Midlands business leaders, service providers and faith leaders announced today that a new 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, Midlands Housing Alliance (MHA), has been formed to address the issue of homelessness in the Midlands.  “This broad-based coalition seeks to reduce homelessness and improve the quality of life downtown and in surrounding neighborhoods,” said Mac Bennett, president and chief executive officer for United Way of the Midlands.  “We want to empower these people to exit homelessness, increase their income and skills and gain housing; the ability to achieve these goals will greatly increase with persistence and support from the business, faith and provider communities and this opportunity granted from the Knight Foundation provides a significant point from which to begin.”