From staff reports

news@joplinglobe.com

Speakers for the city of Joplin’s homeless summit are being registered for a kickoff meeting slated for July 8.

The summit, to be held at Memorial Hall, is intended to be the starting point for community discussion on how to address homelessness and coordinate services.

“The summit will not solve this problem overnight, but it will help begin to establish realistic expectations of what solutions are available to our community,” Mayor Gary Shaw said in a written statement issued by the city.

Representatives of agencies, organizations and churches that provide services to the homeless are invited to register to speak at the meeting, which is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. They will be allowed five minutes to offer suggestions on how to address homelessness.

They also are invited to display information on the services during an informal mixer from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., according to agenda for the first meeting.

The agenda includes a time for discussion among representatives of local organizations that have registered. After those designates have spoken, people who did not register will be allowed to speak during whatever time is remaining.

A consultant, Robert Saunders, of Liberty, has been hired to initiate conversation at the meeting. City officials have been working with the Joplin Area Ministerial Alliance to plan the summit.

The agenda calls for Shaw to make introductions. Nancy Hutson, owner of Cycle Connection and president of Shining Star Ministries, will give opening comments about collaboration.

The city has been asking those who serve the homeless to submit information on their mission, the types of services offered and the needs they see so that profiles of local providers can be compiled.

Daniel Wermuth, president of the Ministerial Alliance, is encouraging those who haven’t yet provided their information to do so.

“This summit is the first step in the community to address homelessness from a group perspective,” he is quoted as saying in the city’s written statement. “Many are involved with ministries and assistance that needs to be identified so we can build these resources with others in the community. Those working with the homeless have ideas and ways to help; we want to hear from them.”