LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Agencies working to end homelessness and hunger in Lafayette are spreading the word about the National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, taking place this week, November 16-22, 2008.

“We want our community to understand that there are real people in our community who are both hungry and homeless,” said Jennifer Layton, Chair of the Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Network (HPIN). “We have over 20 different agencies which meet monthly to discuss the needs and trends of this population.”

On Monday, November 17th, at 11:30, a proclamation was read by Mayor Roswarski, Mayor Dennis and County Commissioner KD Benson in the lobby of Ivy Hall at Ivy Tech Community College. Food Finders Food Bank made a special presentation and the Emmet Koehler award to was presented to one of their board members. Emmet Koehler was the original founder of Food Finders. The event also featured other local social service agencies.

On Wednesday, November 19th, Lafayette Urban Ministry is holding a Legislative Preview at 3 pm. For information, please contact Patti O’Callaghan, Director of Social Justice, 423-2691.

The mission of the HPIN is homelessness prevention and intervention. The Network provides a forum for discussion of issues of homelessness, identifies levels of service and gaps in the system, assists in the coordination and integration of services to achieve a continuum of care, identifies key factors in ending chronic homelessness, and educates the public about homelessness issues.