SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. Seattle and King County unveiled their 10-year regionwide vision in "A Roof over Every Bed in King County" last week. Capping two years of collaborative effort, the planning process, led by Committee to End Homelessness Chair and Dean of St. Mark's Cathedral Rev. Robert Taylor and Co-chair and Car Toys CEO Dan Brettler will now vest implementation with King County, with support from the City of Seattle and United Way of King County. Key strategies in the new plan are homeless prevention, development of over 4,500 new units of housing in the next ten years, and creating shared vision, regional cooperation, community desire, and sustained leadership to identify resources and create housing. An estimated 2,500 people experience chronic homelessness.

"There is a role for all of us to play, across the region, to achieve our goal of a safe and affordable home for residents of King County," stated Plan Co- chair Brettler. Emphasizing long-term and sustainable solutions, with a focus on best practices and measurable results, the implementation phase of the plan will now be carried out under the direction of Division of Human Services Director Jackie McClean and newly named King County staff person Jeff Natter. Stated King County Executive Ron Sims, "Together with our many partners in the community we will all roll up our sleeves and get to work."

The Committee, comprised of representatives of business, local government, faith based organizations, service providers, and homeless advocates, was initially created under the leadership of Seattle and King County, in partnership with the Church Council of Greater Seattle, King County United Way, King County Council of Human Services, and Seattle-King County Collation for the Homeless. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Region X Coordinator Paul Carlson met regularly with the Committee during the development of the Plan. Plan implementation now calls for spring 2005 development of a Governing Board of 10-20 local leaders to sustain both vision and leadership, guide planning, coordinate funding, and seek additional resources. An Interagency Council will examine changes to current programs, coordinate data and reporting, recommend policy direction to the Governing Board, and seek service improvements. A Consumer Advisory Council will represent the interests of persons who have experienced homelessness.

COWLITZ COUNTY, WASHINGTON. Led by Longview, Washington, Chief of Police Alex Perez, Cowlitz County, Washington, last week showed that partnership and vision are at work in ending chronic homelessness in this county of approximately 94,000 residents in southwestern Washington near Mt. St. Helen's. Chief Perez convened elected officials, business leaders, faith leaders, law enforcement, and service providers, including officials from the communities of Kelso, Longview, and Woodland: County Commissioner Kathleen Johnson, Longview City Council Member Ramona Leber, Kelso City Counciler Jack Keolker, Woodland Mayor Doug Monge, and Cowlitz County Public Housing Authority Executive Chris Pegg.

The county partners were enthusiastic about the 10- Year Plan approach and ready to commit. Formal city and county resolutions will now be sought in the individual jurisdictions to implement a county-wide planning process. United States Interagency Council Region X Coordinator Paul Carlson, who presented the partners with an overview of national strategies, congratulated those convened on responding to the leadership of Chief Perez and recognizing the reality that "a community cannot arrest its way out of homelessness." Carlson urged Chief Perez and other law enforcement officials to coordinate closely with social service outreach efforts to homeless persons as well as to assist in homeless street counts.

THIS ISSUE of the e-news provides a closer look at the federal, state, and local liaisons for faith- based and community initiatives described in the March 3 e-news highlighting the remarks of President Bush at the recent conference of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Assistant to the President and White House Faith- Based Office Director Jim Towey is pictured here.

IN WASHINGTON, DC. The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and the Centers for the Faith-Based and Community Initiative which are located in ten Federal agencies work to ensure that grassroots leaders can compete on an equal footing for federal dollars, receive greater private support, and face fewer bureaucratic barriers. The Office focuses its efforts on the populations of at-risk youth, ex-offenders, persons experiencing homelessness and hunger, substance abusers, persons with HIV/AIDS, and welfare-to-work families. The U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Corporation for National and Community Service, Small Business Administration, and U.S. Agency for International Development have official liaisons.

IN THE STATES. State liaisons engage grassroots organizations in addressing critical needs in their communities and provide information and resources to faith-based and community organizations about partnering with the State government to provide social services. According to Assistant to the President and White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Director Jim Towey, all Governors have been urged to identify such a liaison. Liaisons have been identified in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, Wyoming, and Washington, DC.

IN THE CITIES. A number of Mayors also have an identified office or liaison for faith-based and community organizations. The White House Office will soon post this additional information on its web site.

WASHINGTON, DC. If you missed last week's titled "Spread the Word" Webcast by Grants.gov, you can still catch up on the news from Grants.gov about this new electronic tool's features, benefits and successes; where Grants.gov is going; and ways to share this key information. Grants.gov is currently serving over 3,000 organizations seeking funding and distributing over 700,000 email funding notifications weekly. Some federal agencies are exclusively using Grants.gov to make their funding availability announcements and no longer publish in the Federal Register.

