SALEM, OREGON. A regional effort to create a 10-Year Plan to end homelessness in Marion and Polk Counties, Oregon was kicked off Monday at the Marion County Courthouse. Participating in the Call to Action were Marion County Commissioner Janet Carlson, Salem Police Chief Jerry Moore, businessman Dick Withnell who was also representing Salem Mayor Janet Taylor, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency Executive Director Teresa Cox who provided the welcome and introductions, and United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Region X Coordinator Paul Carlson.

Pictured above, l-r, Council Coordinator Carlson, Mr. Withnell, Ms. Cox, Commissioner Carlson, and Chief Moore.

Marion County Commissioner Carlson spoke of the latest Point in Time count that identified 2,006 homeless in Marion and Polk Counties and spoke of her particular concern for homeless children and youth. "For the children, youth, parents, disabled, veterans, mentally ill, and those who are hopeless and homeless in Marion County, we can do more. We can join together to solve this problem," she said.

Alluding to Winston Churchill's famous quote--"Now is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps , the end of the beginning"-- Chief Moore said that the 10-Year Plan effort "is perhaps the end of talking about it - putting walk to the talk - to a conclusion of making a difference." Businessman Withnell spoke of being a law enforcement officer in the city for many years and noted that "there are bigger and better needs for our jail space than for those who are homeless or have mental health issues or needs."

Region X Coordinator Paul Carlson congratulated the community for joining more than 300 jurisdictions partnered with the Council to develop 10-Year Plans to achieve the intent of ending homelessness and encouraged inclusion of a housing first approach, data collection to quantify the problem and costs, a focus on prevention, and measurable outcomes for visible results.

The Community Action Agency will help coordinate the planning effort whose Leadership Team includes Salem Municipal Judge Jane Aiken, Human Services Director Rene DuBoise, Retired Marion Sheriff Raul Ramirez, Salem Hospital Administrator Ruth Wagner, Prudential Real Estate Professional Byron Hendricks, Mt. Angel Mayor Tom Bauman, Polk County Commissioner Tom Ritchey, and Mayor Taylor, Commissioner Carlson, businessman Withnell and Ms. Cox.

Although she was unable to attend the event, Salem Mayor Taylor signed a proclamation acknowledging "that there is a new focus on the problems of homelessness at both the state and federal levels, as well as recognition that new approaches, including the 'housing first' model show great promise in ending homelessness" and proclaimed the week of September 17, 2007 to be Call to Action for 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. The Committee hopes to complete development of the Plan for public release in March.

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. A place rich in the history of the abolitionist and suffragist movements as home to both Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass added a new chapter this week with the unveiling of a 10-Year Plan to end homelessness in Rochester and Monroe County. The plan and report, Housing Options for All, was unveiled Wednesday morning by city and county officials and non-profit and business leaders at a special gathering preceding the 6th Annual Western New York Homelessness and Hunger Symposium. At the invitation of community leaders, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was present to receive the plan and applauded all the stakeholders for moving forward with an innovation infused, results oriented effort. Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy was joined by Dawn Staub representing Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, United Way of Rochester/Monroe County President Peter Carpino, Rochester/Monroe County Continuum of Care Chairperson Sandra Mindel, Symposium Planning Chair Sara Taylor, State Senator Joe Robach, Father Peter Young who is doing exemplary work creating housing for ex-offenders, Jennifer Sanfilippo representing Governor Eliot Spitzer, and consultant Connie Sanderson who along with Sara Taylor helped write the plan. An overview of the Plan was presented by businessman and former homeless consumer Gary Mink.

