SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS. Mayor Domenic Sarno, who just one year ago announced a 39% reduction in street homelessness and a 9% reduction in overall homelessness, today announced the second straight year of decrease in his city, with a 35% reduction in street homelessness and another 9% overall decrease in the number of individuals homeless in the city. Mayor Sarno called the decrease surprising good news in the midst of the economic downturn and commended the "point guard" of his city team, Gerry McCafferty, Deputy Director of Homeless and Special Needs Housing in the City of Springfield Office of Housing. Mayor Sarno is pictured here at the press event.

Mayor Sarno greeted the members of the implementation team and local providers, recalling his history on the issue as a City Council member before becoming Mayor. Mayor Sarno welcomed United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano for the announcement, calling him "a true friend and partner" to the city.

Director Mangano (pictured here), who joined Mayor Sarno for last year's announcement and was present when former Mayor Charles Ryan unveiled the 10 Year Plan in January 2007 and named Community Champion Robert Schwarz to lead implementation, congratulated the Springfield partners on their latest results at a City Hall press event.

"Mayor Sarno's consistent leadership on this issue together with the extraordinary team he has created here is a model for mayors and communities across our country," indicated Director Mangano. "Now today we learn once again why Springfield is in the forefront of small cities in creating change and securing results. Once again the numbers are down on Springfield's streets. And fewer of your most vulnerable and disabled neighbors are homeless. These multi-year reductions are not by chance or coincidence. Nor are they the results of relying on outmoded responses that relied more on nostalgia for their existence, than results." Director Mangano further urged the partners to recalibrate the 10 Year Plan in light of their successes and new strategies, and to continue the proven strategy of concentrating - not dissipating - new resources as they address family homelessness. Director Mangano specifically encouraged the city's adoption of the proven one-stop technology to coordinate new federal resources from the economic stimulus.

Mayor Sarno announced that Peter Straley, CEO of Health New England and Mary Walachy of the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation will become the new Community Champions of Homes Within Reach, with the retirement of Community Champion Robert Schwarz, Vice President of Peter Pan Bus Lines and Implementation Chair. Mr. Straley, acknowledging the Mayor's remarks, expressed his view of the road ahead, noting "success will breed success." Pictured here are (left to right): Mayor Sarno, Mr. Straley, Ms. Walachy, and Mr. Schwarz at rear.

Mr. Schwarz, honored by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness with the "Home for Every American" Community Champion award in 2008, was presented an official recognition by the Mayor.

"What a team you have here - point person Gerry McCafferty has set a new standard of performance in getting the job done. Bob Schwarz has done the same for Community Champions. Reverend Dyson has evolved the faith response in Project Connect and with the Samaritans," noted Director Mangano. "Add to them the expansive and inclusive members of the Homes within Reach Implementation Committee, and the new implementation leadership of Mary Walachy of the Davis Foundation and Peter Straley of Health New England." Ms. McCafferty provided details of the decrease from the city's count, noting that the lessons learned will provide a sharper focus now on family homelessness. Pictured here are (left to right): Director Mangano, Ms. McCafferty, and Mayor Sarno.

Regional partners were also present for the press event. Jack Downing and Steve Como of Solider On in Western Massachusetts, who are partners to the implementation of both HUD-VASH and the Pioneer Valley Regional 10 Year Plan, attended and took part.

Members of the Implementation Committee, in addition to Mr. Schwarz, have been: Michael Ashe, Hampden County Sheriff's Department; Paul Bailey, Springfield Partners for Community Action; Michaelann Bewsee, ARISE for Social Justice; Helen Caulton, Director, Health and Human Services, City of Springfield; Russ Denver, Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, Inc.; Rev. Gregory Dyson, Lion's Den; Doreen Fadus, Health Care for the Homeless; Kent Faerber, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts; Peter Gagliardi, HAP, Inc.; Marion Hohn, Western Massachusetts Legal Services; William H. Abrashkin, Springfield Housing Authority; Bill Miller, Friends of the Homeless; David Modzelewski, Department of Mental Health; Kevin Noonan, Open Pantry; Jerry Ray, Mental Health Association; Vickie Riddle, Catholic Charities; Ira Rubenzahl, Springfield Technical Community College; Ron Sadowsky, Williams Distributing Corp.; Bill Ward, Regional Employment Board; Joel Weiss, United Way of Pioneer Valley; and Bud Williams, Springfield City Council.

