[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 56 (Thursday, April 2, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ABODE SERVICES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 2, 2009

  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 20th 
anniversary of Abode Services, formerly known as Tri-City Homeless 
Coalition, based in Fremont, California.
  Abode Services' roots lie in a coalition of Tri-City church 
congregations that mobilized support in the 1980s to help growing 
numbers of individuals and families who had no place to live. Former 
Fremont Councilmember Judy Zlatnik, a community activist and member of 
one of the congregations, remembers the day people came together at 
Fremont's Senior Center to develop a plan. The newly formed coalition 
implemented a plan to shelter people in churches on a rotating 
schedule, at first during the winter months only, but later, on a year 
round basis. In 1989, the coalition became known as the Tri-City 
Homeless Coalition of Fremont.
  In the beginning, the coalition thought that it would serve as an 
emergency solution for homeless individuals and families seeking a safe 
place to get out of the cold. When it soon became apparent that the 
need for shelter was long-term and enduring, the agency set its sights 
on a permanent building. They then selected a site to build Sunrise 
Village, one of the first shelters in the country designed and built 
from the ground up as a shelter for families and single adults. In 
August 1993, their goal materialized when the first residents moved 
into Sunrise Village.
  Abode Services became an early adopter of Housing First, a national 
movement pioneered in the 1990s that addresses the most pressing and 
urgent needs for homeless families and individuals with a full 
compliment of social services. Abode Services collaborates with more 
than 30 organizations to leverage program resources.
  Abode Services now offers eleven housing programs linked to support 
services for homeless families and individuals. These programs provide 
an essential safety net for approximately 2,000 people annually who are 
homeless or at risk of becoming so, including single adults, families, 
emancipated foster youth, people with disabilities and seniors. Abode 
Services' Project HOPE Mobile Health Clinic, operated in collaboration 
with Tri-City Health Center, serves more than 1,000 homeless persons 
annually. Since 2005, Abode Services has created 325 units of permanent 
supportive housing for previously homeless families.
  I join the community in congratulating Abode Services on this 
significant milestone of 20 years of exemplary leadership and service. 
The organization continues to fulfill its vision and mission of 
providing affordable housing and supportive services to individuals and 
families throughout Alameda.

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