NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY. "Today we gather together to promise that we can do better, that we will do more, and that we will work together to ensure that people who are homeless in Middlesex County will have the opportunity for housing and services," said Elijah's Promise Executive Director Lisanne Finston as she welcomed more than 100 elected officials including New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill, civic and business leaders, providers, and homeless and formerly homeless members of the Middlesex County community at a kickoff on Tuesday for the community's 10-Year Plan effort that will be centered around a Housing First approach.

"The private sector is absolutely on board with the 10-Year Plan," said Magyar Bank President and CEO Elizabeth Hance who will serve as one of the plan's co-chairs. Other co-chairs include County Freeholder Blanquita Valenti, Diocese of Metuchen Bishop Paul Bootkoski, United Way of Central Jersey Chief Professional Officer Gloria Aftanski, and Rutgers University Athletic Director Robert Mulcahy. In his remarks, Bishop Bootkoski "welcomed the opportunity to lend support for the Housing First effort to better serve those in need of a place to call home." Freeholder Director David Crabiel noted that "today begins a test of ourselves and our combined resolve to end homelessness in Middlesex County. It presents a challenge that we can meet."

Middlesex County is the second largest county in New Jersey. It is home to Rutgers University, many Fortune 500 companies and is located in a region that ranks 3rd in the nation for median household income, said Freeholder Valenti, who noted the 10 Year Plan is a "comprehensive strategy that relies on the talent and teamwork of the public and private sectors." Other speakers at the event included formerly homeless persons, HUD New Jersey Field Office Director Diane Johnson, and Corporation for Supportive Housing President and CEO Deborah De Santis who was "born and bred" in Middlesex County. The community was invited to participate in task forces that have been established on permanent housing, single point of entry, and Point-in-Time/Project Homeless Connect. A draft plan is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Pictured here, l-r, Bishop Bootkoski, Freeholders Valenti and Crabiel, and United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Region 2 Coordinator Samuel Miller.

CORVALLIS, OREGON. Benton County will be the 10th Oregon county to develop a 10-Year Plan. At a work session last week in Corvallis, Benton County Commission Chair Annabelle Jaramillo and Commissioners Jay Dixon and Linda Modrell were joined by Sheriff Diana Simpson, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Region 10 Coordinator Paul Carlson, and 20 county department directors, agency officials, and homeless advocates for a roundtable discussion of the rationale and challenges of developing a plan. Community Services Consortium Executive Director Tom Clancy-Burns, who as president of the Oregon Community Action Directors Association invited Council Executive Director Philip Mangano to keynote their state conference last fall, has been working with social service agencies in the community to promote a plan.

Benton County has a population of around 100,000 and is home to Oregon State University. The county seat, Corvallis, is the center of Willamette Valley, famously located on the Oregon Trail. Benton County Commissioners indicated that they will coordinate their efforts with those of neighboring Linn and Lincoln Counties. Pictured here, l-r, Commissioner Jay Dixon, Sheriff Simpson, Commission Chair Jaramillo, and Commissioner Modrell.

Sullivan County, NY County Manager David Fanslau indicated his support for developing a 10-Year Plan in his county of 77,000 nestled in the Catskill Mountains during a meeting last week with United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Region 2 Coordinator Samuel Miller. County Manager Fanslau was joined at the meeting by District 8 representative and head of the Division of Health and Family Services Committee Ron Hiatt; Commissioner of Family Services Greg Feight; Director of Temporary Assistance Deborah Lyden; Cheryl Gugliotta of the Federation for the Homeless, and Community and Economic Development Commissioner Susan Jaffe and Grants Supervisor Joe Czajka.

CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA. Governor Joe Manchin III (pictured here) is bringing together public and private agencies across the state of West Virginia to improve the lives of persons experiencing homelessness and near homelessness through a newly strengthened West Virginia Interagency Council on Homelessness (WVICH) that will include a stronger focus on prevention. Governor Manchin's Executive Order rescinds and replaces one signed by then Governor Bob Wise in 2004. The new Executive Order charges the WVICH with the responsibility to create by year's end and present to the Governor a statewide plan with short and long term strategies to end homelessness. The Council is further charged with responsibility to oversee plan implementation and report all endeavors to the Governor including an annual progress report each year.

