PORTLAND, OREGON. Portland and Multnomah County officials who are collaborating to implement Home Again, a 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness unveiled in December 2004 that emphasizes a Housing First approach, have announced results that exceed the plan's goals in reductions in homelessness, numbers of permanent supportive housing units created, and families housed. The community's latest Street Count shows a 39% decrease in the number of unsheltered homeless and a "70% reduction in the number of chronically homeless people who were living outdoors two years ago."

The report notes that 717 families have been housed, exceeding the 2 year goal of 500; 480 permanent supportive housing units have been opened compared to the 2 year goal of 260 units; and 1,039 chronically homeless individuals have been housed, exceeding the two year goal of 565 by 184%.

2006 Accomplishments include:

• 379 chronically homeless persons moved into permanent housing, of whom 40% were directly from the streets.
• 310 homeless families moved into permanent housing, including 134 "high resource using" families.
• 164 units of permanent supportive housing opened and 267 units added to the development pipeline.

Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten, a strong supporter of the plan who has also championed the community's adoption of the Project Homeless Connect innovation, said, "It is heartening to see real progress on an issue that many have given up on long ago. . . these results should give everyone hope and energy." Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler added, "This proves that the partnership between Multnomah County and the City of Portland is achieving significant measurable outcomes." In the first two years of the plan, the City, County and Portland Housing Authority have partnered to provide resources so that 480 new units of permanent supportive housing could be opened, with an additional 380 units under development.

St. Louis, Missouri officials have also just reported a 34% decrease over two years in street homelessness, which will be described in more detail in a future e- news. Commenting on these results, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano said, " Once again jurisdictional leadership extending political will, and resources through results-oriented 10-Year Plans is reducing street and chronic homelessness. We are proud to be partnered with Multinomah County, Portland, and St. Louis, and applaud County Chair Wheeler, Portland Mayor Potter, Commissioner Sten, St, Louis Mayor Slay and 10-Year Plan coordinators Heather Lyons and Bill Seidhoff for their success on behalf of their poorest neighbors."

DALLAS, TEXAS. An estimated 100 elected officials, business and civic leaders gathered in downtown Dallas this week for the groundbreaking for the city's new Homeless Assistance Center. The $21 million project will provide a one stop array of services and 100 indoor beds with a pavilion for an additional 300 persons targeted to the city's most disabled, long term homeless population. Among those joining Mayor Laura Miller at the event were Dallas City Councilwoman Pauline Medrano, in whose district the center is located, businessman and mayorally appointed homeless czar Mike Rawlings, his predecessor Tom Dunning, City Manager Mary Suhm, and Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance Director Mike Faenza, whose agency is leading an effort to raise $3 million to match city funds for the operation of the center. United States Housing and Urban Development Region VI Director Cynthia Leon was also present and was recognized for her support of the city's efforts to end homelessness.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who had met with the Mayor, other city officials and community leaders a number of times regarding the city's 10-Year Plan effort and was invited to speak at the groundbreaking, said that " Dallas has been blessed with a team that only knows how to get things done." He acknowledged that Mayor Miller, who is leaving office this year, had at first wondered if change was possible, but " took a leap of faith and extended her political will and joined the national partnership of mayors committed to 10-Year Plans." He noted that her "faith has been rewarded in the substance of this hoped for groundbreaking and what the Center will mean to its customers and your city, and in the evidence of the data that we now see that tells us that there are fewer people on your streets than several years ago."

The announcement last week by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson of nearly $1.4 billion in Homeless Assistance Grant awards to 5300 programs across the nation will bring nearly $12.8 million in record funding for emergency shelter, homeless prevention, transitional and permanent housing, and services resources to the Dallas City and County and Irving area.

QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS. The level of political will, depth of partnerships, commitment of resources, and results demonstrated in this city of 90,000 on the south side of Boston in the implementation of its 10-Year Plan continues to set the bar for communities its size in the national effort to end homelessness. Last week Mayor William Phelan joined United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano at a press conference at City Hall. Both had big announcements. On behalf of U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary and current USICH Chair, Alphonso Jackson, Director Mangano announced the community was being awarded $1.98 million in Homeless Assistance Grants funding, a nearly 19% increase over last year, to support emergency shelter, homeless prevention, transitional and permanent housing and services. The Mayor announced that the 2007 Point in Time Count held in January showed a 55% decrease in the number of persons living long term on the streets and shelters over the last three years, from 142 men and women to 63.

Pictured here in a meeting prior to the press conference, left, foreground to background, are Father Bill McCarthy, Mayor Phelan, and Director Mangano. At right, foreground to background, Father Bill's Place Executive Director John Yazwinski, and South Shore Chamber of Commerce President Peter Forman. Also attending the press conference were Kim Arouca, Deputy District Director for Congressman William Delahunt, and Thomas Walsh of Senator Edward Kennedy's office.

Indicating that “the 2008 Budget continues the Administration's commitment to end chronic homelessness by creating new supportive housing options for these individuals,” the Bush Administration has proposed an unprecedented seventh consecutive year of increased funding for targeted federal programs serving persons who are homeless. The President's FY 2008 record budget of $4.47 billion in targeted assistance for homeless programs across a range of federal agencies represents more than a 6% increase above the funding level in the FY 2007 Continuing Resolution passed by the House of Representatives last week and awaiting final Senate action. “In a difficult budget season, the Administration has once again increased targeted resources for homeless people. There is no question that the increase is directly related to the quantifiable results that are being achieved on the streets of our nation through the National Partnership of this Administration with Governors, Mayors, County Executives, and the private sector in implementing results-oriented 10-Year Plans,” stated Council Executive Director Philip Mangano. Among the increases are:

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD). The FY 2008 Budget seeks $1.586 billion for HUD's homeless programs, which represents a $145 million increase over the FY 2007 Continuing Resolution level. HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson is the Cabinet Secretary who presently serves as Council Chair. The increase includes $25 million for Reintegration of Ex-Offenders, involving the Departments of Justice, Labor, and Housing and Urban Development, to help individuals exiting prison make a successful transition to community life and long-term employment.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS). The Budget proposes 40 new Health Center sites in high poverty counties in addition to the over 300 new and expanded sites proposed in the 2007 Budget. The Health Centers' account also includes an increase estimated at more than 17% for Health Care for the Homeless Programs. $98 million is proposed in the Access to Recovery program for 20 competitive grants to provide treatment services to more than 55,000 individuals. The Budget triples drug court grants to help break the cycle of drug use and incarceration by combining the sanctioning power of courts with effective treatment services. $75 million is proposed for the Compassion Capital Fund to provide training for capacity-building and technical assistance for grassroots faith-based and community-based organizations.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA). The President's Budget includes a proposed 14% spending increase for the VA Grant and Per Diem program, a 4% increase in the VA Compensated Work Therapy program, and an estimated 5% increase in the use of medical care resources for homeless veterans. The Budget also recognizes the increased need for mental health care services and provides a total investment of $3 billion to afford a full spectrum of care for those veterans with mental health issues.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL). The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) is proposed for an 8% increase. Awards enable grantees to operate employment programs to reach out to homeless veterans and help them become employed.

U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS (USICH). The Budget notes progress in the Administration's goal of ending chronic homelessness: “Across the country, local leaders and nonprofit organizations have embraced this goal with over 200 jurisdictions committing to 10-Year Plans to end chronic homelessness. A number of the jurisdictions that have implemented their plans are seeing steady decreases in the number of chronic homeless individuals on their streets and in shelters.” The Budget seeks to extend the Council's work to assist States, Cities, and Counties through a proposed reauthorization of the Council through 2012.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, CONNECTICUT JOINS THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP TO END HOMELESSNESS

FEBRUARY 2007. Middletown, Connecticut. With fellow elected officials from the towns of Portland, Essex, and Old Saybrook and leaders of the business, academic, and faith based communities at his side, Middletown, Connecticut Mayor Sebastian N. Guiliano announced plans to develop a 10-Year Plan "to eliminate homelessness and near homelessness in Middlesex County." United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, accompanied by Council Regional Coordinator John O'Brien, joined Mayor Guiliano and community leaders at a press conference held in the City Council Chambers with a capacity crowd on January 30th. Mayor Guiliano, Middlesex Chamber of Commerce President Larry McHugh, and Middlesex United Way Executive Director Kevin Wilhelm will co-chair a Leadership Council that will complete development of a plan in six months. The Leadership Council includes members of the faith community, local hospitals, business, the Presidents of Wesleyan University and Middlesex Community College, and Portland First Selectwoman Susan Bransfield, Old Saybrook First Selectman Michael Pace, and Essex First Selectman Philip Miller.

"Leaders from throughout Middlesex County are supporting the effort to provide decent, affordable, and supportive housing to people in our communities. The cornerstone of that effort is the creation of a 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness," said Mayor Guiliano, encouraging everyone to ask themselves "What difference can I make?" Council Director Mangano who was introduced by United Way Executive Director Wilhelm following remarks by the Leadership Committee co-chairs and Bishop Cote, described the Committee membership as being "as strong as any in the nation- the right combination to get the job done, expansive and inclusive." He commended the community for "joining a National mindset that is no longer content simply to fund programs that serve homeless people endlessly, but instead invests in the result of abolishing the unhealthy and expensive disgrace of homelessness from your streets, your neighborhood, and your community."

At the press conference, Mayor Guiliano announced that an Executive Committee will be formed to work out the plan details whose goals include:

Pictured here, top, is Mayor Guiliano speaking to government, civic, and nonprofit leaders gathered at the press conference. Middle, Director Mangano conferring with Mayor Guiliano. Bottom, l-r, State Senator Paul Doyle, Middlesex Chamber of Commerce President Larry McHugh, Mayor Giuliano, Director Mangano, Bishop Michael Cote, Region 1 Department of Housing and Urban Development Director Taylor Caswell, and Middlesex United Way Director Kevin Wilhelm.

SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS AND 10-YEAR PLAN EFFORTS DISCUSSED
DURING U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS WINTER MEETING

WASHINGTON, DC. "We're not looking to be saved; we need the Federal Government to be partners with us to build on our strengths." With this spirit and message, U.S. Conference of Mayors President and Trenton Mayor Douglas Palmer presided over the 75th Winter Meeting of the Conference of Mayors in Washington DC last week. The meeting included a keynote address by Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and numerous policy sessions on issues impacting the nation's cities including a 10-point USCM legislative agenda, Strong Cities, Strong Families for a Strong America. Mayor Palmer's themes of local jurisdictional leadership and the importance of the federal government and local communities working in partnership are already manifested in the relationship that exists between mayors and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness on the issue of homelessness. Mayors across the nation have joined the National Partnership to End Homelessness being constellated by the Council by leading the development and implementation of 10-Year Plans in their communities and often in collaboration with county government. There are 288 jurisdictional 10-Year Plans in development or being implemented across the country. Earlier this month United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano met with Des Moines Mayor Franklin Cownie to discuss a 10-Year Plan effort for his community. During last week's Winter Meeting, Mayor Cownie who is co-chair of the USCM Hunger and Homelessness Task Force convened a meeting of the Task Force during which he reaffirmed his commitment to moving forward to create a 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Des Moines and to encouraging other mayors to do so. Mayors of two dozen cities, including a number of recently elected mayors, and representatives of several other mayors attended the early Friday morning meeting at which Director Mangano was invited to talk about the progress of 10-year planning efforts around the country following a presentation by Task Force Staff Director Gene Lowe on the findings of the 2006 USCM Hunger and Homelessness Survey released in December. In his presentation entitled, the National Partnership: Investment, Innovation, and Results in Ending Homelessness, Director Mangano noted that $3.17 billion in state, city and private sector investment has been leveraged since 2003 in just 100 of the 288 10-Year Plan efforts now underway, resulting in the creation of more than 36,000 targeted permanent housing tenancies and needed services for people experiencing chronic homelessness. He also noted the reductions in street and chronic homelessness being reported by communities implementing 10-year plans as disparate in size and location as Nashua, New Hampshire, Dallas, Texas, and Portland, Oregon. The Task Force agenda also included a presentation by David Miller, a staff member of the U.S. Agriculture Committee chaired by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, on hunger in rural America and proposed changes to the food stamp program which are aimed at promoting healthier food selections.

Pictured here, middle, is Mayor Cownie opening the meeting. Pictured here,top, is a group photo taken after the Task Force meeting including seated: Salisbury, NC Mayor Susan Klutz; Buckeye, AZ Mayor Bobby Bryant; Des Moines, IA Mayor Frank Cownie; Director Mangano, Santa Barbara, CA Mayor Marty Blum; and Wichita, KS Mayor Carlos Mayans. Included standing are USCM Assistant Executive Director Eugene Lowe; Burlington, VT Mayor Bob Kiss; Charleston, WV Mayor Danny Jones; Chattanooga, TN Mayor Ron Littlefield; Columbia SC Mayor Bob Coble; Tulsa, OK Mayor Kathy Taylor; Myrtle Beach, SC Mayor John Rhodes; San Bernardino, CA Mayor Pat Morris, Grand Forks, ND Mayor Michael R. Brown; Winston-Salem, NC Mayor Allen Joines, San Rafael, CA Mayor Al Boro; St. Petersburg, FL Mayor Rick Baker; Charleston, SC Mayor Joe Riley Jr; and Lansing, MI Mayor Virg Bernero. Pictured bottom is Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Council Director Mangano discussing the Speaker's commitment to homeless people.

IN THE CITIES AND COUNTIES: LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS BECOMES
LATEST BAY STATE CITY TO COMMIT TO CREATING A 10-YEAR PLAN TO END
HOMELESSNESS

LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS. This week's kickoff of a 10-Year Plan effort in Lowell, the fourth largest city in Massachusetts, is the latest good news in what has been a flurry of 10-Year Plan activity in the Bay State this month, including the unveiling of a 10-Year Plan in Springfield by Mayor Charles Ryan and a summit of western Massachusetts mayors and officials. On Monday, Lowell Mayor William Martin Jr. and City Manager Bernard Lynch kicked off the community's 10-Year Plan effort at a forum attended by an overflow crowd of over 200. The six month effort to create a plan will be led by an Executive Advisory Committee working together with the City Manager and with the assistance of a Working Group comprised of federal, state, and local homeless housing and human services providers. See related Words of Week story this issue for excerpts of remarks by City Manager Lynch. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was invited to provide an overview of the reasons behind the Administration's goal to end chronic homelessness in 10 years and discuss the National Partnership to End Homelessness being constellated by the Council. Director Mangano lauded Mayor Martin and City Manager Lynch for their political will in moving forward with a 10-Year Plan and affirmed the City Manager's business approach to solving problems in government and extending that business approach to the issue of homelessness. Director Mangano's remarks were followed by an Executive Panel discussion of affordable housing, homelessness prevention, chronic homelessness, jobs and education, and cost effective permanent supportive housing solutions. The panel was moderated by Suzanne Beaton, Campaign Director for One Family, Inc./ Paul and Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation, which recently gave the city a $10,000 grant to support development of the plan. Panelists included University of Massachusetts Associate Professor of Regional Economic and Social Development Robert Forrant; Community Teamwork Inc. Executive Director Karen Frederick; Lowell General Hospital Vice President of Medical Affairs Dr. Wayne Pasanen; businessman Michael Mahoney who collaborates with the Renaissance Club, a non profit working with adults with mental illness, to employ a member of the Club's Transitional Employment Program each year at his company, Mahoney's Garden Center; and real estate businessman Richard Jumpp, who as a board member of House of Hope promoted housing with wraparound services as a more humane and cost effective response than emergency shelters and also has founded and serves as President of the non profit House of Hope Housing, Inc. building family housing.

