MANCHESTER, NH. Manchester City Hall was the site of the recent unveiling of the new 10-Year Plan for New Hampshire's largest city. Mayor Frank Guinta and Patrick Tufts, President of the Heritage United Way - who were Co-chairs of the Task Force to End Homelessness - and other community leaders, welcomed United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano for the event. Council Regional Coordinator John O'Brien also participated. The partners are pictured here at the event.

The city's new Leadership Implementation Task Force will now move the Plan forward, led by United Way President Tufts; Cathleen Schmidt, President, Citizens Bank; Robin Comstock, President and CEO, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce; and the President of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

"You've joined 325 other local jurisdictions moving forward in 10-Year Plan partnerships," indicated Director Mangano. "And through those plans creating a renewed partnership with the private sector for not only its resources but also its mindset. That's the partnership you've joined this morning, and I commend all of the elected officials and the United Way and all of you who have participated in the planning process for making this day happen."

Plan goals include Housing First strategies, prevention, a focus on the needs of veterans, and the creation of a the Leadership Committee to serve as political and community champions for the 10-Year Plan, to provide oversight and evaluation of plan implementation, and to help generate resources and commitment for ending homelessness in Greater Manchester. Another distinct goal is to build public awareness and education about the causes and costs of homelessness, the rationale behind the City's plan, models of success, and the need to engage the entire community in the solutions, including by convening a community-wide conference in Manchester in 2008 to promote education and dialogue about homelessness, engage more organizations and individuals, and facilitate innovative solutions and public-private partnerships in implementing the 10-Year Plan.

The new Plan was developed by an expansive community Task Force, which, in addition to Mayor Guinta and Mr. Tufts, included: Maureen Beauregard, President, Families in Transition and Chairperson of the Manchester Continuum of Care; Bruce Bissett, Homeless Program Specialist, VA Medical Center, Manchester; Thomas E. Blonski, President and CEO, NH Catholic Charities; Craig Everett, Executive Director, Helping Hands Outreach; Ed George, President and CEO, Manchester Community Health Center; Glen Leideme, Deputy Chief of Police; Andy Leach, Senator Sununu's Office; Alderman Mike Lopez; Robert MacKenzie, Director Planning and Community Development; Steven Paris, M.D., Dartmouth-Hitchcock Manchester; Mary Sliney, President, The Way Home; Kendall Snow, Vice President of Community Relations, Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester; Sean W. Thomas, Senior Policy Advisor to the Mayor, City of Manchester; Robert Tourigny, Executive Director, NeighborWorks Greater Manchester; and Richard L. Webster, Housing Development Manager, Manchester Housing and Redevelopment Authority.

NEWARK, NJ. Visiting at the Newark Archdiocese Catholic Charities site, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano met with New Jersey Commissioner of the Office of Community Affairs Joseph Doria, who oversees the state's housing programs, and Dr. Phillip Frese, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, in a meeting organized by United Way's Dan Altilio. The officials discussed New Jersey's progress in developing and implementing 10-Year Plans, and the opportunity for New Jersey's Governor to revitalize the State's Interagency Council through the issuing of a new Executive Order, following the practice of new Governors in other states with existing Councils. Dr. Frese discussed initiatives to utilize diocesan buildings for permanent supportive housing for people who are homeless.

GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NJ. Communities across New Jersey were the focus of events last week that strengthened the planning trajectory of local elected officials and United Way partners committed to 10- Year Plans. At the Gloucester Library in Mullica Hills, NJ, Jere Hoffner, President and CEO of Gloucester County United Way, welcomed United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano; Gloucester County Freeholder Dr. Warren S. Wallace; Deptford Township Deputy Mayor Jacquelyn Love; Dan Altilio, President and CEO of Hudson County United Way; and Richard Brown, Director of Monarch Housing for a strategy meeting with Gloucester County partners. Council Regional Coordinator Samuel Miller also participated. Eileen Cardile, Chairperson, Gloucester County United Way President and CEO of Underwood Memorial Hospital, provided welcoming remarks for the attendees. Pictured here are (left to right): Pictured here are: United Way's Jere Hoffner, Director Mangano, and Freeholder Dr. Warren S. Wallace.

Director Mangano commended the town and county partners, noting: "Ten Year Plans create results. In communities that implement jurisdictionally-led, community-based, strategic plans framed around business principles, and invest in their old and new resources in innovative initiatives that are field-tested and evidence based, those communities are seeing reductions in the number of people living on their streets and languishing on their shelters."

