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.

WASHINGTON, DC. This week the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a Continuing Resolution, co-written by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, that would extend funding for nearly all government programs through the end of FY 2007 at the FY 2006 levels. A laudable exception would be increases over the FY 2006 levels for a number of programs that serve to prevent and end homelessness including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Homeless Assistance Grants (+$114 million, for a level of just over $1.44 billion), the Section 8 tenant (+$502 million) and project based (+$939 million) rental assistance programs, the public housing operating fund (+$300 million) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Care for the Homeless program (+$18 million). The increase for the Health Care for the Homeless program is part of a $209.6 milllion increase for the Community Health Centers program, which would be funded at $1.9 billion, to finance over 300 new or expanded health centers, serving an estimated 1.2 million new patients. Within this total, $25 million would provide additional funding to existing health centers. A summary provided by the House Committee on Appropriations provides additional information about the Section 8 and public housing funding levels contained in the bill,

• Section 8 Tenant-Based Program: $15.9 billion, an increase of $502 million to allow HUD to renew 70,000 housing vouchers currently in use by individuals and families
• Section 8 Project-Based Program: $5.9 billion, an increase of $939 million to allow HUD to renew 157,000 housing vouchers currently in use by individuals and families.
• Public Housing Operating Fund: $3.8 billion, an increase of $300 million to allow Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to address critical operating needs after last year's energy hikes saddled PHAs with $287 million in unexpected utility costs. This increase will help to restore staff levels, maintenance activities, elderly service coordinators, security officers and equipment.

The federal government has been operating under a series of short term Continuing Resolutions holding spending at FY 2006 levels since the beginning of the 2007 fiscal year on October 1, 2006 pending final action by Congress on the FY 2007 budget. With the President scheduled to present his FY 2008 budget next week, congressional leaders have decided to complete action on FY 2007 funding through an encompassing long term Continuing Resolution so they can begin their work on the FY 2008 budget in a timely manner. Following action by the House this week on the Continuing Resolution, the Senate will consider the measure next week.

The increases noted above for the Homeless Assistance Grants and Health Care for the Homeless programs would represent the sixth straight year of increased federal resources for programs targeted to homelessness.

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.

NEW JERSEY. If actions speak louder than words, the citizens, community leaders, and elected and appointed officials of New Jersey have set a marker in the National Partnership to End Homelessness with 43 Project Homeless Connect events last Thursday in 20 counties covering the state from end to end including the Morris County Connect held during December's 2006 National PHC Week. This was one of two firsts last week as Hudson County became the 100th local jurisdiction to adopt the PHC innovation since its origination in San Francisco by Mayor Gavin Newsom in October 2004 and promotion by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness as a best practice.

The state "was lit up" noted one organizer, who said the widespread publicity including recruitment of volunteers and donations for events at more than 40 sites created statewide awareness and focus on solutions to homelessness among the citizens of New Jersey on that day. The effort, timed to coincide with the 2007 Point in Time count, was led by the New Jersey Alliance on the Homeless and Randi Moore of Monarch Housing Associates with the support of the United Way, the New Jersey Housing Mortgage and Finance Agency, and the Corporation for Supportive Housing. Representatives of numerous federal agencies including the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, and Agriculture were on hand providing application assistance and information on food stamps, housing, social security, and support services. With such a large undertaking, results are still being tabulated but data reported from 18 of the 20 counties show 4,192 homeless guests were assisted by 735 volunteers.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, attended Connect events in Paterson in Passaic County and Jersey City in Hudson County, speaking with the organizers, homeless guests, volunteers and local and state and federal officials in attendance. Director Mangano was accompanied by Samuel Miller of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development New York Regional Office who on detail to the Council has been working for months with event organizers and community 10-Year Plan efforts throughout New Jersey, and newly named Region 2 Council Coordinator Robert Cardillo. At the Paterson St. Joseph Hospital Regional Medical Center Harbor House Connect location, Director Mangano greeted homeless guests, thanked volunteers, and met with New Jersey Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells, Freeholder Director Elease Evans and HUD field office director Diane Johnson and discussed emergency room homeless cost data with Emergency Services Director and 10-Year Plan Co-chair Dr. James Pruden.

