GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN. Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt and Brown County Executive Tom Hinz announced this week that they will move forward with the creation of a city-county 10 Year Plan. Having identified the key stakeholders in the community, Mayor Schmitt will also consider identifying a Community Champion to lead the plan. The Mayor will move ahead in the next few months with a draft to be developed by the Green Bay Task Force to End Homelessness. Dr. Michael Troyer, a private sector leader who is President of Strategic Management Associates, chairs the Chronic Homeless Taskforce. Director Mangano is pictured here (center) with the Task Force.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, invited by Mayor Schmitt to address the community stakeholders, noted that the Mayor has been a champion on housing and homelessness issues, and a leader within the U.S. Conference of Mayors, where he is Vice Chair of the Mayors' Community Development and Housing Committee. Pictured here are (left to right) County Executive Hinz, Mayor Schmitt, and Director Mangano.

At a pre-meeting with Mayor Schmitt and Brown County Executive Hinz, the County Executive became a new signatory to America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions, joining Mayor Schmitt who is a past signatory. Director Mangano (left) and County Executive Hinz (right) are pictured here.

The 10 Year Plan announcement came at an afternoon press conference at the New Community Shelter, which hosted about 75 community partners, including state and local elected officials, the Police Chief, and business leaders, for a working lunch to learn about the National Partnership and 10 Year Plans.

Terri Refsguard, Executive Director of N.E.W Community Shelter welcomed attendees, and Mayor Schmitt made brief remarks. Director Mangano urged the partners to adopt a business frame to plan for solutions, results, accountability, and cost effectiveness as they move forward.

Earlier with Mayor Schmitt, Director Mangano toured several local program sites and visited with stakeholders on site. At the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Director Mangano visited the Society's Thrift Store, which also operates on-line, and also learned about the Society's partnership with Paul's Pantry. Paul's Pantry provides a hospitable and respectful environment for persons who need food to shop in a supermarket atmosphere for food they choose, rather than pre-selected items.

Director Mangano also visited both Bellin Hospital Emergency Room and St. Vincent Hospital, where he met with emergency room staff and physicians, who described their everyday experiences seeing people who are homeless in the ER. St. Vincent has $13 million annually in uncompensated care, some of which is due to this demand. Director Mangano also visited the Homeless Healthcare Clinic.

At Freedom House, a family transitional program, Gary LaFave described the program's success in moving families to permanent housing within two months' time and securing support from the faith community to ensure stable tenancies. At St. John the Evangelist Church winter overflow shelter, with Father Guy Blair, Director Mangano learned about support for the most disabled and vulnerable people in the community and discussed the hope that the 10 Year Plan in Green Bay would prioritize this population and house them.

In addition to Mayor Schmitt and County Executive Hinz, members of the Green Bay Task Force include: Keith Pamperin, Administrator, Green Bay/ Brown County Housing Authority; Abbie Nordholm, JOSHUA Human Concerns Committee; Noel Halvorsen, Executive Director, NeighborWorks Green Bay; Jayme Sellen, Assistant to the Brown County Executive; Scott Matejov, Chief of Staff to Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt; Kathy McMurray, President, Brown County Homeless and Housing Coalition, Community Access Director, NEWCAP, Inc.; Dan Robinson, De Pere Alderman, Streetlights Outreach, United Way; Deacon Tim Reilly, Director of Administration, Green Bay Catholic Diocese; Mary Marks, Social Services Director, St. Vincent de Paul; Jack Krueger, Brown County Supervisor; Jerry Polus, Director, Brown County Veterans Service Office; Terri Refsguard, Executive Director, NEW Community Shelter; Jim Golembeski, Executive Director, Bay Area Workforce Development Board; Gregg Hetue, President and CEO, Brown County United Way; Pat Evans, Brown County Supervisor, Chair, Brown County Human Services Committee; Mark Quam, Director, Brown County Human Services Department; Rich Langan, Brown County Supervisor, Field Representative, Congressman Steve Kagen's Office.

