[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 8 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         IN HONOR OF PAUL BODEN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 1, 2005

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, as Paul Boden prepares to step down as 
Executive Director of the San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness, I 
would like to thank him for his service to San Francisco's homeless and 
mentally ill. Paul has been a tireless and thoughtful advocate, 
ensuring that city, State and national policies on homelessness reflect 
the diverse needs of our population.
  In 1987, Paul founded the Coalition on Homelessness as an 
organization run by and for the homeless. By hiring homeless and 
formerly homeless people, the Coalition both ensured homeless people 
had a voice in setting policies and empowered them with skills they 
could use to help others.
  The Coalition's accomplishments include the creation of the Community 
Housing Partnership, the Treatment on Demand Program, the Shelter 
Grievance Project, and the Continuum of Care Plan. In addition, the 
Coalition created The Street Sheet, a community newspaper highlighting 
the work of homeless and formerly homeless people through writing, 
artwork, and poetry.
  In addition to his work at the Coalition, Paul helped strengthen many 
community organizations by serving as a board member at the Community 
Housing Partnership, the Central City Hospitality House, and the 
National Coalition on Homelessness. With the National Coalition on 
Homelessness, he helped draft the Bringing America Home Act, which was 
introduced in the 108th Congress and aims to end homelessness in the 
United States.
  As he departs the Coalition on Homelessness, Paul is expanding his 
focus to the national policy debate on homelessness. We will miss his 
leadership greatly at the Coalition, but it is heartening to know that 
the network of homeless people, service providers, and advocates he 
built will continue to act as a voice of conscience for the City of San 
Francisco. And I am certain that he will continue to make enormous 
contributions to lifting the lives of the homeless.

                          ____________________