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‘RESOURCES UP - STREET HOMELESSNESS DOWN’ AS FULL COUNCIL MEETS IN WASHINGTON, ELECTING VA SECRETARY PEAKE AS NEW CHAIR
NEW RESULTS IN ENDING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS AND HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS ARE REPORTED
INVENTORY OF FEDERAL RESOURCES AND RESEARCH FOR FAMILIES PRESENTED
WASHINGTON, DC - March 10, 2008. United States Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake was elected Chair of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness at its 11th Full Council meeting of this Administration last week in Washington. Secretary Peake accepted the gavel from United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, the Council Chair since March 2007.
 New Chair commits to continue results-oriented strategies. Secretary Peake committed himself to continue the Council’s commitment to leadership on the issue and a focus on “goals and measured results,” noting that the Council had “done much and had much to be proud of.” The Secretary further observed that he will use the year ahead to set goals and measure results during a time which he believes offers the best opportunity to end chronic homelessness through the collective efforts and talents of the Council’s member agencies. Secretary Peake reported that the VA has documented another decrease in homelessness among veterans, reporting a 20% decline. Pictured here as the gavel was passed, l-r, Secretary Peake, HHS Secretary Leavitt, and Council Executive Director Philip Mangano.
Secretary Leavitt reports on Council initiatives. In comments before passing the gavel to Secretary Peake, Secretary Leavitt noted the “moral duty to help” those experiencing homelessness and identified progress during the last year in key areas of the Council’s work which he identified when he took the Chair in 2007, including an increased focus on families and youth, as well as veterans.
 The Secretary released a new Council inventory of federal programs with capacity to serve families, an initiative undertaken in conjunction with new research on families emerging from inside and outside of government. The USICH Inventory of Federal Programs that May Assist Homeless Families With Children shows key information on 73 programs across eleven federal agencies, including budget, eligible activities and recipients, and impediments to participation by homeless families. The inventory consists of both targeted homeless programs, which are designed specifically to serve persons experiencing homelessness, as well as mainstream programs, whose mission may be to serve a far broader population, but for which persons experiencing homelessness may be eligible by virtue of the program's eligibility criteria. All programs included have the capacity to benefit families. The Council will use the inventory to advance next steps in this increased focus on the family population.
Secretary Leavitt also presented a new research paper on family homelessness by Dr. Debra Rog of Westat. The research recommendations described in this report, Characteristics and Dynamics of Homeless Families with Children, find that the two top goals for a typology of families should focus on prevention and resource allocation – how to match the resources that exist with the needs of the families who are homeless. The report lays the foundation for future data collection efforts affecting policy and programmatic decisions for this particular population, as well as what additional steps might be needed in developing each typology.
On behalf of all the federal partners, the first of several evaluation reports was released on the unprecedented $55 million collaborative initiative on chronic homelessness of the Council, HUD, HHS, and VA, first announced at the Council’s inaugural meeting in 2002 under the chairmanship of then HUD Secretary Mel Martinez. Other HHS resources released during Secretary Leavitt’s tenure as Council Chair include the 2007 HHS Departmental 5-Year Strategic Plan on Homelessness; an HHS website on homelessness; and a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services report, A Primer on How to Use Medicaid to Assist Persons Who are Homeless to Access Medical, Behavioral Health, and Support Services.
Under Secretary Leavitt's chairmanship and through the work of Secretary's Counselor Philo Hall and Deputy Assistant Secretary Melissa Pardue, the Council's regional Federal Interagency Councils, each chaired by the federal counterpart of the Chair of the Full Council, were reinvigorated with important results. Meeting regularly to focus on the priorities of the Chair, regional councils have begun development of federal resource inventories, as well as encouraging and supporting Project Homeless Connect as federal partners.
 HUD Deputy Secretary Bernardi reports on investments and results. United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy Bernardi (pictured here) reported to Council members on HUD's recent announcement of a documented 12% national decline in chronic homelessness from 2005 to 2006, and its expected release of 2007 data. Deputy Secretary Bernardi also spoke of HUD's partnership with other federal agencies, as well as state and local government and community organizations.
In December, HUD awarded $330 million for housing and services for persons who are chronically homeless, over $500 million to serve homeless families with children, and expects to award a record sum for FY 2008, including a new $25 million family rapid rehousing demonstration initiative focused on families in shelter. HUD reports that over half of all the persons assisted by HUD homeless programs are in families. To learn more about effective interventions for families, HUD will support a national evaluation on this topic.
For homeless veterans, HUD anticipates issuing about 10,000 Section 8 vouchers under the upcoming HUD-VASH program funded for FY 2008, and the Administration has requested an additional $75 million for FY 2009 to provide an equal number of new subsidies,
bringing potential assistance over 2008-2009 to 20,000 vouchers. These resources are in addition to over $31 million in targeted veterans supportive housing initiatives HUD awarded in December.