WASHINGTON, DC. Municipal leadership in adopting innovation and promoting best practice was the focus this week as United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano briefed the senior leadership of the National League of Cities (NLC) in Washington, DC. Invited by NLC Executive Director Don Borut and NLC Federal Relations Director Carolyn Coleman, Director Mangano joined Cliff Johnson, Director, Institute for Youth, Education, and Families, Policy and Research Director Chris Hoene, Communications and Corporate Programs Director Amy Elsbree, Municipal Programs Director Bill Barnes, Administrative Services Director Bob Keyes, Director, and Member Programs Director Cathy Spain at NLC headquarters. The NLC leaders are pictured here with Director Mangano and Ms. Coleman at center.

In his remarks to the NLC leaders on the results of the National Partnership constellated by the Council with every level of government and the private sector, Director Mangano noted NLC's important role in strengthening municipal leadership at the community level and in the media, emphasizing the centrality of local government on the front lines of all community issues. Peer-to-peer leadership and "pilgrimages" among results-oriented cities have been key to the widespread adoption of innovations including Housing First/Rapid Rehousing and Project Homeless Connect. Director Mangano suggested that NLC leaders consider endorsing America's Road Home and hosting a summit on homelessness solutions for municipal leaders as an extension of the NLC's "Combating Poverty" strategy (see related e-news story).

Director Mangano praised NLC leaders for their strategies focused on best practice. NLC has partnered previously with the Council to promote Project Homeless Connect to cities. NLC has led key initiatives with municipal leaders to expand access to benefits and EITC, through Mayorally focused events and technical assistance.

NLC leaders expressed interest in the general lessons that the National Partnership presented from the federal level, as they might apply to other local issues that could be tackled with similar strategies. In addition, they focused on the scale of partnership with Mayors that has developed over the last several years.

The National League of Cities is the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the United States. Madison, Alabama Council member Cynthia McCollum is the current NLC President. NLC's mission is to strengthen and promote cities as centers of opportunity, leadership, and governance. Working in partnership with 49 state municipal leagues, the National League of Cities serves as a resource to and an advocate for the more than 19,000 cities, villages, and towns it represents. More than 1,600 municipalities of all sizes actively participate as in the organization.

KANSAS CITY. The nation's county officials convened in Kansas City this week at their annual conference and endorsed and affirmed through resolution innovations that are reducing and ending chronic homelessness in communities across the nation. In endorsing innovative initiatives in 10 Year Plans, including Rapid Rehousing and Housing First strategies, NACo called on communities to adopt the national innovations that are making a difference on the streets and in the neighborhoods of our country. The NACo resolution, in endorsing 10 Year Plans, focused on homeless veterans, cost benefit analysis, Project Homeless Connect, and America's Road Home.

Five years ago to the day that NACo adopted a Policy Resolution supporting 10 Year Planning and encouraging counties to engage with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to create 10 Year Plans, today the county officials affirmed the progress being made and the innovations responsible for the decreased numbers.

The adopted Policy Resolution: NACo Resolution Endorsing 10 Year Plans to End Chronic Homelessness "Issue: Jurisdictionally-led, community-based 10 Year Plans to End the Homelessness of those who are the most disabled, most vulnerable and most expensive citizens.

"Policy: NACo strongly supports community- based 10 Year Plans to end homelessness, as also proposed in the statement of principles and actions of America's Road Home: A Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Furthermore:

- NACo endorses the targeting of federal resources to housing first and rapid re-housing strategies and other innovations in 10 Year Plans that have demonstrated results towards reducing and ending homelessness;
- NACo supports additional federal funding for 10 Year Plans. Such federal programs and grants shall not create unfunded mandates;
- NACo endorses increased investments in solutions to veteran homelessness, and encourages both the Administration and the Congress to continue to increase the resources targeted to end the homelessness of veterans; and
- NACo endorses and encourages county officials to develop and implement 10 Year Plans to End Homelessness for their communities and adopt the national innovations identified through those Plans.

