FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY. Highlighting the importance of partnership, community, and collaboration, Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher this week announced Kentucky's Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. The Governor said, "Program dollars from several different agencies are being blended to fund the programs related to the Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. The development and implementation of this Plan is an example of the progress that can be achieved by streamlining and coordinating state government agencies and services. It is only through this demonstration of unity that such a complex and worthy goal of uplifting the human spirit can be achieved." Joining the Governor for the unveiling were Ben Cook, Chief Executive Officer of the Kentucky Housing Corporation, Edward Bradley, Pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, and Krista Mills, Kentucky Field Office Director from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Governor Fletcher is pictured here (3rd from right) with (starting from far left) Lexington Mayor Teresa Isaac; Father J. Edward Bradley; U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Regional Coordinator, Michael German; Kentucky Housing Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Ben A. Cook; U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director, Philip Mangano; Kentucky First Lady Glenna Fletcher; and Department of Housing and Urban Development Kentucky Field Office Director, Krista Mills

Director Philip Mangano, was invited by the Governor to participate as well. "This Plan has all the right elements. It is housing-focused, prevention-oriented, service-enriched, and performance-based. That's why this 10-Year Plan makes so much sense. The Governor and all of us partnered together are reaching up to ensure that every Kentuckian will be known by a single name - neighbor - and treated as one. That is our common commitment in this Plan and you can be certain that you have partners in Washington to achieve that vision of Kentucky."

The Kentucky Council on Homelessness Policy, which created the Plan under the leadership of Ben Cook, and was formed as a result of the state's participation in two policy academies hosted by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies. The Plan describes key strategies for ending chronic homelessness including - affordable housing initiatives, increased support services, discharge planning, prevention and coordination, and economic/public education. Kentucky's Plan builds on progress made by Governor Fletcher's Recover Kentucky initiative, supported by the Kentucky Housing Corporation and its Chairman Don Ball, that works toward ending chronic homelessness by helping Kentuckians recover from substance abuse. The Plan is also closely aligned with development of city-level 10-Year Plans in Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green.

A Memorandum of Understanding signed by representatives from the Governor's office and state departments has reinforced the commitment of state agencies to facilitate interagency coordination, and broaden collaborative efforts, especially in the Plan's call for better prevention through discharge planning. The creation of more housing for the homeless and affordable housing initiatives are also central to Kentucky's Plan, which includes a financing strategy for development of 1,000 new transitional units and calls for 2,400 permanent supportive housing units to be created in conjunction with Kentucky's Housing Corporation (KHC), along with other federal, state, and local resources.

HONOLULU, HAWAII. Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle has submitted a proposal to the State Legislature this week to spend $20 million toward homelessness initiatives. The proposal, included in the Governor's fiscal 2007 supplemental budget request, is three times more than the level allocated in 2005.

If approved, the money will be used to assist the estimated 6,000 Hawaii residents who are homeless on any given day, and more than 12,000 experiencing homelessness at some time during the year. While details of the allocation will be announced soon, preliminary reports indicate $10 million would be reserved for repairing private shelters, finding temporary housing for the homeless, and for new programs to support prevention initiatives. In addition, $10 million would be directed toward expanding social services to homeless people. "We are being more open to very out-of-the-box ideas," said Stephanie Aveiro, Executive Director of the State Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii.

The Aloha State has embraced the goal of ending chronic homelessness. The State's 10-Year Plan was unveiled by Governor Lingle last January and includes as its guiding principles the ideas that homelessness is unacceptable and solvable, and that all sectors of society will benefit when people are housed. "Having people who are homeless, or on the street or in a shelter, goes against how we see ourselves," Governor Lingle stated. Governor Lingle is pictured above at the podium during the unveiling of Hawaii's Ten-Year Plan in January 2005. Also pictured (from back left) are U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director, Philip Mangano, and Lt. Governor James R. "Duke" Aiona, Jr.

Four Hawaii mayors have also committed to partner with the State and move forward with a 10-Year Plan. These include Mayor Mufi Hannemann of Honolulu, Mayor Alana Arakawa of Maui County, Mayor Harry Kim of Hawaii County, and Mayor Bryan Baptiste of Kauai County.

