Neresa DeBiasi

• Research on quantifying economic impact of unclaimed federal income enhancing programs including the Earned Income Tax Credit, Food Stamps, and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
• Assist with policy proposals and outreach to local elected officials to assist eligible struggling families
• Update research on transportation study of needs of low-income persons for accessible public transportation for employment
• Activities coordinated by Bill O’Connell, Executive Director, Homeless Alliance of WNY.

The Homeless Alliance of Western New York was created in 1992 by the Erie County Legislature to find ways to reduce homelessness. By 2000, the Alliance had departed from its governmental roots, and now acts as an independent not-for-profit organization. Their mission is to facilitate dialogue and strategic action between government, public, and private sectors to end homelessness.  Working with local service providers and community leaders, they seek to maximize assistance available to homeless individuals and the agencies that serve them in the Western New York area through education, original research, advocacy, community planning, and other collaborative efforts. As the coordinating agency for the Erie County Homeless Continuum of Care, they have brought over fifty million dollars to area homeless service and housing providers over the past six years. Their membership includes representatives from Federal, County, and City governmental agencies, executive directors and staff members from local not-for-profit agencies, persons from the business community, and formerly homeless individuals.