FORT COLLINS, COLORADO. Old Town Square in Fort Collins, Colorado was the setting last summer for the unveiling of a new blueprint developed by community partners who will next consider creation of a 10 Year Plan. This week Bryce Hach was named as the new Executive Director of Homeward 2020, an initiative of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, which will now develop a Ten Year Plan drawing on the nationwide best practices research identified in the blueprint. The city has invested $100,000 in the public-private partnership which has also received private donations.

In an interview, Mr. Hach stated, "It's going to be a fundamental shift to go from that mindset to one of true abolishment. That's the extra step we really want to be gearing ourselves toward and really have a conclusion that we can point to in 10 years time." The strategic plan will follow a business model with metrics that track and measure accomplishments over the years, he said. Mr. Hach formerly was executive director of the Hach Scientific Foundation and a high school teacher in Mississippi.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano joined Fort Collins Mayor Doug Hutchinson and Council Member Diggs Brown for the unveiling of the blueprint in August. Director Mangano commended the partners for their emphasis on best practices and their national search for innovations, noting: "Is homelessness to be the one area where we're bound to what we were doing 20 years ago? That's why Ten Year Plans are so important. They should challenge the status quo, with innovations that get the job done, that reduce the long misery of homelessness for our poorest neighbors."

A more than year-long process of the volunteer UniverCity Connections Homelessness Task Group quantified homelessness in Fort Collins and identified best practices from around the country, along with initiatives in cities of similar size, resulting in a framework for action. The Fort Collins Task Group was co-convened by Chris Kneeland, former City Council member and CEO of Center Partners, and Jim Sprout, Chairman, Northern Colorado First Western Trust Bank, Northern Colorado. Mr. Sprout, a prominent local business leader, championed the development of the blueprint, "Building Blocks to Ending Homelessness in Fort Collins." Dr. Jamie van Leeuwen, Denver's 10 Year Plan Manager, developed the best practice information for the initiative.

"Well done! Thanks for showing the greatness hidden in the least among us - the frustrations and challenges they face and the beauty of one small voice willing to make a big noise . . . " said a movie- goer in St. Louis.

"Nathaniel's love for music never changed no matter what changes came in his life or in his mental state. Music remained steady in his life," said a young viewer in Los Angeles.

A picture is worth a thousand words. This week, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness partnered with Paramount and Participant Media and their production and distribution partners to create "opinion leader" screenings of the new Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr. movie, The Soloist, in 58 cities engaged in 10 Year Plan efforts across the country. These screenings were held prior to the movie's general release this weekend and were seen by more than thousands of elected and civic leaders, leading community service providers, and homeless guests.

" We're appreciative to have this new opportunity to shape public opinion and break down myths and stereotypes about our most vulnerable neighbors, those who are homeless and living on the streets," indicated Council Director Philip Mangano. "The film's theme that 'no one changes anything by playing it safe' will resonate with those partners who have challenged the status quo by breaking down myths and stereotypes concerning homeless people and their abilities and capacities, by defining people by their possibilities and not by their disability or illness."

The Council continues to receive reactions from communities across the nation where the screenings were held.

From Hartford, Connecticut:
" . . . gripping. Beautifully scripted, beautifully acted, a realistic and graphic portrayal of homelessness in all its dimensions. It hits hard on the issue of mental illness which affects so many of the homeless populations: their fears, their demons, their failings, but also their potential."

From Los Angeles:
" . . . the portrayal of the confusion that Nathaniel experienced as a young man at Julliard when his mental illness began to surface was frightening. I felt such compassion for him and could see how that could completely derail one's life. "

From Providence, RI:
"The crowd was attentive with no noise in the theater throughout the show until the end when the audience stood and applauded."

From Orlando:
" I never see movies . . . but I was given tickets by our mayor's office on homelessness for this movie tonight. And I am really glad I went! . . What I was so struck by and wanted to share are the principles of recovery that are so well illustrated - self-direction, person-centered, empowerment, non-linear, strengths-based, and respect are key in the film."

