JACKSON — The Kiwanis Club of Jackson, along with the Central Ocean Rotary Club, the Shore Community Land Trust and several local church groups, will host a forum about Ocean County’s homeless population on Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St., Toms River.
According to a press release, the forum will address the problem of the county’s homeless population, discuss solutions, offer action plans and establish a network for future discussion and action.
The two-hour forum will provide an overview of homelessness in Ocean County. It will include presentations by people who currently are or have recently been homeless .
The forum will also examine successful strategies that have been implemented in other areas of the country and have achieved long-term solutions to individual and family homelessness. A discussion will be part of the event.
Building upon that discussion, the forum will conclude with a presentation of action plans and the formation of a network of organizations and individuals to support actions that alleviate the needs of the homeless.
The network’s goal is to involve community service organizations, churches, nonprofit groups, local legislators, student groups, business leaders and others to achieve a lasting resolution to the problem of homelessness, according to the press release.
Prior to the forum, several groups that work with the homeless will host tables to distribute information about their organizations, answer questions and present to the public opportunities to volunteer their assistance.
The Jan. 31 forum is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Larry Meegan at [email protected].