Dear Friends：

I am Toshio Mizuuchi.

I am a board member of the nonprofit citizen organization, National Homeless Support Network ( http://www.homeless-net.org )

[Mission Statement/Objectives of Our Activities]

1.　Support the homeless so that their basic human rights would be protected.

2.　Engage in supporting the homeless through making the use of the law - Jiritsu Shien Hou (The Law of Promoting Independent Living) and through extensive collaboration with governmental as well as private sectors.

3. Provide continuous support of the homeless after they start living independently.

4.　Aim to provide variety of support to the homeless with or without the use of welfare system for their financial self-sufficiency. Our support in independent living of the homeless is not limited to their financial aspect but also is extended to that of their mental health.

5.　Provide preventive support for those in high-risk to become homeless.

As you may have already heard, people in the areas hit by the recent 9.0 Magnitude "Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake" in Japan continue to suffer from the consequences on daily basis. As the number of victims increases to be confirmed, so does the number of newly orphaned children. Number of homeless people is also on the rise due to widening areas deemed unsafe for habitation from nuclear radiation. The areas designated for evacuation expands, and a mass evacuation creates migration of newly homeless people into other cities and prefectures.

We are feeling an urgency to appeal to you for your generosity to help these victims. And we are confident that your kindness and donation will not be wasted. We, National Homeless Support Network, have a wealth of experience and knowledge in survival support particularly of the homeless years before this earthquake happened. We have a rare advantage in executing such services as outreach, consultation, temporary housing, follow-up care for homeless people living in low-cost apartments and residency hotels.

At the emergency board meeting held on March 17th, we decided to focus our support on housing, particularly on receiving refugee families from Tohoku region to each of the nonprofit transitional housing as well as providing general support and other safety networks. Many members of our NPO are experienced in dealing with transitional housing and shelter for homeless people, and in facilitating the collaboration with the ministries and congressmen to garner financial support for the victims. Victims of this rare disaster surely need human power and management skill, and we are committed to perform this task using your donations effectively and efficiently.　

On behalf of the local non-profit organizations faced with an enormous task of recovery from this disaster, I and our NPO would like again to ask you and/or your organization for a support. (Please see the instruction for donation at our website http://www.homeless-net.org/html/bank_account_overseas.html )

We have taken supportive actions for Tohoku region, and at the same time we are collecting donation from many regions. The leading NPOs in Sendai area are the member of our NPO, and we know that they had already started free meal and consulting services. We have also succeeded contacting other NPOs, in Aomori, Iwate, and Fukushima prefecture, which had also been severely attacked by the earthquake and tsunami. With collaboration of the leading cooperative (Green Co-op), we can also transfer food and materials by truck (11ton) every night to the newly opened satellite office in Sendai city. This office was opened on March 18th, sharing the same space of Sendai's NPO for homeless assistance, and two members had been dispatched from Osaka to Sendai area. They facilitate the efficient　allocations and swift delivery of materials and food not only for homeless people but also all or people suffering from this calamity.

We very much appreciate for your understanding and support, and will certainly keep in touch with you and update the ever-changing situations.

Thank you very much for your interest and support.

Sincerely yours,

Toshio Mizuuchi