OPERATION LIFT HOPE, INC.
OAKLAND PARK, FLORIDA

The mission of Operation Lift Hope is to eliminate homelessness Operation Lift Hope began with a simple conversation…about community, veteran services and homelessness, which evolved into a movement in the City of Fort Lauderdale to end veteran and family homelessness. From the beginning of this initiative, Mayor Jack Seiler, County Commissioner Chip LaMarca, Andy Mitchell – President/CEO of the Fairwinds Group and Jim Robertson, President/CEO of Allegiance Crane and Equipment have been leading the charge. They have been instrumental in pulling together businesses, service providers, government, educational institutions and faith based organizations, who came together to form a . The Synergistic Team’s goal was to provide a shared vision for the next steps in the City of Fort Lauderdale’s journey to provide services and a better quality of life for the homeless, with a focus on veterans and families. The homelessness issue is one of the most diverse and challenging issues facing our community. Everyone agrees that ending it is a good thing. Most, however, have a philosophy that an effort should be made, as long as it is “not in my backyard” or NIMBY. The reality is that it is in everyone’s backyard already and only a collective, all hands on deck approach will solve this monumental issue. Businesses, service providers, government, educational institutions and faith based organizations came together to form a , whose goal was to provide a shared vision for the next steps in the City of Fort Lauderdale’s journey to provide services and a better quality of life for the homeless, with a focus on veterans and families. SOCIAL SECTOR PARTNERS/HOMELESS PROVIDER PARTNERS donations of in-kind products and services and businesses, government, educational institutions, faith based and social agencies to assist local, qualified nonprofit organizations in their efforts to end veteran and family homelessness, as prioritized by the results of the Synergistic Team’s recommendations. The Synergistic Team worked for over 6 months at Broward College in their Dream Lab to define the critical steps needed to strengthen the current Continuum of Care. The team was composed of the top 25 service providers currently dealing with this issue in the Fort Lauderdale corridor. They were joined by city and county officials, business and faith based institution leaders. Their findings provided a road map for our community to follow. We are already facilitating projects to address some of these priorities: Operation Lift Hope is the design and development of the Vision of Hope Family Center. This will be a family center specifically for the many single mothers and children, as well as veterans, that are currently sleeping on the streets. It will be a one-stop center to provide assessments, education and support activities. This supports the Empower and Educate areas of service. Operation Lift Hope is the design and development of a Culinary Institute. It is being built to provide more indoor food sharing, as well as provide opportunities for job training and employment in the culinary arts. This supports the Engage, Educate and Employ areas of service. Operation Lift Hope began as a group of business and service providers voicing their opinions in an open forum. From there, the initiative grew to include discussions with the Navy Special War Operations group training in Fort Lauderdale. This movement is unusual in the number and depth of quality organizations that agree with the direction and have committed their resources to help. The Special War Operation Group (Navy Seals), Broward Sheriff’s Department, City of Fort Lauderdale Police and Fire, and Homeland Security are only a few of the many who have come to stand strong with our team to make a difference. It is a tragedy for a Veteran who has served our country to be left behind. Today in the Fort Lauderdale corridor we have close to 100 Veterans still living on the streets or in a shelter. Every day we lose 22 veterans to suicide. We have some very talented service agencies doing a great job. As they told us during our meetings, they can’t do it alone. Government can’t solve this issue alone. donations of in-kind products and services and businesses, government, educational institutions, faith based and social agencies to assist local, qualified nonprofit organizations in their efforts to end veteran and family homelessness, as prioritized by the results of the Synergistic Team’s recommendations. The Synergistic Team worked for over 6 months at Broward College in their Dream Lab to define the critical steps needed to strengthen the current Continuum of Care. The team was composed of the top 25 service providers currently dealing with this issue in the Fort Lauderdale corridor. They were joined by city and county officials, business and faith based institution leaders. Their findings provided a road map for our community to follow. We are already facilitating projects to address some of these priorities: Operation Lift Hope is the design and development of the Vision of Hope Family Center. This will be a family center specifically for the many single mothers and children, as well as veterans, that are currently sleeping on the streets. It will be a one-stop center to provide assessments, education and support activities. This supports the Empower and Educate areas of service. Operation Lift Hope is the design and development of a Culinary Institute. It is being built to provide more indoor food sharing, as well as provide opportunities for job training and employment in the culinary arts. This supports the Engage, Educate and Employ areas of service. Stabilize housing & provide supportive services Operation Lift Hope is a dynamic effort within our community, uniting leaders from Fort Lauderdale business, government, faith based and social agencies in an initiative to transform the face of homelessness in South Florida. Initial efforts focus on the Fort Lauderdale Corridor. By leveraging our diverse experiences, we are