CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. "In short, our plan is working. We're making real progress in helping people find a way out of homelessness - and preventing them from becoming homeless in the first place," said Chicago Mayor Richard Daley last week as he announced an overall 12% decrease in homelessness and an 8.7% decrease in street homelessness with the latest results in his city under the 10-Year Plan adopted in 2003. "This is exactly what I envisioned when I endorsed Chicago's Plan to End Homelessness in 2003, because I knew we could do better for Chicagoans who find themselves homeless." Demand for homeless services is at a new low, and shelter beds are averaging only slightly over 80% occupancy, according to the city.

The City of Chicago measured its progress by counting individuals on the street; tracking vacancy rates in shelters; and counting the number of people who use homeless services. In 2006, Chicago helped 7,145 households avoid the shelter system. This year, more than 3,000 households have been helped. According to the city, new steps will focus on increasing permanent housing and moving more long- term homeless individuals out of shelters; improving prevention strategies to continue to reduce the number of people entering shelters each year; and providing technical assistance to interim housing providers so they can continue to assist individuals and ensure positive and successful outcomes.

Responding to the new report, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who joined Mayor Daley in 2003 for the announcement of the Plan, applauded the Mayor's leadership, saying "Mayor Daley defines the commitment of political will and resources necessary to implement a 10-Year Plan that creates results on the streets, in shelters, and in the lives of homeless people." The 10-Year Plan called for "sweeping" changes in how homeless services are delivered in Chicago to move from a shelter-based response to a permanent housing-based response. Three core tenets were outlined in the plan: Prevention through one time or short term targeted financial assistance to help individuals and families maintain their housing; Housing First/rapid rehousing efforts with a 120 day time goal; and wraparound services to "maintain housing stability, and promote community integration once in permanent housing."

In December 2006, the e-news reported on new steps the Mayor and 10-Year Plan point person and current Acting Housing Commissioner Ellen Sahli were taking to advance the plan's goals. Included were funding for a foreclosure prevention call center to help people who are having difficulty paying their rent or mortgage; expansion of the city's winter heating assistance program; employment and training services to ex-offenders; new resources to develop additional rental units and expand rental assistance; expansion of the number of rental subsidies made available through the Chicago Low Income Housing Trust Fund for very low income renters; and supportive services to help individuals and families remain in permanent housing.

Last winter Mayor Daley awarded the City's first Ruby Slipper award in recognition of exemplary commitment to the Plan's motto "There's No Place Like Home" to La Casa Norte at the official opening of Solid Ground, permanent housing for 16 homeless young men between the ages of 16 and 21. In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Mayor Daley reported that the City has already phased out 1900 emergency shelter beds and replaced them with more than 1500 permanent housing units and more than 1400 interim housing units. He also noted that since implementation of the city's Street to Home Initiative that targets permanent housing opportunities to homeless persons living on the streets began in January, services have been provided to 122 unsheltered homeless and 62 have been moved into permanent housing. "This disproves the public perception that people on the street want to be homeless," Daley said.

GRAY, TENNESSEE. The Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness (ARCH) this week convened at Boone's Creek Christian Church in Gray, Tennessee to learn details of the National Partnership to end homelessness constellated by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, whose Executive Director, Philip Mangano, was invited to keynote the regional meeting. Council Team Leader Michael German participated in the event which Department of Housing and Urban Development Field Office Director Mark Brezina organized with local partners. Director Mangano is pictured here (center) with Mark Brezina (left) and ARCH Board of Director President Dan Rosenbalm. Also participating in the event were: Steve Baldwin, Johnson City Community Development Coordinator, Jan Detrick, Bristol Community Development Specialist, and Jeanne Price, Regional Housing Facilitator, Frontier Health.