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NJ. Louis Magazzu, Freehold Director of Cumberland County, welcomed Director Mangano in Millville, NJ, to discuss his commitment to the National Partnership. Freeholder Magazzu, a former prosecutor, has served in several positions with the New Jersey Association of Counties. Also participating in the meeting were Misono Miller, Director of the County Office on Aging and Disabled, and Diane Strozyk, Homeless Coordinator in the County office. Freeholder Magazzu will explore creation of a 10-Year Plan in Cumberland County and asked staff to prepare to move forward.

SALEM COUNTY, NJ. In Penns Grove, NJ, Director Mangano addressed attendees at the Salem County United Way Appreciation Event. Director Mangano was welcomed by Rebecca Purchase, President and CEO of the Salem County United Way, who is leading plan development in the county. Outgoing Board Chair Otis Sistrunk welcomed community leaders to the event, which recognized numerous public and private sector partners, and United Way Vice Chair Linda Wilson reviewed recent results. Rev. Thomas Purchase who has ministered to the community, to people in prison, to Native Americans, and to those serving in the military, gave the invocation. The Salem County partners are pictured here.

Director Mangano noted that the United Way partners "are making the journey together to invest for impact, to give, to volunteer, to advocate for your community, to achieve results." He commended those being recognized by United Way from the business community, philanthropy, academia, law enforcement, hospitals, the libraries, cultural and historical institutions, and county government. Also participating in the event were Freeholders Julia Acton, Jeffrey Hogan, and Bruce Bobbit, Salem County Administrator Earl Gage, and Salem County Office for the Disabled Director Deborah Behnke.

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ. At the Essex County Hall of Records Building, County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr., welcomed Director Mangano and Dan Altilio for a follow-up meeting to their January 2008 visit to the county's Project Homeless Connect, where they spent time talking with guests at the event. The County Executive has continuously shown his commitment to a plan and has been identifying planning committee members. Pictured here are: North Essex County United Way CEO M. Roger Costa; Nicholson Foundation's Fred Sambataro, Essex and West Hudson United Way CEO Keith Green; Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith; Director Mangano; Newark Council President Crump; County Executive DiVincenzo; East Orange Mayor Bowser; and State Senator M. Teresa Ruiz.

Following discussions of best practices and key strategies, the Nicholson Foundation committed to support the planning process with philanthropic resources. Charged to lead the plan are Councilman Anibal Ramos, Jr., and Benjamin Amos, III, Director, Essex County Division of Community Action. Partners in the meeting were: Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith; East Orange Mayor Robert Bowser; City of Newark Municipal Council President Mildred Crump; State Senator Teresa Ruiz; Keith Green, Executive Director, United Way of Essex and West Hudson; Roger Costa, Executive Director, United Way of North Essex; Mark Hoover, Executive Director, Nicholson Foundation; Fred Sambataro, Nicholson's Director of Non-Profit Business Support; and Richard Brown of Monarch Housing.

WASHINGTON, DC. As the National League of Cities (NLC) gathered for its annual Congressional City Conference in Washington, DC, last week, more than a dozen elected officials from cities around the nation took the opportunity to become signatories to the America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions, first developed by Mayors and County officials at a summit in Denver in November 2007.

242 elected officials are now signatories to the unprecedented 12-point agreement focused on how elected officials, government agencies and the foundation community should work together to end homelessness. At the November 2007 Denver press conference announcing the signing of the Statement, participating Mayors declared their intent to promote America's Road Home with their fellow Mayors and County officials, as well as with candidates in 2008 federal, state, and local elections. The Statement has been made available to all Mayors and County officials to sign.

The National League of Cities, which represents cities, towns, ands villages of all sizes in the country, has long been partnered with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and through a 2003 resolution expressed support both for the Administration's goal of ending chronic homelessness and for the work of the Council in coordinating federal efforts and encouraging jurisdictional 10-Year Plans.

Elected officials who have recently become signatories include: Mayor Clarence Anthony, South Bay, FL; Mayor Rick Baker, St. Petersburg, FL; Mayor Eddie Beckwith, Tallulah, LA; Mayor Pro tem Mildred Crump, Newark, NJ; Mayor Ronald Davis, Prichard, AL; Councilor Linda Dogan, Spartanburg, SC; County Chair Richard Elias, Pima County, AZ; Councilor Robert Fong, Sacramento, CA; Councilor Lauren Hammond, Sacramento, CA; Councilor Jack Henderson, Tulsa, OK; Mayor Richard Kaplan, Lauderhill, FL; Deputy Mayor Jacquelyn Love, Deptford Township, NJ; Mayor Lawrence Nelson, Yuma, AZ; Mayor Theoangelo Perkins, Harpersville, AL; Mayor Leon Rockingham, North Chicago, IL; and Councilor Ray Tretheway, Sacramento, CA.

