UTICA, NEW YORK. Noting that "we understand in order for this project to be successful it must be jurisdictionally driven, research based, and results oriented, " Utica Mayor Timothy Julian, Rome Mayor James Brown, and Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Jr. this week announced their commitment to develop a 10-Year Plan in Oneida County. The two Mayors will co-chair the plan in development, with an announced kickoff event planned for September.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Regional Coordinators Samuel Miller and John Zegarelli recently visited with the jurisdictional leaders as part of a weeklong visit to upper New York State to invigorate planning partnerships in the region, including Monroe, Orleans, and Niagara Counties.

COWLITZ COUNTY, WASHINGTON. The Cowlitz County Board of Supervisors last week adopted a 10-Year Plan that complies with the Washington State statutory requirement for every county to develop such a plan. The Housing First plan focuses on homelessness prevention, services, and interagency planning and collaboration.

In commenting on the final plan, Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments official Melissa Taylor noted: "This 'rapid rehousing' component is new to us. But it's a way of getting things back to real life, with support provided. Instead of saying, 'jump through hoops and then we'll get you housing,' the housing comes first. It's hard to focus on treatment when you're worried about a roof over your head and a meal."

The regional planning effort, which includes Longview, Washington and neighboring communities, benefited from the early leadership of Longview, Washington, Chief of Police Alex Perez, who spurred the convening of law enforcement, health services, churches, veterans' groups, and housing agencies.

Washington State's Homeless Housing and Assistance Act passed by the State Legislature in 2005 established a goal of reducing homelessness in the state by 50% by July 2015 and provided new resources through a $10 document recording fee to support the development and implementation of local jurisdictional 10-Year Plans. The Washington State Homeless Grant Assistance Program is intended to support projects consistent with the state and local 10-Year Plans that will meaningfully reduce homelessness; demonstrate government cost savings over time; employ evidence- based or promising approaches; are replicable; could be sustained after the HGAP funding ends using criminal justice, social services, health or other system resources; and include strong performance measurements.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. "Three years have passed since the Business Plan was launched; it is time to take stock and readjust where necessary. One of the hallmarks of the Plan is its transparency- in both development and ongoing implementation." With these words, Minnesota officials responsible for the Minnesota Business Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness released a "recalibration" report, which reviews all plan assumptions and experience to date. "The main lesson from the first three years of implementation is that the Plan is working. By marshaling resources, directing them to the strategies of the plan and remaining focused on results, the Plan has exceeded its initial goal: to create 1,000 permanent supportive housing opportunities for people experiencing long- term homelessness. "

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, commenting on the Minnesota report, noted: "Congratulations on the leadership from Governor Pawlenty's office to Housing Commissioner Tim Marx to State Director Laura Kadwell, and their example of creating results for their poorest neighbors. We have already seen - in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, St. Louis County - how infectious these results are for every level of government. Those who are conspiring in Minnesota to get the job done are inspiring others around the nation." Director Mangano noted the critical role of the State's housing resources in achieving and surpassing its goals: "Commissioner Marx is providing an example to other States of commitment, partnership, and accountability."

"The best news is that implementation of the Plan is ahead of schedule and within the financing plan," notes the report. According to State data, the cumulative goal for the end of 2006 was to finance 1,000 additional housing opportunities for people who experience long-term homelessness, and by that date, Minnesota Housing and its partners had funded 1,091 housing opportunities, 677 of them with rental assistance only, which means they can be occupied more quickly than if new construction or rehabilitation were needed. Progress has exceeded goals each year of the plan. In 2004, when the goal was to fund 200 housing opportunities, 274 were funded. In 2005, when the cumulative goal was to fund 600 housing opportunities, 667 were funded. In 2006, when the cumulative goal was to fund 1,000 housing opportunities, 1,091 were funded.

The report also notes the important role of leadership, identifying the actions of the cities of Duluth, Minneapolis, and Saint Paul which have joined with their corresponding counties of Saint Louis, Hennepin and Ramsey to develop plans to end all homelessness in their communities. Twenty counties in southeastern Minnesota have done likewise. The plans are aligned to accomplish a common goal and are gaining commitment from the public and private sectors, as evidenced in the increase in state funds proposed by the Governor and appropriated by the legislature for the 2008-09 biennium, as well as new commitments from the philanthropic community. Minnesotans are stepping up to the challenges of homelessness in this state through their government, their community institutions and their faith communities.