Traveling to the Jersey City Armory Connect location, Director Mangano spoke with New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency Director of Supportive Housing and Special Needs Pamela McCrory; and Hudson County 10-Year Plan Co-Chairs Bishop Thomas Donato and United Way President Daniel Altilio, who last fall helped organize a meeting of United Way Presidents throughout New Jersey with Director Mangano. While in Hudson County, Director Mangano was invited to inform the Board of Chosen Freeholders about the national effort to end homelessness. At the Board meeting, County Executive and 10-Year Plan Co-chair Thomas DeGise presented his State of the County address. Mr. DeGise devoted a significant portion of his address to the issue of chronic homelessness including the estimated 14% who are veterans, saying: " In a sense, they remain on the battlefield. We must finally bring them home". He presented a resolution, which the Freeholders adopted, calling on Governor Corzine to create a statewide system of county-based Trust Funds to prevent and end homelessness. See related Words of Week story this issue for excerpts from Mr. DeGise's State of the County address.

Homeless Trust Funds are a dedicated source of public funds, such as document recording fees, real estate transfer taxes and sales taxes, generally established through ordinance or legislation. Funds are used for a variety of prevention and intervention services including security deposits, eviction and foreclosure prevention assistance, case management, housing and supportive services.

The 43 PHC events in New Jersey provide many examples of partnerships between the public and private sectors. In Mercer County, Tyco International which is supporting the county's 10-Year Plan implementation, also helped with the planning of last weeks PHC including the participation of one of its executives as a volunteer. Master level social work interns from Rutgers University helped plan and organize events in Middlesex County. In rural Sussex County where organizers faced limited transportation options, a telephone number for a local Baptist Church was printed on the event flyer and volunteers from the church were on call to provide transportation as needed. In Mercer County, five Temple University dental students performed over 200 dental exams. Let's Rock America, a New Jersey online music magazine for independent musicians held a concert to collect blankets. The 200 blankets were distributed at the PHC events. United Ways from across the state were involved in events in a number of ways including planning, donations, and outreach. Students from local high schools in Bergen County served food throughout the day and in Campden, Medical Outreach Teams gave flu shots to individuals attending the event and also went out into the community to provide shots to individuals on the streets and in transportation centers.

Pictured here top at the Passaic County PHC in Paterson are, l-r, 10-Year Plan co-chair Dr. Pruden, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Region 2 Director Sean Moss, HUD New Jersey Field Office Director Diane Johnson, Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders Chair Elease Evans, New Jersey Secretary of State Nina Mitchell-Wells, Jay Boxwell of Harbor House, Passaic United Way President and CEO Yvonne Zuidema, and Sam Miller. Pictured middle is Director Mangano receiving a Project Homeless Connect Proclamation from the City of Bayonne in Hudson County.

In addition to New Jersey's statewide Project Homeless Connect, Portland, Oregon, Waco, Texas, and 8 Counties in Michigan also held Connect events last week (see related stories). In December, 39 communities participated in 2006 National Project Homeless Connect Week. A recent article in the newsletter of the National League of Cities' Nations Cities Weekly highlighted this effort. Please visit the Council's website, www.usich.gov, for information about the Project Homeless Connect innovation, results from 2006 National Week, and upcoming Connect events around the country.

MICHIGAN. The seven Project Homeless Connect events in Michigan last week that provided assistance to more than 1500 homeless people were some of the first fruits of the Michigan statewide effort to end homelessness, embodied in the 60 county 10-Year Plans covering every square mile of the state unveiled by the state at a Homeless Summit in October. State and county leaders attending the summit became enthusiastic about the Project Homeless Connect innovation after hearing presentations by United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) Executive Director Philip Mangano and Regional Coordinator John O'Brien on how Connect events serve to support 10-Year Plan implementation efforts. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority offered $1000 seed grants through the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH) to help support county PHC efforts. Technical assistance was provided by MCAH, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, and the Interagency Council.

The seven countywide Connect events were held on January 25 in Benton Harbor/Berrien County; Kalamazoo/Kalamazoo County; Adrian/Lenawee County; Dowagiac/Cass County; Roseville/Macomb County; Alpena/Alpena County; and Grand Rapids/Kent County. Lynn Nee of the Michigan Network for Youth and Families who helped organize and coordinate events reports that approximately 500 volunteers escorted the 1500 homeless guests through the service areas at the eight sites, provided meal service, " and a friendly ear to listen." In Grand Rapids, Michigan's second largest city, nearly 700 homeless individuals were assisted. Event organizers were surprised and delighted when an extra 60 volunteers who had not pre-registered showed up to assist guests at the Van Andel arena which had been made available by Mayor George Heartwell and city officials. In the rural northern Michigan county of Alpena, organizers were surprised by the turnout of over 200 seeking assistance. Already the Salvation Army has donated $1000 to help the community plan its next Connect event.