Mayor Duffy, as a former police officer and police chief, understands that punitive measures never work to reduce homelessness, and emphasized the importance of accountability and results as the city and county move forward to implement the plan. Ms. Staub affirmed the support of the county for the 10-Year Plan and acknowledged the efforts of COC Chairperson Mindel. Director Mangano congratulated the community leaders for identifying the need to plan to improve the quality of life for all in the community and joining the National Partnership to realize the intention of ending homelessness. He affirmed the importance of the city and county working together and in partnership with the private sector especially the United Way, the business community, and service providers. Referencing the community's storied history, Director Mangano urged them "not to worry about the inevitable voices of pessimism and skepticism that will tell you that the goal is unachievable. Those voices have been around a long time. They've criticized the abolitionists, the suffragists, the civil rights activists - right here in your own back yard. Said they were naïve and would never succeed. They were wrong back then and they're wrong now. So when those voices doubt our mission, our appeal is not to wishful thinking but world history." Acknowledging Mr. Mink's personal story of having lived for a time on the streets of Rochester, Director Mangano pointed out that "what Gary's personal life experience represents is itself testimony and witness that the plan to end homelessness can be realized."

Pictured, top, l-r, Mayor Duffy, Director Mangano, State Senator Robach; Middle, l-r, Father Young with Director Mangano; Bottom, l-r, Mr. Carpino, Director Mangano, Ms. Mindel.

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. Ensuring that Pittsburgh can be the "most livable city in America" for all of her residents was the goal discussed last week by United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. The Pittsburgh metropolitan area was awarded the "Most Livable City in America" designation earlier this year by Places Rated Almanac.

In conversations with Director Mangano, Mayor Ravenstahl and his Neighborhood Initiatives Director Kim Graziani indicated their strong interest in Pittsburgh becoming more proactive in the solutions to homelessness being fashioned through the regional plan announced with Allegheny County, McKeesport and Penn Hills in 2005 to achieve the kind of results other mayors involved in the US. Conference of Mayors are seeing from their 10-Year Plan efforts. Director Mangano reviewed examples of reductions in homelessness, particularly chronic homelessness, being reported around the country by jurisdictions where political will has brought about new investment and adoption of innovations such as the Housing First model. As new cost data has become available showing the true cost to communities of persons experiencing long term homelessness ricocheting through emergency rooms, detox centers, jails and the court system, and the efficacy of Housing First as a model for providing sustained permanent supportive housing tenancies for this population, jurisdictional leaders are increasingly re-examining their 10- Year Plans for opportunities to make targeted investments, particularly in housing, that will more quickly achieve the goal of reducing and ending street homelessness.

Director Mangano affirmed the Mayor's interest in extending political will to advance investments and applauded the Mayor and Ms. Graziani's commitment to results and accountability on the issue of homelessness. Director Mangano, who was accompanied by Council National Team Leader Michael German, pledged the support of the Council for Pittsburgh's efforts.

SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS. An announcement late last week by the Springfield (MA) Housing Authority of a $6 million housing investment in the city's 10- Year Plan implementation is the latest example of new investments resulting from partnerships forged through results- oriented 10-Year Plans. When Springfield Mayor Charles Ryan unveiled his city's 10- Year Plan, Homes Within Reach, in January at a press conference attended by United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, Mayor Ryan noted that the most important and dramatic change in the city's approach to homelessness is the commitment to housing first and identified the Springfield Housing Authority as "a significant community asset that has responded to this housing first commitment."

The $6 million investment formally announced by the Housing Authority last week will support the Plan's 'housing first' focus by making available 100 new housing vouchers a year over a decade for ending long term homelessness on the streets and in shelters. Mayor Ryan and Plan implementation leaders, including Peter Pan Bus Lines Vice President Bob Schwartz and City Homeless Coordinator Geraldine McCafferty, have moved aggressively to implement the plan including the city's first Project Homeless Connect held last month which engaged more than 500 homeless men, women, and children.

A goal and result of the National Partnership being constellated by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to end chronic homelessness and reduce all homelessness is the discovery of new partnering opportunities at and between every level of government and with the private sector. Joining together builds new capacity and increases the effectiveness of service delivery, all to the benefit of homeless consumers. A workshop in Essex County, New Jersey last Friday and this week's Homelessness and Hunger Symposium in Rochester, New York are bringing together federal agency members of the Region II Interagency Council on Homelessness, state agencies, and local officials and providers to explore the range of resources available, particularly through new collaborative initiatives and new federal and state investments, responding to the goal of ending rather than managing homelessness. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano invited to keynote both gatherings will be joined at the Rochester event by U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service Administrator Russell Davis.