Released in March 2004, Minnesota's Business Plan to End Long-term Homelessness by 2010 is a reform- based effort that includes all levels of government, private sector developers and businesses, nonprofit organizations and charities, and faith-based organizations. Governor Pawlenty presented the plan at the full meeting of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness at the White House in April 2004 and it has been lauded as a national model reflecting multi-disciplinary, multi-sector, and multi- jurisdictional strategies for action. The effort is headed by the Commissioners of Human Services, Corrections, and the Housing Finance Agency.

HAWAII COMMITS ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT TO END HOMELESSNESS

HONOLULU, HAWAII. Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle last week signed into law a bill that will target new resources to homelessness in the state. Governor Lingle, whose Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in Hawaii was unveiled in 2004, signed legislation that will provide $6 million for homeless programs, and extends conveyance tax deposits into a fund meant to increase the stock of affordable housing units and starts a registry that will give the state an inventory of existing affordable housing units.

Noted Council Director Mangano, who last year recognized Governor Lingle at the Council's National Summit with an inaugural "A Home for Every American" Award, "With these new investments, Governor Lingle's leadership for everyone in Hawaii - housed and homeless alike - continues the momentum to create meaningful short and long term solutions to homelessness."

Efforts by Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle and the State Legislature last year culminated in the enactment of three bills that together dedicate $40 million to homeless and affordable housing programs. In signing those bills, Governor Lingle noted that the resources "represent a 400% increase over 2005," adding, "we are going to have a coordinated comprehensive plan to spend this money. We have a 10 year plan to end homelessness. . . that is well thought out with all the stakeholders."

Last year's new $40 million included $31.6 million to repair existing public housing and to renovate buildings and other measures to provide new emergency shelters and transitional housing; and over $8 million in additional resources for the Rental Housing Trust Fund by increasing the Fund's share of receipts from the real estate conveyance tax. The legislative package also provided authority for the state to issue special purpose revenue bonds to develop low and moderate income housing and to lease public lands to qualified non profit organizations for as little as $1 per year if the developer guarantees that the land will be used to build and maintain affordable housing.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. With the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' new FY 2008 budget doubling the investment in the Home and Healthy for Good program to $1.2 million, the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, lead agency for the Housing First initiative, has issued a report on the pilot year of the statewide initiative. MHSA data show that the Commonwealth saves more than $11,000 per year for every individual placed in housing under the effort.

United States Interagency Council Executive Director Philip Mangano hailed the new results, indicating: "Leadership at every level of government and in the private sector in Massachusetts - from Senate Ways and Means Chair Therese Murray to State Commission on Ending Homelessness creator Representative Byron Rushing - is continuing the working of abolishing homelessness in the Commonwealth." Director Mangano noted the work of MHSA Director Joe Finn and Dr. Jessie Gaetano: "Their cost-oriented research is bringing the antidote of housing to people who are homeless and the remedy of results to public policy on homelessness."

The Massachusetts Legislature passed new line-item 4406-3010 for persons who are chronically homeless as part of the FY 2007 state budget. MHSA was awarded $600,000 for the inaugural program, working with former Department of Transitional Assistance Commissioner John Wagner (see related e-news story) to implement new tenancies. Funds were to be used for a portion of the service or housing components for program participants, with the expectation that federal or other state resources will be leveraged to finance additional needed service or facilities funds. The Legislature requested that an evaluation of this pilot program be performed, with a focus on the cost per participant and projected cost-savings in state-funded programs.

The first housing placements were made in September 2006. As of June 2007, 155 formerly homeless people have been housed, with more than 85% stably housed. In the six months prior to entering housing, 95 participants accounted for 198 emergency room visits, 411 days in inpatient care, and 8,692 nights in emergency shelter. The use of these services decreased substantially following participation in HHG. MHSA has made conservative estimates of the costs associated with these and other services, using data from Blue Cross Blue Shield, Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, and the Massachusetts Departments of Public Health and Transitional Assistance.

The average monthly cost for all services combined per person prior to housing was $2,720, compared to $698 after placement in housing. Taking into account the monthly average program cost of $1,104 per person (which includes both housing and intensive case management), average monthly costs per person are approximately $1,802 per month after housing placement, for a savings to the state of $918 per person per month.

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA. Last week United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was invited by recently appointed California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Director John Wagner to meet with more than two dozen senior CDSS officials including deputy directors and bureau chiefs to discuss the work of the Council, the role of States in the National Partnership to end chronic homelessness, and how State interagency and intra-agency collaboration can make a difference in preventing and ending homelessness. Shown here are (left to right): CDSS Chief Deputy Robert Garcia, Council Director Mangano, and CDSS Director Wagner.