Pictured here, top, are Mayor Martin, speaking, and City Manager Lynch at the Lowell 10-Year Plan kick off this week. Pictured middle is Director Mangano addressing the government, civic and business leaders. Pictured bottom are the panelists, l-r, Ms. Beaton, Mr. Jumpp, Mr. Forrant, Dr. Pasanen, Ms. Frederick, and Mr. Mahoney.

IN THE CITIES AND COUNTIES: HARRISBURG/DAUPHIN COUNTY, PA UNVEIL 10-YEAR 'HOME RUN' PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. “The concerns of the homeless can, and must be addressed in a more effective and humane manner. This is an opportunity for cooperation and contribution of all decision-makers, providers, consumers and the general public to make a significant impact on the lives of thousands of people who need a home, and thousands more who are scared to death of losing the one they have.”

With this message underlying the Plan's recommendations, Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed and Dauphin County Commissioner George Hartwick III last week unveiled HOME RUN- The Capital Area's 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in the County of Dauphin and the City of Harrisburg. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was invited to receive the Plan at the unveiling held at City Hall to help kick off the implementation effort.

Located on the east shore of the Susquehanna River in south central Pennsylvania in a metropolitan region of nearly 600,000 people, Harrisburg is the state capital and the county seat. The Home Run plan, which addresses transitional, episodic, and chronic homelessness in the community, is the product of a comprehensive effort by an 18-member Steering Committee appointed by Mayor Reed and the County Commissioners last fall. The Steering Committee was co-chaired by Carter Nash of Downtown Daily Bread and a former consumer, and Edward Trask of Delta Housing Inc., and received support from M&T Bank and the Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness (CACH), whose governing body includes as permanent members the United Way Capital Region, and the Foundation for Enhancing Communities as well as the city and county.

With a nod toward civic pride in the community's minor league baseball team, the Harrisburg Senators, the "Home Run" Plan uses baseball analogies in outlining implementation steps which include:

• Choosing a Blueprint Manager- CACH will manage and oversee the implementation
• Preparing the Field: full implementation of HMIS
• Leadoff Batter: the Plan adopts a Housing First strategy beginning with the construction of 25 permanent housing units and 40 overnight units in a 24/7 project to be owned and operated by Christian Churches United. The $2 million Susquehanna Harbor Safe Haven will open in 2008.
• Getting on Base: the Plan acknowledges the importance of wraparound services, known as Housing Plus and calls on " case managers across agencies to work together to develop one plan of action for each client, with each agency contributing to support clients in achieving housing stability and long term self-sufficiency."
• Moving the Runner: Partnerships, Leveraging and Public Awareness
• Stealing Signs: Prevention strategies include identifying a lead agency to focus on early intervention, establishing housing courts, increasing rent and mortgage arrears availability, and discharge planning.
• Bringing the Runner Home: oversight and evaluation

Mayor Reed called the Plan "the most comprehensive and well developed plan ever put forth to address homelessness in the Capital Region with the primary goal of not just reducing homelessness, but eliminating it forever." With 25 years of experience as mayor of Harrisburg, Mayor Reed noted that he would not be standing there endorsing this effort if 10-Year planning efforts in other communities had not been getting results. The mayor said, " Research shows that the chronic homeless population will be best served by focusing on moving them into housing as quickly as possible. Known as the Housing First/Housing Plus model, the effort includes immediate support services to help the clients remain in their housing without first undergoing extensive screening or treatment protocols." The Mayor noted that each year the Capital Region spends over $4.5 million on housing and supportive services for persons experiencing homelessness, not including the costs of emergency hospital usage, incarceration or mainstream benefits. Commissioner Hartwick noted that the Home Run plan presents an innovative holistic approach to the problem extending across municipal boundaries in the Capital Region, with cooperation by all key to the plan's implementation.

In his remarks to the assembled elected and community leaders, Council Director Mangano said, "Mayor Reed and County Commissioner Hartwick and his fellow Commissioners are to be congratulated for creating a city/county partnership to end homelessness, joining the National Partnership to End Homelessness and other Pennsylvania cities and counties with 10-Year Plans. The commitment of these jurisdictional leaders to the national innovations of Housing First and Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Teams aligns Harrisburg and Dauphin County with communities across the country that are now seeing reduced numbers of chronically homeless persons on their streets and in emergency shelters."

Pictured here, top l-r, Co-chair Carter Nash, Mayor Reed, Director Mangano, County Commissioner Hartwick, and United Way of the Capital Region Vice President of Community Impact Tim Whelan.

Pictured bottom are Mayor Reed and Director Mangano holding the Plan, flanked by HUD Region III Director special assistant Elvis Solivan (l) and HUD Region III CPD Director Nadab Bynum (r) and members of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee members included Edward Trask, DELTA Housing, Co- Chair; Rev. Brenda Alton, Harambee UCC and Interdenominational Ministerial; Rev. James D. Brown, Market Square Presbyterian Church/Downtown Clergy; Rosemary Browne, The Foundation for Enhancing Communities; E. Maria Chianos, MSW, Pinnacle Health; Deborah Clayton, Dauphin County Human Services; Bryan K. Davis, City of Harrisburg, Dept. of Building & Housing Dev., Bureau of Housing; Daniel Eisenhauer, Dauphin County MH/MR Administrator; Richard Evans, former consumer; David Hietala, PhD, Messiah College, School of Education and Social Sciences; Jacquelyn L. Morrison, SHALOM House; George Payne, YWCA of Greater Harrisburg; Kirk Reider, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Harrisburg; Robert A. Scott, PhD, Penn State University, School of Behavior Sciences and Education; Rev. Jody Silliker, Christ Lutheran's Health Ministry and Holy Spirit Hospital; Mike Weisberg, MSW, LCSW, Pinnacle Health Home Care on contract to Dauphin County Housing Authority; Timothy F. Whelan, MSW, United Way of the Capital Region.

IN CITIES AND COUNTIES: WINDHAM COUNTY, CT OFFICIALS AND BUSINESS LEADERS KICK OFF 10-YEAR PLAN EFFORT

WILLIMANTIC, CONNECTICUT. Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic was the site of last week's kickoff of the planning effort to create a Greater Windham 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. Windham County is located in northeastern Connecticut. Numerous towns, villages and boroughs including Willimantic comprise the county and have elected Boards of Selectmen. There is no county level government in Connecticut. Windham County has a population of around 115,000 with Willimantic the largest community at 40,000. A broad partnership of Selectmen, and business and non profit leaders will work together as a Leadership Committee to create a plan, led by co-chairs Chaplin First Selectman Rusty Lanzit and Savings Institute CEO Rheo Brouillard. Pictured above, l-r, Windham Regional Community Council Executive Director Jeff Beadle, Mr. Lanzit, Director Mangano, and Mr. Brouillard.

An organizing committee led by Windham Regional Community Council Executive Director Jeffrey Beadle helped lay the groundwork for creating the Leadership Committee. Community institutions including Bank of America, Banknorth Connecticut, Liberty Bank, New Alliance Bank, Peoples Bank, Savings Institute, and the Windham Council of Governments are providing financial support for the planning effort and the Connecticut Aids Resource Coalition and Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness Executive Director Carol Walter have been retained to facilitate the planning process and writing of the plan.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was invited to keynote the kickoff event that also included remarks by co-chair Rheo Brouillard, Windham First Selectman Michael Paulhus, State Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr, 49th District State Representative Walter Pawelkiewicz, and Jeff Beadle. Legislators Williams and Pawelkiewicz spoke of their support for the Windham 10-Year Plan effort and of their interest in introducing legislation that would provide assistance for homeless youth, particularly those aging out of foster care. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Field Office Director Julie Fagan and Tina Smith of the U.S. Social Security Administration were also present. Shown here, Windham First Selectman Michael Paulhus at podium and seated l-r, Mr. Beadle, State Representative Pawelkiewicz, Director Mangano, Mr. Lanzit, State Senate President Pro Tempore Williams, and Mr. Brouillard.

Director Mangano commended the Selectmen for working together on this issue and the State legislative leaders for demonstrating their support. "Jurisdictional CEO leadership is a best practice that ensures accountability and results in plans across the country," said Director Mangano, who also spoke of the importance of having a business leader as co-chair."The business emphasis conforms to best practices around the country. The status quo, though well intentioned, has not accomplished the mission. That's why we're here today to launch this new plan. We know that we can do better. Business plans and a business mind-set oriented to solving problems and producing accountability and results have correlated with reductions in homelessness in implemented plans across the country."

Director Mangano noted that the community has all the elements for a successful effort-"political will from jurisdictional CEOs, business leadership, and access to innovative ideas." He encouraged the Leadership Committee to commit the " art of legitimate larceny" and adopt the new technologies that are proving successful in other 10-Year Plan efforts around the country. He noted in particular the proven success of "rapid re-housing in combination with Assertive Community Treatment Teams which is getting to where we want to be, and more importantly to where the consumer wants to be, in a place to live."

The Windham County kickoff follows last month's unveiling of a 10-Year Plan, Next Stop, Home, by a group of southeastern Connecticut communities. On January 30, Director Mangano will join Middletown, CT Mayor Sebastian Giuliano and other community leaders at a kickoff for the development of a 10-Year Plan to end homelessness in Middletown County.

IN THE CITIES AND COUNTIES: “NOT HOUSING AFTER SHELTER, NOT HOUSING NEVER, BUT HOUSING FIRST”

SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS. Describing his city's 10-Year Plan as reflecting a new mindset and commitment to "not housing after shelter, not housing never, but housing first," Springfield Mayor Charles V. Ryan unveiled Springfield's Homes Within Reach Plan at a press conference at city hall last week. Mayor Ryan was joined at the press conference by United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano and regional coordinator John O'Brien; and members of the Mayor's Homelessness Strategy Committee including Plan co-chairs, Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce President Russell Denver and Springfield Department of Health and Human Services Director Helen Caulton-Harris, Springfield Housing Authority Executive Director Betsy McCright, and Open Pantry Director Kevin Noonan.

Mayor Ryan outlined a series of initial implementation steps that include creating 140 supportive housing units for the city's most vulnerable residents experiencing chronic homelessness, and the appointments of Peter Pan Bus Lines Executive Vice President Bob Schwartz to chair the implementation effort and Geraldine McCafferty, Deputy Director of Homeless and Special Needs Housing, as the city's overall homelessness coordinator. 100 of the supportive housing units will be made available through a collaboration with the Springfield Housing Authority, which will provide section 8 project based vouchers, while the city engages service providers to ensure that supportive services will be in place. Shown here, l-r, Plan Implementation Chair Schwartz, Director Mangano,and Mayor Ryan.

In his remarks, Mayor Ryan noted that the most important and dramatic change in the city's approach to homelessness is the commitment to housing first and called the Springfield Housing Authority "a significant community asset that has responded to this housing first commitment." The city is also using HOME funds to provide rental assistance to some residents currently living in supportive housing who are ready to live more independently. As a result of the supportive housing opportunities to be created, the city anticipates closing one of its two shelters- a former jail- by July. A 24/7 Homeless Assistance Center will be created within 2 ½ years replacing the second shelter which does not have facilities for supportive services. The new center would have space for up to 150 beds, and a variety of supportive services including medical and dental care, and housing and employment resources. Peter Pan Bus Lines President Peter Picknelly and Mayor Ryan will chair a Capital Campaign for the center for which state funding is also being sought.

Invited to speak at the Plan unveiling by Mayor Ryan, Council Director Mangano congratulated the Mayor and the City for creating a business-minded, results-oriented plan that is "a national model for cities your size." Particularly noteworthy is the First 3-5 Years Implementation Blueprint with benchmarks and costs.

Springfield is the the 3rd largest city in the Bay State and the 4th largest in New England with a population just under 152,000. An editorial in the Springfield Republican following the plan unveiling concluded, "The new business-based approach Springfield is adopting is a model that other communities should emulate. When tough circumstances strike, there is no shame in being homeless. The shame is allowing the homeless to walk among us while we just drive by them on the way home to the comfort of a warm meal and a roof over our heads."

IN THE CITIES AND COUNTIES: 10-YEAR PLANNING EFFORT TO BEGIN IN DES MOINES, IOWA.

DES MOINES, IOWA. This week, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano traveled to Des Moines, Iowa to meet with Mayor T.M. Franklin Cownie, City Manager Rick Clark, City Councilwoman Christine Hensely and other key city staff to discuss development of a 10-Year Plan for this capital city and the surrounding metro region. Carlisle Mayor Ruth Randleman, chair of the Metro Advisory Council's Homeless Committee, also participated in the discussion at the invitation of Mayor Cownie. Des Moines, a city of 200,000, lies within a metropolitan region of more than half a million people. Council Regional Coordinator Charlene Moran Flaherty joined Director Mangano at the meeting. Pictured here, l-r, Mayor Cownie, Director Mangano, and Mayor Randleman.

In the discussion, Director Mangano focused on the business principles, political will, cost benefit analysis, and best practices underlying successful 10-Year planning efforts. In a subsequent meeting on Wednesday with members of the Polk County Housing Continuum, which is comprised of city and county officials and providers, Mayor Cownie committed to leading the effort to create a 10-Year Plan to end long term homelessness. The mayor stated, "We need to have a long term plan focused on disabled, single adults who have been on the streets a long time. If we can show success in that area, business and community support will follow to address the 90 percent of homeless people who are in families and not disabled. There are new and better solutions on the horizon. We need to get people into housing with services."

Also discussed during Director Mangano's meeting with Mayor Cownie was the mayor's work as Vice-Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Hunger and Homelessness Task Force and the continuing partnership between the Council and USCM on the issue of homelessness. The strength of this partnership is evidenced in the more than 280 10-Year plan efforts underway in cities and counties across the nation and Council participation in USCM Winter and Annual meetings where lessons learned and best practice information have been shared. The meeting of the Hunger and Homelessness Task Force at the Winter Meeting of USCM later this month will include recognition of those committee members whose cities have committed to 10-Year Plans and other communities will be encouraged by Mayor Cownie to join the effort.