The New Jersey Urban Mayors Association in collaboration with the federal Region II Interagency Council on Homelessness, the New Jersey state Interagency Council on Homelessness, Churches in Cooperation Inc., and the Essex County College Urban Institute sponsored the September 14th Essex County event which was held at the college. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who was invited to address the gathering and was accompanied by Council Region II Coordinator Samuel Miller, also met with New Jersey Urban Association of Mayors President and Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith, and East Orange Mayor Robert Bowser who are collaborating with the City of Newark and Essex County in the development of a 10-Year Plan; and with Pleasantville Mayor Ralph Peterson to encourage development of a plan in Atlantic County. Pictured top, l-r, Mayor Bowser, Director Mangano, and Mayor Smith. Bottom, l-r, Council Region II Coordinator Samuel Miller, College Urban Institute Director Dr. Khalfani, Director Mangano, Mayor Smith, and Urban and Neighborhood Improvement Corp. Director Dianthe Martinez.

Federal Region II presenters included U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Executive Officer Dennis Gonzalez; Paul Charbonneau, Department of Veterans Affairs; Everett Lo, Social Security Administration; Richard Tikowski, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Tim Walsh, U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service; and Ayanna Epps, Department of Justice Community Relations Services. Yvonne Zuidema, President & CEO Passaic County United Way, presented on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Participants also were provided overviews of state initiatives including Governor Corzine's plan to create 100,000 new affordable housing units by New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency Supporting Housing and Special Needs Director Pamela McCrory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs representative Deborah Heinz, and Corporation for Supportive Housing New Jersey Director Alison Recca-Ryan.

In Rochester, New York this week, Director Mangano and federal Region II agency officials participated in the 6th Annual Western New York Homelessness and Hunger Symposium. Director Mangano was invited to be the plenary speaker at this annual event for elected officials, community leaders, and providers. An afternoon workshop, Maximizing Federal Resources: Partnering with the Regional Interagency Council on Homelessness featured presentations by USDA Rural Housing Service Administrator Davis, US Department of Health and Human Services Regional Director and Region II Council Chair Deborah Konopko, Department of Veterans Affairs VISN 2 Coordinator Kevin O'Hagan, and Social Security Administration Region II Public Affairs Officer Everett Lo. The symposium was preceded by a kickoff of the Rochester/Monroe County 10-Year Plan, Housing Options for All. (see related story this issue).

NEW YORK CITY. Ending homelessness IS a "big idea" so this week United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano welcomed the opportunity to speak at the International Downtown Association's 53rd Annual Conference and World Congress' Big Idea session on Winning the Fight Against Homelessness. The invitation was extended by IDA President David Feehan who has been supportive of the Council's efforts to develop a National Partnership of every level of government and every segment of the private sector to achieve the Administration's goal of ending chronic homelessness.

Introduced by Cathy Coleman, President and CEO of the Downtown Norfolk (VA) Council and former Chair of the IDA Board of Directors, Director Mangano spoke of the great strides Norfolk is making through the political will and leadership of Mayor Paul Fraim and his homeless coordinator Katie Kitchin and with the support of the Norfolk business community. In February the City reported a 17% decrease in street homelessness. "As an original partner in our national efforts, Norfolk not only has demonstrated an appetite for innovation but a penchant for implementation," said Director Mangano. Pictured above is Director Mangano with Ms. Coleman.

In his remarks, Director Mangano spoke of the expectation of visible, measurable, quantifiable change in our doorways, on our streets, in our neighborhoods, and in the lives of homeless people that characterizes the National Partnership being constellated by the Council. "The evolution from servicing homeless people in place to solving their homelessness by creating a place, has changed inertia to momentum in communities across our country joined in our National Partnership and partnered in business-oriented, results-focused Ten Year Plans across our country." The creativity, business acumen, and resources of the downtown business community are instrumental to developing the community capacity to realize the intent of ending people's homelessness.

