ACCORD - Community forum to address homeless and housing needs

FRIENDSHIP - A community forum is planned to help gain a better understanding of housing needs in Allegany County. Hosted by ACCORD Corporation, designated Community Action Agency for Allegany County, NY, the forum was created to help individuals, families, civic groups, and organizations learn more about conditions and issues that are impacting the ability of families and individuals to find and maintain safe housing.  We hope to learn more about barriers to safe housing and discover more concrete ways to get involved and make a difference.

The forum will be held Thursday, November 15th, from 5-7 p.m. at the Friendship Central School Auditorium. All county residents are encouraged to attend.

The forum will host a panel of experts to include those who work or live with this issue on a regular basis and have a perspective unique to their experience, whether it be through actually surviving homelessness or by working to help those that are impacted by housing issues.  Our panelists will include experts on poverty, low-income housing, housing and mental health, aging population needs, education and veterans services. Each will speak for about 3-5 minutes and then questions and comments from the audience will be heard.

In addition to community concerns about the affordability and availability of safe housing for everyone, we will also look at housing issues that impact our neighborhoods, such as blight and concerns for homeowners who are struggling with upkeep due to costs or other issues.

Our intent is to get a better understanding of how these conditions are impacting Allegany County residents, youth, veterans, educators, health care and service providers and policy makers. ACCORD’s Executive Director stated, ‘Homelessness is a serious and generally invisible problem in our communities. We see people moving frequently, staying with friends and families in overcrowded conditions and often, living in an unsafe environment because they have no money for repairs or even the means for basic upkeep.” 

For more information, visit ACCORD Corporations Facebook page, go to www.accordcorp.org. or call Lesley Gooch-Christman, Executive Director at 585-268-8204.