HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT. On January 18, Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez became one of the 35 original mayoral signatories to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Mayoral Covenant of Partnership to End Chronic Homelessness. On January 31, Mayor Perez launched his 10-year planning process publicly, asking his new Commission to End Chronic Homelessness to come up with recommendations to end chronic homelessness in the Hartford region by 2015. This week, the Commission, chaired by Bank of America of Connecticut President Susan Rottner and Archbishop Henry Mansell - described by The Hartford Courant as bringing the "gravitas of faith and finance" to the process - unveiled its recommendations for Hartford, joined by federal, state, and local government partners.

Mayor Perez charged the planners with developing a Regional Plan, identifying innovative/best practice models to serve chronically homeless people outside of the emergency shelter system, identifying supportive housing models that offer both rental and homeownership opportunities, developing plans to access private funding sources, and minimizing the utilization of traditional emergency shelters. Hartford's new plan, which estimates that there are 647 long-term homeless households and 620 temporary homeless households, calculates that total current resources from public and private systems aimed at homelessness are $37,825,955.

The new Plan, which relies on benchmarks for future actions, focuses on supportive and affordable housing, calling for 1293 supportive housing units for long-term homeless individuals and families with 632 of those in Hartford. Other key elements of the Plan highlight the need for economic stability, helping chronically homeless people with job and vocational training and placement; improving discharge planning through support of better policies; and developing needed support services so that services are provided to prevent chronic homelessness and aid those experiencing it. Adoption of best practices in data collection and the convening of an implementation team will yield future results.

"Commission Chairs Susan Rottner of Bank of America and Archbishop Mansell and the Commission members have given to Mayor Perez and your city and your region a plan that is grounded in realism, realistic in intent, and ready for implementation," stated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who keynoted the unveiling. Regional Coordinator John O'Brien also participated.

Commission members included elected officials from Canton and Manchester, and leaders of United Way, Partnership for Strong Communities, Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation, Hartford Health and Human Services, Hartford Police Department, Hartford and St. Francis Hospitals, Hartford Foundation, Travelers Life, Fannie Mae, Hartford Public Schools, and Connecticut Departments of Children and Families, Social Services, and Veterans Affairs, as well as local providers and formerly homeless persons.

BILLINGS, MONTANA. Family homelessness was in the spotlight last week in Montana's largest city as partners from across the Billings, Montana, region gathered at the St. Vincent Healthcare's Mansfield Center for a day of activity focused on homelessness and ending with the celebration of a new faith-based resource for families. At the invitation of Representative and Mrs. Denny Rehberg, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano keynoted the celebration of Billings' new Interfaith Hospitality Network Day Center for homeless families.

The new Billings Interfaith Hospitality Network of Yellowstone site at American Lutheran Church is one of 17 congregations taking part in Billings and led by Pastor Kay Tostengard.

While in Billings, Director Mangano met with Mayor Charles Tooley to underscore the importance of 10- year planning for communities and for partners such as the Montana League of Cities and Towns which Mayor Tooley heads. Mayor Tooley is Billings' longest-serving mayor in the history of the city.

Director Mangano joined local contractors, builders, bankers, and realtors for "A Home for Every Family," which spotlighted the role of industry in addressing housing affordability issues that contribute to homelessness. Montana Department of Commerce Housing Division Administrator Bruce Brensdal, Billings Planning Department Director Ramona Mattix, Mountain Plains Equity representative Don Sterhan, and Helena Salvation Army Transitional Program representative Steve Staneard also participated.

"From Homelessness to Independence: A Community Effort" was the theme of a workshop for service providers. Director Mangano joined Interfaith Hospitality Network's Adela Awner, Mid-Yellowstone Valley Habit for Humanity's Debra Reiter, Job Service's Dan Hutchinson, Montana Council on Homelessness' Sherry Downing, and Montana Rescue Mission's Jeromy Emerling for the session. Interagency Council Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson also took part in the events.

BOISE, IDAHO. Boise, Idaho, Mayor Dave Bieter last week named leadership for his capitol city's 10-Year Plan. Meeting with United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, Mayor Bieter designated United Way CEO Sally Zive to head Boise's planning committee. Mayor Bieter is pictured here with Director Mangano and Ms. Zive. Boise is one of three Idaho cities with planning commitments, along with Coeur d'Alene and Pocatello.

Director Mangano's visit also including a meeting with Mrs. Patricia Kempthorne, the Idaho Governor's spouse and advisor on social issues. Governor Kempthorne is shortly expected to sign an Executive Order making the state's homeless planning council a cabinet-level agency.

HUD Field Office Director Connie Hogland handled most key aspects of the visit, which included a meeting with the Boise/Ada County Coalition for the Homeless and a visit to the Corpus Christi Day Shelter, and Council Region X Coordinator Paul Carlson also participated. Other local partners taking part included Boise City Planner Bruce Chatterton, Mayor's Assistant Theresa McCleod, United Way Staff Gaye Bennett, City Housing Director Jim Birdsall, and Boise State University Health Sciences Researcher Uwe Reischl.

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. Just last month, Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim, stating that solutions will require partnerships among all levels of government, the private sector, service providers and charitable foundations, unveiled his city's 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness and became the 60th signatory Mayor to the Mayors' Covenant of Partnership to End Chronic Homelessness. This week, Norfolk welcomed attendees to a Regional Reentry Conference designed to highlight to work of law enforcement, the courts, housing providers, treatment agencies, and others in the work of preventing homelessness and recidivism through successful reentry practices.