IN THE STATES: MICHIGAN LAUNCHES STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN TO END HOMELESSNESS WITH UNVEILING OF LOCAL 10-YEAR PLANS COVERING 100% OF THE STATE

LANSING, MICHIGAN. Michigan planted itself firmly in the National Partnership of results oriented, performance based, jurisdictionally led, and community based 10-year planning efforts this week with the simultaneous unveiling of 60 community commitments to 10-Year Plans to End Homelessness covering 100% of Michigan's 83 counties. This unprecedented state achievement of 100% participation was celebrated at a two day Michigan Homeless Summit held in Lansing attended by more than 650 people that marked the official launch of Michigan's Campaign to End Homelessness. A highlight of the opening day was the ceremonial presentation of the community 10-year plans to state officials including the Directors of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and the Departments of Corrections, Community Health, and Human Services and to United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. The opening day agenda also included remarks from Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm (by video), Council Director Mangano, Corporation for Supportive Housing CEO Carla Javits, National Alliance to End Homelessness President and CEO Nan Roman and the four state directors; and the release of the state's first Baseline Data Report from implementation of the Michigan Statewide Homeless Management Information System on the number, demographics, and service needs of the homeless population. In her remarks, Governor Granholm presented an opportunity for all citizens in the state to endorse the Vision Statement of the Michigan Campaign to End Homelessness and to pledge personal involvement in the effort to end homelessness. Included in the Vision Statement printed on the Pledge is the belief that the elimination of homelessness is an achievable goal and the commitment to use the best data, provide the best technical assistance and training, continually search the country for the best evidence based practices, secure and maintain extraordinary commitments at the local, regional and state levels, and regularly measure progress. Michigan State Housing Development Authority Director Michael DeVos, who spearheaded the effort and whose agency provided small planning grants to help communities develop their 10-year plans, was joined by Department of Corrections Director Patricia Caruso, Community Health Director Janet Olszewski, and Human Services Director Marianne Udow in highlighting collaborative statewide initiatives by their agencies and plans to revamp the state's approach to helping the homeless. The Michigan State Housing Development Agency is making available new housing resources to support the Campaign including $2 million each in second round funding for the chronic homeless and domestic violence housing initiatives, $3 million for homeless youth housing, and $7.5 million for a homeless families with children initiative. In a video message, Detroit sports columnist and author Mitch Albom, who wrote Tuesdays with Morrie, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and For One More Day, set an example by pledging his support for the Campaign including $80,000 from book royalties to support charitable efforts to end homelessness in Detroit. In his remarks, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Mangano praised the leadership and collaborations that created "this innovation of being the first state in the nation that has every square mile covered by a 10-year plan." As he welcomed Michigan's 60 community plans into the National Partnership where they join over 220 other community planning efforts around the nation, he noted that Michigan's effort could hopefully serve as a model for other states. Acknowledging MSHDA Director DeVos's previous work in Maine to develop the first statewide 10-year plan before bringing his expertise to Michigan, Director Mangano congratulated Mr. DeVos " for his dauntless commitment to disturbing the status quo of homelessness in two states." He urged community officials to give a priority to chronic homelessness in the implementation of their plans so as to end the homelessness of those who are 'the most disabled, the most vulnerable, those who are long term in shelters or living and dying on the streets" He also noted that the best research, which is the foundation of effective policy and investment, has been done on this population. The Summit's second day agenda offered opportunities for attendees to gain valuable technical assistance on plan implementation strategies from a group of national and regional experts including Council Regional Coordinator John O'Brien who addressed building community support for the Project Homeless Connect innovation at a plenary session and U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service Administrator Russell Davis who helped lead a workshop on effective planning in rural areas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is one of the Council's 20 federal agency members and has been an important partner in bringing the concerns and needs of rural areas to homeless policy discussions. Information on Mr. Davis' presentation highlighting program changes that can benefit planning partnerships in rural areas will be available on the Council's website shortly.

Pictured here, top l-r, are MSHDA Executive Director DeVos, Council Regional Coordinator O'Brien and Council Executive Director Mangano with the display of community 10- year plans. Pictured middle is Director Mangano at the speaker's podium under the state's Ending Homelessness in Michigan Is Possible banner. Pictured bottom are 10-year plan leaders from one of the 8 regions in which the plans were grouped with MSHDA Director DeVos, Director Mangano, and to the right of Mr. Mangano, Michigan Human Services Director Marianne Udow. The ceremonial presentation of plans included the award of state certificates to the plan leaders. Thank you to Rosh Sillars for the Michigan Summit photos.

IN THE STATES: MICHIGAN STATE AGENCIES PLEDGE CONTINUED COOPERATION AND INCREASED COLLABORATION AS PART OF THE MICHIGAN CAMPAIGN TO END HOMELESSNESS

Michigan's newly launched statewide Campaign to End Homelessness (see related story this issue) includes a reinvigorated effort among several state agencies to collaborate and share resources in ways to benefit the homeless, which United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano has called "a national model of collaboration." Pictured here, top l-r, Michigan State Housing Development Authority Executive Director Michael DeVos, Michigan Department of Human Services Director Marianne Udow, Michigan Department of Community Health Director Janet Olszewski, Michigan Department of Corrections Director Director Patricia Caruso and Teresa Bingman from the Office of Governor Granholm at this week's Michigan Homeless Summit launching the statewide Campaign to End Homelessness. SOAR is a federally initiated technical assistance initiative to promote systems change to assist people who are homeless successfully apply for SSI/SSDI benefits. SOAR will be spearheaded in Michigan through a collaborative effort of the State Housing Development Agency and Departments of Human Service and Community Health. The Housing Resource Center is a pilot project developed by a partnership between the State Housing Development Agency, Department of Community Health, Department of Community Services and Detroit based service funders and agencies to link individuals and families who are homeless with special needs to vacant housing units in the cities of Detroit, Namtramck and Highland Park. Participants will be assisted with completing rental applications, applying for rental assistance and other entitlement benefits, receiving eviction prevention and other services provided by the partnering agencies. The Statewide Taskforce for Youth Permanency and Services is led by the Director of the Department of Human Services and a Michigan Supreme Court Justice to develop recommendations to ensure every adolescent in foster care will have a life long connection to a caring adult, financial support for education and training, and access to affordable housing, health care, transportation, employment and emergency needs. Bridges is a system spearheaded by the Department of Human Services that determines the programs and services for which Michigan residents qualify can be used to share information across systems and agencies to streamline client eligibility information and reduce the time to verify eligibility. DHS is currently rolling out Bridges in the first of three planned stages. Interagency Service Teams (IST) are an effective service delivery model linking a community's key service partners in collaborative efforts to support consumer success and housing stability. ISTs are being implemented in multiple communities using a variety of funding sources and will be promoted across the state. A Statewide Homeless Assistance Online Data Warehouse (SHADoW) will create a real time virtual research database comprised of de-identified client data from both public and nonprofit agencies allowing users to generate multiple analytical queries and reports on homeless populations, service delivery and needs via an interactive Web based interface.

A "Barrier Busting" Leadership Council comprised of representatives from each of the eight Supportive Housing and Homeless Regions, philanthropy, business, and state department representatives provides opportunities for statewide champions to discuss, strategize, and plan for the implementation of local 10-year plans as well as to provide direct feedback to state government department leaders on critical issues.

AUTUMN HARVEST IN OREGON: NEW 10-YEAR PLANNING COMMITMENTS AND PORTLAND/MULTNOMAH COUNTY 10-YEAR PLAN EFFORT YIELDS 20% REDUCTION IN DOWNTOWN STREET HOMELESSNESS

OREGON. More than the leaves are turning golden in Oregon. There are new jurisdictional 10-year planning commitments and from Portland comes news of a 20% reduction in downtown street homelessness in the first 18 months of the Portland/Multnomah County Home Again 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness implementation. As of August, 992 chronically homeless persons and 500 homeless families have been housed. These results demonstrate what can be achieved by determined elected leaders and equally determined and skilled providers collaborating together and supported by the business community and a broad base of community will.

During a PBS interview last week while in Portland to speak at the Community Action Directors of Oregon Conference (see related story), United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano credited Portland Mayor Tom Potter, City Councilman Erik Sten, and Multnomah County officials including Board Chair Diane Linn and Commissioner Serena Cruz-Walsh for creating and implementing a 10-Year Plan that "makes common sense, business sense, and is securing results." Director Mangano spoke about the effectiveness of the Housing First approach saying, "We, who have been housed all our lives, aren't really in touch with the therapeutic impact that having a place to live has in anybody's life. What we've seen consistently across the country is that people's symptoms from mental illness, from addiction and other disabilities, they reduce when they're in housing." Citing the San Diego cost study of 15 homeless people that showed that they had cost the city $3 million over 18 months through their constant visits to emergency rooms, detox, and jail, Director Mangano explained that city leaders realized that "we could have rented oceanside penthouse condominiums with sweeping views of the Pacific and provided servants to attend to every whim, and that would have been a less expensive intervention." Even after spending all that money, they were still homeless.

Multnomah County community action agency director Mary Li, who was also interviewed by PBS, noted that "the focus on chronically homeless individuals has been challenging for many folks who work with families and youth and women living with domestic violence. But people were able to set those concerns aside, because they were willing to try this new model. And now we're hoping to see the trickle effect from the focus on the chronic homeless to these other populations, and hope we gain some traction." Oregon Community Action Directors President Tom Clancey Burns noted "there's a new passion to move forward, to take action, and so anything we can do to come up with solutions, if they're different, that's great, but the goal here is to actually have some outcomes that will sustain for a long time forward."

Portland's 'Home Again' Results

Similar to Denver's Road Home and Asheville/Buncombe County's Looking Homeward, Portland's 10-year planning effort includes a website to keep the community informed of the Plan's implementation progress and opportunities for civic involvement such as the community's Project Homeless Connect events that were held in January and July. The website lists each of the Plan's goal and provides quarterly reports that note whether each goal's implementation is on target, lagging behind, or exceeded. Specific 2nd year goals to be met by December 31, 2006 include housing for 390 chronically homeless individuals and 250 homeless families. First half of the year results show 206 chronically homeless persons and 147 families have already been housed. Through Housing Rapid Response, a collaborative effort of the Portland Police Department, the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, and Central City Concern, 17 chronically homeless persons with repeat arrests or incarceration histories were permanently housed. Between October and June, four "Key Not A Card" programs (the term card referring to business cards) have linked 144 people in 119 households directly from the streets into housing, of which 98.5% remain in stable permanent housing.

More Jurisdictional 10-Year Planning Efforts

In June the Oregon Leadership Summit on Ending Chronic Homelessness, sponsored by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and organized by Council Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson, brought together 35 mayors, county commissioners and city councilmembers, and 50 senior state and local government officials for a one day summit in Salem, the state capital. This summit has had a far reaching impact in energizing local efforts in homelessness planning. The City of Eugene/Lane County and Clakamas County, a suburb of Portland, will soon complete their own 10-Year Plans. Lincoln County, on the Oregon coast, has been in the vanguard of rural counties engaged in planning efforts and is expected to complete a plan next year. Also close to completing a plan is Marion County which includes the capital city of Salem.

Medford/Jackson County and McMinnville/Yamhill County Commissioners have officially endorsed the idea of developing 10-Year Plans for their jurisdictions and Washington County, the state's second most populous county, is expected to do likewise. Washington County has already committed to hosting its first Project Homeless Connect on January 24.

Governor Kulongoski's Ending Homelessness Advisory Council Meets

State level leadership can be particularly important in a predominantly rural state like Oregon. In April, Governor Ted Kulongoski (pictured here) signed an Executive Order creating his Ending Homelessness Advisory Council. The Council is cochaired by the Governor's Director of Housing and Community Services Victor Merced and Lincoln County Commissioner Bill Hall. Other Council members include state agency executives, and representatives of local jurisdictions and philanthropy. The Council began meeting in August and one of its first focus areas was prevention of homelessness among those being discharged from state institutions. The state will also develop its own 10-Year Plan which will be coordinated with the many local 10-year plans now in development.

ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NC 1ST ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT ON 10-YEAR PLAN IMPLEMENTATION INCLUDES NEW PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

October 2006. On October 5, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano joined Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy, Buncombe County Commission Chair Nathan Ramsey, Asheville-Buncombe Affordable Housing Coalition Executive Director Philippe Rosse, Pisgah Legal Services Staff Attorney Robin Merrell, and Homeless Initiative Coordinator Amy Sawyer at a press conference presenting the First Annual Progress Report to the community on the Plan's implementation. Significantly, the event was held at the Woodfin Apartments, a new 18 unit permanent supportive housing project for persons experiencing chronic homelessness In February 2005 the Asheville-Buncombe County 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, Looking Homeward, became the first jurisdictionally based 10-year plan in North Carolina when it was adopted by the Asheville City Council and Buncombe County Board of Commissioners after six months of work by a 33-member task force of business, non profit and government leaders.

Shown here in front of Woodfin Apartments, l-r, are Scott Dedman and Rich Olejniczak of Mountain Housing Opportunities, Architect John Ledgerton, Director Mangano, Robin Merrell of Pisgah Legal Services, Council Regional Coordinator Michael German, County Commission Chair Nathan Ramsey, and Martha Are.

In his remarks, Director Mangano affirmed the Asheville-Buncombe 10-year planning effort as a role model for other cities of its size, noting in particular the city-county partnership, the cost benefit study which helped drive political and civic will and provided a basis for the plan's recommendations, the adoption of a Housing First permanent supportive housing approach to end chronic homelessness in the community, and the resulting 26% reduction in the number of homeless persons living on the streets because of the increased prevention and housing efforts. For its cost benefit study, 10 year planners tracked jail/court, ambulance, and hospitalization costs associated with 37 chronically homeless individuals over a three year period and discovered the city and county costs to be over $570,000 a year. When emergency shelter costs were included, the city and county costs were over $800,000 a year.

With the opening of the Woodfin Apartments and the soon to be completed Griffin project, the community will have created 33 units of permanent supportive housing in the past year, bringing to 45 the number of units created in the past two years that includes 12 units for persons with mental illness. The Woodfin and Griffin units were created with a combination of federal, state and local funds through a collaboration involving Mountain Housing Opportunities, the Asheville Housing Authority, Clay and Harris property management companies, and Hospitality House.

Other outcomes included in the first year progress report include the hiring of a joint city-county funded plan coordinator, financial support from the city to Pisgah Legal Services for the hiring of an additional staff attorney to expand homeless prevention and disability determination efforts, and startup of the community's Homeless Information Management System. A website, www.abchomeless.org, has been created to keep the community apprised of results and also of ways to become involved in the effort to end homelessness in Asheville and Buncombe County. Particularly useful is a page suggesting actions that can be taken by various sectors of the community including financial institutions, civic and professional groups, faith based institutions and individuals.

After the press conference and a tour of the Woodfin Apartments, Director Mangano participated in a luncheon meeting with cost benefit study leaders including Asheville Community Development Director Charlotte Caplan, North Carolina Division of Community Assistance planner Kristy Carter, Pisgah Legal Services Staff Attorney Robin Merrell, and North Carolina Homelessness Policy Coordinator Martha Are.



Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy and USICH Executive Director Philip Mangano

$49 MILLION IN "TREATMENT FOR HOMELESS" GRANTS ANNOUNCED.

October 6, 2006. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today made available $49 million for treatment services for people who are homeless and suffering from mental disorders, substance use or both. In announcing the awards, Assistant Surgeon General and SAMHSA Acting Deputy Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H noted that many of the estimated 600,000 persons who are homeless on any given night have serious mental health and substance abuse problems that can be treated. "These grants will help provide the treatment and recovery support services needed to help these people overcome their illnesses and obtain a safe, decent place to live," he said.$45 million in new grants over 5 years is being distributed to 23 agencies to expand and strengthen treatment services. Nine of those grants are specifically focused on the treatment needs of persons experiencing chronic homelessness, defined as individuals having a disabling condition who have either been continuously homeless for a year or more or have had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years. Additionally, $4 million in one year supplemental grants is being awarded to existing grantees to ensure that individuals experiencing chronic homelessness obtain mental health and substance abuse treatment, linkage to housing and housing support services, case management, and other recovery-oriented services.

To view a list and project description of the Treatment for Homeless Program grants awarded today, click here.