 Department of Labor sees employment results for chronic population. DOL Assistant Secretary Charles Ciccolella (pictured here) reported to the Council on the employment results of the Homeless Veterans Reintegration program which has reached 17,000 veterans, of whom 10,000 have become employed. DOL's joint multi-year initiative with HUD, combining housing and employment for more than 400 persons in the chronically homeless population, achieved a 54% rate of earned income for participants. Further, DOL's joint initiative with VA to reach incarcerated veterans achieved a 54% rate of employment and just 18% recidivism. The Assistant Secretary noted that the Job Corps-foster care recruitment initiative encouraged by the Council had grown from an initial 240 entrants in 2001 to about 2,000 homeless, runaway, and foster care youth in 2006.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency of the Department of Homeland Security reported on its recent award of $153 million under the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, now marking its 25th anniversary. Dr. John Kim Cook of the DHS Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives is pictured here. The Social Security Administration, whose 3- year Homeless Outreach Projects and Evaluation (HOPE) initiative operates at 41 sites, reported that more than 9,000 individuals had been enrolled under the initiative with almost 3,000 receiving determinations providing access to Medicaid and other resources. Deputy Associate Commissioner for Policy David Rust reported on the initiative.
 Norfolk Mayor Fraim reports on jurisdictional partnership and results. Following the tradition of special guest presentations from jurisdictional leaders achieving results in ending chronic homelessness, Council Executive Director Philip Mangano introduced Norfolk, Virginia Mayor Paul Fraim and Norfolk Office to End Homelessness Director Katie Kitchin. Mayor Fraim noted that his city's Blueprint to End Chronic Homelessness, now in its second year of implementation, focuses on regional solutions and includes the innovations of rapid re- housing, Housing First, and Project Homeless Connect, and permanent housing for ex- offenders. The Blueprint serves as the basis for funding eligibility for the city's programs, with an expectation that the goals of the blueprint will be a focus of all applicants for city resources. Pictured here, l-r, Katie Kitchin, Mayor Fraim addressing Council members, Department of Defense Assistant Secretary Craig Duehring, and Department of Labor Assistant Secretary Ciccolella.
Norfolk, and now its neighbors in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and Portsmouth, have leveraged new investments and partnerships with public and private sector leaders in achieving results of a 25% reduction in overall homelessness and a 40% reduction in street homelessness, as well as projecting to double local permanent supportive housing capacity this year. Read More about Norfolk’s initiatives and results.
 Executive Director's Report focuses on the new “3 R’s.”In his report, Director Mangano thanked Secretary Leavitt "for creating the momentum to sustain the continuing commitment of the important and valued contributions of HHS to our common efforts on behalf of our poorest neighbors." Director Mangano welcomed Secretary Peake to the Chair, noting, "I had the opportunity to sit with the Secretary and learn of his vision on behalf of all veterans and, especially homeless veterans and those at risk of homelessness." The Director noted in his report at the Council's sixth year of activity forwarding the Administration's goal to end chronic homelessness that, " If we were running a campaign, and it is that season, our bumper sticker would be simple: Resources Up - Street Homeless Down. That's the legacy we are creating through our common efforts focused on research, resources, and results." Director Mangano (right) is pictured here with Secretary Peake.
PRESIDENT'S FY 09 BUDGET PROPOSES RECORD LEVEL OF MORE THAN $5 BILLION IN TARGETED RESOURCES TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS
WASHINGTON, DC - February 5. With the release of the President's FY 2009 Budget this week, a record $5.04 billion in targeted federal resources to prevent and end homelessness has been proposed.
"While the budget proposal represents increases, level funding, and some decreases, the total amount of resources to be invested is once again increased in following data, research, and policy to move beyond managing the crisis to ending the disgrace," indicated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. "Not too many years ago, we were hopeful that resources might exceed $2.5 billion. With the President's 2009 request, we have now more than doubled the proposed resources targeted to homeless people within this decade."
This story provides highlights from the budgets of individual federal agencies with regard to targeted resources.
Read More
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN UNITED STATES INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS AND THE NATION’S MAYORS AND COUNTY EXECUTIVES CONTINUES TO GROW.
MARCH 2008. A half decade ago, on January 23, 2003, United States Interagency Council Executive Director Philip Mangano addressed the plenary session of the United States Conference of Mayors meeting in Washington, DC, where he challenged 100 Mayors to join the National Partnership being constellated by the Council by committing to the creation of jurisdictional 10-Year Plans to End Chronic Homelessness. Fewer than 5 cities had such jurisdictionally-led plans at the time. This January when the Mayors again convened in the Nation's Capital, Director Mangano was able to report that over 325 Mayors and County officials have committed to 10-Year Plans across the nation. "Keeping a good grip on the moral and spiritual imperative, we have seen the research that quantifies the economic impact and consequences of homelessness and is driving an unprecedented political will to move beyond managing the crisis to ending the disgrace," said Director Mangano
During a meeting of the Mayors' Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness, Director Mangano briefed Mayors on America’s Road Home. Developed in a Council co-sponsored Mayors' Summit last November in Denver, the America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions commits Mayors and jurisdictional leaders to work together in a housing-focused strategy that gives special attention to the needs of veterans and involves partnership with business, philanthropy, and community and faith-based organizations. Pictured here is Director Mangano briefing mayors at the 2008 USCM Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness Meeting in Washington.
