BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS. "Eventually, under this plan, the shelters go away," Brockton, Massachusetts Mayor James Harrington said this week as he unveiled his city's new 10-Year Plan to end chronic homelessness, one of fifteen underway in Massachusetts, adding about the new approach: "It makes sense." Utilizing data from its 2008 point-in- time count, Brockton has recently announced a 21% decrease in the number of chronically homeless individuals in the city in the past two years.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was invited to join public and private sector partners for the 10-Year Plan event at City Hall. Director Mangano commended Mayor Harrington for the extension of his political will, the investment of $100,000 of the city's HOME funds in homelessness initiatives, and the accessing of city property to create permanent housing for veterans and for the chronically homeless population.

"Communities large and small, coast to coast - including Brockton - are now seeing the first decreases in two decades, and that's heartening to them and to others," indicated Director Mangano. "These are communities that have committed to jurisdictionally-led, community-based 10-Year Plans that have created their strategy around business principles, cost studies, and innovative ideas. "

Also participating in the 10-Year Plan press conference were Brockton 10-Year Plan Chair Stephen Pike of North Easton Savings Bank, Massachusetts Interagency Council on Homelessness and Housing Director Robert Pulster, and Father Bill's/Mainspring Executive Director John Yazwinski. Plymouth County United Way CEO and Executive Director and former Mainspring Executive Director Dennis Carman, and Council Regional Coordinator John O'Brien also participated.

Mr. Yazwinski, who now heads the new Father Bill's/Mainspring organization, achieved the 2007 merger of two locally based non-profits. The two 20- year-old entities, first organized as emergency responses in their South Shore communities, merged to coordinate their strategies and increase their housing focus for individuals and families.

The Executive Committee for the Plan also included: Robert Martin, Human Resources Administrator Mayor's Office, City of Brockton, Steve DuBuque, Executive Director, South Shore Housing, Kim McLaughlin, Director, CareerWorks, UMASS/Donahue Institute, and Jennifer Reid, Project Manger, Institute for Regional Development-Bridgewater State College.

The new Housing First and employment-focused plan in Brockton calls for strengthening coordinated baseline data and will partner with Bridgewater State College in developing new systems, as well as converting emergency resources to housing and increasing access to mainstream resources for the consumer. The plan seeks to improve both prevention and veterans' strategies, and calls for regional planning.

One new initiative - called "Citizen X" - will create a partnership between the Brockton Police and the state Department of Mental Health to focus on the most disabled and most expensive people on the streets. The Citizen X Committee, co-chaired by Sgt. Paul Bonanca of the Brockton Police and Richard Jobin of the Department of Mental Health, will include law enforcement, health care providers, and city officials meeting to respond to individuals who use a disproportionately large amount of public resources. "Citizen X" is a chronically homeless individual well known to police, ambulance personnel, hospital staff and mental health professionals.

Pictured here (top) are: Mr. Yazwinski, Mayor Harrington, Mr. Pike, Director Mangano, and Mr. Carman; (center) Director Mangano and Mayor Harrington; and (bottom) a meeting of the community stakeholders in conjunction with the press event.

WASHINGTON, DC. Washington, DC Mayor Adrian M. Fenty this week announced a $19 million initiative to end chronic homelessness in the Nation's Capital, consistent with the City's 2004 10-Year Plan. Mayor Fenty's deepened commitment to the housing goal of the Plan includes the creation of a Housing First Fund and a permanent supportive housing initiative administered by the city's Department of Human Services to move over 400 people experiencing homelessness to housing in six months. The initiative will also consolidate emergency shelter facilities to achieve better outcomes and a trajectory out of homelessness.

"What we are proposing is a new approach to serving our chronically homeless neighbors," said Mayor Fenty, who was joined by (DHS) Director Clarence Carter. "The systems of the past have not brought us closer to ending this humanitarian crisis in our city. This is an exciting initiative and we look forward to working closely with community stakeholders to make it successful."

