Mental illness & housing topic of UW-P conf.

UW-Parkside hosts Mental Illness & Housing Conf. May 24

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside Center for Community Partnerships presents a one-day conference on housing and the mentally ill. Held Thursday, May 24, the conference is intended to educate people in southeastern Wisconsin about housing problems faced by those with mental illness, present solutions found by people in other areas of the country, and build community networks to take action on the issue.

The conference features a trio of experts to examine the many facets of this complex issue. The opening keynote address is given by award-winning Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Meg Kissinger. Kissinger has written extensively about mental health, uncovering abuses in the nursing home industry and the scam of the door-to-door magazine sales industry. She has been honored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Mental Health Association among others.

Later in the conference, Andrew Geer of Heartland Housing Chicago talks about his organization's efforts to provide affordable housing for low income families. Heartland Housing currently owns and manages more than 800 housing units and provides budgeting, counseling, education, and employment referral services to help residents become self-sufficient.

The afternoon session features Andrew Sperling, director of Federal Legislative Advocacy for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Sperling has played a key role in an emerging coalition led by the National Alliance to End Homelessness and the Corporation for Supportive Housing to promote federal policies addressing the issue of chronic homelessness.

The morning session also features a group discussion on potential action steps. And prior to Andrew Sperling's closing of the conference, a political leaders' discussion is held.

The Mental Illness and Housing Conference is intended for mental health and human services professionals, law enforcement personnel, elected officials, group home and shelter staff, clergy, anyone working on housing issues, and the public.

Cost of the conference is $55 which includes continental breakfast, lunch, and all materials. For more information or to register, call Felicia Stallworth at (262) 595-2312 or access felicia.stallworth@uwp.edu via email

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Story Status: Archived
Publish date: 5/8/2007

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