CDSS, with a budget of $18.7 billion and more than 4300 employees, provides State oversight of programs including SSI/SSP for the aged or disabled, CalWORKS, Child Welfare Services, Food Stamps, Foster Care, In-Home Supportive Services, and Community Care Licensing. Supporting the ability of persons with disabilities to live in the most integrated, independent setting possible and supporting the transition to work and self sufficiency of low income families are among the Department's priorities. Mr. Wagner was appointed CDSS Director by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in April after having served as Commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance where he oversaw the administration of cash assistance, shelter and food programs, and was able to successfully increase access by homeless and low income individuals to mainstream benefit programs and reduce shelter utilization.

In his remarks, Director Mangano noted that California is one of 53 States and Territories where the Governor has created a State Interagency Council on Homelessness to facilitate agency collaboration to ensure State resources are made more accessible and available to end people's homelessness. In addition to the specially targeted housing and supportive services made available through Proposition 63 and other programs in the State, consumer oriented entitlement resources like SSI, food stamps, EITC, and employment and training programs also play a critical role in creating housing opportunity and self sufficiency. Increasing access to these mainstream entitlement resources for persons that qualify needs to be part of every agency's efforts.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA. Around the nation, the senior Federal agency regional officials who represent the members of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness partner in Regional Interagency Councils on Homelessness (RICH) to improve access and availability of Federal resources to prevent and end homelessness in their regions. Last week members of the Region IV RICH (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) convened in Atlanta. Mirroring the transition that took place in Washington with the election of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt as Chair of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, HHS Regional Administrator Chris Dowling brought greetings from the Secretary and HHS Administration for Children and Families Regional Administrator Carlis Williams was welcomed as the new Region IV RICH Chair. "We recognize the urgency of developing integrated service delivery networks among all key federal, state, and local entities to respond to homelessness and to prevent new homeless episodes," said Ms. Williams.

Outgoing Council Chair U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Regional Director Bob Young received A Home for Every American Recognition from U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano for his leadership as Chair and for his continuing commitment to 10-Year Plans to end chronic homelessness. As then Mayor of Augusta, Georgia, Mr. Young was one of the original signers of the U.S. Conference of Mayors resolution in support of 10-Year Plans to end chronic homelessness and led development of a 10-Year Plan for his community in 2004. As HUD Region IV Director and as the RICH Chair, he has encouraged and facilitated the development and implementation of more than 65 10-Year Plans in the region.

The RICH members received an update from Director Mangano on innovation, investment and results from the National Partnership being constellated by the Council to end chronic homelessness. Council National Team Leader Michael German briefed attendees on the 14 communities in Region IV that have adopted the Project Homeless Connect innovation and on the upcoming 2007 National Project Homeless Connect Week during December 3-7. Members were briefed by Atlanta Federal Executive Board (FEB) Executive Director Gwenne Campbell on the FEB Leadership Government Program project to assist development of a respite care pilot program for Atlanta's homeless. The project would be sited at the Gateway Center and is a collaborative effort involving the Atlanta Regional Commission on Homelessness, St. Joseph Mercy Care, United Way of Greater Atlanta, Grady Memorial Hospital, Emory University Hospital, and The Community Foundation. Members welcomed Lillian Zaworski of the Alabama Interagency Council on Homelessness to the meeting.

WASHINGTON, DC. The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, under the leadership of Deputy Assistant to the President Jay Hein, has announced three upcoming regional conferences in partnership with states across the country to connect effective social service organizations with resources that can strengthen and expand the services they offer to the people they serve. Conferences are now scheduled for Minneapolis (August 9), Washington, DC (September 24), and Los Angeles (November 27-28).

As in the past, the conferences will provide an understanding of the President's Faith-Based and Community Initiative, information about the Federal grants process and funding opportunities, and the basic legal responsibilities that come with Federal funding. In addition, special emphasis will be placed on opportunities for partnership at the state and local level. These opportunities range from funding provided through grants and contracts, to non- financial partnerships like mutual-referral relationships with local government agencies, to government services that can supplement the aid nonprofits provide to their clients.

WASHINGTON, DC. United States Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao last week announced 94 grants, totaling nearly $27 million, to provide approximately 17,000 veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants were awarded under DOL's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) and Veterans' Workforce Investment Program (VWIP).

