RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA. Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge, currently First Vice President of the National League of Cities, and Riverside County Supervisor John Tavaglione and other officials gathered last week to focus on the use of new targeted federal homelessness resources from the President's recovery package that will come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and which will flow soon to states, cities, and counties. Pictured here are (left to right): Mayor Loveridge, Director Mangano, and Supervisor Tavaglione.

"These funds have arrived at the perfect time to help the homeless residents of Riverside," stated the Mayor. "The City and local agencies appreciate the federal government's commitment to helping municipalities care for their most vulnerable residents." Riverside has been particularly hard hit in the foreclosure crisis, securing $55 million of California's $541 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) resources from HUD under the 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act.

"President Obama has told us there are no easy solutions in this crisis," indicated Director Mangano. "But new resources will help incubate new solutions for our most vulnerable neighbors." Also taking part in the events were Community Development Director Eva Yakutis, City Homeless Programs Manager and 10 Year Plan point person Don Smith, and Council Regional Coordinator Ed Cabrera.

TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA. Orange County Chair of the Board of Supervisors Patricia C. Bates, County Supervisor John Moorlach, Orange County Rescue Mission President and Tustin City Councilman Jim Palmer, and other officials anticipating the arrival of federal recovery resources met last week at the Rescue Mission to welcome United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who visited the region in December for a meeting of the Southern California KEYS, 10 Year Plan leaders from across the state.

"Orange County is being recognized by the federal government for our regional approach to help move families and individuals out of homelessness and into self-sufficiency," said Chair Bates. " In this present time of budgetary constraints, the nearly $14 million will ensure that we continue to care for our residents most in need."

"Difficult times call for the best from us," indicated Director Mangano in affirming the partnership at work in Orange County. "We need to be at our most creative. Problems call for solutions - innovations that are field tested and evidence based."

""The homeless assistance funding awarded to Orange County is one piece of a larger effort taken by public and private agencies to serve the homeless in Orange County," said Supervisor Moorlach. "County government has long supported efforts to move homeless individuals and families out of crisis and into stability and self-sufficiency."

"As a member of the Board of Supervisors, I am proud to tell you that County government is engaged in many different programs that prevent homelessness and/or assist those who are homeless," he added. "Each year, County government invests approximately $78 million to address the homeless issue in Orange County. Given the size of that investment, it is critical for County government to leverage these resources with other public and private resources."

Also taking part were Karen Roper, Director, Orange County Community Services, key event organizer and 10 Year Plan point person, and Bill Vasquez, HUD Los Angeles Community Planning and Development Director. Ms.Roper was been key to shaping the agenda for the event and reinforcing political will in the partnership.

Orange County secured a record $13.7 million in new targeted federal homeless assistance resources awarded to agencies in Orange County through the recent record $1.6 billion homeless awards announced by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. The record targeted resources will soon be coupled with new homelessness prevention resources to be allocated through the President's recovery package which includes new Emergency Shelter Grant funds for prevention and new FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter funds, as well as numerous other mainstream resources from HUD housing and community development programs.

Council Regional Coordinator Ed Cabrera took part in the events.

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA. San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and Santa Clara County Supervisor Donald Gage last week joined other local partners to direct strategic planning to the new federal recovery and homeless resources for the city and county. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who has visited the county on several occasions, including when the city- county plan was released in 2005, joined the jurisdictional officials at City Hall for discussion about the potential of the new resources.

"San Jose and Santa Clara County are committed to pursuing and end to chronic homelessness," said Mayor Reed. "This federal funding will help us address the increased demand for service that our community is witnessing while also assisting us in reaching our long-term goals." Leslye Krutko, City of San Jose Director of Housing, has been key to the implementation of the plan.

"Mayor Reed and Supervisor Gage have extended their political will and support to a strategic plan to reduce and end homelessness," indicated Director Mangano, "The Mayor's and Supervisor's commitments have positioned the city and county to maximize federal resources coming here, and their plan ensures that the new resources will be invested in solutions - field tested, evidence based innovations that work. That's why these new resources are such good news in contributing to solving homelessness."

San Jose Mayor Reed addressed the city-county plan in his recent State of the City address, noting: "Last year also showed what can happen when we work together to solve problems. By collaborating with the County on Destination Home, an innovative program to end chronic homelessness, we now see a future where no one lives on the streets or in the creeks of San José. Supervisor Don Gage - thanks for co- chairing this effort with me." San Jose's new Public Intoxification Task Force also began meeting early this year. Created in October 2008, the City Council directed that a Task Force investigate recommendations for non-criminal sanctions and diversionary approaches as alternatives to arresting individuals for public intoxication.