Director Mangano pointed to research and cost studies undertaken by communities engaged in 10-Year Plan efforts that are yielding consistent data showing that the old status quo of ad hoc, uncoordinated crisis interventions is more expensive and less effective than strategic housing solutions that incorporate permanent housing tenancies with support services. The data is showing that the cost of chronic homelessness to communities in health care and law enforcement expenses ranges from $40,000 to over $100,000 per person per year while the cost of permanent supportive housing ranges from a low of $13,000 to $25,000 per person per year. Moreover, across the country, cities and counties that have developed and are implementing jurisdictionally led, results oriented, business principled 10-Year Plans are beginning to be able to report reductions in street and chronic homelessness. Among the reported decreases, 70% in Portland, 36% in Denver, 34% in St. Louis, 30% in Madison, WI, 64% in Nashua, NH, 55% in Quincy, MA, and 43% in Dallas. Innovative strategies including permanent supportive housing, housing first, assertive treatment teams, Project Homeless Connect, and the Street to Home initiative of New York City's Common Ground, recently highlighted in the enews and presented in more detail at a forum the morning after the Big Ideas session, are fueling the reductions.

Director Mangano encouraged the downtown business officials to "join this National Partnership of performance and political will" and help ensure the development of business-informed, results-focused, performance-based, innovation-infused 10-Year Plans that will achieve the intent of ending homelessness.

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA. This Fall, communities in North Carolina are continuing to sow the seeds for ending homelessness. Having developed and adopted jurisdictionally based 10-Year Plans, Asheville/Buncombe County, Raleigh/Wake County, Chapel Hill/Orange County and Durham/Durham County are utilizing the broad range of partnerships and resources identified through the plan process to engage homeless individuals and families through Project Homeless Connect. Beginning with Asheville, which held a joint Project Homeless Connect-VA Stand Down last week, three more Connect events will be held on October 25 in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham. Gastonia will follow-up its successful first Connect in March with a second event on October 26.

The United Way has been a strong partner to 10-Year Planning efforts in North Carolina along with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and the North Carolina Interagency Council for Coordinating Homeless Programs. The October events will coincide with the United Way's Days of Caring. The Triangle United Way, which is leading the implementation of plans in Raleigh/Wake County, Chapel Hill/Orange County and Durham/Durham County provided seed money of nearly $11,000 to support the Connect effort in these communities.

Asheville, which in December 2006 became the first community in North Carolina to hold a Project Homeless Connect, has now become the first community in the state to partner with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans groups to sponsor a joint Connect-VA Stand Down. Of the 250 homeless and at risk consumers who came to the event held Friday at the First Baptist Church, 160 were veterans, a marked increase over the 100 veterans who had attended last year's VA Stand Down. Allison Haberfield, homeless veterans coordinator for the Asheville VA Medical Center, credits the expanded outreach from the combined Connect-Stand Down effort for creating "more buzz on the street."

Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy, who helped lead her community's 10-Year Plan effort and is a strong supporter of Project Homeless Connect, greeted the volunteers, providers and participants, and assisted participants access services.

Having seen from the December event the impact that Project Homeless Connect can have on the lives of homeless people, the service providers and more than 130 volunteers at this second Connect were "more prepared and more excited" reports Amy Sawyer, homeless initiative coordinator of the Asheville-Buncombe County Affordable Housing Coalition which is leading the implementation of the community's 10-Year Plan. More than 40 services were offered through 60 providers including employment, primary and behavioral health care, legal services, pet care, and voter registration. Social Security representatives were available as were the social security and VA case managers for Senators Richard Burr and Elizabeth Dole's offices. Senator Burr was recently asked to assume the duties of ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. A van provided transportation to the local Department of Motor Vehicles where "a window was designated" to handle ID requests from PHC/ Stand Down participants. Participants were also offered breakfast and a catered lunch by J & S Cafeteria. Photo journalists recorded participant stories. Ms. Sawyer notes the participation of the Asheville Housing Authority which has established a priority for victims of domestic abuse and persons experiencing chronic homelessness; and a housing counselor from the community's Housing First support team created as part of the 10-Year Plan implementation.