ARCH brings together the service providers of eight counties (Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Washington, and Unicoi) and three cities (Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City). In the largely rural area of Northeastern Tennessee, the collaborating jurisdictions convened a series of public meetings to develop a very broad strategy to address homelessness from a rural and regional perspective with unique issues of infrastructure, transportation, and resources. That work, presented by ARCH, will act as the foundation for an action and implementation plan for the region.

Director Mangano additionally met with the ARCH Executive Committee and key partners to discuss the importance of developing next steps through such an implementation strategy and engaging additional partners from the region.

Prior to the meeting, Director Mangano (pictured here at left) joined consumers at the Salvation Army's Charles O. Gordon Center of Hope in downtown Johnson City for lunch. Johnson City Mayor Dr. Phil Roe is pictured here with Director Mangano during the Salvation Army lunch visit. Hosting the lunch were: Captain Wilma Mason, Salvation Army Herman Rice, Salvation Army Business Manager Scott Blevins, Emergency Shelter Director Sherry Blevins, Transitional Housing Director Todd Barkman, ARCH, and Steve Baldwin, Johnson City Community Development.

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA. Mayor Meyera Oberndorf, joined by invited speaker United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, this week took the first step in the implementation of the city's new 10-Year Plan when partners broke ground for the Judeo- Christian Outreach Center's new housing development for chronically homeless persons and homeless veterans. The new housing will include units for 8 people with disabilities and 14 units for veterans. Pictured here are (right to left): Christine Williamson, David Wall, VA, Andy Friedman, Ronnie Legette, HUD, Mayor Oberndorf, Jeanne Davis of Senator Webb's office, DIrector Mangano, Bernadette Harp, JCOC Resident, and Bob Gerling, Contractor for Bateman, Gerling & Associates.

"As exciting as this project is, again, it's just a first step in reducing the number of homeless people in our community," stated the Mayor. "During our 2007 Point in Time count, we found more than 300 people in emergency shelters or on the streets. This is simply unacceptable. But, I am confident that as we continue to work together, we will find other ways to provide affordable housing for homeless people who desire a fresh start."

"Today, that long held vision of of the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center to create and offer housing to your community's most vulnerable and disabled citizens is being realized," Director Mangano told attendees. "On this very spot, in the not too distant future, people who once lived the long misery of homelessness, exiled to the periphery of the community, will be welcomed in the new expression of JCOC hospitality, housing."

"Today is a day all about partnership to one goal, one objective, one mission. To end the homelessness of our poorest neighbors. Now that's a partnership to be proud of. And I'm particularly proud of our federal role. Members of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the VA and HUD, who have stepped up to offer resources and cleared the way for this unique effort to move forward. " Director Mangano is pictured here with Mayor Oberndorf, and Richard Powell, JCOC Executive Director.

Participating in the groundbreaking to represent the partners were JCOC Executive Director and Founder Richard Powell, Christine Williamson, Chair, JCOC Board of Directors, and Kirk Welch, JCOC Assistant Director and Program Director, with David Wall, Liaison, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Per Diem Grant Program, Ronnie Legette, Director, HUD Community Planning and Development, Andy Friedman, Director, City of Virginia Beach Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation (DNHP), Jeanne Evans, Hampton Roads Regional Representative for Senator Jim Webb, Tamikia Carr, Field Representative for Congresswoman Thelma Drake, and Bill Starkey: Vicar, St. Simon's Episcopal Church. Awards from The Beazley Foundation, City of Virginia Beach, Norfolk Foundation, and Virginian-Pilot helped purchase the land.

Virginia Beach's new 10-Year Plan, finalized just two months ago, calls for the gradual transition of current services to focus more on three main areas of activity: homeless prevention, creation of affordable housing opportunities, and preservation of existing affordable housing. The plan also affirms the use of broad partnerships, including continuation of existing regional efforts where appropriate and for city funding on the support of non-Federally eligible, high-value activities to make Federal funding available for the creation of housing and housing opportunities

"We do not expect to significantly change the financial realities of government in the region, state or nation," states the plan. "Massively expensive proposals are not realistic. However, there are multiple low-cost strategies that will help expand housing opportunities and overcome barriers to both prevent people from becoming homeless and assist them in finding housing. While none of these are 'free', they are extremely cost effective and must be part of an overall strategy."