Council Regional Coordinator Ed Cabrera took part in the events.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and new 10 Year Plan Commissioner Brian Maienschein welcomed United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano to the city to discuss how San Diego will use newly awarded record U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development homeless assistance funds and additional prevention and housing resources from the President's recovery package. Pictured here are (left to right): Director Mangano, Mayor Sanders, and Commissioner Maienschein.

"In these extremely difficult economic times, a growing number of low-income families, those who were struggling to make ends meet even before the downturn, are faced with the very real prospect of becoming homeless," said Mayor Sanders. "There is also a problem of landlords in foreclosure, forcing families to take on the financial burden of moving at the worst economic time. These new funds aim to pull people back from the brink and they are going to be very helpful in helping to prevent additional homelessness in our city."

"Einstein told us that 'in the midst of difficulty lies opportunity,' " indicated Director Mangano. "The new federal resources come as housing prices are leveled or down, foreclosures are available, and there are relative bargains in housing. New resources require coordination to be concentrated, not dissipated, to achieve measurable results. We must look to the field tested, evidence based strategies, such as one- stops, to achieve the best outcomes for our neighbors."

Director Mangano has visited San Diego several times during the development and launch of their 10 Year Plan whose Community Champion has been local developed and business leader Dene Oliver. Director Mangano addressed the 2006 session of the City Council where the Plan was adopted.

"I think it's important to note that San Diego, a couple of years ago, undertook an effort to address homelessness with a long-term strategic plan and that was formed in 2006 with all the stakeholders on this issue," said Mayor Sanders. " The leader in this effort and the organization who brought everyone to the table and guided the process was United Way, and, Dene Oliver from the private sector was also a driving force in that."

"This is really great news for those in our community who are less fortunate and through all these troubling news that we here every single morning that we get inundated with, this is finally some good news and it's some good news for those that are hurting the most," said Commissioner Maienschein. " This money will go a long way towards providing the housing and towards providing the services for those who need it most. " Mr. Maienschein was named Plan Commissioner in January. A business attorney, he had served as San Diego's 5th District council member since 2000.

Council Regional Coordinator Ed Cabrera took part in the events.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA. Florida Governor Charlie Crist, whose state has been hard hit by the double trouble of the mortgage/foreclosure and job loss crisis, will add to the work of Florida's state interagency council on homelessness issues affecting families who are homeless or at risk and focus on both chronically homeless people and families. Meeting in the State Capitol with United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano and State Senator Mike Fasano of New Port Richey (shown here), the Governor also pledged to convene a statewide summit of city and county 10 Year Plan jurisdictions to share best practices and innovations.

Calling the current economic difficulties "a perfect storm aimed at low-income families," Director Mangano noted the important role of elected leaders in coordinating and concentrating the new housing and prevention resources coming from Washington under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), as well as record targeted federal resources for homelessness.

The new ARRA housing and prevention resources for cities and states will include a total of $1.5 billion from the homeless prevention fund of HUD's Emergency Shelter Grant program, additional FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter resources, and funds for public housing, section 8, tax credit housing projects, and more. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program, part of HERA in 2008, included $541 million for Florida to address foreclosure and prevent blight, while meeting the federal requirement that 25% of the funds be used for households below 50% of median income.

While in Tallahassee, Director Mangano also met with Mayor John Marks (shown here), to discuss his city's 10 Year Plan and the new resources to meet need in his community. In their conversation, Director Mangano stressed the importance of focusing on finding solutions for homeless and at risk families, along with collaborative efforts with businesses, to eliminate homelessness. Mayor Marks has committed to the recalibration of his city's Plan, to incorporate best practices and emerging innovations.

Director Mangano also met with Florida Association of Counties officials while in the area. are (left to right): Chris Holley, Executive Director of the Florida Association of Counties and Letreze Gooding, Director of Education and Events at the Association. Council National Team Leader Michael German took part in the events.

WASHINGTON, DC. County officials from across the nation convened this week in Washington, DC as the National Association of Counties (NACo) held its annual legislative conference and met with new leaders of the Obama Administration. NACo President and Maricopa County, Arizona Supervisor Don Stapley reported to the county leaders that NACo officials and members are already involved in both the Administration's recovery effort and health care reform.