"Background: County officials in partnership with the U. S. Interagency Council on Homelessness are committed to preventing and ending homelessness in our nation's counties, a partnership of accountability and results. County officials and counties are on the front lines of the response to chronic homelessness. Ending chronic homelessness requires a partnership with all levels of government, the private sector, and all other community stakeholders. As a result of this partnership with county officials, other elected representatives, the private sector, and all other stakeholders, more than 335 counties and cities have committed to create and implement jurisdictionally- led, community-based, business-oriented 10 Year Plans to End Homelessness.

"America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions was developed by county commissioners, county executives, and mayors in partnership with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness at a Summit in Denver. More than 335 county commissioners, county executives and mayors are signatories to America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions. These principles include:

1. End the homelessness of our most vulnerable and disabled citizens who reside on our streets and in our shelters, those experiencing chronic homelessness, especially including homeless veterans;
2. With the support of our partners work to shorten the time any person is homeless;
3. Accept jurisdictional responsibility for accountability and results in the broader partnership that includes other levels of government and the private sector for an issue that is visible, expensive, and unacceptable in our communities;
4. Affirm our jurisdictionally-led, community- based 10 Year Plans as the community's primary planning strategy to effect accountability and results in ending and preventing homelessness; and
5. Develop these plans to ensure that the measurable outcomes are sustainable and render lasting solutions to homelessness.

"Ten Year Plans have identified innovations, such as assertive community treatment, housing first and rapid re-housing, private-sector community champions, cost benefit analysis, ending the homelessness of ex-offenders, and Project Homeless Connect (PHC), that have been adopted by communities across the country. A number of communities implementing 10 Year Plans and adopting these innovations are seeing reductions in the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness living on their streets and languishing in emergency shelters, the first such reductions communities have seen in over 20 years. These reductions in chronic and street homelessness are improving the quality of life for all members of urban and rural communities, housed and homeless alike.

"NACo encourages and supports the increased involvement of county officials in creating Project Homeless Connect events and participating in the 2008 National Project Homeless Connect (NPHC) Week and throughout the year in proven strategies that end homelessness. County officials have organized PHC events specifically to engage homeless youth, homeless families, and persons experiencing chronic homelessness on community streets and in shelters. County officials have engaged business, academia, professional sports, and an expansive range of new public and private partners in executing PHC events.

"Some returning veterans face difficulties in their return related to psychological or physical challenges and disabilities, and become homeless. County officials are committed to supporting homeless veterans and assuring they have the housing and services they need to rebuild their lives. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently reported that, on any given night, there are 154,000 veterans who are homeless. This is a decrease from 250,000 veterans that were homeless the VA reported in the late 1990's, and from 195,000 veterans that were homeless the VA reported in 2006, which corresponds to the creation of permanent supported housing as the primary intervention.

"Fiscal/Urban/Rural Impact: Developing and implementing jurisdictionally-led, community based 10 Year Plans to End Homelessness has led to documented savings and substantial reductions of tax payer expenses in communities nationally. This is attributable to redirection of chronically homeless people away from costly public systems of care to more cost effective permanent supported housing. 10 Year Plans have also strengthened already existing local collaborative groups, whose purpose is to garner federal targeted homeless assistance resources, thereby positioning communities to be more competitive for future federal resources."

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a new homeless housing opportunity utilizing one or more VA Medical Center (VAMC) campuses where VA will lease currently underutilized VAMC land or buildings long- term. Under VA's Enhanced Use Lease authority VA is now seeking "expressions of interest" from interested bidders. Expressions of interest are due Friday, August 1, and interested parties should consult the posted VA material in detail for further information.

The Department's intent is to aggressively pursue the immediate development of these sites with "teams with a proven track record of developing affordable housing and providing support services to the homeless, preferably homeless veterans." According to VA, project teams could include one or more development/service organizations. Both permanent housing and transitional programs are eligible uses.

