Recent Event

THE RISING TIDE | The Rapid Aging of Boston's and America's Homeless: Policy Implications and Solutions

Tuesday, April 27, 2010
 

Experts on housing, elderly issues and homelessness discussed the growing crisis of homelessness in older adults, its policy implications, and models that represent proven, cost effective solutions.

(video of the event will be available soon)

Dr. Dennis Culhane discussed his recent research on the aging of the homeless population and costs and implications of homelessness, and Mark Hinderlie talked about Hearth's strategy to end elder homelessness. Panelists addressed issues surrounding the magnitude and urgency of the problem, and the costs of inaction vs. action.

Opening Remarks

Richard A. Walega, HUD New England Regional Director
Richard A. Walega was sworn in on March 22, 2010, as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's New England Regional Director. Prior to his appointment Walega served as the Deputy Director for Modernization at the New Bedford, Massachusetts Housing Authority from 1993 to 2007 and as Assistant Executive Director from 2007 to 2009. Late in 2009, he was named its Executive Director. He managed capital programs for the authority, led its effort to receive four competitive Recovery Act grants and had been in charge of its transition to asset-based management. He leveraged more than $125 million in federal and state capital aid to modernize public housing and used his extensive experience in housing finance to oversee the rehabilitation and construction of affordable housing.
 

The Moderator
Deborah De Santis, President and CEO of the Corporation for Supportive Housing
Deborah De Santis was appointed President and CEO of the Corporation for Supportive Housing in January 2007; she joined the nonprofit organization in 2003 as Director of CSH’s New Jersey program. As New Jersey Director, Ms. De Santis tripled CSH’s lending portfolio, successfully advocated for the creation of New Jersey’s $200 million Special Needs Housing Trust Fund and helped launch a statewide grassroots organization to advance the development of 100,000 units of affordable housing over 10 years, including 10,000 units of supportive housing. She serves on the Executive Committee of the Partnership to End Long-Term Homelessness.
 
The Corporation for Supportive Housing helps communities create permanent housing with services to prevent and end homelessness.

The Panelists
Dennis Culhane, researcher and professor at the University of Pennsylvania
Dennis studies homelessness and housing policy. His research has been instrumental in a national shift in how society addresses homelessness, including expansions of supported housing for people who are chronically homeless, and housing stabilization programs for families and individuals at-risk of homelessness. He teaches in the Urban Studies program and the Graduate Group in Social Welfare and is Director of the Cartographic Modeling Lab. Dennis is on the Board of MHSA and is the Director of Research at The National Center on Homelessness among Veterans which is part of the United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Aaron Gornstein, Executive Director of Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association
Aaron has been the Executive Director of CHAPA since 1990. In addition, He serves on several boards and advisory commissions, including: Mayor Menino’s housing advisory commission; City of Boston’s advisory committee for the Homelessness Prevention Clearinghouse; Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership; Bank of America’s National Community Advisory Council; and the editorial advisory board for Banker and Tradesman. In 2003, he was named a James A. Johnson Fellow by the Fannie Mae Foundation, which is given annually to six community development practitioners across the country.

Mark Hinderlie, President & CEO of Hearth
Mark began his service to Hearth in 2006. During his tenure, Hearth opened a new residence—Hearth at Burroughs—created a Board of Visitors which significantly improved its fund raising base, and pursued the development of three major initiatives to address elder homelessness. Prior to joining Hearth, Mark served as President and Executive Director of Federated Dorchester Neighborhood Houses, a $15 million dollar social services agency.

John O’Brien, New England Regional Coordinator for the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
John O'Brien has been the New England Regional Coordinator for the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) since 2003. Mr. O'Brien, who is a Vietnam Veteran, also serves as the Council's representative on the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans and has been the USICH national liaison on the issues related to preventing and ending homelessness among veterans. Prior to assuming his position with the USICH, he was the Executive Director of the Shattuck Shelter-Center for the Homeless in Boston.

Laura Henze Russell, Principal and Lead Consultant for Good Works Consulting
Laura recently served as the Coordinator for the Metro Boston Regional Network to End Homelessness. She was the Director of Lifelines for Elders/Elder Economic Security Project at the University of Massachusetts Boston Gerontology Institute, and the Director of the Work and Family Resource Center & MassFESS Project at the Women’s Union.

 

Space is limited so please respond to Annie Garmey at agarmey@hearth-home.org.