MEDIA ALERT * MEDIA ALERT * MEDIA ALERT * MEDIA ALERT UNITED WAY AND LA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CALL UPON PUBLIC, PRIVATE, BUSINESS AND NON-PROFIT SECTORS TO COMMIT TO END VETERAN HOMELESSNESS BY END OF 2015 WHAT: United Way of Greater Los Angeles and The Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce launched Home For Good in 2010, an initiative to end veteran homelessness in 2015 and chronic homelessness in 2016. This event brings together national and local government officials, philanthropy, non-profit and the business communities to kick-off the final year of veteran homelessness work. Since launched in 2010, Home For Good partners have found housing for nearly 12,000 homeless veterans, but significantly more work is needed to reach the goal of eradicating veteran homelessness in the next eleven months. The goal of the press conference is to call on each sector to publicly renew their commitment to end veteran homelessness by the end of the year and lay out the action plan to reach this goal. WHY/STATS: L.A. County has one of the highest homeless populations in the country, with 39,500 living without homes.  In L.A. County, 4,618 of the homeless are veterans who risked their lives in service to our country.  Los Angeles has committed to end veteran homelessness in 2015, and Home For Good plays a significant role in this collaborative effort.  Salt Lake City recently became the first major U.S. city to end veteran homelessness, and Los Angeles aims to be the second city to do so. WHO: Key national and local representatives, including  Representatives from U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs and Dept. Housing and Urban Development  Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Mayor  Sheila Kuehl and Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Supervisors  Elise Buik, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles  Gary Toebben, President and CEO of LA Area Chamber of Commerce  Sherriff Jim McDonnell and other local elected officials  Local business, philanthropic and non-profit leaders WHEN: Thursday, January 29, 2015 7:30-8:00 AM breakfast 8:00-9:30 AM press conference WHERE: The Rosslyn Hotel, SRO Housing Corporation 112 West 5th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013 BCAST VISUALS:     CONTACT: Opening remarks featuring LA Mayor Eric Garcetti Local leaders will sign pledge to renew their commitment Interviews with United Way, Los Angeles County supervisors, local business executives, including Steve Hilton, and philanthropic leaders Interview opportunities with formerly homeless veterans now housed at The Rosslyn Hotel, a recently renovated historic hotel with 264 units of affordable housing operated by the nonprofit SRO Housing Corporation For more information or to RSVP, contact Jennifer Conway at 978.463.0289 or [email protected] or visit http://www.unitedwayla.org/home-for-good/.