From Washington, DC:
" Thanks for this opportunity. Having our city leaders see this film together gave us an experience that will inform our work to end the homelessness of other people like Nathaniel."

A tip of the hat to Paramount Pictures and Liana Schwarz of Participant Media and all the Mayors, County officials, private sector partners, and others who saw and understood the power of the movie and its message about our most vulnerable neighbors.

WASHINGTON, DC. With multiple new resources available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and other federal initiatives, the National League of Cities has published a brief for cities on the inventory of mainstream resources that can support families in tough economic times. NLC has also named eight new cities for the Bank On Cities Campaign, a technical assistance project aimed at helping municipal leaders connect low- and moderate-income families to mainstream financial services and products.

The NLC brief, which details the opportunity to "connect eligible families to expanded health and nutrition benefits and tax credits, boosting the local economy and helping needy families weather tough economic times," includes the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC), the new refundable Making Work Pay tax credit for workers in tax years 2009 and 2010, $20 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Stamps, $500 million for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, $2 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), COBRA Continuation of Health Benefits modifications, reauthorization of SNAP/Food Stamps, and reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

The NLC brief encourages city leaders to inventory current outreach efforts and create local events to highlight available benefits, noting "These outreach initiatives can be implemented at a relatively low cost to the city and can have a large impact for families."

"The benefits programs in the President's recovery package will be important to the work of states in this crisis," indicated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. "With funds now available to be used for benefits enrollment coordination activities relating to the identification and enrollment of eligible individuals and families in federal, state, and local benefit programs, these resources present a new opportunity for cities and states to incentivize the one-stop model and increase the often minimal participation of families and individuals who are homeless in mainstream benefit programs."

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has also recently announced $1 billion in state allocations for new recovery resources in the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program. The new investment, including a 1% setaside for benefits screening and enrollment, come as part of President Obama's recovery package and will be distributed to states for community action agencies. The $1 billion in new funds under the Recovery Act is in addition to CSBG's regular annual operating budget of approximately $700 million.

States that receive Recovery Act Funds are required to submit a separate plan to the Office of Community Services (OCS) for FY 2009 Plan for Recovery Act (ARRA) Funds by May 29, 2009. States are required to use the designated 1% for the purposes of benefits enrollment and coordination activities. The block grant gives states flexibility to administer benefits enrollment activities in a manner that best meets the needs of individuals, families and communities in their state. States will be required to submit a plan for benefits enrollment and coordination as part of their FY 2009 Plan for Recovery Act (ARRA) Funds.

The Recovery Act also allows states and the eligible entities that administer the CSBG program at the local level to increase individual eligibility for services furnished by the program during fiscal years 2009 and 2010 up to 200% of the official poverty guidelines as set by HHS.

The cities selected for the Bank on Cities project include several Ten Year Plan cities where partnership initiatives have been key to progress on the issue of homelessness. New NLC sites are Bryan, Texas; Denver; Gaithersburg, Maryland; Indianapolis; Louisville, Kentucky.; Newark, N.J.; Rapid City, S.D.; and St. Petersburg, Florida.

In 2008, the first phase of the Bank On Cities Campaign assisted 10 cities in developing initiatives to expand access to free and low-cost bank accounts and financial education. During the next phase of this project, the eight new selected cities will receive technical assistance to develop and implement their own version of a citywide Bank On Campaign.

Teams from each city will receive one-on-one assistance from institute staff and will participate in monthly conference calls, Web seminars and cross- city convenings designed to facilitate peer learning and provide access to national experts and other resources. Several cities that have already launched or will soon launch "Bank On" strategies have agreed to act as "faculty" and provide guidance and advice to the new cohort of project cities.

