This holiday season marks the inaugural year of this annual fundraising project. HOMEPLACE LOUISVILLE will provide funding for the Homeless Partnership Grants which are then made available to the many agencies who provide services for homeless men, women and children who are members of our community. The project is a co-operative effort of The Coalition for the Homeless, Inc., The Louisville Company, LLC numerous civic and corporate organizations and most importantly you the citizens of Louisville.

Our goal is to raise significant funds to provide homeless prevention programs, case management and other direct services, constructions, and general shelter operations. The vehicle for our fundraising efforts will be the sale of The Louisville Calendar. Every year from October 1 through December, The Louisville Calendar will be available at many Louisville locations thanks to the generosity of numerous area banks, gift shops and other businesses. Many local religious organizations, civic groups and businesses will be asking their members and employees to purchase Louisville Calendars to assist the Coalition for the Homeless in implementing their 10 year plan to eradicate homelessness in Louisville. You can be a part of our effort to make Louisville the first major city in America to assure that everyone has a place to call home.

Here are some facts about homelessness in Louisville in 2003:

• 11,032 persons used homeless services in the Metro area
• 590 of these were family units, including 1,065 children
• 1,093 of these were unattached children age 17 or younger
• 19.1% were veterans
• 25.7% were working
• 35.7% of those working were working full time
• Before losing their homes,homeless men, women and children resided in 37 of 40 Louisville area zip codes.
• 1 in 24 children in Jefferson County Public Schools lacked a permanent address!