Article I
Name

The name of this corporation is "The Home Connection" (the "Corporation").

Article II
Purpose

The Corporation is organized with the following purposes: (a) to establish and operate a transitional housing program for homeless families with children; (b) to ensure that this transitional housing program affords the families sufficient time to move from the program to their own independent living situation; and (c) to identify, investigate, educate and seek solutions to the root causes of homelessness.

Article III
Governing Board's Authorities and Duties

Section 1. Board of Directors. The governing body of the Corporation shall be the Board of Directors. The duties of the Board shall be (a) to assume full governing responsibility for the program of The Home Connection, its operation and business, and (b) to have full range of advice and consent responsibilities of a working Board.

Section 2. Executive Director. The Executive Director shall be selected by the Board of Directors. The Executive Director shall be responsible for carrying out the program of The Home Connection under the policies and directives of the Board, and shall give staff leadership of all meetings of the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Quorum. A quorum shall consist of at least one-third of the Board's members.

Article IV
Board Membership

Section 1. The Board shall be composed of not more than twenty-four (24) nor less than twelve (12) persons. Those members of the Board who are absent without excuse for three or more consecutive meetings of the Board shall relinquish their membership on the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Vacancies on the Board shall be filled from nominations of the Executive Committee and elected by the Board at any regular meeting. Such elections shall govern the period from the date of election to the next annual meeting.

Section 3. The term of office of each Director shall be three years, ending on the date of the third annual meeting of that term.

Article V
Officers

Section 1. Officers. The officers of the Board shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer elected from the Board membership.

Section 2. Term. Officers shall be elected annually as provide by Article IX. No officer may hold the same office for more than three consecutive years.

Section 3. President. The President presides at all meetings and works with the Executive Committee and Executive Director to prepare an agenda for the regular and special meetings of the Board. The President shall serve as chairperson of the Executive Committee and shall appoint chairs of all standing committees and ad hoc committees as shall be necessary.

Section 4. Vice President. The Vice President, in the absence of the President, shall perform the duties of the President and assume such other responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board. Unless unwilling or unable to do so, the Vice President shall succeed to the office President upon the termination of the President's term(s) of office.

Section 5. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall make bi-monthly and annual financial reports to the Board. The accounts of the agency shall be audited annually by an independent Certified Public Accountant or firm of Certified Public Accountants recommended by the Treasurer and approved by the Board.

Section 6. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the executive Committee and the Board and shall maintain an attendance record of the membership of the Board and give notice of all regular and special meetings and shall conduct such correspondence as may be necessary.

Article VI
Executive Committee

Section 1. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the officers of the Board and the chairs of the Standing Committees.

Section 2. Quorum. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be a majority.

Section 3. Authority. The Executive Committee shall have the power to act between meetings of the Board, to make recommendations to the Board and to carry out such other special responsibilities as may be assigned to it by the Board. Final authority rests with the Board; therefore, any interim action should be the first order of business after the opening of the meetings.

Section 4. Chairperson. The President of the Board shall chair the Executive Committee.

Section 5. Meetings. Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President of the Board or at the request of any other member of the Executive Committee.

Article VII
Standing Committees and Duties

Section 1. Housing Committee. This committee shall serve as the initial evaluation body for the status of the Transitional Housing Program. The Housing Committee shall have the responsibility for analyzing the information gathered from clients in the Transitional Housing Program and the selection of clients for the Transitional Housing Program.

Section 2. Executive Committee/Finance Committee. The Executive Committee shall act as the Finance Committee. As the Finance Committee, this committee shall consider all financial matters pertaining to the Corporation. It shall assume responsibility for the development of an annual budget. It shall review income and expenditures periodically and in conjunction with the Treasurer shall recommend an annual budget to the Board.

Section 3. Executive Committee/Personnel Committee. The Executive Committee shall act as the Personnel Committee. As the Personnel Committee, this committee will be responsible for all issues related to personnel, including such things as salary, benefits, personnel policies, etc.

Section 4. Public Relations/Communications/Fundraising This committee shall be responsible for public relations, communications, and fund raising activities of The Home Connection. Activities include the development of public relations and communications material (i.e. brochures, newsletters, etc.) and web site. This committee is also responsible for overseeing, coordination and implementing the fund raising activities of The Home Connection.

Section 6. Committee Membership. The chair of each committee shall be a member of the Board. Membership on committees shall not be limited to members of the Board.

Article VIII
Meetings

Section 1. Bi-Monthly. The Board shall meet bi-monthly to transact the official business of the Corporation. The established meeting date for the Board shall be the second Thursday of every other month, unless otherwise determined by the board or the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Annual. The Annual Meeting of this Board shall be held on the second Thursday of January.

Section 3. Special. Special meetings of the Board shall be called by the President, the Executive Committee, or upon the written request of five (5) members of the Board.

Section 4. Notice. Regular and special meetings of the Board shall be announced either by mail or by telephone, with a minimum of one-week notice given in advance.

Article IX
Nominations and Elections

The President shall appoint an ad hoc Nominating Committee composed of at least three members of the Board. The Nominating Committee shall present to the Board at the Annual meeting a slate of persons nominated for election of officers. Pursuant to Article V, Section 4, unless the Vice President is unwilling or unable to serve, the Vice President shall be the sole nominee for the office of President. Nominations shall be made by the Nominating Committee, and nominations from the floor shall be permitted. Election may be by acclamation or written ballot. A majority of the Board members must be present and voting is necessary for election. An abstention does not constitute a vote.

Article X
Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the corporation shall begin on the first day of July and end of the last day of June next succeeding year.

Article XI
Amendments to By-Laws

These By-Laws may be amended at any meeting of the Board of Directors provided the members have had written notice of the proposed amendment(s) ten days prior to the meeting. An affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Board members present and voting is required for amendment.