WHEREAS, the Arlington Street People's Assistance Network, Inc., works to end homelessness in Arlington County by securing permanent housing and providing life-sustaining services to vulnerable individuals; and WHEREAS, the Arlington Street People's Assistance Network, Inc., (A-SPAN) began in 1991 when two women started preparing bagged meals for people who were hungry and homeless; today, the nonprofit organization's broad scope includes providing housing, medical assistance, and other vital services; and WHEREAS, the services provided by A-SPAN include several programs to end homelessness; those programs have offered rental subsidies and case management support to more than 70 individuals, including veterans, in Arlington County; A-SPAN is a key partner in the county's 10-year plan to end homelessness; and WHEREAS, for more than 20 years, A-SPAN has operated Arlington County's Emergency Winter Shelter; the services offered at the shelter have expanded over the years and now include free medical care and housing placement directly from the shelter; and WHEREAS, veteran outreach is one key component of A-SPAN's work; the group is the only nonprofit organization in Arlington County that is housing veterans, and it has helped more than 15 veterans secure living arrangements in the last two years; and WHEREAS, in 2015, A-SPAN, in partnership with Arlington County government, will open a Homeless Services Center; the center will operate 24 hours a day and will be the only center in the Washington, D.C., area offering a shelter, a day program, and free medical services for homeless persons; and WHEREAS, the Homeless Services Center will have a five-bed medical respite program, and a nurse practitioner will be part of the center's staff; these initiatives are part of A-SPAN's continuing commitment to improve the health of less fortunate Arlington residents; and WHEREAS, A-SPAN has received awards and recognitions for its innovative work, including the Leadership Legacy Nonprofit Award and numerous James B. Hunter Human Rights Awards, and in 2011, A-SPAN was named Nonprofit of the Year by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce; and WHEREAS, A-SPAN's tremendous growth in the last two decades has enabled it to work vigorously on behalf of homeless individuals and veterans; the group is committed to promoting housing, health, and the well-being of homeless individuals and veterans in Arlington County; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Arlington Street People's Assistance Network, Inc., for its tireless work to end homelessness in Arlington County; and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Kathy Sibert, president and chief executive officer of the Arlington Street People's Assistance Network, Inc., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect and admiration for its work in Arlington County and the Commonwealth to end homelessness and promote the well-being of individuals and veterans. |