DENVER, COLORADO. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (pictured here) on Tuesday exceeded his goal to form 100 partnerships between religious organizations and homeless families and seniors. 65 congregations agreed to join the 45 already on board with the faith-based initiative, One congregation, One Family, which is designed to help people remain stably housed.

"It's one of those moments in history where people of strong faith and good will can move mountains and change the world as we know it," said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper at Tuesday's gathering of 400 representatives of Denver area churches, synagogues, and mosques.

The program will match homeless families and seniors with religious organizations and other groups for up to six months. Congregations must come up with $1,200 for each family they sponsor to cover the first month's rent and security deposit. They will also provide mentoring teams who will meet with the families on a regular basis, and help with routine activities like buying groceries and managing the family budget.

One Congregation, One Family is modelled after a similar program created by the Denver Rescue Mission, which has found that families with mentors are more likely to stay housed in their new homes. The Rescue Mission will administer the new program for the city.

As a key feature of the city's 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, Mayor Hickenlooper announced the faith-based initiative in his state of the city address last summer. Even before Tuesday's official launch at the Colorado Convention Center, 45 congregations provided assistance to 55 families and one senior citizen.

Philip Mangano, executive director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, notes that Denver's faith-based initiative has national implications. "Of the 205 plans to end homelessness in the U.S., Denver's is the only one that specifically asks religious organizations to take a pivotal role. It's common sense, it's innovative and we're watching it closely."

WASHINGTON, DC. "On behalf of President Bush, I'm honored to extend the federal government's helping hand to our nation's most needy people," stated R. David Paulison (pictured here), Acting Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announcing $153 million in federal funds for the National Board of the Emergency Food and Shelter (EFS) Program. "The dedicated members of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program again have successfully carried out this worthy mission. Homeland Security and FEMA are pleased that Congress has provided a necessary means to help our communities feed the hungry, assist the poor and shelter the homeless in the coming year."

The EFS program is administered by a National Board of voluntary agencies chaired by FEMA. The National Board selects jurisdictions for funding based on criteria involving current population, unemployment, and poverty levels. Local Boards are then convened in qualifying districts to determine the highest need and best use of funds, and to select recipient organizations that will provide food and services. EFS funds support social service agencies in more than 2,500 cities and counties across the country, and are used to supplement food, shelter, rent, mortgage and utility assistance programs for people with non-disaster related emergencies. 8% of this year's award has been set-aside by the national board for state grants to aid the needy in non-qualifying jurisdictions.

First authorized by Congress in 1983, and currently appropriated under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, more than $2.8 billion in federal aid has been disbursed through the EFS program since its inception. Member agencies of the National Board include American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; the Salvation Army; United Jewish Communities; and United Way of America.

To find a state-by-state list of the eligible jurisdictions and award amounts go to www.efsp.unitedway.org or www.fema.gov/efs2006.shtm

With this issue of the e-news, we continue our coverage of excerpts from remarks by public sector partners ending chronic homelessness. These Words of the Week come from Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher at the announcement of Kentucky's 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.

"Thanks to all the hard work in developing this plan, Kentucky is ready to do our share in President George W. Bush's and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness's goal to end chronic homelessness across the nation within a ten-year period. Many members of this population suffer from physical or mental illnesses, alcoholism, drug addiction, and, more often than not, dual diagnoses. Unfortunately as well, these individuals consume a disproportionate share of resources in homeless shelters, jails, mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities and hospitals. On average, the cost per day to keep a homeless person in a shelter is roughly the same cost as supportive housing. However, to place a person in supportive housing may be half the cost of jail or prison.

"The development of additional appropriate housing is key to ending chronic homelessness and, as a result of the plan, several new programs are now being implemented. Earlier this year, I announced a new initiative called Recovery Kentucky. The primary goal of this program, as outlined in the 10-Year Plan, is to help reduce the state's population of those who are chronically homeless due to chemical dependency. Recovery Kentucky is designed to create ten housing recovery centers across the state that will help people recover from addiction and gain control of their lives to become financially independent. Program dollars from several different agencies are being blended to fund the programs related to the 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homeless.