DHS will work together with other District agencies on site acquisition and development of property for permanent housing with supportive services. Additional units will add to the successful work already underway in Washington through the Pathways to Housing DC initiative, which includes a federally-funded pilot initiative for chronic inebriates.

The District estimates it has approximately 1750 chronically homeless residents and 191 families in emergency shelter, and that this targeted investment just announced will decrease the chronically homeless population by over 20 percent and reduce family homelessness by over 40 percent. The measures include the planned closing of one shelter by October 1, opening additional men's beds without public subsidy through the Central Union Mission, and acquiring property for permanent supportive housing development.

Mayor Fenty also proposed the creation of a Housing First Fund to be housed in the Department of Human Services. The fund is expected to receive proceeds from property disposition targeted to the creation of new housing and be a clearinghouse for financial support from foundations and private institutions interested in supporting the District's efforts to end homelessness.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons last week agreed to pursue the reinvigoration of his state's Interagency Council on Homelessness during a meeting with United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. Governor Gibbons directed his staff to advance steps to revitalize the Council first established through Executive Order by Governor Kenny Guinn. Governor Gibbons and Director Mangano are pictured here. Chief of Staff Michael Dayton and Council Regional Coordinator Ed Cabrera also took part.

As part of the revitalization and in the conversation between the Governor and Director Mangano, suggestions were made regarding the involvement of business, placement of the Interagency Council in state government, and other best practices being seen across the country, including involvement as members of key jurisdictions in the state. Governor Gibbons is a former combat pilot and legislator at both the state and federal level, familiar with the need for planning and building partnerships of stakeholders.

In Nevada this week, the continuing commitment of the state legislature was evidenced as state lawmakers voted to make an initial recommendation to award $1 million to local governments for homeless programs, even in the current budget- cutting environment. One key argument made during the budget discussion was that the state's investment could potentially leverage several times the requested amount to invest in areas of the state which have not yet launched needed initiatives. Lawmakers voted to recommend the financing for a favorable vote. As in states across the country influenced by State Interagency Councils on Homelessness, governments have recommended beginning investment of state funds into homelessness initiatives.

While in Nevada, Director Mangano visited Las Vegas and Clark County officials to learn of progress in the jurisdictions in coordinating plan implementation. Director Mangano and Regional Coordinator Ed Cabrera visited with Clark County Manager Virginia Valentine, Assistant Manager Darryl Martin, and County Project Homeless Connect point person Llona Nagy. Mr. Martin hosted introductions for Director Mangano with County Commissioner Ms. Chris Giunchialini. During that meeting, Director Mangano and the County Manager discussed cost benefit analysis and the investment that the city is making on homelessness.

In the City of Las Vegas, Director Mangano met with the city's Deputy City Manager and Homeless Committee Chair Orlando Sanchez who is the former Neighborhood Services Administrator, Neighborhood Services Administrator and former Homeless Coordinator Trina Robinson, and Homeless Coordinator Tara Ulmer at City Hall. The City of Las Vegas has completed a 10-Year Plan and coordinates with the County as they implement a countywide 10- Point Plan. Las Vegas recently convened its first Project Homeless Connect.

Elsewhere in Nevada, in Reno and Washoe County, where the nation's 200th 10-Year Plan was made, City officials recently hosted a press conference of ribbon- cutting for three new facilities on their homeless campus, which will include space for Reno Police Department Officers Patrick O'Bryan and Steve Johns, whose work has been recognized by the Council and in the Malcolm Gladwell article, "Million Dollar Murray," in The New Yorker, which profiled the costly life of Murray Barr on the streets of Reno, as he randomly ricocheted through acute care and law enforcement systems. A new Triage Center and Women's Shelter are also at the site.

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications for $10 million in FY 2008 grants for the Development of Comprehensive Drug/Alcohol and Mental Health Treatment Systems for Persons Who are Homeless Program (Treatment for the Homeless). The purpose of this program is to expand and strengthen treatment services for persons who are homeless (including those who are chronically homeless) and who also have substance use disorders, mental disorders, or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders.