Key housing action steps include identifying and planning for the preservation of existing affordable housing, creating new private sector housing opportunities through "Master Lease" or Housing Broker Programs, helping people overcome one-time barriers to obtaining housing through financial assistance - such as providing rental security deposits, creating additional permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless, disabled and special needs populations regionally in order to spread the costs, using Section 8 housing vouchers to support permanent supportive housing and to support permanent housing for previously homeless families, and using HOME funds to support the acquisition of multi-family housing for the homeless and tenant based rental assistance.

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE. Knoxville Mayors Bill Haslam and Bill Ragsdale this week gathered key local leaders to assess progress in the city/county 10- Year Plan and identify strategies to strengthen local partnership. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, invited by the Mayors to provide perspective on Knoxville's role in the National Partnership, joined new Knoxville 10-Year Plan leader Jon Lawler and city development official Mike Dunthorn in Knoxville.

Knoxville officials reported on their progress to date in their plan, noting that an Advisory Board had been established with 10-Year Plan stakeholders and chaired by Frank Rothermel. Pictured here are the assembled leaders: Lee Martin, Knox Area Rescue Ministries Board, Mark Brezina, HUD, Jon Lawler, Director Knoxville-Knox County Ten Year Plan, Alvin Nance, KCDC -Knoxville's Community Development Corporation - Housing Authority, Fr. Ragan Schriver, Catholic Charities, Director Philip Mangano, Mayor Bill Haslam, Terry Shupp, Catholic Charities Board, Kate O'Day, Child and Family, Tennessee, Madeline Rogero, Community Development Director, Knoxville, Burt Rosen, Knox Area Rescue Ministries, Virginia Anagnost, Chair, Community Action Committee Board, Ward Phillips, Chair, Helen Ross McNabb Center Board, Andy Black, Helen Ross McNabb Center, Michael Dunthorn, Ten Year Plan Office, Calvin Taylor, Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee, Robert Finley, Ten Year Plan Office, Ola Blackmon- McBride, The Salvation Army, Rev. Peter Keese, Volunteer Ministry Center Board, Tim McLemore, Chair, Knox Area Rescue Ministries Board, Ginny Weatherstone, Volunteer Ministry Center, and Major Don Vick, The Salvation Army.

Strengthening partnerships with faith-based organizations was a key goal of the Plan, and work has begun to prepare for a conference of churches and ministries in late summer 2007 to celebrate the work of the faith community and to encourage a higher level of coordination and focus of church and ministry resources on the problem in order to help fulfill the goals of the plan.

Permanent supportive housing development underway includes a local collaboration of ten agencies supporting a scattered-site permanent supportive housing initiative which has housed seven chronically homeless individuals to date. A new city/county venture will provide 24-32 units of manufactured housing in a scattered site development, and work is underway for the Volunteer Ministries Center rehabilitation of the Fifth Avenue Motel, which will create approximately 58 units of permanent supportive housing. Volunteer Ministries Center, adopting a Housing First approach, is a partner to several of the new initiatives.

Knoxville, which has adopted the innovation of Project Homeless Connect and served as expert to USICH activities on the innovation, held events in 2005 and 2006, and has scheduled its 2007 PHC. The 2006 PHC event served over 500 clients (including 8 housed on the day of the event), and included 460 professionals and volunteers served from 100 participating agencies, organizations and businesses. The 2006 event was combined with a Veterans Stand Down.

Knoxville has worked with the United Way on their first "Venture Grant," creating a multi-agency cooperative case management pilot program, with the Volunteer Ministry Center and others serving as partners. Thirty individuals have been placed in permanent housing thus far through this program. Knoxville Police, City Service Department, outreach ministries and social workers are now cooperating in addressing the issue of street homelessness and area homeless camps. Regular meetings of these groups are being convened to identify and collaborate on 'high profile' chronically homeless individuals' cases, with individual agencies taking primary responsibility for each individual when identified, with goal to get that individual off the streets.

