More than 100 Lehigh Valley residents from all faiths gathered at Calvary Baptist Church recently for a symposium on homelessness in the Lehigh Valley.

The presentation, sponsored by the Lehigh County Conference of Churches, was led by Allentown's First Lady, Lisa Pawlowski, co-chair of Allentown's Commission to End Chronic Homelessness by 2017.

She spoke about the city's plan for eliminating homelessness and the steps already taken.

After giving a brief description of the program, Pawlowski invited the commission's co-chair, the Rev. Dr. Christine Nelson, to provide details of what the Conference of Churches is doing.

Nelson asked everyone to imagine a city where residents could live self-sufficient in a home they could afford and also contribute to the community for the welfare of all.

Allentown has been working toward this goal since the commission's formation in 2007.

The problem of an encampment under the Linden Street Bridge could be solved by finding shelter for the eight people living there and securing the area so it is not re-used.

Collaboration and has brought together more than 70 allies including social service agencies, employment agencies, Lehigh County, police, prisons, hospitals, domestic violence centers, businesses and housing agencies.

Together they have provided a better network of services, shortened waiting times, increase collaboration with prisons and hospitals discharge procedures to prevent people from being discharged into homelessness thereby saving the community money.

Dozens of people have been moved to permanent housing with only one major homeless encampment left in the Allentown area.

There is still much work to be done, with 62 percent of homelessness being families and young people and 34 percent being non-married.

The causes of homelessness include severe psychiatric problems, domestic violence, the economic recession and high unemployment.

Another cause is lack of health care, as an accident or serious illness can lead to unemployment and loss of health care.

The conference is working closely with hospitals to address the link between health care and homelessness.

Low-cost housing is at a premium with 972 units available between 1990 and 2008 but there were 4,133 families on the waiting list.

There is a minimum four-month waiting period for a proper shelter to become available.

The Conference of Churches is working with Grace Episcopal Church and Bethany Ministries to expand their facilities, as housing saves lives and money.

Carl Rabbe and Erin McGinley from the Conference of Churches brought some solutions to the table by suggesting further education for the homeless and for those helping so that they might understand the problems of homelessness.

The need to bring together non-profit organizations and public and private businesses that can work together in building low-cost homes.

Erin provided 10 points of hands-on items volunteers can do to improve the overall picture.

These include:

·Helping at soup kitchens;

·Working at the food bank;

·Providing transportation to collect food, toiletries and bus tickets;

·Point in Time Count of chronic homeless, which gathers information from the homeless about age, their physical and mental health, medical insurance status, income, substance abuse, veteran status and length of time being homeless in order for the committee to follow up with these individuals and to formulate a plan of action to address the critical needs;

·Relational Sponsorship program designed to connect individuals from faith communities with those who are transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing to help them adjust to increased independence, self sufficiency and supportive relationships;

·Safe Haven and homeless drop-in centers;

·Food and conversational evenings with homeless;

·Having a homeless vigil in December

·Simulation Retreats; and

·Support committees.

Habitat For Humanity was also represented. This group's mission is to create a world where everyone has a place to live by putting love into action.

Habitat's representative provided seven ways to help, including:

·Inviting a Habitat Lehigh Valley representative to speak to one's group;

·Raising funds to build all or part of a house;

·Volunteering one's services (no experience needed);

·Providing food and snacks during the building project;

·Participating on a committee;

·Providing in-kind goods or professional services; and

·Sponsoring or participating in special events.

After the meeting, groups were encouraged to go to different tables featuring Carl Rabbe, who explained what can be done about homelessness; Erin McGinley, who discussed volunteering; Bob Wittman, a local builder, and Heidi Baer, a local representative for HUD, who exlained how to become involved with hands-on work.

To volunteer, contact the Lehigh County Conference of Churches at 610-433-6421 or lehighchurches.org.

To contact Habitat for Humanity, call 610-776-7737 or log onto habitatlehighvalley.org.