Homes Within Reach calls for development of a Homeless Resource Center, which will form a campus with the existing Friends of the Homeless facility in Springfield. The Resource Center will be a 24-hour-a-day facility where individuals who are homeless can access employment services, health care, and social services, all focused on moving them out of homelessness. Friends of the Homeless expects to break ground on the new facility in Spring 2009.

A new $1 million award to the region through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts initiative for Regional Networks will enable Springfield to use a Housing First model to serve 38 individuals, and to provide prevention and rapid rehousing grants to 310 families, starting March 1.

DALLAS, TEXAS. The Mayors of the six largest cities in Texas met last week in Dallas City Hall hosted by Mayor Tom Leppert, as they signed a letter to Governor Rick Perry and the Texas legislature to seek an additional $25 million for mental health services for people who are homeless and new initiatives to achieve successful prisoner reentry.

"In addition to the profound toll that housing insecurity exacts on families, individuals and neighborhoods, homelessness is expensive to Texas taxpayers," the Mayors wrote. "Independent studies in Bexar, Travis and Tarrant County, for example, all point to a response system that cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars each year. Worse, too many of the responses - like Emergency Room-delivered health care - perpetuate the problem, rather than offer meaningful and proven solutions."

"While each urban area has its own unique service delivery system, we can all agree that supportive housing coupled with supportive services is the most effective way to assist homeless individuals and families live more stable and productive lives."

The Mayors' letter was signed by Mayor Leppert, Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief who announced a 10% reduction in homelessness last week, Houston Mayor Bill White, Austin Mayor Will Wynn, El Paso Mayor John Cook and Denton Mayor Mark Burroughs, who were present for the meeting. The Mayors letter also included signatories San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger, Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck, and Corpus Christi Mayor Henry Garrett.

"The Big City Mayors are demonstrating the new advocacy on the issue of homelessness being advanced by jurisdictional leaders at every level," indicated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. "This effort parallels the effort in California with twenty jurisdictional leaders from cities and counties signed on to encourage that Governor on this issue."

"The issue of homelessness is not just a humanitarian issue, it's a matter of saving dollars and cents we now spend on jails, emergency rooms" and other services," Mayor White said. "Our law enforcement constantly has to make decisions that should be made by social workers."

In their letter, the Mayors of the eight largest urban areas in Texas requested that the State provide $25 million annually in funding for supportive services, work and housing retention services that help the most vulnerable homeless individuals and families in Texas access and retain housing. The funds will be used to leverage local initiatives that provide housing and supportive services to homeless individuals and families. Uses include support for the operation of homeless assistance centers and supportive services for residents of permanent supportive housing.

A portion of the requested funds (a maximum of 10% of the total allocation) will go to the balance of the state also impacted by the need for homeless services. In the eight urban areas, the remaining funds will be allocated according to the overall population of the cities. Oversight and intergovernmental coordination will be provided by the Texas Interagency Council on Homelessness. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) will serve as the fiscal agent, and funds will be distributed to the lead agency within each urban area as identified by the largest city in each urban area. The Texas Homeless Network will serve as the lead agency for the balance of the state.

The Mayors also agreed that assisting with the re- entry of individuals back into the community will help to address homelessness among the mental health/mental retardation population. They seek to create strategic partnerships with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to better link the re- entry population from prisons, and the operational and service subsidies that come with them, to supportive services. The Mayors requested that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Department of Public Safety collaborate to issue an official Texas ID Certificate for everyone discharged from a Texas jail or prison prior to their release date. This is specifically an issue that Mayor Moncrief addressed in the city- county 10 Year Plan.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS. Initiating a new special focus on ending chronic homelessness, the Tarrant County United Way has released a call for applications for a wide variety of housing and consumer-focused services in support of implementation of Directions Home, the Fort Worth- Tarrant County 10 Year Plan that last week announced a 10% overall reduction in homelessness since 2008.