SAMHSA expects that up to $10 million will be available for 25 grants of approximately $400,000 per grant for up to five years. Approximately $4.5 million per year of the $10 million will be used to provide services in supportive housing. The grants will be administered by SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

For the purpose of this program, "supportive housing" is defined as housing that is permanent, affordable and linked to health, mental health, employment, and other support services that provides consumers with long-term, community-based housing options. This housing approach combines housing assistance and intensive individualized support services to chronically homeless individuals with substance use disorders, mental disorders, or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. Grantees may not use grant funds to pay for housing. Therefore, applicants proposing to provide services in supportive housing must demonstrate the ability to place clients in supportive housing and must provide documentation of the source of funding for the housing component each year of the grant.

WASHINGTON, DC. Business metrics were the vocabulary as strategic partnerships, innovation, outcome measures, and results in ending homelessness were discussed in this week's meeting between visiting Australian First Lady Therese Rein and United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. Ms. Rein, who accompanied her husband, new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, on an official visit to the United States, sought a meeting with Director Mangano to convey the new Australian government's commitment to be effective in addressing homelessness and to commend the National Partnership constellated by the Council. Australian Embassy Economic Counselor Joshua Meltzer also participated in the meeting. Ms. Rein and Director Mangano are pictured here.

In January, Prime Minister Rudd announced that his government would develop "a comprehensive, long- term plan to tackle homelessness as a matter of national priority," stating that his government will build on its $150 million election commitment to construct new homes for Australians in "crisis accommodation" by developing a White Paper by August on how Australia can systematically reduce homelessness over the next decade. The Prime Minister has appointed Tony Nicholson, Executive Director of the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, to lead a Steering Committee of experts to oversee the process. The Prime Minister indicated that he had been convinced of the need for a new approach that includes prevention by visits to emergency shelters, noting that "the United Kingdom and some parts of the United States have achieved major reductions in homelessness, " and that a first priority would be "rough sleepers," those living on the streets and increased access to mainstream resources.

During the visit, Director Mangano discussed with Ms. Rein the National Partnership being constellated by the Council, including the work of State Interagency Councils on Homelessness across the nation. Director Mangano noted the number of cities with decreases in chronic homelessness reported as results of their 10-Year Plans, as well as the expanded role of the private sector in 10-Year Plans.

Ms. Rein and Director Mangano discussed evidence- based practices in national government initiatives, as well as public sector focus on outcome measures for public investment, and strategies for targeting investments and recognizing costs of homelessness across government. The dialogue also touched on the ongoing International Colloquies convened by the Council starting in 2004, in which Australia now participates. In identifying the similarities between business experience and 10-Year Plan implementation in an emphasis on measuring what works and what does not work, Ms. Rein noted the need to evaluate a lack of results by examining whether an innovation has been poorly translated or poorly implemented.

Ms. Rein and Director Mangano agreed on the important role of consumers in identifying needed solutions, with Ms. Rein noting that her business used a strategy of "co-producing" plans with employment clients, sitting side by side. Ms. Rein brings to her new role a business background as Managing Director of the Ingeus Group of Companies, a private Brisbane-¬based company she founded which provides welfare-to-work programs in the United Kingdom, France and Germany. In 2007, Ingeus won the Australian British Chamber of Commerce export award for the 'services' category. The company grew from a two-person operation in 1989 in South Brisbane to a global company with approximately 700 staff, operating from 31 offices in Australia, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

Ms. Rein has characterized her business vision as: "I am dedicated to helping people who would normally be excluded from the workplace to find decent, lasting and fulfilling jobs . . . We give them the means for a better life, whether they are mature aged, on a single parent's pension, on disability support or homeless. We treat everyone as an individual and we believe that no one is unemployable. And, we believe that people are better off, socially and financially, in work." Ms. Rein was recently named as "Patroness" of Common Ground's initiatives in Australia.