"We are excited at the opportunity this creates for us to help Denver families toward long-term financial stability," said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. "We look forward to taking full advantage of the expertise of NLC's YEF Institute as we develop a Bank On Denver initiative that will give responsible, hard-working citizens a chance to achieve prosperity and financial security."

WASHINGTON, DC. President Obama this week signed into law the new Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act at a Washington DC elementary school, joined by Vice President Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr, Jill Biden, Members of Congress, former President Clinton, former First Lady Rosalyn Carter, and an audience of nonprofit leaders and national service volunteers. The President was introduced by the bill's namesake and longtime service champion Senator Kennedy, who co-authored the legislation with Senator Orrin Hatch.

The Serve America Act reauthorizes and expands national service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, created in 1993. The President called on Congress to send him the Kennedy-Hatch national service legislation in his joint address on February 25. The bill was introduced on March 8 and passed the House on a 321 to 105 vote on March 18. The Senate followed suit one week later with a 79-19 vote, with final passage in the House on March 31, just 22 days after it was introduced.

President Obama also announced his intention to nominate Maria Eitel to be CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Ms. Eitel is the President of the Nike Foundation and a Vice President of NIKE, Inc. As president of the Nike Foundation, she has led the Foundation's work to increase opportunities for the world's most disadvantaged girls. Prior to becoming the Foundation's first president, Ms. Eitel served as Nike Inc.'s first vice president for corporate responsibility, leading the development and implementation of the company's first corporate responsibility agenda.

The legislation comes at a time of growing social need caused by the economic downturn and a corresponding "compassion surge" of Americans wanting to help those left vulnerable by its impact. The Corporation reported today that AmeriCorps received 17,038 online applications in March, nearly triple the 6,770 received in March of 2008. In the past five months, the agency received 48,520 online applications, up 234% over the 14,532 applications it received during the same five month period a year ago. Many volunteer centers and nonprofits groups are also reporting a recent increase in volunteers.

The Serve America Act, which goes into effect on October 1, would increase and enhance opportunities for Americans of all ages to serve by increasing AmeriCorps from 75,000 to 250,000 positions over the next eight years, while increasing opportunities for students and older Americans to serve. It will strengthen America's civic infrastructure through social innovation, volunteer mobilization, and building nonprofit capacity. The new law is also designed to strengthen the management, cost-effectiveness and accountability of national service programs by increasing flexibility, consolidating funding streams, and introducing more competition.

The bill follows quickly on the heels of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provided $200 million to support up to 13,000 AmeriCorps members serving in distressed communities. Acting CEO Goren will swear in the first 200 Recovery Act AmeriCorps members at a VISTA training this Friday in Albuquerque, putting "boots on the ground" to help citizens affected by the economic downturn.

WASHINGTON, DC. Nominees for key leadership roles in President Obama's Administration moved ahead with the Senate confirmation process this week, as the President's team continues to build. Several of those nominees who had hearings or votes this week will fill important roles in agencies in the membership of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, which is preparing to convene its first meeting of the new Administration.

Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee also held confirmation hearings this week for several key posts at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Ronald Sims, County Executive of King County, of Washington, and Co-Chair of the Seattle-King County Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, is the nominee for HUD Deputy Secretary to Secretary Shaun Donovan. He was introduced to the Senate panel by Washington Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, who both noted Mr. Sims' involvement and commitment on the issue of homelessness. Noted Mr. Sims in his remarks to the Committee, "Throughout my career, I have championed regional efforts to develop affordable and supportive housing, end homelessness, improve blighted neighborhoods and create opportunities for home ownership."

He noted HUD's important leadership role to leverage collaborative action with other federal agencies, stating, "This inter-agency leadership will only be possible if HUD as an organization is fully functional and focused on meaningful and measurable outcomes."

Also appearing before the Senate committee were Ms. Helen R. Kanovsky, of Maryland, to be HUD General Counsel, David H. Stevens, of Virginia, to be HUD Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner, Peter Kovar, to be HUD Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, and John D. Trasviña, to be HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.