NACo has long been a strong partner to the 10 Year Plan initiatives of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, and NACo committees have regularly invited Council Director Philip Mangano to brief members on the work of the national partnership. More than 375 counties across the nation are currently partnered to more than 350 jurisdictionally led, community based, business informed plans. At its 2008 Annual Conference, NACo members unanimously adopted a policy resolution in support of 10 Year Plans and housing solutions to veterans' homelessness. President Stapley and Director Mangano are pictured here at the DC meeting.

President Stapley, NACo President-elect Valerie Brown, Supervisor in Sonoma County, California, and NACo Executive Director Larry Naake are serving on Vice President Joe Biden's Advisory Committee on the implementation of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Supervisor Brown was the only non- congressional elected official to take part in the recent White House Summit on Health Care.

While at the NACo conference, Director Mangano also met with Rodney Long, President of the Florida Association of Counties, County Commissioner of Alachua County, Florida, and Co-chairman Alachua County/City of Gainesville 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, Chris Holley, Executive Director of the Florida Association of Counties, and Palm Beach County Commissioner Jeff Koons. The officials discussed the status of county partnership in Florida's 10 Year Plans and the importance of partnership with state government in their efforts. Director Mangano and Mr. Long are shown here.

NACo's Legislative Conference was highlighted by remarks from four new Cabinet secretaries, including Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Cecilia Munoz, director, White House Intergovernmental Affairs Office, and Valarie Jarrett, senior advisor to President Obama, also spoke.

HUD Secretary Donovan told the county officials, "You have my commitment to a new HUD as a new partner." He urged counties to ensure that recovery investments are spent quickly and noted: "we must not only look at home ownership, but must also make rental housing a real viable alternative." Another long term HUD focus will be to help build sustainable communities. The Secretary has created a HUD Office for Sustainable Communities, which he expects to be headed by former King County, Washington Executive Ron Sims, nominated as HUD Deputy Secretary. Mr. Sims also has been Co-Chair of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County.

Council National Team Leader Michael German took part in the events.

WASHINGTON, DC. Vice President Joe Biden invited implementation 'czars' and representatives from all U.S. states and territories to take part in the White House Conference on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Implementation this week. According to the White House, the conference was a chance for state officials to bring forward ideas and share best practices, as well as hear presentations from a number of Cabinet Secretaries and Administration officials, including Earl Devaney, Chairman of the Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board. State recovery resource web sites have been created for more than half the states and can be accessed from the recovery.gov federal site.

Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Energy, Education, and Agriculture also made announcements this week of new resources under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). New recovery resources are being listed at the recovery.gov site and in a new section of the one-stop portal grants. gov on a special recovery page of resources opportunities.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is preparing to release further details on the new Homelessness Prevention Fund using Emergency Shelter Grant funds of $1.5 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The Notice announcing the program will be published on March 19. HUD advises prospective grantees, interested stakeholders, and Continuum of Care representatives to closely read the Notice when issued for information on program eligibility, allowable activities and related requirements. While h the funding allocation and eligible grantees are based on the Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) program, it is a separate program with a different program purpose and requirements.

The Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) will utilize the HUD Homelessness Resource Exchange (www.HUDHRE.info) as the portal for information on the new homelessness prevention and assistance programs funded under the Recovery Act.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu yesterday announced $8 billion in weatherization and energy efficiency funds for state and local weatherization and energy efficiency efforts. With an investment of about $5 billion through the Weatherization Assistance Program and about $3 billion for the State Energy Program, the Department of Energy will partner with state and local governments to put 87,000 Americans to work and save families hundreds of dollars per year on their energy bills. The Department of Energy is releasing the first installment of the funding - about $780 million - in the next few days. The President has set a goal of weatherizing 1 million homes annually. By comparison only about 6 million low income homes have been weatherized since 1976. Research has shown a clear link between homelessness and utility terminations, and energy efficiency measures and customer engagement are means to prevent homelessness.

The Department of Agriculture $28 billion in recovery resources, as Secretary Tom Vilsack commenced distribution of his departments funds. The Recovery Act provides a 13.6 percent increase in the monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamp benefit for recipients, or roughly $80 per family per month. The SNAP program currently serves over 31 million people each month. This benefit increase will begin to be provided to recipients on April 1, 2009. ARRA provides nearly $300 million to help states administer SNAP. The first $145 million will be released this month to assist states in responding to increased need.

ARRA also provided additional funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program. Through this program, USDA provides commodities and administrative funds to states for further distribution to local organizations that assist those in need, including food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens. The first $25 million to support administrative functions will be distributed this month.