PORTLAND, OREGON. Portland/Multnomah County held its 4th Project Homeless Connect last week providing services to over 700 individuals with the help of 250 citizen volunteers and 200 service volunteers. At the volunteer rally, County Chairman Ted Wheeler said, " It is important for us to remember that today's event is not the only thing we are doing about homelessness, but that Project Homeless Connect is part of our community's plan to end homelessness in ten years." This sentiment was echoed by Portland Mayor Tom Potter who said of the event, " Today we are building the community's will to bring an end to homelessness. Government can't do this alone. Project Homeless Connect brings in the support of our sponsors and our civic leaders. We need them. We need all of you."

Two notable features of last week's event were the legal assistance rendered to 75 persons by volunteer lawyers coordinated by Monica Goracke of the Oregon Law Center, and the "observer" track organized by United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson which brought representatives of several counties in Washington State and Oregon to the Portland PHC.

After the event, Attorney Goracke said that "over half of the people we saw came to us with minor criminal issues, mostly relating to fines for past misdemeanors that they couldn't pay and that were accumulating. These fines have interfered with their applying for housing, jobs, and benefits. We were able to start the process here that we are confident can bring a fairly rapid resolution to these situations and remove the obstacles in their path to apply for these life essentials. This was a lot different from our Family Project Homeless Connect last June when mostly we were presented with child custody and other civil family law issues."

28 observers attended the Portland PHC representing Albany, Eugene/Lane County, and Clakamas County in Oregon and Tacoma/Pierce County, Everett/Snonomish County, Olympia/ Thurston County, Port Angeles/Clallam County, Vancouver/Clarke County, the United Way of Seattle/King County, and the Washington State Coalition for the Homeless. The day's events included a pre-event meeting with Portland Mayor Potter, Multnomah County Chairman Wheeler, and Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten, the opportunity to roam freely during the event talking with team leaders and volunteers in order to better understand the details of how the event was organized, and a meeting with Portland/Multnomah 10-Year Plan Director Heather Lyons and Community Action Director Mary Li to further explore Connect events as tools for supporting and advancing 10-Year Plan efforts. Portland will host its second Family Connect in June. Among the observer communities, Eugene/Lane County OR has planned a PHC for February 8 and Albany, OR will host one in April.

Pictured here, top, l-r, Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler, Portland Mayor Tom Potter, and Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten. Pictured second, Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler speaking an the opening rally for the volunteers, with representatives of sponsors in the background, Pictured third, Multnomah Community Action Director Mary Li addressing the guest observers. Pictured bottom, volunteers from the US. Department of Veterans Affairs.

WACO, TEXAS. Eighty-three homeless and at-risk individuals were assisted by 60 volunteers at Waco's second Project Homeless Connect, reports Vicki Halfmann of the City of Waco. Of those, 22 identified themselves as veterans. Waco's Project Homeless Connect expands its earlier veteran Stand Down efforts. The January 25 event, timed to coincide with the Point In Time Count, was organized by the City of Waco, Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition, and Baylor University School of Social Work.

The First Lutheran Church donated the use of their facility for the event, and numerous local businesses donated hats, gloves, coats, personal hygiene products, and gift cards. The City also held a socks and coat drive in preparation for the event. Representatives of the federal Social Security Administration and Veterans Affairs benefits and medical staff were on hand as was the Waco Housing Authority. Among onsite services, 52 persons were assisted with food stamp enrollment by the Helping Hands Food Stamp Outreach program; the Waco- McLellan County Health Department provided health screenings; the non profit Heart of Texas Workforce Center provided job training information; the Department of Public Safety assisted people in need of identification cards, and the Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation and Central Texas Youth Services Bureau were both visited by more than two dozen people.

The White House. Last week, President George W. Bush signed a proclamation observing the Fifth Anniversary of the USA Freedom Corps. Created in 2002, the USA Freedom Corps has provided access to volunteering opportunities for thousands of Americans. Among the national programs supported by the USA Freedom Corps are AmeriCorps, Citizen Corps, and Senior Corps. On the very day the President signed the proclamation, nearly 50 AmeriCorps volunteers were taking part in the Passaic County, New Jersey Project Homeless Connect. For several weeks, these AmeriCorps volunteers had helped plan and advertise the event which assisted 258 people. The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness would like to congratulate the USA Freedom Corps, one of twenty member agencies of the Council, on its 5th year anniversary and thank all the AmeriCorps volunteers who have participated in Project Homeless Connect events and other community efforts to prevent and end homelessness.