Stating that "collaboration between various federal, State, and local departments and agencies is critical to achieve a complete delivery of services, particularly in rural areas where resources are less abundant and separated by greater distances than in urban areas," Governor Manchin's Executive Order establishes membership for the Council that includes several state agencies including the WV Departments of Health and Human Services, Military and Public Safety, Education, and the WV Housing Development Fund; Workforce West Virginia; non profit representation; service providers in each of the three congressional districts; and two homeless or formerly homeless consumers. Relevant federal agencies will be invited to participate as ex officio members. The first meeting of the Council, to which the Governor has already appointed 17 members including chair, Arley R. Johnson, Director of Programs for the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, will be on August 16th. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano has been invited to meet with Governor Manchin and address the Council at their September meeting.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. 1,232 units of rental housing, nearly 700 of which include support services specifically geared to help homeless families and individuals stay in permanent housing, have been created in the first four years of Seattle's latest Housing Levy, reports Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. Additionally, 2000 families and individuals have been able to avoid eviction with rental assistance and 137 families have received first time home purchase assistance. In a press statement, Mayor Nickels said "The Housing Levy is making a real difference in the lives of thousands of people in our city. These investments are helping us break the cycle of homelessness for people living on our streets and creating new opportunities for working families in Seattle to find places they can afford."

In 2002 Seattle voters approved a 7-year Housing Levy of $0.15 per thousand of assessed value to raise $86 million that was thought would produce 2,044 units of affordable and low income housing when leveraged with state, federal, and private funds. This was the fourth housing levy approved by Seattle voters since 1981. The City reports that in fact the Levy is exceeding its goals by as much as 33% in some categories. For every city dollar, $4 is being leveraged from King County, Washington State, philanthropy and the federal government. Allocation categories include 65% of the funds for rental housing preservation and production; 8% to low income housing within mixed use, mixed income targeted neighborhoods; 8% for operating and maintenance support for housing for persons at or below 30% of median income; 9% for homeownership assistance; 3% for emergency rental assistance to prevent homelessness; and 5% for administration.

"Housing Levy investments exemplify how we're changing the model from managing homelessness to ending homelessness," said Housing Levy Oversight Committee Chair Paul Lambros. "Levy dollars are a main financial driver behind the movement toward providing housing with onsite services that stabilize the lives of homeless people and help them increase self sufficiency."

Mayor Nickels also announced project awards as part of the first funding round this year to Archdiocesan Housing Authority, Partners in Hope; Downtown Emergency Service Center, Cascade Supportive Housing; and Community House Mental Health Agency in Brierwood for a total of 196 units of housing.

Seattle and King County unveiled a 10- Year Plan to end homelessness, "A Roof over Every Bed in King County" in March 2005 and have reported a 10% reduction in street homelessness each year. In June, United Way of King County announced $25 million will be raised to provide permanent supportive housing to 1,000 of the county's most vulnerable citizens.

WASHINGTON, D.C. The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI) convened its seventh Compassion in Action Roundtable event last week to focus on the partnership of faith-based and community organizations in ending homelessness and achieving the Administration's commitment to end chronic homelessness. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano had encouraged the focus on homelessness for the July event to mark the 20th anniversary of federal response through the July 1987 signing by President Ronald Reagan of the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. The role of innovation in achieving results in ending homelessness was a central theme of the event with examples of faith based participation in such innovations.

Special Assistant to the President and OFBCI Deputy Director Jedd Medefind welcomed attendees, noting the 20th anniversary occasion and the importance of the issue of homelessness to President Bush. Mr. Medefind observed that the Roundtables have brought together a sense of burden drawn from the "raw facts" of issues such as homelessness, recidivism, and malaria, but seek to offer a sense of hope that itself draws on combining "caring hearts and brilliant ideas" focused on innovation, partnership, and real results. Mr. Medefind was joined by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson whose agency awarded $258 million in HUD resources to faith based organizations last year and who spoke of HUD's Unlocking Doors initiative and faith based participation in HUD programs. Veterans Health Administration Associate Chief Consultant for Homelessness and Residential Treatment Programs Paul Smits described the involvement and contributions of faith based programs in the VA's homeless and residential treatment programs. Shown here from top, Mr. Medefind, Secretary Jackson, and Mr. Smits.