KNOXVILLE VOLUNTEERS TO HOMELESS PEOPLE HONORED WITH PRESIDENT'S CALL TO SERVICE AWARD

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE. "Volunteerism is no better understood anywhere in our country than it is here in Tennessee, the Volunteer State. The power of the volunteers and the impact on change in the community, in our neighborhoods and in the lives of our most vulnerable citizens, has a special place here in the great tradition of your state and your city," stated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, as he joined Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam to present two dedicated local volunteers with the President's Call to Service Award this week.

In presenting awards to Dr. Reuben Pelot and Kennett Hobbs, Director Mangano noted that the attorney and dentist represent a new standard for volunteerism: "The new volunteerism combines that emergency hands-on approach with the opportunity to volunteer into, not away from, the expertise present in their professional lives. In Dr. Reuben Pelot and Kennett Hobbs we find their professional skills invading their volunteerism and offering legal and medical attention to our homeless neighbors."

In his remarks, Director Mangano noted that Kennett Hobbs has worked as a volunteer with the Volunteer Ministry Center (VMC) for 20 years, starting out as an interviewer in The Refuge program, meeting one on one with individuals in crisis and working with them to find solutions. As an attorney and member of the Bar in the state of Tennessee, Mr. Hobbs also offered free legal assistance to many of Knoxville's poor. Over the years, he has served in every capacity and every program which VMC operates. While he has served several terms on the Board of Directors, Mr. Hobbs pitches in wherever needed, and has conducted several classes including a movie review and discussion group that was highly popular. According to the Volunteer Ministry Center, it would be impossible to overstate the contribution Mr. Hobbs has made to VMC and to homeless people over the years, and a conservative estimate of his volunteer time would easily exceed 10,000 hours over the past 20 years.

Dr. Reuben Pelot was recognized as someone who saw suffering among his neighbors and acted to relieve it. Dr. Pelot volunteered with a group from his church to serve breakfast to people who come to the Volunteer Ministry Center Day Room. As he watched people move through the meal line, he was struck by the number of homeless people who avoided hot or cold food. He soon discovered that their food choices were related to their dental problems and he resolved to do something about it. After recruiting donations of dental equipment, Dr. Pelot established the dental service at VMC, volunteering his day off to see homeless patients who could not pay. The dedication of the Clinic was held in April of 1999 and Dr. Pelot has been coming weekly since that time. Word of this service quickly spread and patients would arrive by three o'clock in the morning to stand in line to be seen by Dr. Pelot. By 2002, the clinic had outgrown its available space and the dental service, along with the medical services offered on other days, moved to a free standing building a half block away. Dr. Pelot not only performs dental procedures, he is also active in fund-raising to keep the dental clinic supplied. Dr. Pelot has volunteered an estimated more than 4240 hours since he began providing dental services to his poorest neighbors in Knoxville. Dr. Pelot has also provided dental services at Project Homeless Connect events in Knoxville. Dr Pelot is assisted in the clinic by his wife Barbara, who currently serves on the Knoxville City Council, and who volunteers each Friday as a dental assistant in the no-fee dental clinic at the Volunteer Ministry Center.

Pictured here are (left to right): Mr. Hobbs, Dr. Pelot, Director Mangano, 10-Year Plan Director Lawler, Knoxville Mayor Haslam, and Knox County Mayor Ragsdale.

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano this week joined Norfolk, Virginia Mayor Paul Fraim and City of Norfolk Office to End Homelessness Director Katie Kitchin to present the President's Volunteer Service Award to Rear Admiral (Ret.) Thomas Steffens, who had over a 30-year career as a Navy SEAL. Admiral Steffens, a Board member of Norfolk's ForKids program, was recognized for his volunteerism including creating the ForKids Sports Program.

