Alan Burt

Overnights of Hospitality Program Director

Hyannis Corps of The Savation Army

United States

Professional Summary

Alan R. Burt is a licensed independent clinical social worker LICSW, who has 32 years of experience in substance abuse, mental illness and learning disabiliies. From 1979 - 1993 Mr. Burt worked at Riverview School, a special needs residential school, Sandwich, MA. He served as the Director of Residential services from 1983-1993. From 1993, Mr. Burt began a career in the court system as a probation officer at the Barnstable District Court, Barnstable, MA. His specialization has been working with the mentally ill and those suffering from addictions. In 2005 he became a member of the court's innovative drug court rehabilitation program. In 1995, Alan Burt began working with the homeless population at the Hyannis Corps of the Salvation Army. In 2001, Mr. Burt started an innovative outreach program by transporting homeless men and women to a campground each day. In doing so, a sense of community formed between the homeless which Mr. Burt demonstrated to the community as proof that even the most lost can be found and helped. The Barnstable County Community was impressed and allowed Mr. Burt and others to develop an alternative homeless shelter program in an abandoned house. This program which was named, "The Pilot House," went on to prove itself highly effective and self sustaining. In 2002, Alan expanded his outreach efforts to by coordinating with nearly 50 local churches to provide nightly shelter for the homeless. This program was a huge success, bridging the gap between the homeless and the community. The congregation members quickly came to love the homeless and began providing assistance to them in a number of ways. Working on other ways to help the homeless, Mr. Burt created a partnership with Falmouth Housing Corp, Falmouth, MA. Through this partnership, one million dollars was raised and an apartment building was built specifically for the chronically homeless population. In the effort to further expand ways in which to help the homeless, Alan has developed partnerships with landlords to provide housing specifically for the homeless under the care of the Salvation Army, Overnights of Hospitality Program. Alan and his wife have also taken in over 15 homeless youth into their home to personally help them on their way to independance. Major Ralph Hansen of the Hyannis Corps of the Salvation Army and others have referred to Alan Burt as the greatest advocate for the homeless on Cape Cod. Phil Mangano, who was appointed by President Bush to lead the nation in the 10 year plan to end homelessness said of Alan Burt. "He has started a program that works on Cape Cod and can work anywhere in the nation. It is as though he has moved a ripple effect which hopefully will move across the country where, community by community, the people, organizations and local governments will join hands to explore and develop ways of helping those most in need."Alan Burt has spoken out to the Cape Cod Community on the issue of homelessness as a responsibility and need for the community. During the intial years, his efforts were opposed of which he spoke out more often and with greater conviction. Currently, the Cape Cod Community has largely embraced his convictions and a large effort to help the homeless in place. Dozens of articles have been published over the years which has followed the course of his work. Mr. Burt was the recipient of the 2007 Community Leadership Award by the Cape Cod Leadership Institute.Since 2002, Alan Burt has organized a Cape Cod Wide event to honor: National Homeless Person's Memorial Day. This event has received much media attention as well as having raised thousands of dollars to help the homeless initiative on Cape Cod.In significant and as Alan Burt says, "simple ways" he has shown that nearly anyone can make a huge difference in the way homeless men and women are treated in a community. Mr. Burt is willing to talk with anyone about ways in which to begin this community movement towards helping those most in need. As it has been said, "the health of a community can be measured by the way it treats its most needy citizens." For this reason, Alan contends that we need to help the homeless and in doing so, we are helped, we are blessed in return.Those interested in learning more about Alan's work and recommendations are welcome to call, write or email him on this.

Skills

Specialization

Social Work, Homeless Advocacy