To assist homeless veterans with reintegration into America's workforce, the Labor Department awarded more than $20 million in 82 HVRP grants. These funds are being distributed nationwide through 35 newly competed grants and 47 current grants receiving second- and third-year funding. Homeless veterans may receive occupational, classroom and on- the-job training, as well as job search and placement assistance, including follow-up services. VETS expects these funds to help more than 12,600 veterans. HVRP is recognized as an extraordinarily efficient and effective program and is the only federal program that focuses exclusively on employment of veterans who are homeless.

The HVRP grants include two cooperative agreements that will assist in developing the HVRP National Technical Assistance Center. The center will provide technical assistance to current grantees, potential applicants and the public; gather grantee best practices, conduct employment-related research on homeless veterans; conduct regional grantee training sessions and self-employment boot camps; and perform outreach to the employer community to increase job opportunities for veterans.

More than $6.7 million will support 12 VWIP grants to help veterans from targeted groups overcome employment barriers and ease their transition into unsubsidized jobs. Through this program, veterans receive skills assessments, individual job counseling, labor market information, classroom or on-the-job training, skills upgrading and retraining, placement assistance and crucial follow-up services. The Labor Department's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) expects these grants to provide training for more than 3,800 veterans, who may also be eligible for services through other Workforce Investment Act programs for economically disadvantaged or dislocated workers.

Funds were awarded on a competitive basis to state and local workforce investment boards, local public agencies and nonprofit organizations, including faith- based and community organizations. These agencies are familiar with the areas and populations to be served and have demonstrated that they can administer effective programs.

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Health and Human Services has released several recent new resources focused on co-occurring disorders and treatment that emphasize the needs of consumers. According to HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the majority of treatment facilities are providing special programs tailored to such clients as adolescents, seniors, post-partum mothers and people with HIV/AIDS. Nearly three-quarters of even the smallest facilities offered at least one special program or group.

About 83 percent of all responding facilities reported offering at least one special treatment program. The most commonly reported special program in the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services was for clients with co-occurring psychiatric and substance abuse disorders (38 percent). Other special programs addressed the needs of those arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or driving while intoxicated (31 percent), other criminal justice clients (28 percent), adult men (25 percent), pregnant or post-partum women (14 percent), people with HIV/AIDS (11 percent), seniors (7 percent) and gays/lesbians (6 percent).

EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT PRACTICES ARE FOCUS OF RESEARCH. Two new short papers from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration help treatment professionals, policymakers and others understand and address the needs of people with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. "Addressing Co-Occurring Disorders in Non-Traditional Service Settings" and "Understanding Evidence-Based Practices for Co-Occurring Disorders" continue a series of brief introductions to state-of-the-art knowledge from SAMHSA's Center for Co-Occurring Excellence.

Only about half of all people with a co-occurring disorder receive any substance abuse or mental health treatment, but they may come in contact with those in public health, public safety and social welfare organizations. "Addressing Co-Occurring Disorders in Non-Traditional Service Settings" describes how professionals who work in primary health care, public safety and criminal justice, and social service settings can identify and respond effectively to people with co- occurring disorders. The paper explains how these initial contacts, if handled with sensitivity, can increase the likelihood that people with co-occurring disorders will take advantage of treatment.

"Understanding Evidence-Based Practices for Co- Occurring Disorders" provides an overview of evidence-based practices and their use in treating people with co-occurring disorders. Although the treatment of co-occurring disorders is a relatively new field, several program- and treatment-level interventions have been developed and tested. This paper identifies how evidence is used to determine if a given practice should be labeled as evidence-based and provides brief examples. The paper clarifies the advantages of employing evidence-based practices and the meaning of related terms, such as promising practices, model programs and best practices.

SAMHSA is creating these training materials as part of its response to the November 2002 Report to Congress on the Prevention and Treatment of Co- Occurring Substance Abuse Disorders and Mental Disorders. SAMHSA's Co-Occurring Center for Excellence works to expand the knowledge base about treatment advances, build treatment capacity, and foster evidence-based practices.

NEW SAMHSA DIRECTORY OF TREATMENT PROGRAMS NOW AVAILABLE. SAMHSA's updated guide to finding local substance abuse treatment programs is now available. The guide, National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs 2007 provides information on thousands of alcohol and drug treatment programs located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and four U.S. territories. The directory includes public and private facilities that are licensed, certified, or otherwise approved by substance abuse agencies in each of the states. The directory is a nationwide inventory of substance abuse and alcoholism treatment programs and facilities that is organized and presented in a state-by-state format for quick-reference by health care providers, social workers, managed care organizations, and the general public. This latest SAMHSA directory provides a listing of more than 11,000 community substance abuse treatment programs.

