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Symposium focuses on causes of, solutions to homelessness

A two-day symposium starting Monday in Omaha focuses on the needs of the homeless in Nebraska and western Iowa.The symposium brings together federal, state, and local officials to discuss collaboration, best practices, and how to improve on services. Erin Porterfield, is executive director of the Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless, says some regional collaborations to help the homeless gets the services they need have been successful. But she says there needs to be a focus on helping families escape homelessness.

MACCH’s point-in-time count showed more than 1,500 people were homeless in the Omaha metro area as of January. The point-in-time count measures homelessness in a community on any given night.

The symposium will be held at UNO’s Thompson Alumni Center Monday and Tuesday.