USDA's Rural Development Agency will initially provide nearly 10,000 rural families with $14.9 million ($1.17 billion in loan guarantees) for homeownership financing, creating or saving more than 5,000 jobs. $20 million will also be distributed competitively to rural enterprises, including those that help promote employment.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that $44 billion in recovery funding will be available to states in the next 30 to 45 days, with the first round to help avert hundreds of thousands of estimated teacher layoffs in schools and school districts while driving crucial education improvements, reforms, and results for students.

The U.S. Department of Justice has posted early information on its crime victims compensation and assistance resources of $100 million. The Department is also preparing details of the $2 billion Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants for states and localities, which include activities to prevent and control crime and improve the criminal justice system.

ALBANY, NEW YORK. Welcomed by New York State Catholic Charities Council Chair Robert Siebel of the Brooklyn Diocese, executive leaders and officials of the eight Catholic Charities organizations across the state convened this week in Albany for their annual meeting. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, invited to keynote the convening, was welcomed by Dennis Walczyk, Vice Chairperson of the statewide Council and CEO of Catholic Charities of Buffalo and Western New York. Shown here are (left to right): Mr. Walczyk, Mr. Siebel, and Director Mangano.

"Thank you for the great effort that Catholic Charities here in New York makes on behalf of your poorest neighbors," indicated Director Mangano to the leaders gathered. "Your dedication and investment of lives and in lives is inspiring."

Edward Cardinal Eagan, completing his last year as Chairperson of the New York Conference of Bishops before retirement, came to greet Mr. Mangano (shown here) and thank him and the representatives of Catholic Charities for the work they do on behalf of the most vulnerable people of the state and nation. The Cardinal became Archbishop of New York in 2000 and Cardinal in 2001.

Earl Eichelberger, Director for Human Services of the New York State Catholic Conference, was lead organizer for the event. Sr. Donna Franklin of the Ogdensburg Diocese offered the opening prayer. Catholic Charities attendees represented Brooklyn/Queens, Buffalo, New York City, Syracuse, Rockville Centre, Albany, Ogdensburg, and Rochester.

Catholic Charities USA, which is celebrating its centennial this year, has launched The Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America whose goals include reducing poverty in the United States by 50 percent by the year 2020, improving public policies that strengthen and support families, educating policymakers and the public, and engaging those who are most impacted to be active participants in developing solutions to reducing poverty. In the area of homelessness, the campaign seeks to reduce the number of families in emergency shelters and increase the number of affordable housing units.

A recent issue of Charities USA, the organizational magazine, focused on housing issues. Catholic Charities President Larry Snyder quoted the late Pope John Paul II in is introductory column to the issue: "The home is much more than a roof over one's head. It is a place for building and seeking one's life." The magazine noted that Catholic Charities nationally manages more than 10,000 housing units for low-income people and also included an article on how and why a small Catholic Charities agency should get involved in creating housing. Rev. Snyder was recently named by President Obama to the new President's Council for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

WASHINGTON, DC. First Lady Michelle Obama last week visited Miriam's Kitchen, a local meal program for people who are homeless and offered a helping hands with serving guests at the site. Mrs. Obama discussed the need to support food banks and soup kitchens around the country given that things will get worse before they get better. She said Miriam's Kitchen "is an example of what we can do, as a country and as a community, to help folks when they're down. We're all going to need one another in these times. We're going to need to keep lifting each other up, in prayer and in hope."

The Recovery Act included $201 million in funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service to support an expansion of AmeriCorps State and National and AmeriCorps VISTA programs. The Corporation received funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) to put approximately 13,000 additional AmeriCorps State and National and AmeriCorps VISTA members to work.

Expanded volunteerism is the focus of an $89 million recovery resource announced by CNS, which will distribute AmeriCorps State and National Recovery Act grants to engage AmeriCorps members and community volunteers through the expansion of current programming or the addition of a new program component.

Eligible activities for the recovery grants include, but are not limited to, providing job counseling and skills training to the unemployed, constructing or rehabilitating housing, assisting nonprofits facing increased need and decreased resources, recruiting volunteers, making housing resource referrals for and providing legal services to those experiencing eviction or foreclosure, connecting children and families to health care, and allowing after-school centers that have lost funding to stay open. Current grantees only are eligible to apply. These one-time AmeriCorps Recovery Act funds are being made available to current grantees to meet critical community needs resulting from, or exacerbated by, the current economic crisis.

Roughly three quarters of all AmeriCorps grant funding goes to Governor-appointed state service commissions, which award subgrants to nonprofit organizations in their states. These organizations recruit AmeriCorps members to respond to local needs. The Corporation distributes most of the remainder of the grant funding directly to organizations operating in more than one state.

email: usich@usich.gov

web: http://www.usich.gov