TASC CONFERENCE AND 10- YEAR PLANNING EFFORTS IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA SHOW THAT NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY, PARTNERSHIPS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENDING HOMELESSNESS

SEPTEMBER 20, 2006 United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano traveled to Birmingham, Alabama this week to address the plenary session of the National TASC (Treatment Accountability and Safe Communities) Conference on Drugs and Crime. While in Birmingham, he also met with Mayor's Bernard Kincaid's Task Force developing a 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, and spoke at a breakfast meeting of Birmingham's Kiwanis Club. Director Mangano was joined by Council Regional Coordinator Michael German.National TASC is a membership organization for TASC programs and other re-entry oriented groups that seek to break the addiction/crime cycle of non-violent, drug-involved offenders. The comprehensive services of the TASC program model and National TASC education and advocacy efforts provide a " needed bridge between the criminal justice system, the treatment service system, and the offender." This week's 13th TASC National Conference on Drugs and Crime brought together more than 400 leaders in the fields of re-entry, addiction sciences, criminal justice, and mental health treatment to discuss "Recovery, Rights, and Responsibilities." Representatives of a number of federal agencies including the Department of Justice, National Institute of Drug Abuse, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration participated in workshops and displays.In his remarks, Director Mangano noted that "Many of those cycling in homelessness have the same profile as those served by TASC. They are cycling through addiction, homelessness, law enforcement, courts, incarceration, treatment, enforced and chosen detox, release, homelessness again, and back to addiction. They're not just the same profile. They're the same person." This common profile offers the basis of a partnership between the work that is going on through TASC programs across the country and the work the Interagency Council is spearheading in states and local governments through the 10 year planning process to end chronic homelessness which TASC and the Council will explore. Director Mangano shared some of the insights and ideas he'd gathered over 10 years as Executive Director of the Interagency Council and as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance which did extensive research on the populations coming in the front door of homelessness, now being affirmed by studies across the country.

• There is a need to recognize and seek the help of "non governmental networks" of faith based communities to help break down the barriers to housing and employment faced by those homeless individuals who have criminal recordsHomeless individuals-the consumers - must be included in planning efforts "When we do and they respond to the opportunity, results happen that attract further investment."While we might wish that the moral, spiritual and human imperatives for our poorest neighbors would drive political will to resolve issues of homelessness and addiction, we have learned that understanding and quantifying the economic consequences of these conditions is in fact needed to motivate and sustain political will. Populations that previously elicited no instinct of political will are now the subject of 10 Year Plans in states and more than 220 communities oriented to solutions and cost savings. Among the initiatives constellated in such planning are alternative courts - behavioral health, homeless, drug courts and other diversion programs. In those affirming and cost saving courts, addiction is more likely to be treated as the disease it is.
• Permanent housing is the appropriate nexus point for the delivery of resources and services. “What service, including treatment, can be better delivered on the streets or in a shelter than in the stability of housing? Housing has therapeutic impact.  People with mental health or addiction issues do better in housing.  Their symptoms quiet some and that prepares them for the next step.” The obvious overlap in population and mission makes a partnership between TASC resources in the community and the placement of homeless people who have had involvement in criminal justice system into permanent supportive housing a logical step forward.

MOVING THE 10 YEAR PLANNING PROCESS FORWARD IN BIRMINGHAMIn July, Birmingham became the third Alabama jurisdiction to commit to the 10-year planning process with the appointment by Mayor Bernard Kincaid of a 27 member committee co-chaired by First American Bank Executive Vice President Norm Davis and Dr. Mona Fouad of University of Alabama at Birmingham, that includes representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, churches and other faith based organizations, Cooper Green Hospital, the Alabama Power Company, the VA Hospital, and service providers. Birmingham, with a population of just over 242,000, is the largest city in Alabama and the county seat for Jefferson County.Research by the University of Alabama last year based on intensive interviews with 161 randomly sampled homeless people and review of the community's Point in Time Count found a 29.1% chronically homeless population, of which 76% were male, 73% were over age 40, and 20% were veterans. 54% of those identified in the Point in Time count self reported a substance abuse addiction, 33% a mental health illness, and 18% reported a physical disability.

This week Interagency Council Director Mangano met with the members of the Task Force to talk about their planning efforts and to share with them innovations and best practices gleaned from the more than 220 other 10 year planning efforts underway around the country. The Council's document, Good. . to . . Better. .. to . . Great: Innovations in 10-Year Planning provides a useful roadmap for effective 10 year planning efforts. Key to the effort is ensuring that business principles inform the plan: Establishing baselines to quantify the magnitude of the problem; benchmarks to remedy incrementally what the baselines reveal; budget implications including needed investments and return cost savings; and identification of best practices. Director Mangano noted that when community 10-Year Plans plans are "driven, shaped, and implemented by a business mind set that requires results and outcomes, we have seen dramatic changes occur. Visible, measurable, quantifiable change on the streets, in neighborhoods, and most importantly in the lives of homeless people."

DENVER’S ROAD HOME YEAR 1 REPORT AN EXEMPLARY AND REPLICABLE TOOL FOR INFORMING AND ENGAGING THE PUBLIC

Denver’s Year One report card to the community on progress in implementing its 10 year plan, Denver’s Road Home, gets an A not only for meeting/exceeding all 8 first year goals but also for heeding the spirit of Mayor Hickenlooper’s promise that the 10 year planning process would allow local government to say, “ ‘Here’s your investment; here’s what we delivered” and would “end much of the frustration of just throwing money at the problem without having any results.”The report, prepared by the Denver Commission on Homelessness chaired by Denver Department of Human Services Manager Roxanne White, is concisely written to identify the purpose of each goal, the 1st year performance target, the result, and next steps. It provides an exemplary model other 10-year planning communities may wish to consider for keeping the community informed of the results of their investments, which in turn strengthens the civic will to move forward with the plan.In his preface, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper reports that in this first year of plan implementation, “423 new units of housing have been added, 701 homeless people have been assisted in finding work, 677 individuals received treatment services, 156 families received eviction assistance, and 121 families have been partnered with our faith based mentoring teams.” Mayor Hickenlooper acknowledges the partnerships with the Mile High United Way, the Downtown Denver Partnership, and local foundations, businesses, the faith based community, and individuals which have funded 100% of Year 1 costs, raised more than 70% of the funds needed for Years 2-4, and allowed $2.5 million to be distributed to 16 homeless service providers for 2006-07. Altogether commitments of $32 million have been secured for the next four years of the plan’s implementation.Also acknowledged in the report is the support of hundreds of community volunteers and 40 businesses in Denver’s two Project Homeless Connect events which helped more than 1200 homeless individuals and the partnership with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, exemplified by the Council’s choice of the Mile High City to host the first National Summit for Jurisdictional Leaders held in May.

Denver’s Road Home Year One Results:Goal 1 Create permanent and transitional housing units

Target: 320 units

Result: 423 units

Goal 2 Add day and 24 hour shelter beds

Target: 135 beds

Result: 140 new day beds and a revised zoning code allowing temporary shelters to be placed in churches and other places of workshop for up to 120 days.

Goal 3 Prevent Homelessness by providing one time eviction, foreclosure and utility shut off assistance

Result: homelessness avoided for 156 families

Goal 4 Improve access to public assistance and outpatient mental health benefits to pay for substance abuse treatment and mental health services

Target: help 504 individuals access benefits for services

Result: 677 individuals accessed benefits

Goal 5 Public Safety and Outreach

Target: Improve public safety through better outreach to the homeless

Result: 21 additional outreach workers hired; expanded services in downtown area; increased collaboration with police through new “sit and lie” ordinance

Goal 6 Create Employment Opportunities

Target: create 580 employment opportunities together with increased training and education, and expand employment pilot programs between local business and homeless people

Result: 701 individuals obtained employment; 4000 voice mail boxes made available; 2 job development positions funded within city/county; Homeless youth pilot program created providing 20 jobs/internships at downtown hotels

Goal 7 Increase Community Awareness and Coordinated Response to Homelessness

Target: increase awareness and financial support for Denver’s Road Home plan

Result: In March, a website, www.denversroadhome.org, created and donated by Foci of Denver; 40 news articles, 8 editorials and op eds; 14 radio shows; 17 television reports; monthly COMCAST funded public service announcements

Goal 8 Zoning, Urban Design, and Land Use

Target: amend zoning code to allow emergency shelters to operate a capacity and permit establishment of new emergency shelters.

Result: zoning revisions approved and process developed to work with neighborhoods on establishing shelters.

CONTINUING THE INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE ON INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS

United States Interagency on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano traveled to Denmark last week at the invitation of the Danish Minister of Social Affairs Eva Kjer Hansen, to provide an international perspective at the Annual Conference on Social Politics. Director Mangano's visit to Denmark continues the international dialogue on innovative solutions to homelessness initiated by the Council in 2003. Over the last three years, the Council has participated in a number of multilateral discussions with senior government officials from England, Scotland, Canada, and South Africa. Pictured here (top, l-r) are Thomas Boerner, Ministry Permanent Secretary; Peter Juul, Head of Division; Minister Hansen; Director Mangano; and Lola Foster, Head of Section. Pictured below is Director Mangano speaking with Minister Hansen.

While in Denmark, Council Director Mangano, joined by Council Regional Coordinator Michael German, also met with the U.S. Embassy Political and Economic Affairs Counselor, and visited several innovative Danish programs including a low threshold permanent supportive housing "skaeve huse til skaeve existenser" project designated by the European Commission as a "good practice" (see related story); a working farm in Moltrup which is providing permanent housing and self sufficiency opportunities for homeless men; and a YMCA Social Work in Denmark sponsored Day Center in Kolding which offers outreach, a daily meal, and services and supports itself with a very entrepreneurial thrift shop operation. This Day Center is one of the many ways in which the YMCA in Denmark is creating resources for the socially marginalized. Approximately 50% of all social services for homeless persons and other socially marginalized populations in Denmark are provided by NGOs.

Annual Conference on Social Politics
The Annual Conference on Social Politics brings together government officials at all levels and private sector service providers. This year's meeting was highlighted by Minister Hansen's presentation of the Danish Government's new 12 point action program for socially marginalized people, entitled Our Collective Responsibility II. The twelve initiatives focus on three main areas- outreach and supportive activities; improving access to the labor market; and improving local authority ability to provide services effectively. The latter offers many parallels to the new directions in US policy on homelessness promoted by the US. Interagency Council on Homelessness including greater emphasis on local authority planning, enhanced collaboration among public and private agencies, and a focus on results.

Our Collective Responsibility II builds on the 2002 Our Collective Responsibility program which laid the foundation for significantly improving services to socially marginalized people, including a treatment guarantee for alcohol and substance misusers, increasing the availability low threshold and other types of housing and shelters, and creation of the Council for Socially Marginalized People. The Danish Council for Socially Marginalized People is a more formal mechanism for accomplishing the consumer centric approach promoted by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

In his address at the Conference, Council Director Mangano noted that the "emphasis on housing and employment in Our Collective Responsibility correspond to our priorities in the United States. Why would this be so? Because homeless people themselves have identified that these are the resources they most want. Consumer choice. Housing first. Opportunity offered. That's what is influencing our work in Washington."

Danish "Unconventional Houses" Program Creates Permanent Housing Solutions for Long Term Unsheltered Homeless

During his trip, Director Mangano visited one of Denmark's "skaeve huse til skaeve existenser" housing communities, meeting with some residents who'd been homeless for as long as 10 years and now have been stably housed for 5 years. This Danish housing program has been identified by the European Commission as a "good practice" in providing permanent housing solutions for long term "roofless" persons. Director Mangano is pictured here speaking with a resident in front of his home.

RESULTS IN INVESTMENT, PARTNERSHIP, INNOVATION, AND REDUCED NUMBERS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE REPORTED AT MONDAY'S FULL COUNCIL MEETING AT WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON, DC. July 11. The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness convened Monday at the White House Executive Office Building to discuss Federal agency investments and results in assisting homeless families and individuals, including persons experiencing chronic homelessness, as well as the ongoing federal response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary and Council Chair Alphonso Jackson welcomed Father John Adams of SOME (So Others May Eat) as the Council's special guest presenter, and led a discussion by member agencies of their initiatives and outcomes since the Council's last meeting in April, including a policy announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that will support new permanent supportive housing opportunities for homeless individuals and families. Pictured here, from left to right, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary and Council Chair Alphonso Jackson, and SOME President Fr. John Adams.

Secretary Jackson reported that the results of the Administration's four year old initiative to end chronic homelessness are very encouraging, and noted that last year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provided funding to house over 27,000 chronically homeless men and women. According to HUD data, nearly every community has integrated efforts to end chronic homelessness into its Continuum of Care plan, encouraged by the Department's offering of bonus funds, totaling $125 million in 2006, specifically for projects exclusively serving persons who are chronically homeless.

HUD's continued investments for homeless families, who represent 47% of those living in housing supported by HUD's homeless programs, were also the focus of the Secretary's remarks. In 2005, HUD provided funding for over 1300 projects specifically targeted toward homeless families and an additional 1700 projects that serve families as an eligible population. The Secretary also noted that Congress has under consideration legislation proposed by the Administration to simplify the application process for HUD's homeless assistance programs that would give communities even greater flexibility in the use of these funds.

Reporting on HUD's ongoing hurricane disaster response, Secretary Jackson said that HUD is continuing to make sure that "aid efforts address not only those who lost their homes, but those who were homeless before the storm too." In partnership with local public housing agencies across the country, HUD has helped 20,201 families find leases through the Disaster Voucher Program, and nearly 8000 more are registered with the program. Supplemental funding of $11.5 billion has been made available to five states, which can be used in preventing homelessness through home repairs, reconstruction and other assistance. The Secretary noted that, under the Louisiana Recovery Plan, $26 million of its supplemental funding is being used specifically for rebuilding shelters, and transitional and permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness. $47 million is funding supportive housing services for families and individuals with special needs, particularly those renter households returning to Louisiana "after enduring often traumatic relocations."

Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson reported that the VA will rebuild its New Orleans Medical Center which was badly damaged when the levees broke following Hurricane Katrina. The Secretary also addressed a variety of matters relating to homeless veteran services. He noted that the VA operates 920 outpatient clinics nationally to facilitate access by veterans to medical services and that efforts to assist homeless veterans have been improved by also providing mental health and substance abuse services at over 700 of these clinics. Legislation currently under consideration in Congress would reauthorize grants to VA health care facilities and grant and per diem recipients to assist them in serving homeless veterans with special needs, including the chronically mentally ill, frail elderly, the terminally ill, women and women who have care of dependent children. The legislation would also support 5000 vouchers for the HUD-VASH program, a partnership between the VA and HUD linking the provision of VA clinical care with permanent housing in order to assist the recovery of chronically homeless, mentally ill veterans. The legislation would also formally add the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to the VA's Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans. The Advisory Committee is a formal group of outside advisors with special expertise and experience serving homeless veterans.

Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Elaine Chao asked Assistant Secretary for Veterans Employment and Training Charles Ciccolella to represent her at the meeting, and noted that, "Meeting the President's goal of ending chronic homelessness requires focused, compassionate solutions. The Department of Labor recently awarded $19 million in grants to provide skills training and job search assistance to nearly 13,000 homeless veterans so that they can build a better life. In the past month, we began accepting applications for grants to support events that provide homeless veterans with temporary shelter, showers, haircuts, meals, clothing, and health screenings as well as job training and employment opportunities." DOL continues to support the Hurricane relief and recovery effort, awarding $26.8 million in National Emergency Grants at the end of June to provide temporary jobs and employment-related assistance to nearly 8000 workers in Mississippi and Texas. The funds are used to provide temporary jobs, public sector employment, relocation assistance, and employment-related assistance that may include assessment, individual counseling, career planning, and occupational assistance. To date, DOL has made available over $237 million in National Emergency Grants for the hurricane relief and recovery effort.

Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Assistant Secretary Jerry Regier announced an important change in federal Title V surplus property policy that will allow local governments and community organizations to submit applications to use Title V surplus properties for permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals and families starting September 1. Until now, the use of Title V federal surplus property has been restricted to homeless shelters, and transitional programs and services.