The March 9 Webcast is available online for review. "Spread the Word" Webcast targeted key partners who support the grant communities ranging from Collaboration Partners and Congressional and Federal Policy Representatives to Agency Grant Program Offices and Grants Management Training Organizations. The purpose of the Webcast, in conjunction with an integrated direct marketing campaign to the grant community, was to show these key partners different ways to elicit support and promote the understanding of Grants.gov within their grant communities. Many users, including state, local and tribal governments, colleges and universities, not-for-profits, and research institutions, are already benefiting from easier access to the Federal government via Grants.gov - the single website unifying Federal grants across all Federal grant-making agencies.

WASHINGTON, DC. Accessing mainstream benefits and resources is a key path to assist persons experiencing chronic homelessness and was the focus of federal Policy Academies on ending chronic homelessness in 2002-2004. On-line resources can assist states and cities that are moving forward with 10-Year Plans, as they assess needed changes in outreach and enrollment strategies for specific programs, as well as examine resources available on a state, city, or county level.

FirstStep is an on-line tool for assisting individuals who are homeless with accessing Federal mainstream benefit programs. Useful information is provided on each benefit program to make enrolling individuals into these programs a more efficient process. FirstStep focuses on the following major mainstream benefit programs:Food Stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, One-Stop Career Center System, Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Veterans Affairs Health Care (VA). Veterans Affairs Compensation (VA)

Within each benefit program, there is information offered regarding benefits individuals may receive, eligibility requirements, the application process, what benefits an individual may receive if he/she is an immigrant, as well as contact information and, in some cases, training materials. There are additional programs that may benefit individuals who are homeless that are not included in FirstStep. Where available, there is a link provided to these programs in the Resources section of FirstStep. Some of these programs include: Community Development Block Grant, Community Mental Health Services Block Grant, Community Service Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership, Housing Choice Vouchers, Social Services Block Grant, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, Welfare-to-Work, and Workforce Investment.

Federal government agencies that contributed to FirstStep include: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Social Security Administration.

10-Year Planning partnerships may also want to examine on-line resources provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that document FY 04 and 05 formula and discretionary investments by HHS in mental health and substance abuse services and treatment in each state and territory. These resources can assist public and private sector partner in identifying resources at work in their states for services that are frequently used by persons experiencing chronic homelessness.

WASHINGTON, DC. Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). Military base closure and realignment is a process whereby real and personal property becomes availability to communities to assist persons experiencing homelessness. In 2005, the President, the Department of Defense (DOD), and the Congress will participate in examining and finalizing recommendations on the potential closure and realignment for military installations in the U.S. The President and Congressional leaders must nominate Commissioners for the Base Realignment and Closure Commission this week.

Last week, President Bush nominated former Department of Veteran Affairs Secretary and United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Chair Anthony Principi to lead the Commission in its work this year. Former Secretary Principi stepped down as VA chief in December. A decorated Vietnam veteran, he served as General Counsel for the Senate Armed Services and Senate Veterans Affairs committees.

Key dates in the base closure process will occur throughout 2005: By May 16, the Secretary of Defense must publish in the Federal Register and transmit to the Congressional defense committees and the Commission a list of the military installations that the Secretary recommends for closure or realignment. By July 1, the Comptroller General must send to the Congressional defense committees, a report containing a detailed analysis of the Secretary's recommendations and selection process. By September 8, the Commission must transmit to the President "a report containing its findings and conclusions based on a review and analysis of the Secretary's recommendations." By September 23, the President shall transmit to the Commission and to the Congress, "a report containing the President's approval or disapproval of the Commission's recommendations." If the President approves the recommendations, the recommendations are binding 45 "legislative" days after Presidential transmission or adjournment, unless Congress enacts joint resolution of disapproval. By October 20, if the President disapproves the Commission's initial recommendations, the Commission must submit revised recommendations to the President not later than this date. By November 7, the President must approve the revised recommendations and transmit approval to Congress by this date or the process ends. The recommendations become binding 45 "legislative" days after Presidential transmission or adjournment, unless Congress enacts joint resolution of disapproval. The Commission terminates on April 15, 2006.

DOD maintains a web site of resources that can assist a variety of community partners in understanding and participating in the upcoming process, including accommodations to the neds of homeless people in the community. DOD's Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) is the primary source for assisting communities that are adversely impacted by such changes, including base closures or realignments, base expansions, and contract or program cancellations. To assist affected communities, OEA manages and directs the Defense Economic Adjustment Program, and coordinates the involvement of other Federal agencies. Under the 1994 Base Closure Community Redevelopment and Homeless Assistance Act, DOD, in a joint process with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), also plays a role in the community's base reuse planning process and future homeless assistance.