The America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions was first conceived at the November 2007 Summit convened by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, and Melville Charitable Trust President Robert Hohler. At that convening, eighteen Mayors and four County officials signed on. The Summit was supported by Fannie Mae.

WASHINGTON, DC. Over $9 million in resources targeted to treatment of veterans and persons in the criminal justice system, as well as persons in high poverty areas in need of primary care access, are now available to eligible applicants to the United States Department of Health and Human Services under three program announcements described below. Interested applicants should read the full announcement for any resources of interest.

Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery Program - Priority to Veterans. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services is accepting applications for $2.47 million for an estimated six awards for FY 2008 for the Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery Program- Priority to Veterans grants, each of approximately estimated $400,000. Applications are due May 8. The purpose of this program is to support local implementation and statewide expansion of trauma- integrated jail diversion programs to reach the growing number of individuals with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma related disorders involved in the justice system. In recognition of the dramatically higher prevalence of trauma related illnesses among veterans, this program will prioritize eligibility for veterans.

With increasing numbers of combat veterans returning from duty overseas, there is growing concern that the community provide adequate supports to ensure their successful reintegration into American community life. As many as 17 percent of these individuals will develop PTSD and other mental illnesses. For many returning veterans, PTSD and related disorders will go untreated, placing them at risk for involvement in the justice system.

Eligible applicants for these resources are State Mental Health Agencies (SMHAs) and federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribes and tribal organizations. Applications are due by May 8, and the anticipated grant period is up to five years. This program will focus jail diversion programs on the underserved needs of veterans and others with PTSD involved in the justice system. Secondly, the program will support states to pilot projects locally and to replicate them statewide. This two-pronged approach is necessary because diversion occurs locally in cities and counties where jails are operated and mental health services are delivered. However, policies and funding at the state level dramatically impact those local operations and services. The state approach will bring together government officials who develop and define State policies and funding with stakeholders who are impacted by the untreated trauma of veterans to develop knowledge dissemination and application strategies for the entire State.

Grants to Expand Substance Abuse Treatment in Adult Criminal Justice Populations. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is accepting applications for $2.7 million for up to seven 3-year FY 2008 Adult Criminal Justice Treatment grants to address gaps in substance abuse treatment services for adult individuals involved with the criminal justice system by supporting rapid and strategic responses to demands for substance abuse (including alcohol and drug) treatment services in communities with serious, emerging drug problems as well as communities with innovative solutions to unmet needs. The purpose of this program is to expand and or/enhance the community's ability to provide a comprehensive, integrated, and community-based response to a targeted, well-documented substance abuse treatment capacity problem and/or improve the quality and intensity of services for adult individuals in the community who are involved with the criminal justice system.

To address the broad needs of this population, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment seeks to increase substance abuse treatment and recovery services for persons who are substance-involved, substance-dependent, have a substance abuse disorder or a co-occurring disorder and are involved in community justice systems. Given the linkage between drugs and crime it is intended that these grants will help decrease recidivism and drug use for adults involved with the criminal justice system. Metrics such as SAMHSA's National Outcomes Measures along with additional criminal justice measures as captured by the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Client Level Tool will be used to measure achievement of this goal.

The targeted population of the Adult Criminal Justice Treatment (ACJT) grant is adult individuals who are under some form of the judicial or community justice supervision and who are: 1) screened and assessed as substance-involved; and/or 2) have been diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder or co- occurring disorder of substance abuse and mental health. These individuals must be under the supervision of the judiciary or community justice/corrections agencies (such as probation, parole, community corrections). SAMHSA funds treatment and recovery services for individuals in the community. Therefore, funding cannot be used for providing services to incarcerated populations (defined as those persons in jail, prison, detention facilities or in custody where they are not free to move about in the community). Also, drug courts are precluded from applying because SAMHSA/CSAT offers funding for grants specific to drug courts. Applicants are encouraged to give priority to expanding and/or enhancing substance abuse treatment and recovery services for returning veterans and chronic inebriates who are part of the targeted criminal justice population.