Veterans were given arm bracelets upon entry identifying their veteran status and escorted to a section of the gymnasium reserved for VA-provided services that included health screening, primary care, podiatry, exams and glasses,employment assistance and benefits eligibility determinations. An optional pre-registration process made it possible for many veterans who attended the event to have their medical and benefit records already on hand though the VA's Haberfeld noted that " quite a few" were not previously in the VA system. She noted that a recent announcement by the VA of grant and per diem funding to First at Blue Ridge will create 20 beds for homeless veterans with substance abuse issues. A Vet's Place currently offers housing for 68 veterans, including 48 grant and per diem funded beds. In addition to the veterans only services, the veterans were able to access services available to all Connect participants.

New data has emerged from two recently released Census Bureau surveys providing further insight into rent burden for low income families.

The annual Survey of Market Absorption focuses on privately financed, non subsidized, unfurnished units in buildings with five or more units in permit issuing communities across the nation. How many units were completed, how quickly they rented ("were absorbed") and characteristics such as number of bedrooms and asking rents. The recently released 2006 Survey of Market Absorption shows that:

• Nationally, 117,200 units were completed in 2006, of which 58% were rented within 3 months.
• Of the 117,200 units, only 20,000 had asking rents of less than $750 per month. For these units, 75% were rented within 3 months ranging from a high of 93% in the Northeast where only 5% of the new units were located to a low of 61% in the West where 24% of the units were located.
• The 117,200 units included 3300- 0 bedroom; 42,900- 1 bedroom; 58,200-2 bedroom; and 12,700 3 bedroom or more.
• Median asking rent for the 0-bedroom was $1,150, exceeding the median asking rents for 1-bedroom ($923) and 2- bedroom ($1,075). 3 or more bedroom units had a median asking rent of $1,194.
• The median asking rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in the Northeast and West was 50% higher than in the Midwest and just over 25% higher than in the South.
• The 117,200 units represented approximately 41% of the total 283,500 units in buildings with five units or more completed in 2006. Of the remaining units, 36% or nearly 103,000 were condominiums or cooperatives and 19%, about 52,700 units, were subsidized or tax credit units.

The American Community Survey is designed to provide current demographic, housing, social, and economic information about America's communities each year. Searchable ACS data are available for over 6,000 geographic areas with a population of 65,000 or more, including 783 counties, 436 congressional districts, 621 metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, all 50 states, and the District of Columbia. The 2006 ACS Social, Economic and Housing Profiles released by the U.S. Census Bureau last week shows that 46% of the nation's renters spent at least 30% of their gross income on rent and utility costs. 25% of renters actually spent 50% or more of their gross income on housing costs. Among the states, Florida had the highest percentage of renter occupied units spending 30% or more of household income on rent and utilities ( 52%) followed closely by California ( 51.9%) and Massachusetts at 48.6%. Wyoming had the smallest percentage of renter units paying 30% or more of household income (30%). Median gross rent natonally was reported at $763/ month. The 2006 survey is the first time that the estimates include populations living in group quarters.

Charleston (WV) Gazette, September 16, 2007:

. . . Can you imagine a plan that actually gets homeless people off of the streets and into gainful employment? Philip Mangano, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, traveled to West Virginia last week to encourage Mountain State cities to draft 10-year proposals to accomplish just that.

. . . Every city that has evaluated the public cost of its homeless has been shocked by the price, sometimes as high as $155,000 a year per person. Solutions, by contrast, cost between $13,000 and $25,000 a year per person. Simply sending police to chase homeless people away doesn't work, but demoralizes officers and takes them from other duties.

. . . Mangano praised Gov. Joe Manchin and the city of Huntington for working on this issue. More West Virginia cities and counties should join this energetic and sensible push.

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