VA has identified underutilized land and buildings available for homeless housing development on the following VAMC campuses: Charlie Norwood VAMC - Uptown (Augusta, GA); Cheyenne VAMC (Cheyenne, WY); Lyons VAMC (Lyons, NJ); Newington Campus, Connecticut Health Care System (Newington, CT); and Togus VAMC (Togus, ME). Aerial photos and property specifications are available on line. The Enhanced Use Lease web site offers a subscription to support future updates.

According to VA, expressions of interest do not constitute an obligation to proceed on behalf of the developer or VA. Once expressions of interest have been thoroughly reviewed, VA will proceed by issuing RFPs to potential developers or enter into direct negotiations if there is a single viable response. The selected non-profit and for-profit developers and service providers will collaborate with VA to provide veterans with access to medical care and other services.

If your organization is interested in one or more of the VAMC campuses available under this initiative, you may express an interest by fax at (312) 416-5187 or e- mail at rei@vahomelesshousing.org (preferred). Expressions of interest should be submitted on official letterhead and must include a point of contact, the signature of at least one organization officer, and the name of the site(s) in which interest is being expressed. Expressions of interest are due Friday, August 1.

A copy of the official VA Request for Expressions of Interest announcing this development opportunity is attached. For more information, including site-specific development opportunities and a list of frequently asked questions, please visit http://vahomelesshousing.org

VA MOVES BENEFITS APPLICATIONS TO ON- LINE FORMAT FOR GREATER ACCESS

The VA also announced this week that on-line applications using its new VONAPP are now being accepted from veterans, survivors and other claimants filing initial applications for disability compensation, pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits without the additional requirement to submit a signed paper copy of the application.

Veterans, survivors and other claimants seeking compensation, pension, education, or vocational rehabilitation benefits can apply electronically without the constraints of location, postage cost, and time delays in mail delivery. VONAPP reduces the number of incomplete applications received by VA, decreasing the need for additional development by VA claims processors. The on-line application also provides a link to apply for VA health care benefits and much more.

Effective immediately, VA will now process applications received through its on-line application website without the claimant's signature. The electronic application will be sufficient authentication of the claimant's application for benefits. Normal development procedures and rules of evidence will still apply to all VONAPP applications.

VA has previously shown the benefits of electronic information strategies that are consumer focused, with its award-winning Electronic Health Record - VistA - was recognized by the Kennedy School of Government with the 2006 "Innovations in American Government Award."

VA ANNOUNCES 55 AWARDS FOR OVER 1,000 PER DIEM BEDS IN 24 STATES

WASHINGTON, DC. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has announced awards to 55 community- based organizations in 24 states that will add over 1,000 transitional housing beds to the 9,400 beds already available for homeless veterans.

"It's important that VA continue to help our nation's homeless veterans, many of whom are still dealing with the effects of past conflicts," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs and United States Interagency Council Chair Dr. James B. Peake. "These awards provide needed resources to hard working, caring and compassionate people who provide one-on-one care and services to our veterans every day in their own communities."

With the largest integrated network of homeless assistance programs in the country, VA has provided more than $350 million in grant and per diem payments since it initiated the Grant and Per Diem Program in 1994. In many cities and rural areas, VA social workers and other clinicians conduct extensive outreach programs, clinical assessments, medical treatment, alcohol and drug abuse counseling and employment assistance. Last year, VA committed more resources than at any time in its history for programs benefiting homeless veterans: $26 million in new funding to support about 2,000 new transitional housing beds, $12 million for seriously mentally ill veterans, terminally ill veterans, frail elderly veterans and women veterans, to include women with children, and $2 million for other programs.

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Health and Human Services has announced $1 million in resources for 5-year demonstration awards for "Support Systems for Rural Homeless Youth: A Collaborative State and Local Demonstration," targeting young people ages 16-21, in rural areas (including Tribal lands and other rural Native communities) who are approaching independence and young adulthood, but have few or no connections to a supportive, family structure or community.