Title V of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make suitable federal surplus property available to representatives of persons experiencing homelessness as a public health use. The Secretary has determined that the use of Title V properties for permanent supportive housing, defined as "housing that is long term, affordable, community based, and linked to appropriate supportive health and social services that enable homeless individuals and families with disabilities to maintain housing," is consistent with HHS' mission to protect the public health. The policy revision continues to allow communities to use surplus property to develop transitional housing programs, emergency shelters, and other homeless assistance activities currently approvable by HHS. Any existing grantees or lessees interested in changing current programs to include permanent supportive housing are requested to provide a written expression of interest to HHS and will be required to submit an amended application. The new policy was published in Monday's Federal Register.

In other HHS news reported at the meeting, the Administration for Children and Families is finalizing a study of "promising strategies to end youth homelessness" which was drafted in consultation with the Council at the request of Congress. The study identifies and assesses a wide range of practices that are helping young people to successfully find appropriate living situations, particularly those who have been involved with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Following release of the report, ACF intends to conduct a long term evaluation of housing and other outcomes for homeless youth.

HHS expects to release a final report in the fall relating to the Characteristics and Dynamics of Homeless Families and Children. The project has investigated the availability of data with which to construct a typology of homeless families with the expectation that such a typology will help foster a better understanding of homeless families' service needs, interactions with social service systems, and the dynamics of their use of emergency shelter and other services and assistance.

Also in the fall, HHS's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is expected to report on a multi-site study of the effectiveness of services provided to homeless women and their children. Approximately 1600 women and their families have participated in this project designed to document and evaluate the effectiveness of time-limited, intensive intervention strategies for providing treatment, housing, support, and family preservation services to homeless mothers with psychiatric and/or substance use disorders who are caring for their dependent children. The study design involves a five-year cross-site data collection and analysis program involving eight study sites.

Department of Education Deputy Assistant Secretary Charles Hokanson reported to the Council on new assistance to eight states for homeless youth displaced by the hurricanes. The Census Bureau updated the Council on its use of the American Communities Survey in the affected areas.

Council Executive Director Mangano reported on progress and results from the Council's initiatives, including the partnership with the U.S. Conference of Mayors recently affirmed by resolutions adopted at the USCM annual meeting which recognized the importance of the Council's work. The Mayors also expressed support for HUD's Homeless Assistance Programs Consolidation legislation and tabled a motion in committee that would have urged HUD to expand its definition of homelessness. Director Mangano noted that recent reports of reductions in homeless numbers by cities that have engaged in the 10-Year planning process is heartening and "the right trajectory."

Director Mangano noted that just this weekend, coverage in newspapers on both coasts pointed to results being achieved by cities with 10- Year Plans. In Quincy, Massachusetts, City of Presidents, which has measured a 19% decrease in its population of chronically homeless persons, a 2-year old Housing First program for women who were chronically homeless, has now shown an 83% success rate. Moreover, their emergency room use dropped by half, and hospital stays dropped from 44 to just 4. In Portland, Oregon, the Oregonian noted that, as implementation of that city's 10-year plan continues and more people move from homelessness to housing, the skepticism that greeted the plan's rollout is fading, keeping Portland focused on its goals, producing better data than ever before, better coordination, and steady progress to its goals.

OREGON LEADERSHIP SUMMIT ON ENDING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS CONNVENED BY THE UNITED STATES INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS

SALEM, OREGON. The first-ever Oregon Leadership Summit on Ending Chronic Homelessness was convened this week at the historic Reed Opera House in the capital city of Salem with over 100 participants including State Representatives Peter Buckley and Debi Farr, the Mayors of Portland, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, and Hillsboro, city councilors, county commissioners, federal, state and local government agency officials, 10-Year Plan leaders, representatives of several United Way chapters, and innovative service providers. The statewide Summit is one of a series being convened by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to bring together state officials and jurisdictions engaged in 10-year planning efforts. Other statewide Summits have been held in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Puerto Rico.

Participants were welcomed by the event lead organizer, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson, Salem City Mayor Janet Taylor, Oregon Housing and Community Services Director Rick Crager on behalf of the newly formed Governor's Ending Homelessness Advisory Council, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, and HUD Region X Director John Meyers.

In his welcoming remarks, Executive Director Mangano noted that Susan B. Anthony was one of the first people to speak at the now historic Reed Opera House built in 1870. Ms. Anthony has a place in history for her work to abolish two moral wrongs- slavery and the denial of women's right to vote. At the time of her appearance at the Reed Opera House, prospects for the success of the suffrage movement looked dismal but she never lost faith and on her deathbed, her last words were "Failure is impossible." One hundred and thirty years later, representatives of every level of government - city, county, state, and federal - are gathered in the same building in partnership to end another moral wrong - homelessness. Stated Director Mangano: "And just as Ms. Anthony believed that failure is impossible, so we know that the long moral arc of the American experience bends toward justice. In coming together today in partnership at every level of government, you are reaching up and intending to bend that arc into the lives of your poorest citizens."

The Summit offered both formal presentations and opportunities for networking and peer to peer dialogue. Seating at the lunch matched jurisdictional leaders already developing and implementing 10-Year Plans with jurisdictional leaders from other counties still contemplating whether to engage in the planning process. Some of the formal presentations included Oregon Housing and Homelessness Director Rick Crager, who spoke about the recently established Governor's Ending Homelessness Advisory Council (see story below), Oregon Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Manager Vicki Skryha, JOIN Director Rob Justus, and Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Director John Lee, who described his state’s innovative Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program.

Representatives of all four jurisdictional 10-year planning processes currently underway in Oregon attended the Summit. Clakamas, Lane, and Lincoln Counties are in the process of developing their plans while Multnomah County, including the City of Portland, is beginning its second year of plan implementation. Both Portland Mayor Tom Potter and Lincoln County Commissioner Bill Hall spoke about the political leadership and broad stakeholder partnerships including participation by the business community needed to successfully develop and implement 10-Year Plans.  Read More.

The Portland/Multnomah County Plan calls for creating 1600 new housing units for persons experiencing chronic homelessness, 600 new units for homeless families and laid out a vision for ending homelessness in Portland and Multnomah County. Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten, a strong supporter of both that plan and the Governor's newly established Advisory Council, spoke about the encouraging results from the Plan's first year of implementation including 244 units of permanent supportive housing opened, permanent housing provided to 344 homeless families with children, and 33 "hard to reach" homeless youth housed. Summarizing the first year "report card", Commissioner Sten concluded, "Getting people into housing first works- plain and simple."

In July, Portland and Multnomah County will hold their second Project Homeless Connect event. This one will be for homeless families. On January 17, 2006, over 400 volunteers and representatives of 50 nonprofit agencies in Portland and Multnomah County assisted over 900 homeless single adults with housing assistance, benefits counseling, legal services, and on-site health care at the community's first Project Homeless Connect.

Among the agencies providing support for this week's Summit were the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Office of Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, the Oregon Department of Housing and Community Service, the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Oregon Association of Counties, League of Oregon Cities, and the City of Salem. Federal partners in attendance included officials from the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Labor, and Veterans Affairs, and the Social Security Administration.

Pictured here are some of the many city, county, state, and federal officials who participated in the Oregon Leadership Summit. Front row, l-r, are OR Mental Health Housing Manager Vicki Skryha, Multnomah County Chair Diane Linn, Interagency Council Executive Director Mangano, Salem Mayor Janet Taylor, OR Human Services Director Bruce Goldberg. Back row, l- r, Interagency Council Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson, OR Housing and Community Services Director Rick Crager, HUD Region X Director John Meyers, Portland Mayor Tom Potter, Lincoln Commissioner Bill Hall, JOIN Director Rob Justus, Newport City Councilor Larry Henson, and Multnomah Housing Director Diane Luther.

OREGON GOVERNOR’S ENDING HOMELESSNESS ADVISORY COUNCIL: A MODEL OF INCLUSIVENESS

At the Oregon Leadership Summit on Ending Chronic Homelessness convened by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness this week, the Director of Oregon Housing and Community Services Rick Crager spoke about the newly created Governor's Ending Homelessness Advisory Council which will be working in close association with local 10-year planning processes to end chronic homelessness in Oregon. Pictured here are Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski (left) at the Executive Order signing and Oregon Housing and Community Services Director Rick Crager at the Summit.

Governor Ted Kulongoski signed the Executive Order creating the Council at a public ceremony in April. The Council is charged with the responsibility to develop a state 10-Year Plan and collaborate on implementing local plans to end homelessness. Mr. Crager noted that creation of the Council was a response to the urgings by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness that all Governors create a state interagency council on homelessness to more effectively coordinate homeless policy and resources, and that the idea of such a Council also had strong support from the Mayors and City and County Commissioners leading 10-Year Plan efforts in Oregon. Oregon joins 52 other states and territories in having established such a state level council.

The 24-member Council, whose membership is established in the Governor’s Executive Order, is a model of inclusiveness. Importantly, the Council will include representation from the state's legislative branch, as well as the Directors of the State Departments of Human Services, Education, Housing and Community Services, Corrections, Veterans Affairs, Community Colleges and Workforce Development, Employment, and Transportation, the Oregon Youth Authority, the Oregon State Commission on Children and Families, Community Action Directors of Oregon, public housing authorities, non profit housing developers, the statewide food bank, city and county government, and continuums of care.

Governor Kulongoski spoke about the Council’s mission at the signing ceremony held at the historic Hotel Alder, which had recently been renovated by Central City Concern to provide housing for 65 persons who had been chronically homeless on the streets of Portland.

"We have set our eyes on the prize," said Governor Kulongoski expressing hope that Oregon would become "a place where no man, woman or child ever again suffers the cold night of homelessness. A piecemeal approach just doesn’t work. We need the cooperation of state and federal agencies, community partners, local businesses, state and local government officials, faith-based organizations and community members to incorporate and integrate services."

In addition to developing a state 10-Year Plan and collaborating with local jurisdictions on their 10-year plans, the Governor's Ending Homelessness Advisory Committee will also recommend needed changes in the law to the Governor and the legislature and prepare an annual report that summarizes Oregon's progress. Appointments to the Council are expected to be announced shortly. Read more ...

FROM "WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS" TO A NATIONAL MOVEMENT OF PARTNERSHIP, INNOVATION AND RESULTS

"Too often over the last twenty years, programs have been created just to manage homelessness, not to eliminate it. We’ve wandered in the wilderness away from our original intent of ending homelessness. The good news is that we’re being called back to our original calling. The initiative to end chronic homelessness in ten years seeks visible, measurable, and quantifiable change on the streets of our cities and in the lives of homeless people."

USICH Director Philip Mangano 2003

"We have taken on the heroic work of overcoming a prevailing mindset, a prevailing sensibility, a prevailing sense of demoralization. And we are resolute in our action. Intelligent action. Planful initiatives. Innovation informed strategies. Remoralized intent. Calling into play every strategic element to accomplish the end of social wrong. Whether moral or spiritual, cultural or human. Research or cost benefit studies. Rapid dissemination of all that is working all across the front lines to insure that we all have equal access to the best ideas at the same time. Breathing together and acting together."

USICH Director Philip Mangano 2006
The National Summit for Jurisdictional Leaders

The more than 150 Mayors, County Executives, state officials, community leaders, thinkers, practitioners, and federal agency representatives, who gathered in the Mile High City May 10-12 for The National Summit for Jurisdictional Leaders sponsored by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, represent the vanguard of a growing National Partnership to end chronic homelessness. Already engaged in the10-Year Plan process, they came from all regions of the country responding to the opportunity offered by The National Summit for Jurisdictional Leaders: Moving From Good to Better to Great in Sustaining 10-Year Plans to End Chronic Homelessness to:

• Engage in peer to peer dialogue to identify and share information regarding the challenges of 10-Year Plan implementation and effective responses for replication
• Recognize those whose strategic thinking and innovative resource delivery have led to results in ending chronic homelessness
• Explore with Good to Great author Jim Collins, Fast Company founder Alan Webber, Council staff, and each other ways to continue the momentum forward to achieving the result of ending chronic homelessness.
  

Jurisdictional leaders need to pay a greater role as the architects of the conditions that will change in their cities and states, business thinker Jim Collins told the ore than 150 leaders assembled for The National Summit for Jurisdictional Leaders in Denver last week. Noting that "good is the enemy of great", Collins cautioned his listeners to avoid the chronic inconsistency that is the signature of mediocrity and instead to use data relentlessly and cross boundaries to secure the incremental elements that make up greatness as documented in his research on businesses that move from good to great. In an interactive conversation with Fast Company founder Alan Webber (pictured here, right) and Summit partners, Collins, the well-known author of Good to Great and Built to Last, described the importance of the "autopsies" he has conducted on examples of failures to reach greatness and urged 10-year planners to confront the "brutal facts" of the situations they face and use the "infectiousness of results" to stimulate the change they are seeking, so that positive results become their own champion in the larger effort. If it works, and you understand it, he told leaders, then you can replicate it. The worst decision is to make a new choice of direction when confronting difficulties, rather than keeping a steadfast intent to prevail. Polish a lead bullet into silver, he advised, rather than wait for perfection to arrive.

Collins also addressed a targeted audience of elected officials, including Mayors, County Executives, and City Councillors to field their questions and apply his thinking to their situations. Collins, who operates a management laboratory in Boulder to study success and failure in business, is the third business thinker to address an audience of jurisdictional leaders focused on ending chronic homelessness under the sponsorship of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Common Ground. Prior convenings have heard from Webber, Malcolm Gladwell, New Yorker writer and author of The Tipping Point, and Clayton Christensen, author of The Innovators Dilemma and Harvard Business School professor.

• The January point in time survey results released this week in Denver showed an 11.5% decline in homelessness in the Denver metro region including a reduction in street homelessness from 1000 to 600 persons since January 2005.LI>
• Just a few weeks ago New York City reported a modest, yet "remarkable" 13% reduction in street population.
• A month ago, Dallas - the sixth largest city in our country - reported an overall decrease of a modest 3.3%, and a reduction in the chronic homeless population of 26%.
• In Miami last month, Mayor Diaz reported in his State of The City address a 30% reduction in the street population.
• In Portland, Oregon the street numbers are down 20%, with 600 people experiencing chronic homelessness having been placed into permanent housing.
• In Philadelphia over the last several years the numbers on the streets have fallen more than 50%.
• In San Francisco a reported 28% decrease in homelessness.
• Quincy, Massachusetts has seen a 38% decrease in the unsheltered homeless population and a 19% decrease in chronic homelessness.
• In Nashua, New Hampshire the street number is down 40% and across the state the report is that there is a 7% decrease in homelessness.
• In Westchester County, New York a dramatic decrease of 67% in the last number of years.
• Duluth, Minnesota report a 15% decrease since 2003.
• In Madison, Wisconsin a 40% decrease in chronic homelessness.
• In Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina the number is down 15%.

