BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA. North Dakota Governor John Hoeven (pictured here with United States Interagency Council Executive Director Philip Mangano) last week announced that he would establish the North Dakota Interagency Council on Homelessness by Executive Order in the next month, thus becoming the 49th Governor in the states and territories to join the federal partnership to end chronic homelessness. In a meeting with Council Executive Director Mangano in the State Capital in Bismarck, Governor Hoeven was joined by Legal Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor Duane Houdek; ND Department of Commerce Program Administrator and ND Policy Academy Team Co-leader Tran Doan; Fargo, ND, HUD Field Office Operations Specialist Oswald Scantlebury; Statewide Continuum of Care Project Coordinator Mary Magnusson; and ND Coalition of Homeless People President Dawn Bonner.

Governor Hoeven, speaking at a recent HUD homeless funding award announcement, stated, "The sign of a compassionate society is measured by the way we treat our elderly and our needy. Through the efforts of the private sector and government at all levels, together we can make a difference in people's lives." In last week's meeting, Governor Hoeven was focused on creating an effort that would make a difference in the lives of homeless people in his state. His commitment is to a results-oriented strategy that will make change.

CHEYENNE, WYOMING. Wyoming Governor David Freudenthal, meeting last week with Council Executive Director Mangano at the Wyoming State House in Cheyenne, indicated his support of a statewide study of homelessness during this year to improve the understanding of homeless populations in the state to more effectively identify, develop, and implement solutions. The State of Wyoming is moving forward to develop a statewide Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) system with support from the Governor's office, including the assistance of the state's Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Information Officer.

The Wyoming State Action Plan to End Chronic Homelessness was created by the former Wyoming Policy Academy Team. Based on the recommendations of the upcoming study, Governor Freudenthal will examine next steps for the Wyoming Interagency Council on Homelessness, including formalizing it through Executive Order. Commenting on the developments in Wyoming, Council Executive Director Mangano stated, "Wyoming takes its nickname of 'Equality State' from the fact that Wyoming women were the first in the nation to vote, serve on juries, and hold public office. In basing his next steps on the solid foundation of research and data, Governor Freudenthal is doing what Wyomans have always done: seeing the common sense of the future and moving to appropriate it in the present."

AUGUSTA, GA. Mayor Bob Young, one of the original signers of the U.S. Conference of Mayors resolution in support of the 10-Year Planning process to end chronic homelessness, convened the inaugural meeting of Augusta's new Homeless Council on Monday to begin work on a 10-Year Plan for Georgia's second oldest and second largest city. Convening the Council, Mayor Young stated, "Chronic homelessness is a blight on our city. But we have at our disposal the means to eliminate it. President Bush has issued the call to eliminate chronic homelessness in ten years, and he has revitalized the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to move forward the strategy. We accept his challenge and will marshal the forces, both public and private, to achieve victory. The Mayor's Council on Homelessness is charged with developing the plan for presentation later this year. I await their report and stand ready to enact their recommendations. At the same time, I call on members of the Congress to enact President Bush's 'Samaritan Initiative,' in order to provide additional tools to help cities such as Augusta achieve their goals. Working in partnership we can turn despair into hope."

United States Interagency Council Executive Director Philip Mangano, who was invited to keynote the inaugural meeting, told the new Council members, "Through the deliberations of an expansive and inclusive group of stakeholders here in Augusta and across the country - including law enforcement, hospitals, the Chamber of Commerce, downtown businesses, homeless providers and advocates, the United Way, faith based agencies, and others - plans are being created that dispel the nonsense of anecdotal impressions and conjectural hearsay to create and shape the common sense of planful partnerships, innovative initiatives, and strategic solutions."

Mayor Young is pictured here speaking at the Homeless Council's inaugural meeting, with right to left, Warren C. Smith, Director of the Augusta Housing and Neighborhood Development Department, which will coordinate the new Council, Interagency Council Executive Director Mangano, and Interagency Council Region IV Coordinator Michael German. In addition to Mayor Young's office and the Housing Department, the Mayor's Homeless Council includes participation by the United Way, Chamber of Commerce, The Salvation Army, Catholic Social Services, Richmond County Board of Education, Doctors Hospital, Augusta Task Force on the Homeless, Augusta Housing Authority, Augusta Transit Department, Augusta Neighborhood Improvement Corporation, Georgia Legal Services Program, Richmond-Burke Job Training Authority, Family and Children's Services, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Golden Harvest Food Bank, and State Representative Max Burns' Office.

BISMARCK, ND. Meeting with United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano last week at Bismarck City Hall, Mayor John Warford (pictured here) agreed to move North Dakota's Capital City forward on a 10- Year Plan. Mayor Warford appointed Sue Redman of the City of Bismarck Office of Planning and Development to coordinate development of the new 10-Year Plan for the state's second largest city. Mayor Warford and Council Executive Director Mangano were later joined by Ms. Redman and North Dakota Continuum of Care Coordinator Mary Magnusson to discus next steps in the planning process. Mayor Warford, a first-term mayor who ran on an economic development and accountability platform, reported growth in population, housing, and jobs in Bismarck in his March 2004 State of the City address.