Eligible applicants are domestic public and private nonprofit entities. For example, State and local governments, federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes and tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, public or private universities and colleges; and community- and faith- based organizations may apply. SAMHSA intends that its services grants result in the delivery of services as soon as possible after award. Service delivery should begin by the 4th month of the project at the latest.

Health Centers Planning Grants in High Poverty Areas. $4 million for an estimated 25 planning grants will support planning and development of new service delivery sites in high poverty counties funded under the Public Health Service Act. Each application for grant support to plan and prepare for the development of a new site must identify a population in need of primary health care services and propose specific developmental activities that upon successful completion would facilitate the establishment of a new health center access point in an underserved high poverty county under the Consolidated Health Center Program. Beginning in FY 2006, the Consolidated Health Center Program is building on the success of the President's Health Centers Initiative to increase access to comprehensive primary health care for the most vulnerable populations by targeting the nation's poorest counties through a second health centers initiative.

The goal of the President's High Poverty Access Initiative is to increase access over the next five years to primary health care in 200 of the Nation's poorest counties that can support a comprehensive health center. The purpose of the Consolidated Health Center Program is to extend comprehensive primary and preventive health services (including mental health, substance abuse and oral health services) and supplemental services to populations currently without access to such services, and to improve their health status. The program includes: Community Health Centers; Migrant Health Centers; Health Care for the Homeless program; and Public Housing Primary Care. The populations served by these programs include: 1) medically underserved populations in urban and rural areas; 2) migratory and seasonal agricultural workers and their families; 3) homeless people, including children and families; and 4) residents of publicly subsidized housing.

Applications are due by April 21, 2008. Eligible applicants are public and non-profit private entities, including tribes and tribal organizations, faith-based and community-based organizations.

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has published "Policy Requirements and General Section" for the 2008 SuperNOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) for targeted homelessness and mainstream housing resources.

According to the notice published March 19, HUD plans to publish its annual SuperNOFA in spring 2008 with the exception of the Homeless Assistance Grants. Early publication of the General Section is one of several steps instituted "to improve the funding process for the grantee community." Early publication of the General Section gives prospective applicants additional time to become familiar with and address provisions in the General Section, which constitute part of almost every individual program application. HUD will publish as a technical correction any changes to this General Section made after the March 19 notice.

Homeless Assistance Grants. HUD also announced its details and timing regarding its plans for 2008 electronic applications for the Homeless Assistance Grants programs. HUD's FY 2008 appropriation for the homeless programs is $1.58 billion, including both the competitive and formula programs, as well as the new $25 million family rapid re-housing demonstration program.

According to HUD, "Because the electronic application is not yet available, details of the registration process, application, application submission date, and timely receipt requirements will be articulated in two publications to be issued separate from the SuperNOFA." HUD expects to issue the first Homeless Assistance Grants notice in spring 2008. The expected publication date of the full Homeless Assistance Grants NOFA will be no earlier than July 1, 2008. Notification of the availability of registration instructions, the application, and other information will be released via the Grants.gov website. All interested applicants should read the full March 19 announcement for details pertaining to technical requirements.

The March 19 Federal Register notice states HUD's policy priorities for the investment of its resources, including meeting the goal of ending chronic homelessness: "President Bush has set a national goal to end chronic homelessness. HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson has embraced this goal and has pledged that HUD's grant programs will be used to support the President's goal and better meet the needs of chronically homeless individuals . . . " Applicants are encouraged to target assistance to chronically homeless persons by undertaking activities including the creation of affordable housing units, supportive housing, and group homes and establishment of a set-aside of units of affordable housing for the chronically homeless; establishment of job training programs that will provide opportunities for economic self-sufficiency; establishment of counseling programs that assist homeless persons; provision of supportive services and , service coordinators or one-stop assistance centers that will ensure that chronically homeless persons have access to a variety of social services.

Application and Other Details. To be placed on the Grants.gov notification service for notices about the Homeless Assistance Grants for the Continuum of Care electronic application process, go to: http://www.grants.gov/search/subscribeAdvanced.do.

Applicants interested in receiving e-mail notification of the availability of other HUD housing program sections should go to: http://www.grants.gov/applicants sign up for e-mail notification of funding opportunities. By doing so, you will receive an e-mail as soon as the NOFAs and applications are available on Grants.gov.

HUD will require that applicants submit their applications electronically via Grants.gov using Adobe Forms applications packages, available on Grants.gov. To submit an application via Grants.gov, new users will be required to complete a five-step registration process, which can take 2 to 4 weeks to complete. The process includes ensuring that information provided by your organization to Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) matches information previously provided by your organization and contained in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) records. All applicants should read the full announcement for details.