The collaborative demonstration project, funding States to work with local community-based organizations, is intended to influence policies, programs and practices that affect the design and delivery of services to runaway and homeless youth in Transitional Living Programs (TLP), as well as to homeless youth aging out of State child welfare systems and into Independent Living Programs (ILP).

The Demonstration will focus on improved coordination of services and creation of additional supports for rural youth, especially in three vital areas of positive youth development: 1) Survival Support Services (e.g., housing, healthcare, substance abuse, and/or mental health); 2) Community (e.g., community service, youth and adult partnerships, mentoring, and/or peer support groups), and 3) Education/Employment: (e.g., high school/General Equivalency Diploma (GED) completion, post secondary education, employment, training, and/or jobs).

The objective for each State/local project in the demonstration will be to create/enhance connections for homeless youth in ways that will improve their chances for successful transitions toward independence and for achieving social, civic and economic success as older youth and young adults. These connections are highlighted below, with examples of particular service areas of concern:
Survival Support Services: Case managed connections to stabilize youth in housing and in service fields of: Healthcare, Substance Abuse, and/or Mental Health.
Community: Connections to Community Service, Youth and Adult Partnerships, mentoring, Peer Support Groups, and/or PYD activities.
Education/Employment: Connections for High School/GED completion, Post Secondary Education, Employment, Training, and/or Jobs.

Entities eligible to apply for the demonstration grants will be the departments and/or agencies that administer independent living programs for youth aging out of foster care (e.g., Human Services and Child Welfare Agencies) in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

WITH THIS ISSUE, the e-news continues and expands its recent coverage of partnership, innovation, and results in Santa Barbara, California, with a more detailed focus on local housing initiatives.

Last week, the e-news reported on the meeting of the South Coast Homeless Advisory Committee in Santa Barbara, which United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was invited by Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum and Council Member Helene Schneider to keynote. Director Mangano encouraged partners to monitor, evaluate, and recalibrate their 10 Year Plan going forward to ensure that that they are investing "only in the most innovative, cost effective solutions."

While in Santa Barbara, Director Mangano toured local housing initiatives that demonstrate jurisdictional commitment to rapid rehousing, partnership of the Mayor, City Council, Housing Authority, and private sector, and responsive social services. Santa Barbara's real estate market is very expensive, with market rate housing virtually unattainable for lower income persons. The median single-family home sale price is $1,200,000, and the median rent for 2- bedroom apartments is $1,550 per month. Despite the City's record of producing housing affordable at lower incomes (13% of its housing stock), demand far exceeds supply. The problem has been exacerbated by the loss of nearly all of the single room occupancy hotels either through demolition (due to prohibitively costly seismic repairs) or conversion to tourist hotels.

EL CARRILLO APARTMENTS COMBINE HOUSING FIRST AND NEW STUDIO HOUSING MODEL: FROM HOMELESSNESS TO HACIENDA
"From homelessness to hacienda" is how Santa Barbara 10 Year Plan Executive Director Roger Heroux describes the impact of the El Carrillo development of 61 studio units of permanent supportive housing in the Housing First model, completed by the Santa Barbara Housing Authority in September 2006.

El Carrillo includes several buildings connected by pleasant courtyards and paseo walkways. The buildings' various shapes, sizes, orientation on the site, and decorative details help conceal the project's high density of 122 units per acre, and the open layout of the units - with ample light and air circulation - as well as direct placement along open courtyards and paseos make the small units (254 square feet) very livable.

El Carrillo also coincided with another major homeless housing milestone - the creation of the County's Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homeless - El Carrillo was the first project to be completed under this plan. The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) built, owns and operates El Carrillo; the County's Alcohol, Drug & Mental Health Services (ADMHS) agency funds the mental health component of services; and the well-established nonprofit PathPoint provides services, with counselors on site.