• Author of Good to Great and Summit Presenter Jim Collins website provides audio clips and other useful information on his work including an extensive excerpt from his monograph, Good to Great and the Social Sectors.
• Denver has created a special website as part of a unique communications strategy intended to more fully involve the community in the effort to end homelessness. Information on the website includes a detailed quarterly report that allows citizens to track implementation of each of the Plan's eight major goals.
• The City of Raleigh/Wake County Commissioners have also established an exemplary website to keep citizens apprised of both progress in ending homelessness, including an annual Progress Report and opportunities for involvement through an online listing of monthly meetings on each of the plan's key objectives: housing, employment and education, services and supports, engagement, and prevention.
• More information is available online for several innovative programs discussed during the Summit:
  Atlanta's 24/7 Gateway Service Center
  Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Renaissance Housing Model
  Common Ground Community in NYC
  Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training (McVet)
  Partners for the Homeless in Memphis
  Pathways to Housing
  Portland's Central City Concern
  Recovery Kentucky
  San Francisco's Project Homeless Connect, the prototype for the national effort
  St. Francis House in Boston Moving Ahead and
  Next Step Transitional Housing Programs
• Two publications -- Documenting Disability: Simple Strategies for Medical Providers and The Health Care of Homeless Persons are useful publications co-authored/ edited by Dr. James O'Connell, President of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program and a recipient of "A Home for Every American" Award.
• Some Federal Agency resources available online include a list of the 216 jurisdictions engaged in the 10-Year planning process; the SOAR:SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery website; and homeless specific web pages maintained by the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Labor, Veterans Affairs, and the Social Security Administration.

"These Governors teach us that political will can lead to housing and interagency collaboration. That homelessness offends cultural understandings. And that reinvesting resources with accountability can lead to improved lives for individuals and families."

USICH Executive Director Philip Mangano

The Honorable Ernie Fletcher, Governor of Kentucky

Governor Fletcher has demonstrated leadership in Kentucky’s response to homelessness through the creation of a statewide 10-Year Plan, investing state resources in the Recovery Kentucky initiative, and convening a Kentucky Summit on 10-Year plans to solidify the state’s partnership with the federal and city governments.

The Recovery Kentucky initiative is using an innovative combination of federal and state budget resources to support the construction and operation of ten residential substance abuse treatment centers to help persons who are homeless or at risk of homelessness because of substance abuse. The federal funds are all resources that are allocated to the state by formula each year and over which the state has discretion within broad parameters-- low income housing tax credits, HOME funds, and community development block grant monies. Kentucky is choosing to use a portion of each of these resources to support this effort as well as state resources redirected from their corrections budget due to cost savings derived from this less costly alternative to incarceration.

The Honorable Linda Lingle, Governor of Hawaii

Governor Lingle released Hawaii’s statewide 10-Year Plan to end Chronic Homelessness in January of last year. The plan refocuses housing strategies to increase supply and emphasizes solutions for ex-prisoners to reduce recidivism and
increase integration. Governor Lingle has reached out to tourism authorities, neighborhood boards, and business associations as partners who encounter homelessness and can collaborate to solve it. Earlier this year Governor Lingle submitted a 2007 budget proposal that included $20 million for homelessness initiatives, three times more than what was allocated in 2005.

The Honorable Kerry Healey, Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts

Lieutenant Governor Healey (pictured here) chairs the Massachusetts Interagency Council on Homelessness and Housing, created by Governor Mitt Romney. In 2005 she co- convened a Mayoral Summit with the Council and The Boston Foundation to promote intergovernmental partnership and planning in the Commonwealth. She has initiated a refocus of the state's homeless policies in new directions that improve opportunities for housing persons experiencing chronic homelessness, ended the use of welfare hotels for homeless families. and increased and expedited enrollment for homeless persons in mainstream benefits and services, including Food Stamps and Medicaid.

Governor Fletcher, Governor Lingle, and Lieutenant Governor Healey joined the awards luncheon by video conference. Also present on behalf of Governor Fletcher and Lieutenant Governor Healey were Kentucky Housing Corporation CEO Ben Cook, Massachusetts Homeless Point Person Linda Fosburg, and Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance Commissioner John Wagner.

City / County Partners

Homelessness is a national problem with local solutions. Through a partnership with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Council began challenging and encouraging localities to develop 10-Year Plans to End Chronic Homelessness. Mayors and county officials have an appetite for solutions. They want to know what’s working elsewhere and what will give results. The mayors and county executives in 216 communities are our partners in planning for measurable outcomes through 10-Year Plans. Two mayors and one county commissioner were selected to receive "A Home for Every American Award" for their commitment to partnership, accountability and results.

"These Jurisdictional CEO’s and leaders teach us that political will is the beginning of any planning process expecting results. That every size community can create realistic 10-Year Plans. That the call for outcomes is balanced with the need for compassion and welcome. That we should be tolerant of homeless people, but intolerant of homelessness. And that every person in the community has a single name - Neighbor - and deserves to be treated as one."

USICH Executive Director Philip Mangano

The Honorable John Hickenlooper, Mayor of Denver, CO

Describing the intention behind Denver's Road Home, the 10-Year Plan released in July last year coodinated by Roxane White, Human Services Department Manager for the city, Mayor Hickenlooper (pictured here, upper right) declared " We'll be able to say, 'Here's your investment; here's what we delivered.' This will end much of the frustration of just throwing money at the problem without having any results." Just six months later Mayor Hickenlooper was able to report that 349 housing units and rental subsidies had already been created, 156 families had received eviction assistance and financial counseling, a mentoring program had been established to match homeless families and seniors with the faith based community, 140 beds for respite care had been created and 100 beds for cold weather emergencies, and increased access provided to employment, child, care, health care, food assistance, and mental health and substance abuse services.

Mayor Hickenlooper has brought political will, support for permanent supportive housing solutions for persons experiencing chronic homelessness, a dedication to innovative partnerships with the faith based sector, and a focus on results to the effort to end homelessness in his city.

The Honorable David Munson, Mayor of Sioux Falls, SD

The Sioux Falls " Blueprint to Eliminate Homelessness" was announced in January 2005 after a 10-month effort by a Blue Ribbon Task Force appointed by Mayor Munson (pictured here, upper left) The plan details a broad collaborative effort involving more than 55 local, state and federal entities, the Sioux Empire United Way, and various non profits, faith based organizations, advocacy groups and civic organizations. Among the plan’s initiatives are the creation of 150 housing units over 10 years, an innovative Common Access Protocol among service providers and a mobile team modeled after the United Way Loaned Executive Program.

Wake County, NC Commissioners and the City of Raleigh (represented by Commissioner Phil Jeffreys)

The Raleigh/Wake County 10-Year Action Plan to End and Prevent Homelessness was adopted in February 2005 as the 100th Plan in the country, after a planning effort that involved city and county government, the Triangle United Way, the Wake County Continuum of Care and more than 400 persons from the community who participated in a series of community forums and focus groups. Adoption of the plan, which was prepared by a Steering Committee on which Commissioner Jeffreys participated, has been followed by a $20 million housing bond measure in the City of Raleigh, support for two County staff and a staff person at the Triangle United Way to focus on plan implementation, and annual public Progress Report forums to report results. A website keeps the public informed of progress in meeting plan goals, including notices of meetings held each month for the plan's key objectives: Housing; Employment & Education; Services & Supports; Engagement; and Prevention. Also acknowledged by this award is the exceptional work done by Wake County and the City of Raleigh in reunifying, rehousing, and providing employment-related assistance to Katrina evacuees.

City Champions

From the experience of over 200 jurisdictions that are engaged in the 10-Year Plan process, we have learned the important role of the community champion, a respected community member who provides visible leadership to the convening of the planning process. The persons selected to receive The Home for Every American Award" as a city champion not only aced their role in the creation of a 10-Year Plan in their community but are continuing to provide leadership to support and sustain momentum as the plans move forward into implementation.

Angela Alioto, chair of San Francisco’s 10-Year Plan and co-chair California KEYS

"She gives to our poorest citizens gifts of deliverance. She embodies the action recommended by St. Francis: 'Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.'"

Angela Alioto's recognition that the status quo of homelessness in San Francisco needed to be disrupted fit well with the political will of a mayor with the same intent. Her appointment by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to lead that city's 10-Year Planning effort was a partnership that led to the creation of a diverse and inclusive 35-member steering committee that only her deep rooted and well known personal and professional commitment to homeless and other disadvantaged persons could hold together. The resulting 10-Year Plan, Changing Direction, has become the template for San Francisco's vision to end chronic homelessness. Released in 2004, the Plan adopted a Housing First model and called for the creation of 3000 units of permanent supportive housing for persons experiencing chronic homelessness. Just this past February, the City's leasing of the Boyd and Armada Hotels added 194 new permanent supportive housing units to the over 1900 permanent supportive housing opportunities created in the last two years.

California Keys is a collaboration of cities and counties in California engaged in or planning to develop 10 year Plans that meets bimonthly for peer support, to discuss legislative initiatives, and compile results, outcomes and accomplishments. At a meeting in March in Santa Barbara, representatives from 20 California cities and counties were in attendance and were joined by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Homeless Initiative Coordinator, Dick Schermerhorn, who discussed development of the State Interagency Council and a state-wide 10-Year Plan to end homelessness. The next meeting will be in Alameda County on June 16, 2006. For more information, contact Hannah Cohen at 760-738-6975.

Horace Sibley, chair of Atlanta’s 10-Year Plan

"He is a Champion in his own city, but through invited visits, phone calls, conference presentations, conversations with Mayors and civic leaders, he has become a National Champion."

Atlanta's " Blueprint to End Homelessness in 10 years" was announced in March of 2003. The effort was led by the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta at the request of Mayor Shirley Franklin and chaired by Horace Sibley (pictured here, bottom left), a retired partner of the King and Spalding law firm whose community involvement included the United Way, the YMCA, Goodwill Industries, the Olympic Games, and many others. Mr. Sibley has devoted himself not only to the implementation of Atlanta's 10-Year plan but also to sharing his knowledge and experience in visits and conference presentations with elected and civic leaders of other communities engaging in the 10-year planning process. Atlanta's plan implementation is notable for its success in raising more than $20 million from the business and philanthropic sectors to support the plan's initiatives including a $4 million 24/7 Gateway Service Center. Mr. Sibley's commitment was evident in a Stakeholder Spotlight interview for the City of Atlanta, " It is a societal obligation to end homelessness. Homeless people have so many talents and good gifts to give society and themselves. It's not acceptable for a person to be without a place to live for a year or more. Services have to be in place to ensure that everyone is able to contribute."

Dene Oliver, chair of the Leadership Committee for San Diego’s 10- Year Plan and co-chair of California Keys

"For holding together a city’s response, resisting inertia, defying the forces of entropy, and inexorably moving forward a 10-Year Plan for San Diego"

The "Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in the San Diego Region", developed by a Leadership Council with fiscal, administrative, and consulting support from the United Way of San Diego, was submitted to the San Diego City Council and the County Board of Supervisors in November 2005 after a nearly two year effort during a particularly turbulent time in the political history of the city. Businessman and Leadership Council Chair Dene Oliver (pictured here, bottom right), has been at the center of this effort, determinedly sustaining the initiative using his personal and professional relationships for the benefit of the citizens of the nation's seventh largest city.

In leading this effort, Mr. Oliver said, "Together, the San Diego region will focus on the small segment of the population that is routinely homeless and use the best minds, skills and talents to address the human suffering as well as the drain on its resources. With this ambitious goal, the City and County of San Diego, and their many partners, will work together to provide appropriate assistance for those who need it the most."

National Partners and National Innovators

There are leaders in every field of endeavor, and the six persons presented with "A Home for Every American Award" in the National Partners and National Innovators categories are in the forefront of the effort to end chronic homelessness. Their work has led to a reimagining of the road to end chronic homelessness. They have made us believe it can be done.

National Partners

Each of the three persons receiving the National Partners Award - Nan Roman, Dr. Dennis Culhane, and Rob Hess - have made presentations at formal meetings of the full United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, broadening our understanding of the causes of homelessness, of the interrelationship of housing and services, and of the ways that new ideas are just as important as new resources in the effort to end chronic homelessness.

Nan Roman, President and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), is a leading national voice on the issue of homelessness. NAEH is a public education, advocacy, and capacity building organization with over 5000 non profit and public sector member agencies and corporate partners. Under her leadership, NAEH developed a pragmatic plan to end homelessness in ten years, creating an ambitious campaign to engage all sectors of society in a revitalized effort to overcome homelessness by focusing on solutions. NAEH supports the work of local communities and practitioners through dozens of training institutes and conferences on homelessness and its solutions each year.

Dr. Dennis Culhane, is a Professor of Social Welfare Policy in the School of Social Work for the University of Pennsylvania. His research, which described a typology of homelessness including chronic and episodic, has been central to the reexamination of public policy and approaches. Dr. Culhane's (pictured here, top left) work has included studying the impact of homelessness on the utilization of public health, corrections, and social services in New York City and Philadelphia and is seen as the impetus for the cost/benefit studies now being conducted in communities around the country engaged in developing 10-Year Plans. Dr. Culhane is currently leading an effort to produce an annual report to Congress on the prevalence and dynamics of homelessness based on analyses of automated shelter records in a nationally representative sample of U.S. cities.

Although Rob Hess was recently appointed Commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services in New York City, it is his work as the Deputy Managing Director for Special Needs Housing in Philadelphia which earned him "A Home for Every American Award". Using data collection and evaluation, new engagement strategies, and partnerships, Mr. Hess (pictured here, top right) fashioned a targeted approach to street homelessness that has resulted in a reduction of 60% in Philadelphia's chronic homeless population over 4 years. During his tenure, Philadelphia, the nation's fifth largest city, developed a 10-Year Plan and won one of the 11 federal awards under the HUD-HHS-VA Collaborative Initiative to Help End Chronic Homelessness. Mr. Hess has generously shared his knowledge and experience at numerous Council-sponsored state colloquies and technical assistance opportunities for communities engaged in 10-Year Plan efforts.

National Innovators

Dr. Sam Tsemberis is the founder and executive director of Pathways to Housing in New York City. Through Pathways, Dr. Tsemberis (pictured here, middle left) developed the Housing First approach that provides immediate access to permanent housing for individuals who are homeless and who have psychiatric disabilities and substance use disorders. Unique in its providing Housing First, Pathways to Housing has demonstrated a remarkable 85% housing retention rate. After settling into housing, clients are offered a wide range of support and clinical services that include psychiatric and substance abuse treatment, health care, vocational services, and family reconnection. Currently, over 400 individuals receive permanent housing and are served by six interdisciplinary Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Teams located in Queens, Brooklyn, East Harlem, West Harlem and in Mt. Vernon serving Westchester County.

Dr. Tsemberis is on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry of New York University Medical Center and has provided invaluable technical assistance to many of the grantees of the federal HUD/HHS/VA Collaborative Initiative. Dr.Tsemberis presented his work at a formal meeting of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, leading to a better understanding of the Housing First concept among policy makers in the the federal executive branch.

Rosanne Haggerty (pictured here, middle right) is President and Founder of Common Ground Community, an innovative developer of supportive housing. She has been a vital force in the ongoing partnership of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Rockefeller Foundation in convening State and City jurisdictional leaders and 10-Year Plan leaders to replicate innovations and results. Common Ground Community has committed to creating 1000 new units of supportive housing for persons experiencing chronic homelessness in New York City by 2007, 3000 more supportive housing units by 2014, and to developing new models of housing for those not served by existing options.

Richard Harris (pictured here, bottom left) is the Executive Director of Central City Concern, a private non profit agency providing pathways to self sufficiency through active intervention in poverty and homelessness in Portland, Oregon since 1979. Central City Concern operates 1,313 units of low-income housing, including owned and managed housing for homeless singles and for families, and housing for special needs populations. CCC has a twenty-six year history in low income housing development, particularly in rehabilitation of older SRO housing and has over 175 units currently in the development process. CCC operates a range of health services, mental health and chemical dependency treatment, and employment services so that no matter what door someone walks through, CCC staff have the ability to put together a comprehensive program to meet that person's individual needs leading to self sufficiency. Central City Concern is the largest employer of formerly homeless individuals in Portland. An estimated 70% of CCC's 500 employees are in recovery form substance addictions and many have been homeless in the past. Central City Concern was also one of the HUD/HHS/ VA Collaborative Initiative grantees.

