5,000 People Expected to Take a Stand Against Homelessness in Annual United Way HomeWalk on November 7

5,000 People Expected to Take a Stand Against Homelessness in Annual United
Way HomeWalk on November 7
Los Angeles City Officials to Kick Off Event to End Homelessness in LA County

WHAT: Part of United Way's campaign to end poverty in LA
County, HomeWalk is a 5k walk to raise public awareness
and fund solutions to end homelessness, an extreme form
of poverty. All money raised from HomeWalk is distributed
back into the community to fund rapid rehousing and
permanent supportive housing solutions for homeless
Angelenos. Over the last two years, 8,000 people have
walked, raising $1M and helping over 5,000 people off the
streets.

WHY/STATS: LA County has the largest homeless population in the
United States
-- Over 48,000 people are homeless in LA County, and more
than 30,000 are unsheltered (LAHSA)
-- Number one cause of homelessness is loss of a job;
Unemployment is in double digits for the first time
since the early 90's
-- Nearly 1.5 million LA residents live below the poverty
line; One in five children living in poverty
-- Large percentage of homeless population are women and
children
-- United Way Homeless Cost Study found living on the
streets costs taxpayers more than permanent supportive
housing
-- 43% savings for taxpayers when permanent housing
solutions are used

WHO: Thousands of L.A. residents walking to help end
homelessness, including the following expected officials:
-- L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky
-- L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas
-- L.A. City Councilman Bernard Parks
-- United Way of Greater Los Angeles CEO Elise Buik

WHEN: Saturday, November 7, 2009
-- 8:30 a.m. Opening Ceremonies and address by city
officials
-- 9:00 a.m. Walk begins; educational journey on
billboards along the route
-- 10:15 a.m. Walkers finish and sign the Signature Wall

WHERE: Exposition Park
700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles

BCAST VISUALS: -- Opening remarks and ceremonies
-- Many participants to hold signs of a homeless person
or loved one, in whose name they are walking
-- Educational journey with billboards displaying faces
of homelessness and information all along the route;
walkers sign Signature Wall at the end of the route
-- Interviews with local and state officials (see above
list) as well as individuals and families that have
benefited from 2008 HomeWalk proceeds

CONTACT: For more information, contact Jennifer Conway at
978.463.0289 jennifer@dottedlinecomm.com or visit
http://www.homewalkla.org

/PRNewswire/ -- Nov. 2

SOURCE United Way of Greater Los Angeles