The Housing Authority completed the project at a cost of $10.6 million ($174,000 per unit) on budget and ahead of schedule. The City's Redevelopment Agency provided a deferred, low-interest $1,775,000 loan that leveraged over $8 million in federal low income housing tax credits (77% of the total financing). The Housing Authority's success in securing the highly competitive tax credits enabled the local subsidy contribution required for the project to be just 17% of the total financing ($29,000 per unit). The City also provided California State HELP Program funds for predevelopment. El Carrillo was also the first project to receive financial assistance from the newly formed Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County, which came in the form of a construction/predevelopment loan.

According to Santa Barbara Councilmember Helene Schneider, the City Council and Planning Commission provided creative development review assistance that was critical to the project's feasibility. The City adopted a new zoning ordinance allowing for the creation of units less than 400 square feet in size, specifically in anticipation of plans for El Carrillo. The new ordinance allowing units under 400 square feet was critical to El Carrillo. Under the leadership of CEO Rob Pearson, the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara worked with its partners in the city planning commission and ordinance committee to approve the unit size change in about 6-8 months. The Planning Commission also contributed by granting a bonus density of 475% (61 units on a site zoned for 13) and reducing the parking requirement by 73% (from 62 to 17) based on El Carrillo's sensitive, creative design, lease restrictions on car ownership, and access to alternative means of transportation.

El Carrillo's prime downtown location was also a critical factor. Employment centers, shopping, bus lines, and numerous cultural/entertainment destinations are just 2-4 blocks away. Most tenants walk, bike or take the bus. A bus shelter was incorporated into the façade of El Carrillo, and the City's MTD Transit Center and Greyhound Bus Station are located only 2 blocks away. Also, a nearby 25-cent shuttle bus provides links to the train station and to the beach.

The Housing Authority partnered with PathPoint, a local social service organization to provide "wraparound" services such as mental health treatment, alcohol and drug counseling, job training, life skills and budgeting classes. PathPoint has on- site two full-time case workers, Finnuala Kraus and Duncan Wright, and one resident manager.

In the first six months after opening, residents demonstrated remarkable stability and made considerable progress toward improving physical health, financial stability, self-motivation/decision- making, and vocational training. Nine people have began job development training, 7 people found new jobs, 9 people reentered education at various levels, 18 people started drug/alcohol treatment, 2 people newly enrolled in mental health treatment (in addition to 30 already enrolled), and 20 people accessed medical treatment for chronic health conditions.

BUILDING HOPE: OPENING DOORS TO PERMANENT HOUSING
On Garden Street in Santa Barbara, 51 units of new housing called "Building Hope" are underway with a scheduled fall opening. Annmarie Cameron, Executive Director of the Mental Health Association (MHA) in Santa Barbara County, oversees the mixed-use project which will provide 51 units of housing, office and activity space, and supportive services for people with mental illness. Building Hope was the site of last week's signing ceremony that added new local jurisdictional partners to America's Road Home. Previous signatories Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum, Council Member Helene Schneider, and Supervisor Salud Carbajal, are now joined by Supervisor Janet Wolf, City Councilmember Das Williams, and Goleta, California Council Member Jonny Wallis.

The project's housing component includes 10 units for chronically homeless people, 28 apartments for MHA clients, and 13 for low-income downtown workers. Leasing preference is for people who do not own vehicles.The housing will be managed in a collaborative model with an on-site property manager provided by the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) and additional support services provided by the MHA. On site there will be a Fellowship Club on site to provide clients with social activities, meals, rehabilitation services and more. The project will also provide indoor and outdoor space for human service providers (medical professionals, homeless outreach workers, public benefit eligibility employees and so on) to meet with clients and community members. Offices will be occupied by MHA, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and possibly the City, which has offices across the street.