NATIONAL PROGRAM PARTNERS

The Pima County, Arizona Jackson Employment Center (JEC) is a One-Stop Career Center providing a full array of employment services to Pima County’s homeless population seeking to enter the workforce. JEC enrolls homeless men, women, families, and youth in an integrated Individual Service Strategy (ISS) program that results in a case plan and an Employability Development Plan for each client.

The Jackson Employment Center has a prominent role in the City of Tucson/Pima County’s continuum of care planning process. As such, JEC has both formal and informal collaborative and reciprocal relationships with the member agencies of the Tucson Planning Council for the Homeless. These relationships have developed a process of shared planning and shared resources with both faith-based and community-based nonprofit organizations that provide HUD-sponsored transitional housing for program participants. This has allowed JEC to stay engaged with enrolled homeless participants over a longer period of time (up to 24 months) in which to provide vocational training programs, employment assistance, and the ongoing support of a comprehensive employment program to help this population overcome multiple employment barriers and succeed in the world of work. In the last reporting year, a total of 356 participants were enrolled in the employment program at JEC and in the HUD Supportive Housing Program in a collaborative relationship with faith-based and community-based organizations. A total of 75 percent secured full-time employment at an average wage at time of placement of $8.38/hour. A total of 74 percent retained both employment and housing at the six-month followup period.

Dr. Jim O'Connell is President of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP), where he has overseen the growth and development of a citywide service delivery network that has emerged as a national model in the care of this vulnerable population. Multidisciplinary teams conduct daily clinics at three academic medical centers and offer continuity and consistency of care at over 70 sites in metropolitan Boston. He has been associated with BHCHP since 1985 and continues to serve as Street Team Physician in addition to being President.

In 1993, Dr. O'Connell founded the Barbara McInnis House, a 90-bed freestanding medical respite program that provides care for homeless men and women who would otherwise require costly acute care hospitalizations. In collaboration with the MGH Laboratory of Computer Science, Dr. O'Connell and BHCHP implemented the nation's first electronic medical record for a homeless program in 1996.

From 1989 until 1996, Dr. O'Connell served as the National Program Director of the nine-city Homeless Families Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and HUD, utilizing Section 8 housing certificates to place over 600 families directly from shelters and the streets into permanent housing. Substance abuse has been a major focus of Dr. O'Connell, and he has served as the Medical Director of the state's first dual diagnosis detoxification unit since 1986. He is the editor of The Health Care of Homeless Persons: A Manual of Communicable Diseases and Common Problems in Shelters and on the Streets.

Maryland Center for Veterans Employment and Training (MCVET) was created in 1993 to provide homeless veterans and other veterans in need with comprehensive services that will enable them to rejoin their communities as productive citizens. MCVET seeks to provide housing options that systemically prepare the program residents for independent living situations; to provide a continuum of services that identify and effectively address the socioeconomic and health related needs of the program residents and other veterans; to provide education and employment services that identify, develop and enhance the professional and personal skills of the program residents, thereby equipping them for quality job opportunities; and to cultivate partnerships with veteran-specific agencies, donors and funders, service providers and community based organizations that will help fulfill the overall mission of MCVET.

MCVET provides a military structure with a "Veterans Helping Veterans" approach. In a unique partnership with Susquehanna Bank, bank representatives conduct on-site financial workshops on topics such as debt reconciliation, homeownership, investing, and money management. In addition all program participants are required to open a savings account and save 25 percent of their income.

Clark County, Nevada Department of Social Services (DSS) is a grantee under the Social Security Administration’s HOPE (Homeless Outreach Program and Evaluation) initiative targeted to persons experiencing chronic homelessness. Clark County received 3-year funding from the Social Security Administration to provide outreach and application assistance to the homeless population.

Under the direction of Patricia K. Pate, Clark County DSS proposed to combine outreach, referral, counseling, and housing and medical services to their clients. In addition, they obtained medical evidence of record to support and facilitate the disability application process. In 17 months of operations under the HOPE grant and with the committed effort of staff including HOPE Case Manager Shean Abrams, Clark County DSS enrolled almost twice as many homeless individuals into the HOPE project as projected over the three year period. In addition to successfully assisting homeless individuals file for Social Security benefits, Clark County staff make appropriate referrals for substance abuse, mental health services and housing.

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for homeless individuals and families throughout Colorado. CCH operates a model homeless health care program - the Stout Street Clinic - which provides integrated health, mental health and substance treatment to more than 8,000 patients annually. Since 1985, the clinic has improved the health status of more than 75,000 homeless patients through primary health care, integrated mental health, pharmaceuticals, dental care, medical respite care, and linkage to housing. CCH operates four Assertive Community Treatment Teams with the capacity to serve 400 homeless individuals with serious and persistent mental illness, persons with substance abuse disorders, and persons with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders.

CCH has also developed more than 1000 supportive housing units in the past seven years, with 300 additional units currently under development. Its Renaissance Housing model integrates supportive housing for homeless families and individuals into affordable housing for low and moderate income households. CCH has blended a variety of financing and funding mechanisms to leverage more than $100 million of private and public funding to create quality housing in a variety of settings. In addition, CCH manages more than 800 housing vouchers for families and individuals.

In 2003, CCH established the Denver Housing First Collaborative, an innovative collaboration that combines a Housing First approach with an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team of multi-disciplinary and multi-agency providers to assist chronically homeless individuals with disabilities to obtain permanent housing, support services and eligible benefits to help them gain the stability needed to end their homelessness. Denver is one of 11 sites awarded resources under the federal interagency HUD-HHS-VA Collaborative Initiative to Help End Chronic Homelessness, with CCH as lead agency. CCH has also won competitive targeted federal homeless resources in the HUD Serial Inebriate Housing demonstration program and the Social Security Administration’s HOPE awards.

Life Achievement Award

Ira Greiff retired in 2003 as Executive Director of St. Francis House in Boston, the first permanent multi-service center for homeless people. Mr. Greiff had been with St. Francis House since 1984, previously serving as Co-Executive Director and Director of Programs and bringing to the work of St. Francis House his pioneering vision of rehabilitative services for persons experiencing homelessness.

Working with Dr. William Anthony, Director of the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University, Ira Greiff promoted the idea of integrated treatment and health services, as well as employment services, for homeless persons with disabilities. Under Mr. Greiff’s leadership, St. Francis House established the Moving Ahead Program that supports formerly homeless people in creating drug and alcohol-free lives, and the Next Step Transitional Housing Program. Both programs are considered national models that have been replicated around the country. St. Francis House established on-site services with state agencies and the federal Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mr. Greiff was also the principal founder and first President of the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, begun in 1988. Mr. Greiff’s vision was for all homeless shelters and programs to collaborate, and to participate in joint public policy and budget advocacy.

Denver Hosts the National Summit and Offers Show Case of Innovative Programs

"The Mile High City is honored to host this nationwide gathering of elected leaders and others committed to ending homelessness. We are at a point in history that in 10 years or 20 years all of us in this room are going to point back to this summit as the place where suddenly it became real: the fact that we could actually step forward as communities, as a country, and end a blight that most people had come to accept."

Mayor John Hickenlooper

Denver's Road Home, the City's 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, was developed by the Denver Commission to End Homelessness with the participation of 350 diverse stakeholders on various committees. The Plan was accepted by Mayor Hickenlooper in July 2005 and by the Denver City Council in September. Roxane White, Manager of the Department of Human Services who chaired the Commission, is heading up the Plan's implementation along with the Mile High United Way. On Friday, Summit participants were offered the opportunity to gain a first hand look at innovative approaches to homelessness in Denver. Pictured here are Mayor Hickenlooper (left) and Roxane White (speaking).

Site visits to different programs were offered:

Denver Rescue Mission: The Crossing is a residential living facility offering the New Life rehabilitation program for men; transitional housing for program graduates and homeless families; and housing for interns and visitors. A representative from the Denver Rescue Mission discussed ways in which the faith communities are reaching out and getting involved with Denver's Road Home.

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless: Housing First. Participants were invited to join a formerly homeless resident and staff representative from the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless for a tour of the Renaissance at Civic Center Apartments to see how providers are partnering with the public and private sectors to develop affordable housing to transition homeless adults off of the streets and integrate them into the community.

Urban Peak, is Denver's only licensed homeless and runaway youth shelter. This agency serves young people between the ages of 15 and 24 to assist them in permanently exiting the streets. Participants were able to meet with a panel of youth and youth providers to learn about a hospitality project to employ homeless youth and a substance abuse project, Starting Transition and Recovery, that combines treatment with housing for substance dependent homeless youth.

The City also offered a workshop option, Interactive Media and Denver's Road Home: Creating Community Awareness to learn about efforts coordinated by the Denver Department of Human Services, SE2, and Focii to educate and inform the community about the 10-Year Plan implementation.

The National Summit in the Mile High City

May 10. The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness will hold The National Summit for Jurisdictional Leaders: Moving From Good to Better to Great in Sustaining 10-Year Plans to End Chronic Homelessness May 10-12 in Denver, Colorado. The summit will bring together jurisdictional leaders involved in developing 10-Year plans, innovative thinkers, and practitioners to highlight and advance innovative strategies from cities, counties, regions, and states across the country that are producing results.

The agenda includes a keynote address by Jim Collins, best selling author of Good to Great and Built to Last, peer to peer Discovery and Dialogue Sessions, and an awards luncheon. Mr. Collins will discuss how good performers become great performers and what can cause good performers to slide into mediocrity. The awards luncheon on May 11 will include presentations of “A Home for Every American Award” recognizing outstanding partnership, political will, innovation, and results in ending chronic homelessness. On Friday, summit attendees will have an opportunity to attend a special Denver 10-Year Plan Showcase, which will include learning sessions and site tours of Denver’s innovative practices and programs.

Denver is a particularly appropriate choice as the site for this summit since all the elements of a successful 10-Year Plan effort are in evidence: political will, broad partnership, a housing-centered plan, and a focus on results. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper was one of the first jurisdictional leaders in the country to commit to developing a 10-Year Plan and has been outspoken in his support of creating supportive housing opportunities for persons experiencing chronic homelessness, including testifying in 2004 at a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee on the Administration’s Samaritan Initiative.

The 41-member Denver Commission to End Homelessness appointed by Mayor Hickenlooper to develop a 10-Year Plan, included representation from a broad stakeholder group of government and business leaders, providers, funders, consumers, neighborhoods and faith based organizations. The resulting plan, Denver’s Road Home, released in May of last year, calls for creating over 3100 new permanent housing opportunities for Denver’s homeless population, including 942 permanent supportive housing units for persons experiencing chronic homelessness. The plan sets a goal to reduce chronic homelessness by 75% over five years. Roxanne White, manager of Denver’s Department of Human Services, chaired the successful Commission effort and has been instrumental in moving the plan forward into implementation.

Results released this week from the most recent point-in-time survey done in January of this year show an 11.5% drop in the number of homeless in the Denver metropolitan region including a 4% drop in the city. A unique characteristic of the Denver plan is the strength of its partnership with the faith-based community, including the involvement of about 100 local religious congregations.

TWO HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND COMMUNITIES READY TO MOVE TO IMPLEMENTATION PHASE OF 10-YEAR PLAN EFFORT

Danbury, CT. Broad partnership was in evidence as Danbury, CT Mayor Mark Boughton formally released the final report of the Mayor’s Task Force to End Homelessness at a press conference at City Hall on May 1. The Task Force, chaired by Probate Judge Dianne Yamin, was appointed by the mayor last year to develop a 10-Year plan to end homelessness in Danbury. Mayor Boughton was joined at the press conference by Judge Yamin and by Director of Welfare and Social Services Debbie MacKenzie. In releasing the plan, Mayor Boughton announced his "intention to direct the local resources necessary to implement the plan and to encourage our government partners in Washington and Hartford to join us in this endeavor."

One of those government partners in Washington, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, accompanied by Council Regional Coordinator John O’Brien, joined Mayor Boughton at the press conference. Director Mangano commended the mayor for his leadership and political will. "Today, Mayor Boughton and Danbury join a national partnership that begins in the White House and extends to the streets of our country partnering 20 federal agencies, 53 Governors including Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell and 216 mayors and country executives through their 10 Year plans. Danbury’s realistic action plan is housing centered, consumer informed, and prevention focused to create results that will improve the quality of life for everyone in this great community."

Director Mangano noted that the inclusive and expansive group of stakeholders who served on the Task Force -- including state representatives Janice Geigler and Robert Godfrey, Paul O’Sullivan of Congresswoman Nancy Johnson’s office, and officials from hospitals, the United Way, business, developers, banks, academia, mental health, substance abuse and other service providers, the VA, homeless people, public safety officers, the courts, Habitat for Humanity, the faith community -- would be the envy of many communities across the country. Pictured here from left to right are Diane Yamin, Judge of Probate, Danbury and Chair of the Mayor's Task Force to End Homelessness, Mayor Boughton, and Director Mangano.

In the final report, the Task Force members write that Mayor Boughton’s charge to them to create a comprehensive plan to end homelessness in 10 years "proved to be a great opportunity on many fronts. The multidisciplinary representation allowed the many understandings of homelessness and its solutions to be shared and considered. The plan required examination of the institutional and philosophical beliefs that were useful in managing homelessness but will not move us forward as we strive to end it. The planning process has been cause to assess utilization of resources, explore best practices, develop community-driven strategies and adopt a vision for ending homelessness with stable permanent housing as the goal." You can read more of the Danbury 10-Year Plan on the city website at www.danbury-ct.gov or by going to our website at www.usich.gov.

NEW BEDFORD, MA. In the City of New Bedford, MA, where a memorial to Frederick Douglass stands at City Hall honoring the renowned abolitionist who found refuge in this historic "Whaling City" after escaping slavery in Maryland, abolition of a different wrong -- homelessness -- was on the minds of elected and community leaders last week. At a news conference, New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang, joined by members of the Mayor’s Homeless Task Force, including Office of Housing and Community Development Director Patrick Sullivan who served as the Task Force Chairman, and by members of New Bedford’s Homeless Service Providers Network, released the city’s 10-year plan to "end episodic and chronic homelessness."

The New Bedford plan "articulates the city’s formal strategy for assisting homeless individuals and families move from the streets and shelters to economic independence and self sufficiency." Strategies discussed in the plan include prevention, expansion of the permanent supportive housing, increasing emergency shelter and transitional housing units, expanding employment opportunities and improving access to mainstream resources for homeless individuals and families. Mayor Lang noted that "the implementation of these strategies can have a significant measurable impact on reducing the number of people who are homeless in New Bedford, but not without the input, participation and commitment from the greater New Bedford community." He added, "Every individual and family faced with homelessness in New Bedford should have access to safe, decent, and affordable housing along with the resources to maintain it." Pictured here standing are Mayor Lang (center), Patrick Sullivan, Director of the New Bedford Office of Housing and Community Development (right), and Director Mangano (left).

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano who was invited to address the partners at the press conference, applauded the Mayor and those who worked on the plan for recognizing that the written plan "is the beginning of the City’s efforts" and for including in the plan "the call to get a broader and more expansive group of stakeholders to create the implementation and action phases."