"Here in Norfolk, where so many serve, volunteerism is well understood," said Director Mangano. "We have seen the exemplary volunteerism of the military community here in their participation in Project Homeless Connect. We see it and honor it in Admiral Steffens who offers lessons in physical and mental courage, teamwork, and sports to our youngest homeless neighbors, embodying the very ethic of leaving no one behind . . ." Admiral Steffens now serves some of his most vulnerable young neighbors in the ForKids Sports Program where kids practice basketball, soccer and tennis while learning the value and importance of cooperation, discipline and a healthy lifestyle.

ForKids Board Chair Dawna Ellis joined Mayor Fraim and Director Mangano to honor Admiral Steffens for his work with the ForKids program which supports services and housing for homeless families with children, and serves an average of 75 to 100 families and more than 200 children each year. ForKids provides emergency and transitional placements for families with children, as well as permanent supportive housing, Lifeskills Education Aftercare Program, and the Junior League Family Resource Center.

Families leaving the program achieve over an 85% success rate in moving to stable permanent housing and employment. 98% of children ages 0-6 progressed toward developmental milestones, and 100% of school aged children obtained health insurance and were up to date on immunizations within 30 days of entry.

The ForKids Sports Program started by Admiral Steffens reaches children in the residential programs. Community partners to the Sports Program include: Naval Support Activity Norfolk, which provides the team with practice facilities, and Norfolk Academy Track & Field team with Coach Ken Lampert, who hosted a Track & Field clinic and Track Meet with shot put, high jump, long jump, dashes and relays. Old Dominion University's Lady Monarchs allow the ForKids team to observe basketball practices, and have donated basketballs and warm-up suits, and Old Dominion University's Sport Management Graduate Program has donated equipment for tennis, baseball, football, soccer, volleyball and basketball. Virginia Wesleyan College will host a lacrosse clinic this season.

City officials participated in the award event in the midst of planning for their next Project Homeless Connect event which will occur on August 23. Norfolk's PHC is implemented in partnership with the United Way of South Hampton Roads and takes place at the City's Scope center.

Pictured here are (left to right): Mayor Fraim, Admiral Steffens, Chair Ellis, and Director Mangano.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. Over 500 veterans and their families took part in the 16th annual Stand Down event in Boston last week, as Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick declared "Stand Down Days" in the Commonwealth. Lt. Governor Tim Murray joined the Stand Down, which convened for two days at Clifford Park, and was organized under the leadership of Ralph Cooper, Executive Director of Veterans Benefits Clearinghouse, and a host of partners (pictured here are Lt. Gov. Murray and Mr. Cooper). Lt. Governor Murray read the official proclamation to attendees. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Regional Coordinator John O'Brien, a Vietnam veteran and the Council's ex officio representative to the VA Secretary's Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans, participated.

On site to provide services to participants were the Massachusetts Departments of Revenue, Veteran Services, and Employment & Training, Registry of Motor Vehicles, and MA Parole Board. Federal partners included the Department of Veterans Affairs, which provided eye glasses, housing, assistance, and veterans benefits, and Social Security Administration. New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans offered haircuts, Vets training school, and shelter information.

Other partners included Boston Worker's Alliance, BU School of Dental Medicine, Chelsea Soldiers Home, Dorchester House, Boston Emergency Shelter Commission, Green Door Project Friends of Shattuck, Impact Employment Services, Mass Veterans Inc., MASSHEALTH/Medicaid, MBTA, Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership, Pine Street Inn, Polaroid (Photo ID's), Puerto Rican Veterans Association, VA Vet Legal Resources, Veterans Upward Bound/Umass, VFW Post 1240 Swampscott, Jewish War Veterans, and Codman Square Health Center.

