Janesville has officially recognized November as Homelessness Awareness Month.

City Council member Heather Miller says that one misconception about homelessness is that it’s a choice, when often it is not, and hopefully the proclamation will bring more attention to the issue.

GIFTS Men’s Shelter Executive Director MaryAnn Raash expressed her gratitude to the city and shared a quick story about a homeless man who came to them and now has two jobs and is 18 months sober.

Raash says that without the partnership between their organization and the city, stories like that would not be possible.

The recognition was unanimously passed at Monday’s city council meeting.