Director Mangano welcomed New Bedford "to the results-oriented National Partnership" and added that, "Nothing is successful in terms of this issue of homelessness that leaves homeless people where they are. A proven reduction in the number of people living without a permanent home is the measure of success. Other cities that have developed 10 year plans have seen decreases in their chronic homeless population including Quincy, MA which has seen a 20% drop in its first year of implementation and Nashua, NH which has experienced a 40% decline in the first year and a half of its 10 year plan implementation." He encouraged the city to maximize its opportunities to apply for and receive resources, such as through HUD’s permanent housing bonus, to create new permanent housing tenancies beyond the 100 committed to in the plan. Director Mangano also acknowledged the presence of a long time friend and champion of homeless people, Sister Rose Ellen Gallogly, Executive Director of Market Ministries and a founding member of the New Bedford Homeless Service Providers Network.

For More Information:

Patrick Sullivan, 10-Year Plan Task Force Chair and Director, New Bedford Office of Housing and Community Development, 508-979-1500

John O’Brien, USICH Regional Coordinator, 617-994-8203

MACON AND BIBB COUNTY, GA TO PARTNER ON 10-YEAR PLAN

April 19, 2006. Just a day after the tour de Georgia swept through the streets of this central Georgia community, street concerns of a different sort were the focus of attention when Macon Mayor C. Jack Elllis joined by nearly 50 other government and civic leaders, police officers, and representatives of area charities met over breakfast at the Mulberry Street United Methodist Church to announce plans to develop a 10-Year Plan To End Chronic Homelessness.

The 10-year planning effort will be led by a Housing First Task Force, co-chaired by Dr. Peter Brown, Associate Vice President and Director of the Mercer University Center for Service Learning and Community Development, Sister Marian Hamwey of Mother and Child Ministries, and Kevin Dubose, Director of Macon’s Department of Economic and Community Development.

Speaking to the assembled group, USICH Executive Director Mangano praised Mayor Ellis and Bibb County Commission Chairman Charlie Bishop for "acting in partnership to collaborate on developing a plan that will mean that the quality of life for everyone here in Bibb County and Macon—housed and homeless alike—will improve." With a population of 155,000, "there are a lot more Bibb County/Macon’s in our country than New York’s , LA’s or Chicago’s. You’ll inspire all those other communities your size with your creativity and can-do attitude". City estimates of the number of chronically homeless in Macon have varied from 200-400 in recent years.

Noting the community can count on receiving ongoing technical assistance from USICH, whose Region 4 Coordinator Michael German was also present, Director Mangano urged the community leaders to use their participation in this national partnership to learn about and "borrow best practices from other communities to add to your own innovative ideas" and to "create a results oriented plan shaped around the Killer B’s —baselines, benchmarks, budget and best practices performance."

MEETING OF THE FULL COUNCIL HELD IN APRIL

Convened by HUD Secretary Jackson as Council Chair, federal agencies review the status of Katrina recovery efforts and progress in ending chronic homelessness nationally.

Council Executive Director Mangano affirms Council’s commitment to achieving results: tangible outcomes in the lives of homeless people

Ending Chronic Homelessness

Federal partners reported results in federal initiatives targeted to persons experiencing chronic homelessness including data from a recent briefing by Dr. Robert Rosenheck, chief evaluator for the $55 million HUD-HHS-VA Collaborative Initiative. More than 600 persons who had been living long term on the streets or in shelters for a cumulative 5200 years have been housed through this initiative. Dr. Rosenheck’s data shows that 80% of the project sites funded through this initiative used a Housing First model, and 88% of project participants tracked by Dr. Rosenheck remain stably housed, with improvements in quality of life and mental health and substance abuse issues.

Department of Labor Assistant Secretary Charles Ciccolella reported on the DOL-HUD Demonstration Project, Ending Chronic Homelessness Through Employment and Housing. The five demonstration sites in Indianapolis, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon are in their third year of providing 300 units of permanent supportive housing, and their second year of providing employment services. The units are approximately 90% occupied, and preliminary results indicate that, on average, 80% of those who entered the projects remain housed and 47% have entered employment.

In addition to its participation in these two multi-agency initiatives, HUD’s 2006 $1.2 billion homeless assistance competition is also underway. The FY 2006 funding notice was published on March 8, a technical assistance broadcast was held on March 28, a follow up broadcast will be held on April 26 from 11-noon (eastern), and applications are due May 25.

Social Security Administration Deputy Commissioner James Lockhart reported that SSA’s HOPE initiative to reach persons experiencing chronic homelessness will soon enter its third year funding commitment to its 41 cooperative agreement partners. According to Mr. Lockhart, partners enrolled 6,665 homeless individuals in SSI benefits, and 1,644 have been approved for monthly benefits, and in most cases, Medicaid eligibility to ensure individuals receive necessary treatment to stabilize their lives.

Health and Human Services Deputy Assistant Secretary Regier reported that every State and Territory has now participated in at least one federal Policy Academy targeted to persons experiencing chronic homelessness, homeless families, or both. Many state government leaders are receiving followup technical assistance as they develop or implement Action Plans as part of the Academy process. Partners also heard about the recently created and National Institute of Mental Health-funded Columbia University Center for Homelessness Prevention Studies.

Katrina Recovery Efforts

HUD reported on its overall hurricane assistance and recovery efforts.

Department of Labor Assistant Secretary Ciccolella told Council members that DOL has sent $210.3 million in National Emergency Grants to the areas impacted by the hurricanes and to areas receiving significant numbers of evacuees to create temporary jobs for dislocated workers. The grants have been used to create nearly 63,000 temporary jobs in the region and to provide training, job search assistance and information on accessing unemployment benefits.

Also discussed were HHS’ targeted public service campaign on mental health and substance abuse issues aimed toward the estimated 500,000 persons in the region who may need counseling services and the Department’s plan to undertake a long term study of the hurricanes effects; the $1.1 billion targeted to schools in the region by the Department of Education; and the VA’s successful efforts to evacuate affected facilities in the region and the creation of new transitional program capacity for homeless veterans in Baton Rouge.

On March 24, 32 states received a total of $1.5 billion from HHS to help offset the medical costs of caring for thousands of Hurricane Katrina evacuees who sought refuge after the storm. An additional $500 million has been set aside by HHS to cover future costs the states may incur.

Innovative State and Local Efforts Cited

Council members heard from two partners at the state and city level who have both been leaders in jurisdictional 10-Year plans and local initiatives in response to Katrina. Representing the State of Arizona was Charlene Flaherty, who described to Council members the one-stop response mounted at the Arizona Coliseum to achieve rapid re-housing of evacuees within one month. Construction industry executive Scott Cutler, who co-chaired the Raleigh-Wake County, North Carolina 10-Year Plan, stressed the importance of the Interagency Council’s support in communities undertaking 10-Year Plans.

IN WASHINGTON: $1.2 BILLION ANNOUNCED BY HUD FOR TARGETED HOMELESS ASSISTANCE

March 8, 2006 Washington, DC. This Special Edition of e-news highlights the announcement by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of $1.2 billion in competitive homeless assistance funds. Applications are due May 25, 2006. Below are highlighted changes and developments for 2006 which include, but are not limited to, those noted here. The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) itself, the on-line Questions and Answers document, and the upcoming Webcast are key resources to review thoroughly for details. A total of 39 programs and $2.2 billion in resources, including HUD's mainstream housing programs, are included in the NOFA issued today.

Ending Chronic Homelessness. HUD's notice underscores the Administration's commitment to end chronic homelessness, noting, "President Bush has set a national goal to end chronic homelessness. HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson has embraced this goal and has pledged that HUD's grant programs will be used to support the President's goal and better meet the needs of chronically homeless individuals." According to the Notice, applicants are encouraged to target assistance to chronically homeless persons by undertaking activities that will result in creation of permanent and permanent supportive housing, as well as services, including the use of one-stop assistance centers or service coordinators to ensure that persons experiencing chronic homelessness have access to a variety of social services. Ten percent of the overall funding will be awarded to projects that predominantly serve persons experiencing chronic homelessness, meaning that at least 70 percent of those served meet HUD's definition of chronic homelessness.

Further, HUD states that "CoCs and their projects that sustain current successful interventions and advance the goals of ending chronic homelessness will be scored higher." Of the 60 points HUD will award for Continuum of Care elements, up to 18 points will be awarded for progress in reducing homelessness, including chronic homelessness, with performance scoring based in part on an increase in permanent housing targeted to chronically homeless persons and progress made toward eliminating chronic homelessness. Up to 10 points will be awarded for "a performance-based 10- year strategy for ending chronic homelessness that establishes specific action steps" with measurable objectives.

Aligning 10-Year Plans and the Continuum of Care. HUD's NOFA stresses its expectation of integration of planning processes that target homelessness: "This NOFA emphasizes HUD's determination to integrate and align plans, including U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness-sponsored jurisdictional state and city ten-year plans (jurisdictional ten-year plans) and Consolidated Plans, into the CoC plans."

Focus on Housing. Overall, HUD will award not less than 30 percent of funds to new and renewal Supportive Housing Program projects for permanent housing or Safe Havens, new Shelter Plus Care projects, and SRO projects. HUD will award up to 12 points on a sliding scale for showing an emphasis on housing activities.

Samaritan Housing Initiative. Formerly referred to as the Permanent Housing Bonus, this special incentive to promote permanent supportive housing for persons who are chronically homeless is provided to Continuum of Care systems that place an eligible, new permanent housing project in the number one priority position on the priority list. If the number one priority project qualifies as an eligible, new permanent housing project exclusively serving chronically homeless persons, then the full amount of that project's eligible housing activities, up to a maximum 15 percent of the Continuum of Care's preliminary pro rata need or $6 million (whichever is less), will be added to the pro rata need amount for the Continuum.

The only eligible activities that will be counted toward this bonus are housing activities and for the Supportive Housing Program (SHP), case management, and administration costs. Applicants may use no more than 20 percent of this bonus for case management costs. Important details are included in the full NOFA. For the SHP program, housing activities are acquisition, new construction, rehabilitation, leasing of housing and operating costs when used in connection with housing. S+C and SRO rental assistance are defined as housing activities and are eligible under the incentive as well. HMIS costs will be excluded from this calculation.

Participant Eligibility for Permanent Housing. The only persons who may be served by permanent housing projects (both new and renewal) are those who come from the streets, emergency shelters, or transitional housing who originally came from the streets or emergency shelter. As participants leave currently operating projects, participants who meet this new eligibility standard must replace them.

Continuum of Care Hold Harmless Amount. In CoCs where the total of the one-year amount of all SHP projects eligible for renewal is larger than the preliminary pro rata need amount, the Continuum will receive the higher amount, now known as the hold harmless amount.

Application Streamlining. The HUD application has been streamlined by eliminating many previously required narratives and replacing them with tables that will reduce the time applicants need to complete the application package. Further, portions of the past application that pertain to conditional awards or renewals have been moved to the HUD web site.

General NOFA Materials. On January 20, 2006, HUD published the General Section of the FY 2006 SuperNOFA for its annual multi-program competition. The January Notice provided prospective applicants for HUD competitive funding with the opportunity to become familiar with the General Section in advance of publication of the FY 2006 SuperNOFA program sections and to register on- line for programs requiring electronic submission. Early publication of the General Section was intended to give prospective applicants additional time to become familiar with provisions in the General Section which constitute part of almost every HUD application.

Electronic Applications. Electronic applications and resources from mainstream programs were also a focus of the January Notice. While HUD's homeless programs will be the only HUD competitive programs that retain paper applications for FY 2006, HUD expects electronic submission for FY 2007 homeless applications. Federal grant-making agencies are pledging to make 75 percent of funding opportunities available on the electronic Grants.gov in FY 2006 (see Federal Register Notice of December 9, 2005). Applicants for HUD's homeless programs will benefit from becoming familiar with the electronic requirements so they do not limit their ability to secure funding from sources other than HUD in FY 2006. Applicants are also urged to consult new HUD resources on electronic registration and grant opportunities found at http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants.

IN WASHINGTON: PRESIDENT PROPOSES UNPRECEDENTED FY 07 INVESTMENTS FOR TARGETED FEDERAL HOMELESS PROGRAMS

WASHINGTON, DC. Stating that the "2007 Budget continues the Administration's commitment to end chronic homelessness," the Bush Administration today announced an unprecedented sixth consecutive year of increased funding for targeted federal programs serving persons who are homeless, proposing an overall 6.7% increase in targeted programs across a range of federal agencies for an FY 07 total of a record $4.157 billion in targeted assistance. The President continues the commitment to the Samaritan Initiative, proposing up to $200 million at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), part of an overall 13% increase in HUD's homeless funding request, which totals $1.5 billion for FY 07.

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD). As a essential element of the Administration's response to homelessness, the President has proposed that HUD, under the leadership of Secretary and current Council Chair Alphonso Jackson, receive record resources for the HUD homeless programs, including up to $200 million in the Samaritan Housing Initiative for persons experiencing chronic homelessness. Overall HUD McKinney-Vento homeless spending is proposed at a total of $1.5 billion. The HUD homeless budget also includes up to $25 million in a request for the multi-agency Prisoner Reentry Initiative with the Departments of Labor and Justice.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS). The Administration proposes funding in several HHS programs that will support homelessness prevention and intervention efforts. Health Care for the Homeless Programs are proposed at $170 million, a 12.6% increase within the expansion proposed for Health Centers, as the President continues his commitment to create and expand center sites. Increases are proposed for two other key programs, which, while not targeted homelessness programs, have importance for prevention and capacity-building. The FY 07 budget seeks $98 million for 20 states under the Access to Recovery substance abuse treatment voucher program. In addition, $100 million is proposed for the Compassion Capital Fund to advance the efforts of community-based charitable organizations, including faith based organizations, by enhancing their ability to provide social services, expand their organizations, diversify their funding, and create collaborations to serve those in need.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA). Continuing to demonstrate and support special concern for the nation's veterans who experience homelessness, the President's budget proposes that the Department of Veterans Affairs, under the leadership of Secretary and former Interagency Council Chair R. James Nicholson, receive a 17% increase for the VA Grant and Per Diem program, as well as increases in the Compensated Work Therapy and VA Medical Care programs. These programs have a demonstrated record of vital services and support to homeless veterans.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL). For FY 07, $60 million is requested for the Prisoner Reentry Initiative to help individuals leaving prison make a successful transition to community life and long term employment. The Reentry Initiative teams Federal agencies with faith-based and community organizations to help recently released prisoners make a successful transition and is a collaborative effort of the Departments of Labor, Justice, and Housing and Urban Development.

U.S. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS (USICH). Noting that "[through] efforts of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Administration's initiative to end chronic homelessness has gained traction in communities large and small across the country," the President has proposed a 12% funding increase for the Council for FY 07. The Council was revitalized in 2002 to coordinate the federal response to homelessness and create the national partnership to forward the Administration's commitment to end chronic homelessness through interagency, intergovernmental, intragovernmental, and intercommunity partnerships, particularly in fostering relationships with Governors and Mayors to create jurisdictional 10-Year Plans to end chronic homelessness. As of February 1, 2006, there are 53 Governors of State and territories that have taken steps to establish State Interagency Councils on Homelessness and 208 mayors and county executives that have committed to jurisdictional 10-year planning processes to end chronic homelessness.

"In a difficult budget season, the Administration has once again increased targeted resources for homeless people. There is no question that the increase is directly related to the quantifiable results that are being achieved on the streets of our nation through the national partnership of cities, counties, and states implementing 10-year plans," stated Council Executive Director Philip Mangano.

Pictured here is the full Council meeting of September 13, 2005, with VA Secretary and outgoing Council Chair R. James Nicholson at left, HUD Secretary and current Council Chair Alphonso Jackson at center, and Council Director Mangano at right.