Interagency Council Executive Director Philip Mangano, commenting on his visit to North Dakota (see story in this e-newsletter), stated, "The State of North Dakota and its Capital City of Bismarck, in becoming partners with the federal government to end chronic homelessness, are saying to every North Dakota citizen, housed or homeless, that the quality of life in this state is going to improve, that in these new partnerships cures are being sought and remedies found to improve the health of your communities."

PITTSBURGH, PA. Allegheny County, the Cities of Pittsburgh and McKeesport and the municipality of Penn Hills, PA, will join in a regional 10-Year Plan, according to Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. In a recent letter to Interagency Council Executive Director Philip Mangano, County Executive Onorato announced that, in cooperation with the Allegheny County Homeless Alliance, Allegheny County and its neighbors will develop a plan using Future Search Conference methodology this fall. Under Future Search's approach, 64 key stakeholders throughout the community will convene for three days to explore the past, present, and future of homelessness in Allegheny County in order to confirm mutual values and commit to an action plan founded in common ground and reality. Upon completion, a formal plan will be submitted to the Intergovernmental Council on Homelessness.

FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS - Stating that "this effort is a continuation of President Bush's campaign to end chronic homelessness in America," United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary and United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Chair Anthony Principi (pictured here) announced that VA is making $17.4 million in investment available to expand and enhance solutions to long-term homelessness under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program.

This will be the first time VA will offer funding specifically for veterans with special needs, to include the frail and elderly, the chronically mentally ill and women veterans who care for minor dependents. The investment announced August 2 will allow VA to continue its technical assistance to non- profit community and faith-based groups who specialize in providing support to homeless veterans.

In the past ten years, VA has awarded more than 300 grants to public, nonprofit and faith-based groups in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to provide transitional housing, service centers and vans that provide transportation to services and employment. The deadline for applications is August 17, 2004. To obtain a grant application, contact the Grant and Per Diem Program toll-free at 1-877-332- 0334 or download the application from VA's Homeless Assistance Programs and Initiatives Web page at http://www.va.gov/homeless.

FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT - On July 30, 2004, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) Data and Technical Standards Final Notice. HUD has provided the following report on the Final Notice.

The Final Notice establishes standards for the types of information that homeless assistance providers collect from homeless persons in the course of providing services and creates privacy standards to protect client confidentiality. The Final Notice responds to public comments received by HUD following the issuance of a draft Notice in July 2003. The standards were developed with extensive input from a panel of experts composed of local homeless assistance providers, representatives from national advocacy organizations, state and federal government representatives, and leading researchers.

The use of HMIS to understand and address homelessness has been developing for many years. The development of local HMIS began as a grassroots effort over 20 years ago, led by homeless program administrators in a small number of communities across the country. The positive experiences with HMIS in shaping local homeless policies and improving services to homeless clients led the Congress to authorize federal agencies to begin providing support for the local development of HMIS starting in the 1990s. HUD has led this national effort by allocating considerable funding for the development of HMIS, providing comprehensive technical assistance on HMIS implementation, and developing the national data and technical standards.

The final standards will help ensure that information on homelessness is consistent and reliable and that data collection by homeless assistance providers is done in a way that protects the confidentiality of personal information while allowing for reasonable, responsible, and limited uses and disclosures of data. The standards are essential to the effective administration of local homeless assistance programs and to assess the operations and outcomes of programs that provide services to homeless persons.

Since its inception 15 years ago in Orange County in Southern California, HomeAid America has modelled innovative partnership as its path to results. Established by the Building Industry Association of Southern California, an affiliate of the National Association of Homebuilders, HomeAid is, in the words of President Michael Lennon, "driven by a singular passion- to give opportunities for new beginnings to temporarily homeless men, women and children across the country." Supported primarily through corporate donations, foundation grants, and individual contributions, HomeAid emergency and transitional facilities are owned and operated by non- profit partners and include specialized supportive counselling and job training services to achieve self- sufficiency. HomeAid President Lennon is shown here at left hosting a visit to a HomeAid America site in Renton, WA, with Renton Mayor Kathy Koelker- Wheeler, United States Interagency Council Executive Director Philip Mangano, Program Supervisor and HouseManager Anne Snook, and Resident Manager Andrea Knuson.

HomeAid's model provides for local communities to exercise choice in becoming partners. Building associations select a community provider and a specific project and then recruit a Builder Captain, a role HomeAid views as the centerpiece of its mission. The local HomeAid Chapter recruits the Builder Captain from among building industry professionals to play the lead role in the planned construction or renovation project. The Builder Captain then turns to trade partners (sub contractors, suppliers, and consultants) in the local building community to contribute labor, materials, and services to the construction or renovation project. HomeAid sets a goal to obtain 50% or more of the estimated market value of the project through the donation of resources.

Twenty-two HomeAid chapters currently operate in 11 states (California, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington). HomeAid Portland is the most recent addition, established under the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland (HBAMP). The new chapter will support projects in Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah, Washington, and Yamhill Counties.