Directions Home was released last summer by Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief, Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Brooks, and Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano has visited Fort Worth several times at the Mayor's invitation and also that of business leaders, including Downtown Fort Worth's Andy Taft, to encourage and support the city-county 10 Year Plan.

According to United Way, more than 4,000 people in the county are homeless, and one in four is chronically homeless, a rate higher than state and national averages. In releasing the call for applications for $1.22 million, United Way stated, "While United Way has funded homeless shelters such as the Presbyterian Night Shelter and Salvation Army for many years, it is now going to play a more active role than ever before. Fort Worth, Arlington, and the county all have developed long- range homelessness plans with input from area residents."

This year's Tarrant County United Way campaign pledge form gives donors the option of designating part of their contributions to address homelessness. United Way also plans to call on companies and individuals to solicit donations specifically for this issue. A volunteer panel of Tarrant County leaders will allocate the money.

In releasing the call for applications, United Way stressed the important role of permanent supportive housing, noting: "this cost-effective combination of quality, affordable housing and supportive services is our nation's best practice for ending chronic homelessness and the number one strategy of the Directions Home plan."

United Way will award $768,250 in City General Funds in high-intensity and medium-intensity supportive services that will be coupled with rental assistance vouchers administered by the Fort Worth Housing Authority. A portion of the award will support high- intensity services for 100 chronic and vulnerable households using Shelter Plus Care.

The City has allocated funding for a new permanent supportive housing initiative of its own called the Directions Home Voucher Program (DHVP). The rental assistance portion of the DHVP will be run by the Fort Worth Housing Authority using guidelines similar to the Shelter + Care program. United Way will fund corresponding medium-intensity case management with a maximum staff to household ratio of 1:20 for 100 chronic and vulnerable households.

United Way will award $345,000 from City General Funds to assist the unsheltered and emergency sheltered homeless address their mental health and chemical dependency issues "that frustrate their efforts to access and retain housing and employment." Directions Home identifies the need for street outreach, outpatient mental health services, substance abuse counseling, case management and a peer support system for the unsheltered and emergency sheltered homeless in Fort Worth. The new initiative will improve substance abuse and health outcomes for unsheltered and emergency sheltered homeless and connect them to appropriate housing and employment opportunities.

United Way is requesting an application by the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition for operations funding for the implementation of Directions Home action items and hiring a county-wide homeless system/service coordinator. The City has allocated $89,926 to work with the Tarrant County Continuum of Care to streamline processes, disseminate best practices, and coordinate prevention.

The United Way is making available $12,000 from a Wal-Mart grant for new storage space for people who are homeless. Because over 1,400 people live on the streets or in emergency shelters, access to storage space has proven to be a frustrating experience. Additional storage capacity is needed for unsheltered and emergency sheltered people to store critical documents and personal belongings. This RFP is for Tarrant County agencies to apply for funds made available through the Wal-Mart State Giving Grant. Wal-Mart was announced as a 10 Year Plan partner by Mayor Moncrief at August's Plan event.

WASHINGTON, DC. Health centers play an important role and have had a critical impact on the health care status of underserved and vulnerable populations throughout the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which lead the creation of over 1,200 new health centers over the five-year period 2001-2006. At the end of calendar year 2007, there were over 1,000 health centers with more than 7,000 comprehensive primary care service sites located in urban and rural underserved areas throughout the U.S. and its territories. Over 16 million medically underserved and uninsured patients receive comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care services through federally-funded health centers, according to the Department.

HHS has just announced $7 million in competitive funds in two programs aimed at health centers. The resources are described below, and interested applicants should read the relevant full funding announcement for complete details, Details are available at www.grants.gov

SERVICES TO ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE. $5 million will be awarded to increase access to primary care through expansion of so-called "enabling" services, which include but are not limited to: case management, services to assist patients to gain financial support for health and social services, outreach, transportation and interpretive services; and education of patients and the community regarding the availability and appropriate use of health services.

All health centers must provide enabling services which help ensure access to the required primary health care services as well as facilitate access to comprehensive health and social services. Applicants for this funding opportunity are expected to describe the target population and its need for enabling services; present a service delivery plan that demonstrates responsiveness to the identified needs of the target population; and present a sound business plan that links the goals and objectives from the service delivery plan to the budget.