President Obama this week nominated Mercedes Marquez as the HUD Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Ms. Marquez currently serves as the General Manager of the City of Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD). She also served HUD in the Clinton administration as the principal advisor to Secretary Andrew Cuomo and deputy general counsel for civil rights and fair housing. Sandra Brooks Henriquez of the Boston Housing Authority has also been nominated as HUD Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.

Department of Health and Human Services. The President's nomination of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to be Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services has also advanced, as this week the Senate Committee of jurisdiction voted affirmatively on her nomination. This now paves the way for a full vote of the Senate.

Department of Veterans Affairs. The Senate on Wednesday voted to confirm former Illinois Veterans Affairs chief Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran, as Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental affairs for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki currently serves as Chair of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. Ms. Duckworth is a decorated Iraq war veteran who lost both legs while co-piloting a helicopter in 2004. She was director of the Illinois Veterans Affairs Department until February.

WASHINGTON, DC. As jurisdictional leaders prepare to submit their plans to invest $1.5 billion in new resources for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing program created in the President's recovery package at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD has announced the first in a national series of nine training events to support communities in using the funds.

Regional training events have been announced for Dallas (April 30-May 1), Seattle (May 7-8), Miami (May 21-22), and Chicago (June 4-5). HUD is sponsoring the trainings for HPRP grantees and potential subgrantees and HUD staff. Each one and a half day meeting will give HPRP stakeholders an opportunity to learn more about HUD's HPRP Program, particularly program requirements and how the program is to be administered. The training will focus on purpose of HPRP, eligible activities and participants, ineligible uses of HPRP, targeting assistance, fiscal requirements, data collection and reporting, and community presentations.

On-line registration information is available at the Homelessness Resource Exchange site, along with numerous technical assistance resources and the archive of HUD's webcast on HPRP.

HUD held a webcast event this week with an overview of the 2008 Homeless Assistance Programs competition, to help improve understanding of the scoring process, and to highlight common errors and omissions made by applicants. The registration process for the 2009 competition will open in early summer, with an expected application deadline - once the application is made available and using the e-snaps system - after Labor Day.

Under the new HPRP program, funding allocations to the eligible awardees of states, metropolitan cities, urban counties, and territories are based on a formula, with a $500,000 grant minimum set by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. 540 grantees have been identified using this approach, and specific allocations are posted on line.

State grantees must award funds to local units of government (including those receiving direct HPRP allocations) and/or private non-profit organizations, share a reasonable amount of administrative funds with subgrantees, and cannot subgrant to state agencies. Metropolitan cities, urban counties, and U.S. territories may carry out eligible activities themselves, subgrant to private non-profit organizations, and subgrant to another local government (new for HPRP).

HPRP is not a mortgage assistance program, or intended to serve persons who need long-term and/or intensive supports. It is different than the historic Emergency Shelter Grants program (ESG), in that it has different eligibility requirements and different eligible activities. It is also distinct from the recently announced HUD Rapid Re-housing (RRH) Demonstration, as HPRP also has different requirements and activities.

There are two populations of persons facing housing instability that are eligible to receive funding under the HPRP: 1) individuals and families who are currently in housing but are at risk of becoming homeless and need temporary rent or utility assistance to prevent them from becoming homeless or assistance to move to another unit (prevention), and 2) individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness (residing in emergency or transitional shelters or on the street) and need temporary assistance in order to obtain housing and retain it (rapid re-housing).

Homeless individuals and families, and individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless, must meet the following three criteria in order to receive HPRP financial assistance or services: 1) Household must be at or below 50 percent of Area Median Income (AMI); 2) Household must meet both of the following circumstances: (a) no appropriate subsequent housing options have been identified; AND (b) the household lacks the financial resources and support networks needed to obtain immediate housing or remain in its existing housing; 3) Any individual or family receiving rental assistance must have at least an initial consultation with a case manager to determine need.