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. Among the accomplishments reported on at last week's meeting of the Alabama Governor's Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness was a collaborative initiative that successfully identified and addressed barriers to identification for reentering prisoners. Alabama's initiative is indicative of the results that can be achieved by expansive partnership to prevent and end homelessness with state agencies convened for results through an Interagency Council. The Council is under the leadership of Sydney Hoffman of the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Council Director Mangano is pictured here at the recent State Council meeting in Montgomery with Ms. Hoffman.

The Council has a standing agenda item for its meetings in which it identifies and addresses policy and statutory barriers that perpetuate or cause homelessness in the counties. The lack of identification for prisoners being released from state and federal prison in Alabama has been a significant problem in the state, and the Council's members and mission supported a forum for discussion and networking of key agencies that helped expedite a solution.

In April of 2007, Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) Commissioner Richard Allen announced a new Reentry Program designed to help inmates adjust to life outside of prison, and thereby reduce the overall recidivism rate. Since that time, ADOC has been actively involved with the development of this statewide reentry model, with further goals intended to encourage public safety in local communities, address public health and social disparities within the offender population, reunite parents with children, and offer referral linkages to inmates and ex-offenders transitioning back into society.

Recently, ADOC in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety (DPS) has been working aggressively to assist previously incarcerated persons with obtaining both personal identification cards and a driver's license. This has been a tremendous challenge for persons who do not have the required documentation. Effective February 12, 2008, DPS will accept the following: Probation or release papers issued by State or Federal Departments of Corrections with photo ID cards issued by the same authority, or felon ID cards issued by the Sheriff of the county of applicants residence.

"If a previously incarcerated person has basic necessities immediately upon release, they are less likely to re-offend," said Elana M. Parker, an employee with the Alabama Department of Public Health, on loan to ADOC for a period of two years to supervise ADOC's reentry program. "Most of us take identification for granted, but without it, basic survival needs including food, clothing and shelter are harder to come by."

ADOC's Reentry Program is supervised by Elana M. Parker, an employee with the Alabama Department of Public Health, on loan to ADOC for a period of two years. Ms. Parker is implementing the program as Reentry Coordinator and Public Health Liaison. ADOC's Reentry Program incorporates multiple components consisting of community education and transitional services. The model looks to expand existing services offered through institutional pre- release programs and Work Release.

Additionally, other state agencies have been identified, along with faith based and community organizations that provide transitional and reentry services to previously incarcerated persons. A number of community organizations including substance abuse treatment centers and residential rehabilitation programs have provided such services for a number of years. New reentry resources will assist with the following: obtaining personal identification and driver's license, basic life skills, food, clothing, shelter, job search, education and adult literacy programs, family reintegration, parent/child assistance services, vocational and apprenticeship trainings, and health care services.

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. The National Partnership constellated by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to forward the Administration's goal of ending chronic homelessness was again the focus of a Kennedy School of Government, Institute of Politics study group this week, as former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, who led development of the first jurisdictional 10-Year Plan, welcomed Council Executive Director Philip Mangano to an IOP study group on ending chronic homelessness. Bill Moreau, Board Chair of Indianapolis' Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP), also participated in the session, part of the Mayor's study group entitled "America's Cities: Where Government and the Political Process Still Work."

Mayor Peterson discussed the challenges faced by Mayors who address the issue of homelessness. Mr. Moreau described the city's 10-Year Plan and it challenges from the perspective of a community champion. Mr. Moreau also identified the increased investment in the Indianapolis plan by private sector partners and foundations and recent reductions in homelessness that are being seen.

Director Mangano identified both Mayor Peterson and Mr. Moreau as innovators in the National Partnership being constellated by the Council, including through jurisdictional 10-Year Plans, noting that innovation always carries risk. The creation of 10-Year Plans, however, took both local communities and the country forward, moving from Indianapolis's pioneer effort - the 2002 Blueprint to End Homelessness - to the now more than 325 jurisdictional plans underway.