"Isn't it good to be in the White House to talk about solutions to homelessness?" asked Council Director Philip Mangano, affirming Special Assistant Medefind's welcome in his remarks before leading a panel discussion on innovative faith-based and community solutions to homelessness. Panelist Reverend Faith Fowler described the innovative community outreach of Cass Community Social Services in Detroit, Michigan which has visualized opportunities to create micro businesses that are generating revenue streams to support programs. Reverend Fowler is pastor of the Cass United Methodist Church and executive director of Cass Community Social Services, a non profit working throughout the city of Detroit at six sites. Reverend Fowler spoke of the opportunities presented when community problems and disadvantaged people are linked together to create solutions such as a micro business created to recycle old automobile tires into floor mats after they are gathered from the cleanup of vacant neighborhood lots. CCSS' first vocational services program to train and, in some cases, permanently employ homeless adults began with a culinary arts program through which meal services are now being provided to public institutions. CCSS offers emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing for homeless men, women and children including the first shelter in Wayne County to let mothers and children, including boys over the age of 10, stay together.

Denver Department of Human Services Manager Roxane White noted that Denver's 10- Year Plan trajectory of investment and partnership and regular reports of results has made her a convert to the idea of ending homelessness. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, re- inaugurated the day prior to the Roundtable, announced a 36% reduction in chronic homelessness and can now point to a balanced budget in programs such as detox as a result of moving chronically homeless persons to housing and rigorously tracking their service histories through cost benefit analysis. "It's good politics and good religion," she observed.

Family and Senior Homeless Initiative: One Congregation, One Family is a faith based initiative of Denver's Road Home, the jurisdictional 10-Year Plan to end homelessness. In this effort, coordinated by the Denver Rescue Mission and combining the efforts of faith based partners and government, congregations mentor families and seniors who are coming out of shelters to assist them successfully transition from homelessness. Five congregational families mentor one homeless family, introducing more than a dozen new and committed individuals into their lives for a year. Over 125 congregations have participated in this effort, assisting 250 families. Denver reports that families who have mentoring congregations are twice as likely to still be housed six months later than families who are not mentored.

The Volunteers of America of Florida, Inc. Housing and Mobile Outreach to Serve Homeless Veterans program was described by CEO Kathy Spearman. A unique initiative of this program is a Cabin in the Woods project being developed in Lake City, Florida which will provide 4-plex efficiency unit housing and support for 32 formerly homeless veterans from rural encampments. Units have been designed by veterans and will be assembled by veterans trained as part of the initiative.

Sister Gloria Perez spoke about the work of Eva's Village in Paterson, New Jersey, an historic non-profit comprehensive social service agency that offers emergency services and permanent housing for a range of homeless populations, as well as treatment, health care, and food programs through Eva's Kitchen and Eva's Village Kitchen. Last month, Eva's Village participated in the Region II Interagency Council on Homelessness Homeless Assistance Forum in Passaic County. Pictured above, l-r, Ms. Spearman, Reverend Fowler, Sister Perez, and Ms. White.

A panel moderated by HUD Acting Assistant Secretary for Field Policy and Management and Region IV Director Bob Young presented examples of success from HUD's Center for Faith Based and Community Initiatives Unlocking Doors effort. As reported in the May 31st e-news, the Unlocking Doors initiative is identifying and promoting practices that form successful partnerships between faith based/community organizations and City Halls in addressing community housing needs. Mr. Young, who is a former mayor of Augusta, Georgia, noted the importance of highlighting the effectiveness of strategies that engage local political leadership and involve working directly with mayors.

