WASHINGTON, DC. With both the White House and Congress supporting the independent status of the Council and the establishment of independent offices, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness moved this week to a new office address, along with a new email address.

After more than three years of the generous hospitality of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in providing office space and administrative support under both former Secretary Mel Martinez and current Secretary and Council Chair Alphonso Jackson, the Council has established new offices.

We are currently in those new offices. Here are the details:

TELEPHONE: 202/708-4663 (202/708-HOME) (This number remains the same.) Voice mail for USICH phones will be operational by Friday.

MAILING ADDRESS: NEW! 409 Third Street SW, Suite 310, Washington, DC 20024

FAX: 202/708-1216 (This number remains the same.)

EMAIL: NEW! Key addresses:

Executive Director Philip Mangano: Philip.F.Mangano@usich.gov

Deputy Director Mary Ellen Hombs: Maryellen.Hombs@usich.gov

Special Advisor Janna Jahn: Janna.Jahn@usich.gov

Administrative Officer Darren Franklin: Darren.G.Franklin@usich.gov

Note the change in the email addresses from hud.gov to usich.gov. For other email addresses, contact the Council's Administrative Officer.

WEB SITE: NEW! www.usich.gov

If you experience temporary glitches in communicating with the Council, here are some failsafe numbers that will get you to the Council's phones and FAXes: PHONE: 202/205-4796 and FAX: 202/205-4398.

If you have been emailing us, you have received a standard "out of the office" response. It is against federal protocol to forward email outside of an agency. The reality is that we are in our offices and continuing our work of partnership with federal agencies, states, and cities, as well as with all who are on the frontlines of ending homelessness.

We look forward to smooth communications and increasing opportunities to accomplish the mission.