In late December, the Indianapolis and Marion County Council voted to add an estimated $1.6 million to housing funds for the state and county through an increase in the real estate transaction recording fee. The Council voted in favor of the increase, which represents the first dedicated revenue stream for the City's housing trust fund which will receive 60 percent of projected revenues, with the balance going to the State's housing trust. The higher fee is expected to direct about $1 million per year toward the City's efforts to reduce homelessness and build more housing that is affordable for those in need. In January 2008, Indiana's Lilly Endowment announced a $2.9 million grant to the United Way of Central Indiana for five homeless initiatives, including the Indianapolis Blueprint to End Homelessness.

Student questions for the experts focused on sustaining political will. KSG's Institute of Policy Fellows convene study groups as an opportunity for students to learn informally from leading public servants, political practitioners, journalists, and academics. Events are open to all Harvard students, faculty, and staff, as well as the general public. The semester-long seminars are hosted by the Institute's Fellows and are offered in a variety of formats, including project-based working groups, skill-building workshops, and traditional Q&A- based discussion groups. Director Mangano has addressed past study groups on the National Partnership convened by former Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kerry Healey (on "Beyond the Rhetoric of Reform: How to Turn Good Intentions into Effective Public Policy"), and former Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell (on "21st Century American Cities: Why Cities and Mayors are Important Again" ).

WASHINGTON, DC. The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives invites federally-funded community partners to participate in the just-announced Portraits of Compassion video story contest. This contest is designed to show caring Americans who offer help and hope to their neighbors in need as part of the Administration's Faith-Based and Community Initiative.

The mission of the Faith-Based and Community Initiative is to strengthen both faith-based and other community-based service organizations and to grow government's collaboration with them to aid people in need. Over the past seven years, tens of thousands of partnerships have formed between government and dedicated nonprofits, extending service and hope to millions of individuals in need both at home and abroad. The Portraits of Compassion video story contest is a chance to honor this work and inspire others to service as well.

Eligible applicants include any domestic or international nonprofit organization that has partnered with a Federally-funded program since 2001 to serve those in need. Applications must include a "video story" of three minutes or less that can be uploaded on a free online video sharing service such as YouTube, Google Video, iTunes, or MySpace. All videos must be submitted as an Internet link by May 1, 2008. To learn more or to submit an application, visit http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/portraits/index.html.

Winning videos will be premiered during the White House National Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in Washington, D.C., on June 26 and 27, 2008 and showcased nationally on the Conference website. Additional OFBCI conferences are scheduled for: New Orleans (May 29-30); Sacramento (August 5); and Dallas (August 29).

Governors meeting in Washington recently were briefed on the results of the Faith-Based and Community Initiative with the release of "The Quiet Revolution: The President's Faith-Based and Community Initiative: A Seven-Year Progress Report" . Describing the impact of the initiative, the report notes: "The FBCI initiated a profound cultural change resulting in wider acceptance of faith-based organizations in community problem-solving, as well as a heightened understanding of results-driven collaborations between government and the nonprofit sector." The faith-based initiative was the first Presidential initiative launched by the Bush Administration and has expanded each year, including five Executive Orders expanding the FBCI reach across the Federal agencies; more than a dozen Presidential initiatives aimed at "some of society's most stubborn social problems"; provision of in- person training through conferences to build capacity for more than 100,000 social entrepreneurs; measurement of the FBCI's progress, and ongoing improvement of program components as necessary; and replication at the State- and local-government level.

The Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, led by Deputy Assistant to the President Jay Hein, also released a new state-by- state guidebook to the state- level faith-based offices and liaisons now established by Governors in 35 states. The e-news last week profiled the work of the Alabama Governor's Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness, established by Governor Bob Riley in the Governor's Office of Faith- Based and Community Initiatives. The state guidebook details federal grant awards to faith-based and community organizations, as well as investments made specifically in Presidential initiatives including the Compassion Capital Fund, Prisoner Reentry Initiative, Access to Recovery treatment vouchers, and Mentoring of Children of Prisoners. The guidebook also highlights the state offices unique characteristics and quantifies volunteer service in the state. 35 Governors have designated State Liaisons or Offices for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. To identify your state liaison, visit the OFBCI web site at http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/contact- states.html

email: ichnews@setechnology.com

web: http://www.usich.gov