According to HUD, in FY 2007, over 99.5 percent of applicants successfully submitted applications electronically for HUD's grant programs. To help applicants with electronic application registration and submission, HUD has developed a Desktop User Guide for Submitting Electronic Grant Applications. The user guide provides step-by-step details and screen shots of the entire registration and application submission process, including troubleshooting application submission errors. HUD updates the guide regularly and it is available at http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants.

WASHINGTON, DC. A full-day focus on permanent supportive housing for veterans, as well as federal policy issues, new budget resources, and strategies for special veterans populations will be some of the highlights of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) Annual Conference in Washington, DC on June 23-25. NCHV, under the leadership of Executive Director Cheryl Beversdorf and a technical assistance provider to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, provides guidance and information - including national conference calls - about program development, administration, governance and funding to all of the nation's homeless veteran service providers in the areas of employment, housing, services, and budget.

Conference offerings will be of special interest this year, given the continuing increased federal budget resources for both targeted and mainstream programs at the VA, and the expansion of the HUD- VASH housing program. The Conference's all-day institute on June 24 focused on permanent supportive housing will give an overview of the model, as well as planning and development steps. A special focus of one session will be to provide information on where to secure financing for developing supportive housing. The Conference program includes a Public Policy Forum, where attendees can learn about the current legislation pertaining to homeless veterans' issues, as well as sessions on federal grants, homeless courts, employment resources, women and incarcerated veterans, early intervention and prevention strategies, the VA's CHALENG process, and more. CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups) is VA's initiative to enhances coordinated services by bringing the VA together with community agencies and other federal, state, and local governments who provide services to the homeless to raise awareness of homeless veterans' needs and to plan to meet those needs.

NCHV's conference is well attended, and interested participants are encouraged to register and make travel arrangements soon. Detailed program information and files of past conference calls and annual conferences, including the NCHV-Department of Labor best practice program for the DOL Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP), are available at NCHV's web site: www.nchv.org

PHOENIX, ARIZONA. The role and opportunities for State government in the National Partnership being constellated by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness was the focus of a Western States Summit convened by the Council last week in Phoenix, Arizona. Hosted at the Arizona Department of Housing, Summit partners (pictured here) also included officials from Utah and Hawaii. Council Regional Coordinator Ed Cabrera organized and facilitated the Summit.

Arizona Department of Housing Director Fred Karnas welcomed Summit partners on behalf of Governor Janet Napolitano. Council Director Philip Mangano noted the work of more than a dozen State Interagency Councils in advancing State 10-Year Plans, creating new targeted investments, and establishing sustainability and measurement strategies.

Utah Division of Housing and Community Development Director Gordon Walker described for partners Utah's vision in adopting a "Housing First" concept, developing local pilot projects, measuring results using research studies, a Self Sufficiency Matrix, and the Homeless Management Information System, and expanding successful projects. Results from Utah's Plan include demonstrating that housing the chronically homeless population in scattered site housing as opposed to shelter reduced costs by 45% and proved to increase self sufficiency across all categories. Many serious problems (mental health, substance abuse, life skills, etc.) are being addressed through consumer choice

Hawaii partners - Kaulana Park, Governor's Designee for Homelessness from the State of Hawaii Executive Office of the Governor, and Sandra Miyoshi, Homeless Programs Administrator, Hawaii Housing and Community Development - identified key steps and strategies in Governor Linda Lingle's state Business Plan. In 2005, Governor Lingle unveiled the state's results-oriented State 10-Year Business Plan and proposed new tax credit, housing development, and reentry resources. Since then, the Governor has announced a new $20 million initiative under State Plan and forwarded proposals for new resources, including to repair existing public housing and to establish new emergency shelters and transitional housing.

