[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 17 (Thursday, February 4, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     COMMENDING THE LORD'S PLACE FOR ITS 3RD ANNUAL SLEEPOUT EVENT

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 4, 2010

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the 
astonishing accomplishments of The Lord's Place, a non-profit 
organization dedicated to saving hundreds of thousands of men, women, 
and children from the unrelenting grasp of homelessness. Currently our 
Nation is faced with the sad reality of more than half a million 
Americans without a place to call home, and some without any shelter at 
all. To make my district aware of the sheer magnitude of this problem, 
The Lord's Place will host its 3rd Annual SleepOut event on February 5, 
2010, aimed at both fundraising for a solution and giving Americans a 
glimpse into the lives of the thousands of homeless men, women, and 
children sleeping either in a shelter or on the streets every night.
  For decades now, the steps taken by The Lord's Place have improved 
the lives of homeless families and individuals throughout Palm Beach 
County. The organization's main goal is to provide and secure economic 
stability for homeless men, women, and children, and for 30 years they 
have hosted events and organized programs aimed directly at fulfilling 
their mission. I admire the work of the volunteers and staff members at 
The Lord's Place. On a daily basis these hardworking and devoted 
individuals organize programs, which leave the most forgotten members 
of our society with a place to call home every night and walk away with 
something far more valuable than a hefty paycheck.
  This Friday night, the dedicated staff members and volunteers of The 
Lord's Place will aim to make the more fortunate members of our 
community aware of a typical night endured by homeless families and 
individuals. The 3rd Annual SleepOut in downtown West Palm Beach will 
feature a performance, presentation, and finally a movie before the 
participants call it a night and attempt to sleep through the bitter 
cold conditions faced by so many homeless men, women, or children. The 
main focus of the SleepOut is what The Lord's Place calls the ``2% 
Solution.'' If just 2 percent of our community commits to addressing 
the problem of homelessness, this critical issue can and will be 
resolved as a result of the community's hard work.
  I would like to extend my gratitude to those men and women who 
stepped out of their comfort zones and helped raise both awareness and 
funds for the mission of The Lord's Place. I commend The Lord's Place 
for helping to break the vicious cycle that has created homelessness in 
our community. It is because of their perseverance and compassion that 
a future in which the right to basic shelter is available to every man, 
woman, and child in Palm Beach County.
  As American citizens, it is not only our desire to help those in 
need. It is our duty to provide every homeless man, woman, and child 
with a warm place to sleep at night and an opportunity to sustain 
economic stability.
  Madam Speaker, I am truly honored to recognize The Lord's Place for 
all that they do to help the Palm Beach County community and I wish 
them much success during their 3rd Annual SleepOut.

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