Building Hope covers nearly an acre, and the building's design conceals its size by staggering the stories of the structure, breaking up the bulk with courtyards. The City's employee parking lot, which comprises roughly a third of the land under Building Hope, was donated in exchange for replacement parking spaces in the new structure's mostly- underground 110-stall parking area. The City Redevelopment Agency also subsidized the housing with a $385,000 pre-development loan and a $5.1 million below-market permanent loan. The HACSB committed Section 8 rental subsidies to some of the apartments, and is providing financial management of the construction project. Additionally, the housing component received a tax credit allocation worth $9.5 million in project equity. Bermant Development Company and Trabucco General Incorporated both made generous donations of in-kind services in development planning and construction management. Santa Barbara Bank & Trust donated $100,000, and other companies also gave. Individuals donated nearly $2 million, including $1 million from the Butterworth Trust. Foundations, including the Weingart, Volentine, Santa Barbara, Hutton, Ann Jackson Family and Tweed-Tuohy foundations, provided nearly $1.4 million in all.

CASAS LAS GRANADAS REACHES VETERANS AND HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH HOUSING SOLUTIONS
A third exemplary housing site is Santa Barbara's Casas las Granadas, another downtown development with 12 one-bedroom units targeted both to low-income downtown workers, veterans, and formerly homeless individuals. The new site opened in February 2008, adjacent to the Granada Theatre. Director Mangano visited Casas Las Granadas, managed by Peoples' Self-Help Housing Corporation and owned by the City of Santa Barbara. The 12-unit site is under the leadership of Executive Director Jeannette Duncan who chairs the 10 Year Plan.

People's Self-Help Housing Corporation operates the site, which was financed by $1.5 million in Santa Barbara HOME funds, Wells Fargo Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank, and other investment from partners of Enterprise Community Investment and the Santa Barbara Redevelopment Agency. People's Self-Help Housing serves low-income, senior, and special needs populations in the Central Coast through housing and self-sufficiency programs.

Pictured here at El Carrillo are (left to right): Roger Heroux, 10 Year Plan Executive Director; Jeannette Duncan, 10 Year Plan Governing Board Chair; Director Mangano; Council Member Helene Schneider; and Rob Pearson, CEO, City of Santa Barbara Housing Authority.

WITH this issue, the e-news continues its coverage of the momentum among Mayors and County officials who are Signatories to the unprecedented 12-point America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions to end chronic homelessness, bringing the signers to a total of more than 380.

The America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions commits Mayors and County officials to work together in a housing-focused strategy that gives special attention to the needs of veterans and involves partnership with business, philanthropy, and community and faith- based organizations.

At last week's Annual Meeting of the National Association of Counties in Kansas City, County Executives unanimously supported a Policy Resolution affirming America's Road Home and innovations that are reducing and ending chronic homelessness in communities across the nation. In endorsing innovative initiatives in 10 Year Plans, including Rapid Rehousing and Housing First strategies, NACo called on communities to adopt the national innovations that are making a difference on the streets and in the neighborhoods of our country. The NACo resolution, in endorsing 10 Year Plans, focused on homeless veterans, cost benefit analysis, and Project Homeless Connect.

At the June 2008 Annual Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Miami, the nation's mayors unanimously supported a resolution affirming America's Road Home. The U.S. Conference of Mayors affirmed through unanimous resolution the America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions and urged Mayors to become signatories and implementers of the Principles in their jurisdictions and committed the Conference of Mayors to advance the Principles with Presidential candidates.

A significant contingent of North Carolina County officials signed the Statement at NACo, and additional new jurisdictional signatories include: Mayor Mary Verner, Spokane, WA; Council Member Das Williams, Santa Barbara, CA; Supervisor Sharon Bronson, Pima County, AZ; Commissioner Toni Carter, Ramsey County, MN; Chairman Benjamin Hayward, Mitchell County, GA; County Executive Thomas J. Hinz, Brown County, WI; Commissioner Calvin Holland, Sr., Richmond County, GA; Commissioner Harold Mast, Kent County, MI; Justice of the Peace Hodijah Gray, Jefferson County, AR; City Council Member Helen Holton, Baltimore, MD; City Council Member Sharon Middleton, Baltimore, MD; City Council Member Rochelle Spector, Baltimore, MD; Vice President Kevin Guidry, Calcasieu Parish, LA; Police Juror Hal McMillin, Calcasieu Parish, LA; Commissioner Marzett Thomas, Lowndes County, AL; Commissioners Vice Chair Dr. Priscilla D. Thomas, Chatham, GA; Commissioner Albert Turner, Jr. Perry County, AL; Supervisor Janet Wolf, Santa Barbara County, CA; and County Collector David Young, Webster County, MO. Pictured here are previous signatories Wake County Commissioners Joe Bryan and Lindy Brown, who encouraged the North Carolina delegation's support, and Council National Team Leader Michael German.

