direction!

Please keep the prayers going. We submit the film to Sundance this week. If we’re in it will mean a wider audience faster. If we’re not I have to believe that we’ll hit an even wider audience and maybe even faster!!!

On a very personal note, thanks for mentioning my mom. I know she cares and wishes things could have just been different.

Grateful for the support and thoughts,

Carissa, Fresno’s daughter!