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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING A SAFE HAVEN FOUNDATION AND NELI VAZQUEZ ROWLAND, A SAFE HAVEN FOUNDATION’S CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT
WHEREAS, 2019 marks the 25th anniversary of A Safe Haven Foundation’s tremendous contributions to underserved communities in Cook County, the City of Chicago and surrounding areas; and
WHEREAS, A Safe Haven Foundation raises awareness, support, and provides comprehensive, integrated services to address and reduce the stigma associated with the opioid epidemic, criminal justice and homelessness; and
WHEREAS, A Safe Haven Foundation has transformed the lives of individuals and families, helping over 120,000 women, children, youth, men, and veterans with employment and housing in a sustainable manner; and
WHEREAS, A Safe Haven Foundation has established a long tradition of relationships with Federal, State, County and City agencies and the philanthropic community to deliver on their promise to house and serve over 5,000 people a year and nearly 800 military veterans annually; and
WHEREAS, A Safe Haven Foundation has been at the tip of the spear advocating for the homeless population in Illinois and serves an important leadership role in helping to influence legislation impacting homelessness, taking on this initiative before the issue was mainstreamed into the national consciousness; and
WHEREAS, Neli Vazquez Rowland co-founded A Safe Haven Foundation after seeing the impact of The Logan Square Project, a rehabbed 13-unit building in Logan Square that was rented for a year to people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction; and
WHEREAS, Neli Vazquez Rowland’s goal is to inspire and influence a ‘paradigm shift’ on how our Nation addresses the issues of poverty, homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction with protocols that offer an effective, efficient delivery system by connecting services and leveraging investment resources of public and private entities that have a shared responsibility and common goal of making a measurable and positive social impact to society; and
WHEREAS, A Safe Haven Foundation has been recognized by top stakeholders, including the White House as a Champion of Change, and has received a Gold Star by charitable rating agencies for allocating 93% of each donation directly to supporting homeless residents; and
WHEREAS, A Safe Haven Foundation’s Co-founder and President, Neli Vazquez Rowland, has been recognized by Chicago Magazine as a Chicagoan of the Year (2010); and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, honor Neli Vazquez Rowland and A Safe Haven Foundation and praise its essential contribution to the health and viability of Cook County.
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