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs maintains a calendar of upcoming Stand Down events. Between this week and the end of September, the following communities have scheduled events: Duluth, MN, Rosebud, SD, Chicago, IL, Yuba-Sutter, CA, Fairbanks, AK, Haverhill, MA, Cheyenne, WY, Philadelphia, PA, Billings, MT, St. Louis, MO, Des Moines, IA, Boulder Creek Scout Reservation, CA, Bismarck, ND, Asheville, NC, Indianapolis, IN, Sioux Falls, SD, Helena, MT, White City, OR, Sacramento, CA, Panama City, FL, Okanagan, WA, Alexandria, LA, Wichita, KS, Rock Island, IL, Cumberland, RI, Rocky Hill, CT, Cherry Hill, NJ, Greensboro, NC, Jackson, MS, Ft. Wayne, IN, Rapid City, SD, Fresno, CA, St. Petersburg, FL, Eugene, OR, Milwaukee, WI, Titusville, FL, Kansas City, MO, Dothan, AL, Lake Worth, FL, Springfield, MA, Great Falls, MT, and Boise, ID.

WITH THIS ISSUE, we continue our coverage of excerpts from statements made by public sector partners ending chronic homelessness.

The following Words of the Week come from Virginia Beach, Virginia Mayor Meyera Oberndorf's remarks at this week's groundbreaking event for new permanent supportive housing for persons who are chronically homeless in partnership with the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center (see related story).

"The success of this project is a testament to the importance of finding ways "how to" create housing for our homeless neighbors and veterans, rather than identifying the barriers that prevent us from doing so . . .

"This project also represents one of the first steps in implementing our recently adopted 10-year plan to end homelessness in Virginia Beach by providing housing for 22 individuals who currently have none. I would especially like to acknowledge the work of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and its Executive Director, Philip Mangano, for the guidance provided in the development of the 10-year plan and this important initial stage as we move forward . . .

"I also want to thank Dick Powell and the Judeo- Christian Outreach Center for tirelessly pursuing the right mix of resources that will create this vital housing and assist these people in their reintegration into the mainstream of having a place to call home. The Judeo-Christian Outreach Center has been providing services to homeless individuals and families for 20 years. From its roots of feeding those in need a few days a week, the Center has grown into an operation that currently provides emergency housing, educational opportunities, day care, and meals for people 365 days a year . .

"I also want to thank the Oceana Gardens and West Oceana Gardens communities for their interest in and concern for this project in this neighborhood and for understanding that being homeless describes a human condition, not a class of human beings . .

"And last, but certainly not least, I want to acknowledge the 22 individuals who will no longer call the streets their home because these apartments will become home for them. I look forward to coming back here when this housing is completed to celebrate and welcome the people who will move in . .

WASHINGTON, DC. Cities across the country are adopting the innovation of Project Homeless Connect as they make plans to participate in the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness' next expert technical assistance opportunity focused on engaging families in the Project Homeless Connect innovation.

During a national conference call to be convened by the Interagency Council on September 6, Mary Carroll of the Office of Portland, Oregon City Commissioner Erik Sten will provide expert assistance in best practices for engaging families. Portland last year implemented the national innovation of Project Homeless Connect to a successful family model and will shortly convene their second family PHC event. Topics will include special considerations in planning for family participation, site selection, event scheduling, family engagement, partnering with appropriate services and resources, and consumer- centric practices. Other experts from experienced PHC cities will also participate. The format for the call will include short presentations on key issues and a question and answer period.

A limited number of spaces for jurisdictional representatives are still available for this upcoming and informative call. To indicate your interest in taking part and receive further information, send an email to: nphc@usich.gov.

Is your city or county planning a PHC event? Be sure to notify the Council in advance if you want to be considered for review as an official National Project Homeless Connect event with recognized best practices to engage consumers. Send a message to nphc@usich.gov.

The Council's National Project Homeless Connect Week is scheduled this year for December 3-7.

email: ichnews@setechnology.com

web: http://www.usich.gov