FREDONIA – The League of Women Voters of Chautauqua County will present a panel discussion entitled “An Overview of Homelessness in Chautauqua County” in partnership with the American Democracy Project of the State University at Fredonia on Thursday, March 28, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in Williams Center Room S204-DE.

The discussion will shed some light on the realities of homelessness and allow for ideas to be shared of ways to help. The number of homeless and those at risk was reported to be around 1,500 in Chautauqua County in 2022, with $1.36 million spent on temporary housing in the county.

Two speakers have been invited by the League of Women Voters to share their experiences and expertise on this concerning issue.

Amanda Straight is deputy director of housing and community development at Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from SUNY Fredonia. She has been with COI since 2012, holding positions including homelessness services manager, property coordinator, asset development specialist, and community health worker. Straight has been a HUD-certified housing counselor since 2018. She serves as the secretary of the Chautauqua County Homeless Coalition and its HMIS administrator.

Carmelo Hernandez has been the director of community mental hygiene services for Chautauqua County since September 2021. He earned his bachelor’s degree in social work and a masters degree in organizational leadership at Mercy College. He also holds a master’s degree in social work from New York University in New York City and is a certified licensed master social worker. Prior to his position with the county Department of Mental Hygiene, he served as a lead therapist at Alssaro Counseling Services in New Rochelle, a mental health consultant at WestCOP in Westchester, N.Y., and program manager for Wediko Children’s Services. He was a combat stress recovery specialist for the Wounded Warrior Project, after serving two tours of Army active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. As is customary with the LWV programs, attendees are welcome to bring along their lunch, and light refreshments will be available. Members of the LWV will be prepared to help with voter registrations or answer questions regarding the election.

In addition to the information provided by the speakers, the League of Women Voters has invited the Chautauqua County Rural Ministry, the Joy Fellowship located in Jamestown, and the student food pantry at the college to be present to inform attendees of their services to the homeless in their communities. They will accept donations. The League of Women Voters is asking, as a gesture of assistance to the homeless, that attendees bring a donation of non-perishable food, new/unused personal care items, blankets or socks, etc. to support the work of these groups.