Twenty-two Mayors and County officials representing jurisdictional leadership on homelessness across the nation signed the unprecedented 12-point Statement of Principles and Actions to end chronic homelessness last November 16 at a National Summit convened by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano.

The elected officials' agreement affirms the roles of the U.S. Interagency Council, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National Association of Counties in providing jurisdictional leadership through 10 Year Plans to End Chronic Homelessness, adoption of innovations such as Housing First, ACT teams, and Project Homeless Connect, and the involvement of the philanthropic community in investing in results with a focus on permanent housing.

Mayors and County officials who are interested in becoming partners to the agreement can download the Principles and guidelines for signing at the Council's web site at www.usich.gov . A current list of the Charter Signatories is also posted.

WITH THIS ISSUE, the e-news continues its coverage of statements on political will and partnership from municipal leaders. Municipal leadership is central to the creation, implementation, and results of 10 Year Plans encouraged by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. This week, we feature excerpts from the National League of Cities' poverty reduction strategy, "Combating Poverty: Emerging Strategies from the Nation's Cities."

"Mayors and other municipal leaders are well- positioned to lead community-wide antipoverty initiatives in their cities. They are uniquely able to promote collaboration among key stakeholders, leverage public and private resources, and ensure that poverty receives sustained attention within municipal government and throughout the community.

"The city spotlights that follow demonstrate repeatedly that municipal leaders can play important roles in combating poverty. Strategies that emerge across multiple jurisdictions include: Creating a Coordinating Entity to Monitor and Sustain Progress Over Time; Selecting Specific Targets for Community- Wide Action; Targeting Vulnerable Populations or Neighborhoods for Immediate Attention; and Pushing Beyond Traditional Boundaries to Redefine the Issue."

WASHINGTON, DC. Planning your first Project Homeless Connect? Looking for best practices in getting results for homeless consumers, eliminating lines and waiting, creating new partnerships, changing the way business is done in your community?

Mark your calendar for August 5 for the National Project Homeless Connect Best Practices Colloquy.

Expert practitioners from the public and private sectors from experienced and successful Project Homeless Connect cities across the country will share their strategies and results on-line as you listen and ask questions. It's called a "webinar," and it will allow you and your local partners to take part in a live, on-line web conference.

All you need is a phone and internet access - no travel funds required! You and your local partners will not want to miss this live, on-line event from 1:00 - 2:30 pm Eastern on August 5.

With over 170 cities across the nation, in Canada, and Australia convening Project Homeless Connect events, there's a lot to know about Best Practices. Peer-to-peer support has proven to be critical for results-oriented Project Homeless Connect events, and this webinar will help you to learn what makes a successful Connect event.

Expert faculty will include a trio of partners from Springfield, Massachusetts who will share their diverse views: Community 10 Year Plan Champion and business leader Bob Schwarz, City 10 Year Plan Point Person Gerry McCafferty, and Faith-Based Project Homeless Connect Chair Pastor Greg Dyson. You'll also hear from experienced jurisdictional experts Jamie van Leeuwen from Denver, Katie Kitchin from Norfolk, and Cathy ten Broeke from Minneapolis.

Interested? Send your complete contact information by email to nphc@usich.gov to receive your invitation! You'll receive within 24 hours complete registration information. Then we'll keep you posted on the program, access instructions, and more!

Best Practice: Many successful Connect cities have made "pilgrimages" to visit Connect events on- site. Check the calendar of upcoming PHC events on the Connect web site to learn more!

email: usich@usich.gov

web: http://www.usich.gov