To help individuals seeking treatment, SAMHSA offers an online Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator that allows users to search for facilities that are close to home, or individuals can call 1-800-662-HELP for telephone assistance.

With summer vacation underway across the country, it is a good time to draw attention to the provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act that ensure access to education for homeless children and youth and also identify resources that can assist parents, children, and others in supporting those rights.

The Education for Homeless Children and Youth program of the McKinney-Vento Act addresses the problems that homeless children and youth face in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. The U.S. Department of Education issued a Report to the President and Congress on the Implementation of the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

As described by the Department in its report, State Educational Agencies (SEAs) must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as other children and youth. Homeless children and youth must have access to the educational and other services that they need to enable them to meet the same challenging state student academic achievement standards to which all students are held. States and districts are required to review and undertake steps to revise laws, regulations, practices, or policies that may act as a barrier to the enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children and youth.

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, every school district must designate a local liaison for homeless children and youth. The duties of local liaisons in each of the nation's school districts include ensuring that homeless children and youth are identified, enroll in, and have a full opportunity to succeed in schools, and receive educational services for which they are eligible. Local liaisons must ensure that public notice of the educational rights of homeless children and youth is posted throughout the Local Education Agency (LEA) and the community, and that parents and guardians are informed of their children's educational rights. Local Liaisons are also required to coordinate and collaborate with community and school personnel for the provision of education and related services to homeless children and youth.

Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001, the term "homeless children and youth" is defined by the statute to include individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and includes children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement; children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and migratory children who qualify as homeless under the law.

Access to Education. Children and youth experiencing homelessness have the right to go to school, no matter where they live or how long they have lived there; they must be given access to the same public education, including preschool education, provided to other children. The law provides for children to continue in the school they last attended before they became homeless or the school they last attended, if that is the parent's or youth's choice and is feasible. If a staff member of a school sends the child or youth to a school other than the one requested, the staff member must provide a written explanation and offer the right to appeal the decision. The law also provides for children to receive transportation to the school they attended before the family or youth became homeless or the school they last attended, if the parent or youth requests such transportation. By law, children can enroll in school without giving a permanent address; schools cannot require proof of residency that might prevent or delay school enrollment. Children can enroll and attend classes while the school arranges for the transfer of school and immunization records or any other documents required for enrollment. Children can also enroll and attend classes in the school of choice even while the school and parent or youth seek to resolve a dispute over the selected school. (The school district local liaison for homeless education will assist youths with the dispute process.) The law provides for children to receive the same special programs and services, if needed, as provided to all other children or youth served in these programs.

Ensuring Education Rights in Jurisdictional Planning. Several helpful resources are available that can support intergovernmental partners at the federal, state, city, and county levels, as well as intercommunity partners engaged in State Interagency Councils on Homelessness and jurisdictional 10-year plans to end homelessness, in ensuring the education rights of homeless children and youth.

State Interagency Councils on Homelessness and jurisdictional 10-year planning entities should ensure that appropriate State Educational Agency personnel and local liaisons, as well as other state and local government officials familiar with homeless education issues and resources, and consumers themselves, are active partners in state and local jurisdictional planning. State Interagency Councils and jurisdictional 10-year planners can play a vital role in ensuring the regular distribution of the consumer and provider oriented materials described below that explain these rights.

Helpful Resources:

Education Rights Poster for Parents. This poster explains who qualifies as homeless under the educational provisions of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and lists the educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness. This poster is available for download in English or Spanish and can be posted in schools, in homeless and other programs, and throughout the community.

Education Rights Poster for School-Age Children and Youth. This poster is targeted to school-age children and youth and explains who qualifies as homeless under the education provisions of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The poster lists the educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness. This poster is available for download in English and Spanish and can be posted in schools, in children's programs, in homeless and other programs, and throughout the community.

National Center for Homeless Education at SERVE is the Department of Education's national technical assistance provider. NCHE, at the SERVE center at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, develops and disseminates information to parents, service providers, local schools, advocacy group, and State and Local education providers; operates a helpline; hosts a listserv; maintains a website to disseminate information about federal, state, and local resources; and provides onsite technical assistance and training, as well as web- based training on serving the needs of homeless students. NCHE's publications include a Best Practices in Homeless Education series which includes a publication specifically for service providers on the details of education rights.

email: ichnews@setechnology.com

web: http://www.usich.gov