"In April 2005, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by representatives from the Governor's Office, Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, Education Cabinet, Governor's Office for Local Development, Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and Kentucky Housing Corporation. The memorandum confirms the commitment by state agency participants to facilitate interagency coordination, broaden collaborative efforts and set administrative policies to achieve the goal of ending chronic homelessness. It is only through this demonstration of unity that such a complex and worthy goal of uplifting the human spirit can be achieved."

LOUISVILLE, KY. As part of the state's 10-Year Plan, Governor Ernie Fletcher is establishing 10 housing recovery centers throughout Kentucky for both the homeless and those coming out of the corrections system. The program, called Recovery Kentucky, will assist individuals in ending their chemical dependency. While the program will include 1,000 new transitional housing units, participants must have plans for permanent housing upon program completion.

The 10 centers will be modelled after The Healing Place of Louisville. "We chose the Healing Place," said Governor Fletcher, "because we wanted to promote recovery throughout Kentucky in a way that is proven to be successful, is cost-effective, and is designed to be replicated in any place in the Commonwealth."

According to reports, more than 65% of Healing Place alumni are sober one year after their sobriety date (five times the national average). The long-term recovery program costs $25 per client per day (compared to more than $200 per day in most treatment facilities), and saves tax payers an estimated $3 million a year in emergency room visits and jail costs alone.

Not a treatment or rehab program in the clinical sense, the Healing Place bases its approach on personal responsibility for recovery and peer mentors. "While not trained therapists or counsellors" said President and CEO Jan Davidson, "their success in recovery gives them a built-in credibility to relate to other addicts with their own personal recovery. These peer mentors share their experience, strength, and hope under the supervision of clinically trained staff."

Kentucky Housing Corporation will serve as the administrator for Recovery Kentucky, which is being funded through existing resources. In addition to the 10 centers in Kentucky, The Healing Place model is being replicated in Indiana, Virginia, and North Carolina. One center will be located in Richmond, Kentucky. Pictured here is Kentucky Housing Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Ben A. Cook (far right) with (from far left) U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Regional Coordinator, Michael German; Richmond Mayor Connie Lawson; and U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director, Philip Mangano.

Commitments made to end homelessness across the country are materializing as 10-Year Plan initiatives in cities, counties and states begin to yield results. Reports from 30 of American's largest cities indicate 24,652 housing units have been developed or committed for people experiencing chronic homelessness. 43,800 affordable housing units for low-income residents are occupied or under development.

The report was compiled by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness as part of ongoing efforts to track results from 10-Year Plan initiatives. To date, 205 cities and several states are in the process of developing or implementing 10-Year Plans.

"Our responsibility is to track progress throughout the nation in the creation of permanent supportive housing unites and tenancies to demonstrate the results from planning committees. We're doing that and the outcomes are inspiring," said Council Executive Director Philip Mangano.

Leaders of state and local governments are committing dollars to 10-Year Plan implementation. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has committed $50 million to the city's housing trust fund for homeless people, an investment city officials expect will leverage an additional $250 million. Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota committed $540 million to develop 4,000 units of housing over the next seven years as part of the state's Business Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness. And New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg with state Governor George Pataki announced over $1 billion in funding to develop 9,000 units of supportive housing and to provide support services over the next 10 years. All total, investments among the 30 communities included in the report top $2 billion.

Private businesses and philanthropic sources are contributing as well. Business leaders in Atlanta, Georgia, for example, raised over $20 million to implement the strategies recommended in the City's Blueprint to End Chronic Homelessness.

Most of the cities that were surveyed are including "Housing First" as part of their 10-Year Plan strategy. Under Housing First, people experiencing chronic homelessness move from the streets into housing with enriched support services. Most of the communities report data similar to Columbus, Ohio where the Community Shelter Board reports that 93% of those previously experiencing chronic homelessness are staying housed.