Among the special guests sitting with First Lady Laura Bush at last week's State of the Union address were Father Michael Boland, President and CEO of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Chicago; and high school junior Shannon Hickey, founder of Mychal's Message in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a volunteer effort to meet the clothing and other practical needs of homeless people dedicated to the memory of the late Father Mychal Judge killed in the World Trade Center bombings. To date, Shannon's efforts have resulted in the collection and distribution of over 100,000 new items. Father Boland and Chicago Diocese Catholic Charities were recognized as an example of what can be accomplished for our homeless neighbors when government partners with effective faith-based and community organizations. In 1998 Congress enacted legislation, the Veterans Affairs Loan Guarantee Program for Transitional Multifamily Housing, to reduce the number of homeless veterans in our country. The St. Leo Residence, which opened earlier this month providing housing for 141 veterans, was designed and built by Catholic Charities of Chicago and is the first project to be completed through this Loan Guarantee pilot program. In addition to the studio apartments in the residence, the project will include a U.S. Department of Labor job training office, a community health center, and an adjacent home for disabled veterans. To read more about the Loan Guarantee pilot program and other VA programs for homeless veterans, click here.

Department of Veterans Affairs. On the subject of veterans needs, last week Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson announced a $40 million initiative over the next 3 years to enhance health care services to the more than 1 million visually impaired veterans and to active duty personnel with visual impairments. Visually impaired veterans will be able to receive enhanced eye care services closer to their homes. " Our goal will be early intervention, so that we can maximize the independence of veterans and substantially reduce their dependence on their families and communities," said VA Acting Under Secretary of Health Dr. Michael Kussman. Each of the VA's regional networks (VISNs) will implement a plan to provide eye care to veterans with visual impairments ranging from 20/70 to total blindness. The VA's 10 existing inpatient blind rehabilitation centers will continue to provide the Departments most intensive eye care services, but now each VISM will also provide outpatient based rehabilitation care.

SAMHSA. US Department of Health and Human Services. Last week, SAMHSA ( Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) announced the solicitation of applications for the FY 2007 Jail Diversion Program. SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health expects to be able to award two grants for up to 3 years, pending final congressional action on FY 2007 appropriations, to government entities or tribal organizations to "promote the transformation of systems to improve services for justice-involved adults with mental illness" with the intention " to improve the capacity of systems to divert these individuals away from the criminal justice system to community based integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment and other appropriate support services."

With this issue, the e-news highlights remarks of Hudson County, NJ Executive Tom DeGise who devoted nearly a fifth of his State of the County address to discussing homelessness and his county's commitment to developing a 10-Year Plan; and Lowell, Massachusetts City Manager Bernard Lynch, who this week helped kickoff the effort to create a 10-Year Plan to end homelessness in the state's fourth largest city.

From State of the County Remarks of Hudson County, New Jersey Executive Thomas DeGise:

. . . This morning I met with a group of remarkable volunteers and professionals taking part in Project Homeless Connect, and our annual homeless Point in Time Count.

. . . If we look inside the numbers, we can gain an insight into how we might finally address this frustrating issue properly. Last year's census found that there were at least 2,973 people experiencing homelessness. Of those, 308 were considered chronically homeless. These numbers mesh with what experts find nationwide.

. . .The chronically homeless are typically older single men, struggling with addiction, mental illness, physical disabilities, and the health problems associated with long period of exposure.

. . . As explained in a February 2006 article in The New Yorker magazine, our current, haphazard approach to dealing with chronic homelessness is shockingly expensive - and ineffective.

. . . While an equivalent study has yet to be done in Hudson County, local experts believe our chronically homeless fall into much the same pattern, making them one of the stressors on an already strained charity care system.

. . . There is something else to consider as well: approximately 14% of our chronic homeless are disabled veterans.

. . . Today, in conjunction with the Board of Freeholders Task Force on Homelessness, we present for the Board's consideration a resolution. It calls on Governor Corzine to create a statewide system of County-based Trust Funds to prevent and end homelessness. Governor, if your priority is reducing the cost of services in the name of property tax reform, here is a great way to do just that. And best of all it is the right thing to do.

From remarks of Lowell, MA City Manager Bernard Lynch:

. . . So many issues have come across my desk since becoming city manager. Difficult decisions have had to be made concerning the finances of the city.

. . . I've said that I want to run the city like a business and put together a long range capital plan to spell out how the work will get done. This approach has to include human services. With this in mind, over the next six months we're going to develop a 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, as we now know it.

. . . The Plan will assess our current situation and create a path by which the entire community-Government, Business, Non Profit Institutions, and the Faith-Based Community-will work together to address this challenge of homelessness.

. . . We need to challenge decades old stereotypes to really see who are the homeless in our community- or who are at risk of homelessness. We need to look at the gaps and /or duplication of services and explore new, innovative and more cost effective strategies.

. . . We all have stake in this issue. Alleviating suffering is certainly a compelling reason. It's the right thing to do, ending homelessness as we know it, can save lives as well as making better use of limited public dollars.

email: ichnews@setechnology.com

web: http://www.usich.gov