Exodus Homes' Susan Smith described the faith based United Way agency effort that provides 85 beds of transitional to permanent supportive housing for homeless recovering addicts, alcoholics, and ex-offenders in nine locations in Hickory, NC. Last month, Exodus Homes was one of three grassroots organizations participating in the Hickory team presentation at the National Civic League All American City competition where Hickory was among those selected for the award.

Douglas E. Nelson, CEO of The Levitical Network Corporation, founded in 2007 in Culver City, California, described efforts to facilitate public/private partnerships involving faith and community based organizations, connecting its members with financial and legal resources, communication and marketing resources and tools to enhance their community development capacity. Pictured above, l-r, Regional Director Young, Mr.Nelson, and Ms. Smith.

WASHINGTON, D.C. A National League of Cities report released this month, Beyond City Limits: Cross System Collaboration to Reengage Disconnected Youth, examines how municipal leaders in eight cities are collaborating across public systems to help "disconnected youth", including young people ages 16-25 who are high school dropouts, unemployed, transitioning from foster care or involved in the justice system. The report, prepared by the NLC's Institute for Youth, Education, and Families (IYEF), describes efforts underway in Albany, N.Y.; Baltimore; Boston; Corpus Christi; Philadelphia; San Diego; San Francisco; and San José, Calif. to reconnect these youth to employment, education, and a range of supports.

NLC reports that the eight case studies in the report reveal several common success factors including mayoral leadership in having a vision and convening stakeholders; an effective coordinating body; and a structure to gather and evaluate data leading to accountability and shaping policy and practice. San Diego is cited for collaborative efforts resulting in a tripling of the family reunification rate for foster youth. NLC reports that in San Francisco where Mayor Gavin Newson focused attention on the link between foster care and homelessness, the city has increased the supply of transitional housing for youth aging out of foster care, which provides access to economic literacy classes, employment training and on-the-job support, mental health services, mentoring, tutoring, life skills and GED classes.

Last week NLC announced six cities- Denver, Hartford, Newark, Orlando, Roanoke, and St. Louis- have been selected to participate in an 18-month initiative that will provide the cities and their community partners with intensive technical assistance in building or strengthening collaborations among multiple public agencies and systems and implementing new strategies for reconnecting disconnected youth. Through this initiative, which is being undertaken with the support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, IYEF will assist municipal officials assess current interactions between systems, identify key leadership roles for stimulating and supporting cross-system collaboration, advance strategies to improve the quality of their efforts, and learn ways to enhance the accountability and sustainability of such efforts over time. The American Youth Policy Forum will work with NLC to plan a series of field trips for participant mayors, superintendents, and agency directors to several model cities.

Transition to independence of older foster youth is the particular focus of Newark, New Jersey's participation in this IYEF led technical assistance effort. Earlier this month, the New Jersey Department of Children and Families awarded $1 million to Newark for five family support centers being created through the efforts of Mayor Cory Booker's Council for Family Success. The Newark award was part of $4 million in family success center grants announced by the state in marking the first anniversary of the creation of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. These centers are intended to "develop networks of family services that result in preventing child abuse and neglect and fostering healthy families; reduce isolation; and build connections within families, between families and to the community."

NLC cities interested in learning more about best practices and effective strategies for disconnected youth can join IYEF's Municipal Network for Disconnected Youth. City partnerships is the theme of NLC'S September 30-October 2 National Summit on Your City's Families in San Antonio. Cities are encouraged to attend the Summit as cross agency teams.

WASHINGTON, D.C. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is offering an early look at its FY 2008 grant opportunities in a new "funding forecast" and has updated its manual on developing competitive SAMHSA applications. Of special interest are anticipated resource announcements for screening, brief referral, and intervention for substance abuse cases in community health care settings and for special populations (SBIRT), Treatment Capacity Expansion grants, and resources to support special problem solving courts using the treatment drug court model.

The SAMHSA Anticipated FY 2008 Funding Opportunities "At A Glance" chart lists the discretionary funding opportunities projected for FY 2008 based on the President's budget request. Fiscal Year 2008 begins October 1, 2007. For each program, the chart provides estimated funding, number and size of awards, a program description, eligibility restrictions, contact information for the project officer, and a target publication date. SAMHSA emphasizes that the information is preliminary and cannot be finalized until the FY 08 appropriations process is completed.

