they wanted us to do a kickoff event and let each site decide how they wanted to showcase their program. we got together and said we could not do this without our community partners. the purpose of the networking breakfast was to acknowledge the 30 or more community providers that are here today to help us figh homelessness and end it by 2015. that is the goal of the current administration. [applause] we had our breakfast this morning. people may still be hungry. there is coffee and other goodies. thank you to the salvation army for hosting this event. we have helicopters. we did not do that on purpose, but it adds to the drama and the sun came out. i am going to start by welcoming our honored guests. ed is the acting medical center director and my friend. we have worked together a long time. he is a big believer in our mission. lieutenants smith, regional commander of the salvation army. come up here. thank you. [applause] the principal deputy undersecretary for health. he
talk will be installed. check out the new technology making your right easier every day good morning. i am proud employee of the department of veteran affairs. i have worked at the va for 23 years. i have been working with homeless veterans for 21 of those years. [applause] my title now is coordinator. that translates to regional homeless coordinator. region 21 encompasses northern nevada, all of northern california, hawaii, and guam. i want to make sure we have enough resources to end homelessness for veterans. i am proud to be here. i want to welcome all of you to our kickoff event. this is to help launch our national tick off event. the purpose of that is to make the public aware of all of the services available for ending almost as. there were 28 sites. to run the country. san francisco was one of those. they wanted us to do a kickoff event and let each site decide how they wanted to showcase their program. we got together and said we could not do this without our commu
and there are posters in the back. so please take those pedometer read one from this that really struck me. the words homelessness and veterans should never be used together. our next speaker is mark leno, california state senator, representing california s third senate district in the marin county democrats of sonoma, and san francisco cantu. he chairs the senate budget and fiscal review committee is, and he has been a longtime friend and advocate of the va and veterans. please welcome senator leno. [applause] thank you for the introduction. i am sure i am not alone when i say that there are many who sleep better at night knowing that you re doing your good work at the va administration. it is a real pleasure to be here for this auspicious occasion, here with major league and leader pelosi with mayor lee and a leader pelosi and all of our veterans. as it is said, it takes a village, in the village has come together today to support the work of the veterans administration
those years. [applause] my title now is coordinator. that translates to regional homeless coordinator. region 21 encompasses northern nevada, all of northern california, hawaii, and guam. i want to make sure we have enough resources to end homelessness for veterans. i am proud to be here. i want to welcome all of you to our kickoff event. this is to help launch our national tick off event. the purpose of that is to make the public aware of all of the services available for ending almost as. there were 28 sites. to run the country. san francisco was one of those. they wanted us to do a kickoff event and let each site decide how they wanted to showcase their program. we got together and said we could not do this without our community partners. the purpose of the networking breakfast was to acknowledge the 30 or more community providers that are here today to help us figh homelessness and end it by 2015. that is the goal of the current administration. [applause] we had our break