 This month, more than forty National Association of Counties members, led by President Eric Coleman, County Commissioner of Oakland County, Michigan, became signatories to America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions during NACo Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. Signatories now number more than 200. Addressing members of NACo’s Committee on Community and Economic Development and the Health Steering Committee, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano thanked County officials for their ongoing support and partnership with federal initiatives, noting that NACo first passed a resolution in support of 10-Year Plans at its 2003 meeting after the Council's revitalization. "Research tells us that we can reduce and end homelessness through innovations and data, resources have increased to make the investment, and results demonstrate that the research and investment are getting the job done," said Director Mangano. Pictured here is the meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee chaired by Prince Georges County, MD Councilman David Harrington.
Read More about America’s Road Home
http://www.ich.gov/newsletter/2008-3-18_Charter_Version_ARH_Signatories.pdf
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCES AWARD OF RECORD $1.5 BILLION IN HOMELESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced the award of $1.5 billion in Homeless Assistance Grant funding to an unprecedented number of local programs - nearly 6000 - to provide housing, shelter, and supportive services to more than 168,000 individuals and families. "These grants will reach into every corner of the nation, helping individuals and families to move beyond the cycle of homelessness," said HUD Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi. "We know this record funding will literally save lives and we at the federal level are proud to play our part in helping our partners at the local level who are on the front lines of helping those in need."
Among the award highlights:
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1,217 of the project awards target individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. Total funding to these projects is more than $330 million, a commitment that directly supports the national goal of ending chronic homelessness.
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More than $727 million is being awarded to projects that provide permanent housing solutions for homeless persons.
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3,068 local projects that serve families with children will receive $729 million.
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607 programs that primarily serve victims of domestic violence will receive nearly $97 million.
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$32 million is being awarded to 149 projects that primarily target homeless veterans
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1,768 of the projects are dedicated to providing housing and support services to severely mentally ill clients, totaling $453 million. These persons are at high risk of experiencing long-term or chronic homelessness.
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$351 million will support 1,487 local programs that primarily help homeless individuals with substance abuse problems.
"Today's $1.5 billion announcement continues the increasing commitment by this Administration and the Congress to end the human tragedy of homelessness for those who are the most vulnerable and disabled and veterans who have served our country," said United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. "Additionally, these resources are focused to relieve and remedy the long misery of homeless families in their movement beyond shelter to housing. I commend HUD staff for their diligent, expedited efforts to move these resources into communities in a year of a record numbers of initiatives securing support."
The $1.5 billion is part of the sixth consecutive year of record resources made available from Washington. Another unprecedented seventh consecutive year of increased investment was proposed by the President in his 2008 budget. "Increased resources focused on housing have correlated with decreased numbers on the streets of our communities," Director Mangano indicated. "The announcement last month of a documented decrease of 20,000 people on our streets represents more than 100,000 cumulative years of homelessness coming to an end. That investment has demonstrated results and offered new hope to our homeless neighbors. Today's announcement from HUD is intended to increase that hope and again decrease the numbers."
Since 2001, HUD has awarded approximately $10 billion in funding to local communities to support the housing and supportive service needs of homeless individuals and families. The President's FY 2008 Budget seeking $1.6 billion represents a 55 percent increase over funding provided in 2001. To view the list of projects awarded funding in today's announcement, click here.
OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS REMEMBERED - A Commentary
Today marks National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day commemorating the lives of our homeless neighbors across the nation who have died.
Some in programs and shelters and others on the streets of our country. Some served valiantly preserving freedom. Sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles.
All in the course of their lives were part of families, neighborhoods, schools, communities. All were neighbors.
Through the missteps of personal decisions or misguided public policies, these neighbors found themselves homeless.
None planned to become homeless. When they were asked in seventh grade what they wanted to be, they responded policeman, firefighter, doctor, lawyer, President, basketball player, singer. None said they aspired to homelessness.
We have partnered together across this country to ameliorate the long misery of homelessness and bring this national disgrace to an end. In Washington we have prioritized those who are the most disabled and vulnerable, most at risk of dying on our streets. The initiative to end chronic homelessness has been embraced by every level of government and many on the frontlines of response.
Today's announcement of $1.5 billion targeted to homeless people across our country is meant to be invested in ending homelessness, in reducing deaths on our streets. Increased resources invested in decreased homelessness makes sense.
Through the work of those who make more resources available and those who work on the frontlines, both committed to righting the wrong, our nation is a better place to live for all its citizens.
The day when no Memorial Service needs to be planned is the day to which we aspire.
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