Developing Competitive SAMHSA Grant Applications is intended to be a roadmap for planning, writing and preparing a grant application for SAMHSA funding. The updated manual includes a new section on electronic application submission, and updates the evaluation criteria, and application and review procedures sections. Copies of the manual may also be obtained free of charge by calling SAMHSA's Health Information Network at 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727). Request inventory number SMA 07-4274.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. An innovative workforce development program which is reducing recidivism and incidences of homelessness among youthful offenders in the adult court system was selected for a Recognition of Excellence 2007 by the U.S. Department of Labor at last week's Workforce Innovations 2007 national conference held in Kansas City, Missouri. US Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao keynoted the conference, which included the announcement of the Department's Recognition of Excellence 2007 recipients. This is the fourth year of the Recognition program which recognizes State and local programs, projects, and initiatives that demonstrate innovation, collaboration, quality performance, linkages to business, education, and community needs, and replicability. One award is made in each of five categories:

1. Educating America's 21st Century Workforce
2. Building an Industry/Business-Driven Workforce Investment System
3. Leveraging the Power of e3 Partnerships
4. Recognizing Special Populations in the Workforce
5. Serving Out-of-School Youth

Workforce Connections, Inc. in La Crosse Wisconsin received the Serving Out of School Youth Recognition of Excellence 2007 for its X-Treme Opportunity program that targeted youth adjudicated through the adult justice system. DOL notes that before X-Treme Opportunity, there were no programs in the NW Wisconsin, SE Minnesota, and NE Iowa region for youth offenders. Correctional institutions were providing very limited occupational training. Workforce Connections, Inc. recognized the opportunity to both promote self sufficiency among youthful ex-offenders and meet identified regional labor market demands for skilled workers in the manufacturing, construction, and healthcare industries.

Key components of the X-Treme Opportunity program are the "youth coach" case managers, pre-release assessments, re-entry and supportive services that can include low cost housing, counseling, assistance in earning their high school diploma or GED, financial literacy, treatment programs, bicycles, and skills training in and outside the prison setting.

Job preparation, life skills, and occupational training are offered inside the correctional facilities as well as in a community based training program for youth not confined to prison. Collaborating with three correctional institutions in western Wisconsin, the X-Treme Opportunity program offers occupational training at the prisons in bricklaying/masonry, forklift safety, building maintenance, and blueprint reading. Recognizing that many of the incarcerated youth will want to return to their hometown communities which may be in the Milwaukee area and in Iowa and Minnesota, "pre release packets" have been developed that include appropriate resources for the community to which the youth is returning. The "youth coach" case managers continue to help them access services.

The program's performance outcomes cited by DOL include an enrollment rate of 93.4%, recidivism rate of 6% (well below the national average of 30%), and placement rate of 56.6% with a 20.8% retention rate.

In this edition, the e-news includes excerpts of remarks by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary and past USICH Chair Alphonso Jackson at the Faith and Community-Based Partnerships to End Homelessness "Compassion in Action" Roundtable sponsored by the White House Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives last week in Washington (see related story this issue).

. . . The President has set a worthy goal: to end chronic homelessness and move homeless families and individuals into permanent housing . . . These roundtable discussions will enhance our ability to meet this goal . . . Together, we are sending the message that homelessness is a challenge that can be solved.

. . . I appreciate the positive role that government can play. Twenty years ago, President Ronald Reagan signed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act into law. It provided urgently needed food, health care, and housing - services that were not always readily available in communities.

. . . When non-profits and faith-based providers join forces with local political leaders, the result is powerful change in the way homeless families and individuals are served. HUD awarded $258 million to faith-based organizations last year. No other federal agency comes close. Non-profit and faith-based groups make up nearly two- thirds of HUD's Continuum of Care grantees.

. . . Thank you for caring about Americans who find themselves without a home, but never without hope, because of your great work.

email: usich@usich.gov

web: http://www.usich.gov