Applications are due March 2 for a projected 50 awards of $100,000 in this initiative. Grants are limited to organizations funded as Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless and/or Public Housing Primary Care. Organizations receiving funding only under section 330(e) Community Health Centers are not eligible for these supplemental grant awards.

Special populations often require additional assistance when accessing primary health care services. Common barriers include lack of health insurance, lack of transportation, language and cultural barriers, and limited or no knowledge of the availability of services. The use of enabling services enhances the ability of health centers to provide comprehensive primary care, increases access to essential health care services, and continues to improve the health status of those served.

PLANNING GRANTS FOR NEW HEALTH CENTERS. In a second competition, HHS will make up to 25 awards averaging $80,000 for Planning Grants to demonstrate the need for health services in the community from public or non-profit organizations who will plan for the development of a comprehensive primary care health center under the Health Center Program authorized under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. A high poverty area funding priority will be awarded to eligible applicants that demonstrate that the proposed service area for the planning grant funding has a poverty rate which is greater than the national rate of 12.5% as determined by the Bureau of Census. Preference will be given to eligible applications proposing to serve sparsely populated areas (i.e., entire proposed service area has seven or less persons per square mile).

Eligible applicants are public and non-profit private entities, including tribes and tribal organizations, faith- based and community-based organizations. Applicants may not be a current section 330 funded health center. Applications are due March 13.

CINCINNATI, OHIO. A data match of over 1,000 homeless individuals in Cincinnati has revealed that, in a one-year period, the population - about one-third of the 3,300 enumerated locally as homeless - spent an annual average of 41 nights in jail and 35 nights in shelter. " . . . it suggests that the jail was on many days a high-priced shelter for the homeless - and that's not good for either the homeless or the taxpayers," said a story in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Cincinnati's preliminary data is the latest to emerge among more than 65 Council-inspired cost studies that have generated unprecedented political will to reinvest in innovative strategies.

Of those jailed, half have been identified as having a mental illness. The number was higher (71 percent) for women, and higher as a whole (61 percent) for those who were jailed more than three times. Of those jailed, 58 percent of women and 41 percent of men had mental health and substance abuse problems. About 56 percent were identified as chronically homeless. The total number of jail nights was 15% higher than the number of shelter nights.

"If the jail is a solution for homelessness, we've got a problem," Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper said after a discussion of the data. "In this case, we have a system already at capacity and the idea that we're cycling homeless people in over and over again - it just doesn't make sense. (It) is not a good use of dollars and does not solve the underlying problem." Hamilton County Commissioners had to lay off workers and cut services to balance the budget last year.

The City Council of Cincinnati passed an emergency ordinance with the theme of "Homeless to Homes" in October 2008 directing the local Continuum of Care to "address the inadequacies of the current provision of services for single homelessness individuals" and "to put into place a comprehensive plan" that would be "based on nationally recognized best- practice methods and which would guide public resource investment in the future to be outcome- oriented. The recommendations are due to the city and county by March 31.

To create the analysis, which will be presented in March to the city and county, data was provided to The Partnership Center, Ltd. (PCL) by the Hamilton County Justice System on all persons arrested and incarcerated from October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2008. PCL unduplicated the jail data and then matched it to HMIS data. The data is part of a larger study by the Cincinnati/Hamilton County Continuum of Care for the Homeless.

WASHINGTON, DC. The service delivery model of Assertive Community Treatment teams (ACT) is the subject of the first in a new series of Evidence-Based Practice KITS (Knowledge Informing Transformation) released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Evidence-based practice kits are designed to close the gap between knowledge and mental health practice in the field.

The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness has encouraged the deployment of ACT Teams as one of the innovative strategies to engage and maintain the housing of those experiencing chronic homelessness, along with Rapid Rehousing strategies and Project Homeless Connect.

ACT targets consumers with severe and persistent mental illness and significant difficulty doing the everyday things needed to live independently in the community, or continuously high-service need. According to the toolkit and as practiced successfully in support of the innovation of Housing First, ACT is a team approach providing in vivo or home-focused services with a small, shared caseload and time- unlimited services. Flexible service delivery with a fixed point of responsibility and 24/7 crisis management are other attributes. ACT team members are experienced in psychiatry, psychology, nursing, social work, rehabilitation, substance-abuse treatment, and employment. Rather than referring consumers to multiple programs and services, the ACT team provides the treatment and services consumers need.