WASHINGTON, DC. $5 million for outreach initiatives for homeless and runaway youth has been announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HHS' Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) is accepting applications for the Street Outreach Program (SOP) whose purpose is to conduct outreach services designed to build relationships between grantee staff and runaway, homeless, and street youth.

Eligible applicants are public and nonprofit private agencies, such as state, county, and local governments, Public/Indian housing authorities, and non-profits. Current grantees with project periods ending on or before September 29, 2009, and all other eligible applicants not currently receiving SOP funds, may apply for a new competitive Street Outreach grant under this announcement. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible to apply. Applications are due June 8, 2009, and interested applicants should read the full announcement for complete details. 50 awards of $200,000 are projected.

Through the program, FYSB awards grants to private, nonprofit agencies to conduct outreach designed to build relationships between grantee staff and street youth. The goal of these efforts is to help young people leave the streets.

The local grantees provide a range of services directly or through collaboration with other agencies, specifically those working to protect and treat young people who have been, or who are at risk of being, subjected to sexual abuse or exploitation. These services include the following: street-based education and outreach, access to emergency shelter, survival aid, individual assessments, treatment and counseling, prevention and education activities, information and referrals, crisis intervention, and follow-up support.

FYSB encourages its grantee programs to support young people through a positive youth development approach. That approach suggests that the best way to prevent young people's involvement in risky behavior is to help them achieve their full potential. Youth development strategies, therefore, focus on giving young people the chance to exercise leadership, build skills, and become involved in their communities.

MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA. Transportation access and coordination is a need in every community for people who are homeless or living with disabilities. Maricopa County, Arizona's regional efforts to address the needs of "transportation disadvantaged populations" through the Maricopa Association of Governments Human Services Transportation Planning Program have been recognized by the 2008 United We Ride Leadership Award in the category of major urbanized areas. The region earned the award for successfully implementing plans to coordinate transportation for older adults, people with disabilities, and people with low incomes. The Maricopa program is supported by the Federal Transit Administration through the City of Phoenix, the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, and by a network of human services providers, transportation agencies, and people served by these programs.

Within the federal government, United We Ride serves as an interagency initiative working to promote the goal of coordinated human service transportation. United We Ride works as a partner to promote coordination with organizations across all levels of government and the private and non-profit sectors. One focus is to carry out an action plan that includes taking steps, such as reducing duplicate laws and programs affecting human services transportation. Awardees are chosen based on the completion of an inventory of transit, including needs and gaps analysis, consumer focus, collaboration, effectiveness, and reliability.

The award to Maricopa County is a component of United We Ride's mandate through federal legislation which reauthorized public transportation and highway programs and included a transportation coordinated planning process. The legislation [Safe, Affordable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act, A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)] included a requirement for a "locally-developed, coordinated, public transit human service plan" for the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) three human service transportation programs for underserved populations (Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities, Job Access and Reverse Commute, and New Freedom Programs) Funding for these programs is contingent upon communities establishing an initial locally-coordinated human service transportation plan.

Another United We Ride initiative is the "One Vision/One Call' effort to offering riders in need one number to call by unifying transportation services in the community. According to United We Ride, there are three common approaches to achieving this coordination, depending on local circumstances. One is for a human service agency to lead the coordination work, such as overseeing vehicle operations and maintenance. Another is to hire an outside "Transportation Broker" to coordinate the effort. A third approach is for a public agency, such as a transit authority, to take the lead.

Norfolk's next Project Homeless Connect will feature recyclable totes for attendees instead of plastic grocery bags.

Portland, Oregon's Project Homeless Connect includes the Create a Commuter program run by the Community Cycling Center to provide bikes and cycling education to low-income adults.

Marin County's Connect event includes on-site recycling.

Is your local initiative to end homelessness incorporating any "green" measures in its work? Tell us about it, and we may feature your "going green" story in the e-news. Write to us at usich@usich.gov

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