Wednesday, September 28, 2011

September News from the ROOF Tops

News from the ROOF Tops

Roof goes Live!!

This week our website www.roofoverhead.org officially launches. ROOF’s site, donated by iMarc, LLC in Newburyport, will allow supporters, funders and advocates of ROOF instant access to news, events and information regarding our progress. iMarc’s incredibly talented team of designers and strategists worked with our Board for months to develop, design and build the site. iMarc is a privately held integrated web development and interactive marketing firm that creates powerful, engaging websites.

Events!

On October 21, 2011, ROOF will host The Port Follies: A Politically Incorrect Variety Show at The Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport. The evening offers local politicians a different kind of stage to showcase their "other sides" during this election season. Area mayoral and city council candidates throwing their hats in the ring this November will impress the audience with their lesser-known talents — singing, dancing, acting and more -- while other local notables sit and judge them from the sidelines. It promises to be an uproarious good time with plenty of surprise guests. Imagine, all this fun and all for a great cause! For more information or to purchase tickets, contact The Firehouse Center at www.firehouse.org or 978-462-7336.

Program News!

ROOF Over Head Collaborative, Inc. has made great strides in 2011. In its efforts, ROOF has received immeasurable support from a dedicated Board of Directors, a social services agency equipped to handle client issues, advocates and compassionate funders, who believe in ROOF’s mission and recognize the vital need in our community for transitional housing for at-risk and homeless families.

As you know, ROOF purchased its first property in June after receiving two major gifts from local institutions. This two bedroom condominium in an Amesbury neighborhood soon became home to a family of three. The Board and volunteers came together to ready the unit and make it a home for ROOF’s first family for the next two years. The family of three collected their belongings from their one room, one bed, 200 square foot motel room in Salisbury and moved in. They have been working with our partners at Community Action, Inc. and other social service providers and, two months later, both parents are gainfully employed and their son has begun his senior year at Newburyport High School, looking toward college. If not for the roof over their heads, this family, who had appeared to have exhausted all other available remedies, would be homeless and are now on the path to self-sufficiency.

We are proud to announce that ROOF leased its second unit in Newburyport in August. A local landlord who supports ROOF’s mission partnered with us in this lease. Our second family moved in on September 1, 2011. This move was not without issue. The family was in the process of being evicted from their apartment in Amesbury. On their drive to Newburyport their only car, a 1993 Subaru with an oil leak, was impounded which set off a series of events. The daughter needed to begin school on Monday and had no transportation. The mother, who works two jobs, was unable to get to work. The family had no money to get the car out of the impound lot. ROOF worked with CAI and local faith groups and community foundations to cobble together the funds to release the car, register, inspect and insure the car and fix the oil leak. The community came together to support a family in need. Without ROOF, this family too, would be homeless.

We will continue in our mission to provide supportive housing to at-risk members of our community with the help of supporters and funders.

Thank you for your continued dedication and support!

Stay tuned for more news from the ROOF Tops!!