SAMHSA's evidence-based materials help mental health caregivers provide a broad range of proven mental health services in a wide variety of community settings. The kits provide information and guidance on tools and resources that states, communities, and organizations can use to find the evidence-based practices best suited to the unique mental health care needs of the populations they serve. The ACT kit offers information and guidance on providing comprehensive mental health treatment and support services to help individuals with serious mental illness stay out of the hospital and live successfully in the community. The information can help mental health providers develop community-based services that are better suited to the individual needs of clients.

Included in the ACT kit and in future kits are materials to introduce the practice to a wide variety of stakeholders, including Spanish and English videos, brochures, and a PowerPoint presentation; information for state mental health authorities and program administrators to help them set up systems to support the practice; a manual and accompanying video to train front-line staff; evaluation/quality assurance materials to ensure the practice works as planned, and a summary of the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of the practice. Free versions of the KIT are available online and in CD-ROM/DVD format.

SALEM, OREGON. Based on the recommendations of the Governor's Task Force on Veterans Services which found that just over 20% of all veterans in Oregon were identified in state systems and receiving some benefits, Governor Ted Kulongoski has signed a new Executive Order directing all state agencies to develop and implement a process to identify veterans and connect them with benefits and services. The Governor's Task Force on Veterans Services issued its final report in December and was charged to review all Oregon veterans' policies and services, determine what works and what doesn't, and how Oregon could enhance its services and benefits to veterans.

It was expected at the time of the Executive Order that "a substantial amount of aid is not being accessed by veterans in Oregon." Now state agencies will ask individuals on all applications and forms if they are interested in learning about veterans benefits. Providing this information on the form or application will be completely voluntary. Those who express interest will be contacted by the Department of Veterans' Affairs and be provided any information they request. Any information gathered about veteran status on state forms will not be used for any other reason except to connect them to information about services and benefits.

"Veterans have selflessly served our state and our country to protect and serve all of us," Governor Ted Kulongoski said. "We need to reach out and identify our veterans to ensure we are connecting them with the benefits and services they have earned." The Task Force's report gives the state "a road map" on how to reach out to veterans across Oregon, according to the Governor.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK. More than 170 orchestras in 46 states will partner in a first-ever event for the League of American Orchestras as musicians across the country support food drives for hungry neighbors in late March. The effort - called Orchestras Feeding America - will occur in conjunction with the upcoming release of a new feature film based on the story of a Juilliard-trained cellist with schizophrenia who becomes homeless and is helped by a Los Angeles Times columnist. "The Soloist" will open in April, depicting the true story of cellist Nathaniel Ayers, his struggle with schizophrenia, his passion for Beethoven, and his friendship with Times columnist Steve Lopez. Jamie Foxx plays Ayers, and Robert Downey, Jr. is Lopez.

Musicians nationwide will collect food to be distributed to local assistance organizations associated with Feeding America. Examples of local activities include: The New York Philharmonic will partner with Food Bank for New York City to hold a food drive during a Young People's Concert. The Louisiana Philharmonic asks picnicking concertgoers to make food donations at an outdoor concert in City Park. The Detroit Symphony is starting a month-long drive. The Rhode Island Philharmonic and Music School will collect food at concerts and at the school's branches.

"The story of 'The Soloist' reminds us that classical music has the power to sustain spirits and change lives, even under the most difficult circumstances," said Jesse Rosen, President and CEO of the League, a national service organization for orchestras. The project was initiated by one of the film's producers, Participant Media.

Have you read the Council's Innovations series - 20 in 20, 5 in 5, and 8 in 8, in which we profile "what's working" to prevent and end homelessness?

All of the Innovations episodes can be found on- line for your on-demand viewing.

And, YES, we'd be happy to consider your innovation for a future episode - we're developing a new series right now.

Just email us the details of the innovation [what is it and how does it work] and the innovator [who is it], the benefits [what changes as a result], the results [what are the outcomes], and contact information [where can we learn more] to: 20in20@usich.gov

email: usich@usich.gov

web: http://www.usich.gov