The Western States Summit is one in a series being convened for partners in the field by the Council (see prior story on New England Champions Summit). Partners at the Western States Summit included: Karia Lee Basta, Technical Assistance Coordinator, Arizona Department of Housing; David Barnhouse, Deputy Director, Arizona Governor's Office for Children, Youth and Families; Mattie McVey Lord, Homeless Coordination Office, Community Partnerships & Innovative Practices, Arizona Department of Economic Security; Susan Hallett, M.Ed., BSW, Program Administrator, Office of Community Partnerships and Innovative Practices (CPIP), Arizona Department of Economic Security; Tracy L. Wareing, Director, Arizona Department of Economic Security; and Irene Jacobs, Executive Director, Arizona Governor's Office for Children, Youth and Families.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA. Prior to the Council's Western Regional Summit, Director Mangano also welcomed attendees at a Regional Federal Interagency Council event convened with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Social Security Administration, represented by Steve Sachs, HUD Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) San Francisco Regional Director , and Patty Robidart, SSA San Francisco Deputy Regional Director. The interagency event was designed to further regional federal goals and collaborations that increase access to mainstream resources and benefits for persons who are homeless. Federal Region IX has piloted such initiatives targeted to Food Stamps and to SSI benefits.

"To end chronic homelessness, or the homelessness of any person who is disabled, the Social Security benefit is an indispensable ally," Director Mangano told the partners. "Providing in most places both income and heath insurance, the SSI benefit supports the creation of the central antidote to chronic homelessness - permanent supportive housing." He added: "Perhaps no resource is more important than SSI in sustaining housing - income to help pay rent, insurance to offer supportive medical and social services in third party billing."

Attendees also heard from practitioners regarding "Best Practices in SSI and Social Security Benefits Access" from Ron Dudley, Santa Cruz County Mental Health Supervising Client Specialist; and "Working Together" from Michele Fuller-Hallauer, Las Vegas/Clark County Continuum of Care.

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. Harvard University's student-run shelter this month marked its 25th anniversary which was highlighted by evolving intent to create solutions for persons who are homeless through "benefit counselors" and a new housing initiative. Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government was the site of formal celebration at the John F. Kennedy, Jr., Forum which brought federal, state, local, and private sector partners, including former student volunteers and shelter guests, together for a commemoration hosted by University Lutheran Church, where the shelter operates, and Phillips Brooks House, which coordinates Harvard student service initiatives.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, former Director of Homeless Services for the City of Cambridge, joined Julie Wilson, Kennedy School Lecturer in Social Policy and Director of the Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy at the Kennedy School; Student Shelter Director Chiara Condi (Harvard Class of 2008); State Representative Alice Wolf; former State Senator and Harvard student volunteer Jarrett Barrios, now President of Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation; James Shearer, Founder of Spare Change News and a formerly homeless person; and James Young of Harvard Divinity School.

Professor Wilson welcomed attendees, thanking both student volunteers and Cambridge residents for their support over the years. Ms. Wilson noted that no one opening the shelter 25 years ago ever expected to still be welcoming homeless guests to the site. She noted the earlier move of student directors who led a process to convert some of the shelter's seasonal beds to transitional use to help support guests with jobs. The Harvard Square Homeless Shelter is a member program of Phillips Brooks House Association, an umbrella organization of more than seventy public service programs run by Harvard students. Phillips Brooks House, first founded as a religious settlement house in 1900 and now a student- run public service/social action organization at Harvard College, has been called "the best course at Harvard."

The Shelter is the only entirely student-run shelter in the country. The Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, located at University Lutheran Church, is open each night from November 15 to April 15. Volunteers organize day-to-day operations, and the "student directors" of the shelter are aided by a team of "resource advocates," who are trained for their work by local attorneys and social workers to provide support to guests in seeking jobs and housing and accessing mainstream resources including SSI and Food Stamps.

Student shelter director Chiara Condi (Class of 2008) told The Harvard Crimson: "The resource advocates provide longer-term, more personal help than that provided by over-burdened state services. " She stated: "We fill the gaps between people and social services with more human relationships."

Spare Change Director James Shearer noted that the University Lutheran site had indirectly given birth to Spare Change newspaper, since most of its early contributors were staying at the shelter. Pastoral intern Young observed that his work in area programs had always provided him with a consistent message from consumers about that they want: a house and a job.

Now recognizing that housing is the solution to homelessness, not emergency shelter, Phillips Brooks House has announced a campaign to raise an endowment to be managed by Harvard University. The proceeds will be invested in support services to support homeless individuals in permanent housing. Noting the evolution of in understanding that the goal of volunteers' efforts is frustrated without targeted efforts to enroll people in mainstream resources and obtain housing, Director Mangano noted: "The innovations in our response to homelessness have taught us that our old approaches needn't be the final response. They've taught us how to welcome our homeless neighbors and look them directly in the eye rather than avert our eyes. They've taught us how to move beyond an outreach that enabled people to stay out to engagement that induces them to come in. And they've taught us, too, through rapid re-housing and housing first models, that the equation of homelessness can be changed."

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