A Town Hall meeting on Tuesday featured Council Members, Commonwealth's Attorney and Sheriffs from Norfolk and Newport News. On Wednesday, Norfolk Office on Homelessness Director Catherine Kitchin and State counterpart Nikki Nicholau, Deputy Director, Department of Housing & Community Development, were joined by United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Deputy Director Mary Ellen Hombs to highlight government policies and housing initiatives.

Other conference sessions examined juvenile justice issues, appropriate pre-release planning resources, faith-based programs, employment and education needs, treatment needs, and family issues.

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recently announced awards for expanded access to the Health Care for the Homeless program. The total award amount announced recently for expanded access was $30.2 million, including $26.7 million for expanded medical capacity and $3.6 million for service expansion.

Of the more than $30 million in expanded Health Center funding that was announced: $2,647,070 will be distributed to 11 HCH programs for expanded medical capacity; $320,000 will be distributed to 2 HCH programs for new mental health service expansion; $894,847 will be distributed to 6 HCH programs for expanded mental health services; and $300,000 will be distributed to 2 HCH programs for expanded oral health services.

Earlier this month, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced 86 awards totaling over $30.2 million to help community health centers increase access to health care for low-income and uninsured Americans. Sixty-four of the grants, worth $26.7 million, will expand medical capacity at existing health centers, helping an additional 255,000 underserved individuals receive care.

. . . that the new Billings Interfaith Hospitality Network site is the state's first and represents the IHN's expansion to 34 states in the nation.

. . . that the Billings site at American Lutheran Church is the 101st in the nation and is in a more remote location than any other IHN, situated 456 miles from the nearest affiliate.

. . . Interfaith Hospitality Network, now known as Family Promise, brings shelter, meals, and support services to families without homes in a cost-efficient, effective, and replicable community response to family homelessness. Because they make use of existing community resources, they can be implemented quickly, without major start-up costs.

This week's e-news features excerpts of remarks made by United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano at the opening of the Billings, Montana, Interfaith Hospitality Network site.

. . . Here in the Treasure State today you are expressing your heart - a heart given to your poorest and most vulnerable neighbors. Your great energy and hospitality makes this an extraordinary day here in Billings. What great numbers we heard today. We've increased resources in Washington to a record 8.5% increase in this proposed FY 06 budget, a total of over $4 billion for homeless people, including up to $200 million in the Samaritan Initiative.

. . . And here in Billings, change happening in the lives of homeless families. Hope. Through the doors and rooms of the congregations of the Interfaith Hospitality Network where care and concern and love of hospitality are extended. Those doors open to hope, to a new life, to the promise of faith and our country. In fact the new name of the Interfaith Network is Family Promise.

. . . Rightly named. The work of the Network in fulfilling a spiritual mission and a national promise. A promise of a home for every American.

WITH THIS ISSUE, the e-newsletter continues its focus on elements of the Title V federal surplus property and opportunities to secure resources for homeless programs under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Following are properties listed in the most recent Federal Register notice of suitable and available land and buildings.

The June 17 listing of suitable and available property contains a listing of Federal buildings and other real property determined to be suitable and available for use. Buildings are available in Idaho and West Virginia.

Title V provides that state and local governments, as well as nonprofit organizations, are eligible to apply for land and buildings that have been determined by the federal government to be "suitable and available" for eligible uses to benefit homeless people. More than two dozen agencies of the federal government are included as "landholding" agencies that may have property.

In accordance with 24 CFR part 581 and section 501 of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11411), as amended, HUD publishes a weekly notice to identify Federal buildings and other real property that HUD has reviewed for suitability for use to assist the homeless. The properties are reviewed using information provided to HUD by Federal landholding agencies regarding unutilized and underutilized buildings and real property controlled by such agencies or by GSA regarding its inventory of excess or surplus Federal property. More information on HUD's role in the Title V program is available at http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/t5/index.cfm

Properties reviewed are listed in the weekly notice according to the following categories: Suitable/available, suitable/unavailable, suitable/to be excess, and unsuitable. The properties listed in the three suitable categories have been reviewed by the landholding agencies, and each agency has transmitted to HUD: (1) Its intention to make the property available for use to assist the homeless, (2) its intention to declare the property excess to the agency's needs, or (3) a statement of the reasons that the property cannot be declared excess or made available for use as facilities to assist the homeless. Properties listed as suitable/available will be available exclusively for homeless use for a period of 60 days from the date of this Notice. Where property is described as for ''off-site use only'' recipients of the property will be required to relocate the building to their own site at their own expense. Homeless assistance providers interested in any such property should send a written expression of interest to HHS, addressed to John Hicks, Division of Property Management, Program Support Center, HHS, room 5B- 17, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857; (301) 443-2265. (This is not a toll-free number.) HHS will mail to the interested provider an application packet, which will include instructions for completing the application. In order to maximize the opportunity to utilize a suitable property, providers should submit their written expressions of interest as soon as possible.

More information on the Title V program and agency roles is available on the HHS web site at http://www.psc.gov/aos/federalprop/titleV.html where material includes:Title V Overview, HHS Title V Roles, Eligible Homeless Programs, How to Apply, Application Review Criteria, Approved Applicants (Transferees) Responsibilities, Frequently Asked Questions, and Other Resources.