HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT. "Success will benefit everyone," states "A Journey Home," Hartford's new 10-Year Plan unveiled this week by Mayor Eddie Perez and regional planning partners at the Stewart B. McKinney Shelter in Hartford. The Plan sets a goal of building regional community awareness - through the Capitol Region Council of Governments and the deepened commitment of business - that homelessness is a problem is to be solved. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, invited for the announcement, joined William Farley, Chair, Hartford Commission to End Homelessness, and President, Connecticut Region, CB Richard Ellis; Mary Tomolonius, First Selectman, Town of Canton; Richard Hines, Avon Town Council and Capitol Region Council of Governments Representative, Hartford Commission to End Homelessness; Michael Painter, Minority Leader, Hartford City Council; Calixto Torres, Assistant Majority Leader, Hartford City Council; Mary Ellen Kowalewski, Director of Community Development, Capitol Region Council of Governments; Susan Rottner, President, Bank of America Connecticut and original Plan Co-chair; Carol Walter, Executive Director, Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, and member of the Hartford Commission to End Homelessness; Judy Vasquez, Director of Housing Services, Community Renewal Team and Co-Chair of the Hartford Continuum of Care; and David Martineau, Program Director, Mercy Housing and Shelter and Co-Chair of the Hartford Continuum of Care. The partners are pictured here during the event.

"Today Hartford starts 'A Journey Home' for all of its citizens, housed and homeless alike," stated Director Mangano. "With this 10-Year Plan, Mayor Perez and the regional partners and the business community are committing to a strategy that invests in the ending of homelessness."

"When the Dutch Traders founded Hartford in the 1630's, they built a fort and called it the 'House of Hope.' Since then, we have provided a gateway to a new life in the new world for generations of families and we cannot and shall not allow them to be homeless. If we are to be 'New England's Rising Star' we need to be that beacon of light so that men, women, children can look to it and know that they will have a clean and affordable place to live," stated Mayor Perez in his introduction to the Plan. The Mayor noted that Hartford, the insurance capital of the nation, had responded to the winter death of a man who was homeless with the opening of the McKinney Shelter twenty years ago, a shelter Director Mangano indicated in his remarks would serve in the future as the museum of homelessness in Hartford.

The Plan will now move into implementation, working with regional partners to garner expanded support from CROG and business and incorporating best practices. Over the past year the 18 members of the Hartford Commission to End Homelessness and over 150 volunteers worked with representatives from business, local and state government, municipalities, non-profits, and religious organizations to develop the new plan. Four basic principles of the Plan are: focus on persons who are chronically homeless; awareness of existing services available and streamline access to these services; concentration of resources on programs that offer measurable results; and a goal to end homelessness.

The Plan calls for development of over 2,100 supportive housing units, including almost 1,300 for persons who are chronically homelessness, as well as adoption of Project Homeless Connect. Hartford's inaugural Project Connect is scheduled for December's 2007 National Project Homeless Connect Week. Other key provisions of the new Plan call for creation of new, innovative partnerships between government agencies, for-profit/non-profit developers, faith- based groups, landlords, social service providers and property managers with the goal of providing more affordable and supportive housing. Employment is also emphasized, with a goal of increasing economic opportunities by improving access to workforce assistance. Working with state and federal agencies, CT Works, shelters, transitional housing and supportive housing programs, the goal is to streamline the process for eligible homeless residents to access work opportunities or receive disability benefits.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. Leading 10-Year Plan innovators from across the nation gathered last week in Los Angeles to create partnership with key jurisdictional officials for the City and County of Los Angeles. The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, continuing the convening of innovators begun with its revitalization in 2002 through national focus groups (on families, rural homelessness, and housing), state interagency council leadership colloquies, regional city and county 10-Year Plan focus groups, and more recently through its two annual National Leadership Summits, convened the Los Angeles meeting in partnership with Common Ground, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the office of Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Zev Yaroslavsky. Pictured here are: Director Mangano, Supervisors Board Chair Yaroslavsky, and Atlanta 10-Year Plan Champion and business leader Horace Sibley.

"For more than five years, innovators have been gathering around the country in these meetings focused on change, as part of the Council's commitment to rapid dissemination of innovation and results," stated Council Executive Director Philip Mangano. "Every aspect of our life has evolved - how we communicate, how we produce documents, how we retrieve information, our access to resources. Homelessness should not be immune to the innovation that will evolve our response. If we're still doing what first responders did twenty years ago, shame on us. This discussion focuses on the changes necessary to end the homelessness of our poorest neighbors in political will and public sector response, in better research and data, in innovative ideas."

Partners gathered in Los Angeles at the invitation of County officials to share strategies and lessons learned in partnership, innovation, and investment that are producing results in more than thirty 10-Year Plan cities across the nation in the form of decreases in street and chronic homelessness. Los Angeles County Supervisors Board Chair Zev Yaroslavsky and Deputy Flora Gil Krisoloff organized and hosted the meeting, which began with a visit to Skid Row. Innovators were welcomed by Board Chair Yaroslavsky, as well as Common Ground's Founder Rosanne Haggerty and Council Director Mangano. City and County partners heard from Hennepin County, Minnesota Commissioner Gail Dorfman, who addressed regional solutions to homelessness, and University of California/Los Angeles Professor and longtime homeless advocate Gary Blasi, who recently completed the City's report on the Safer Cities policing initiative on Skid Row.

The role of business leaders and the leveraging of private sector resources in 10-Year Plans was described by Champion Horace Sibley. Other State and City leaders - including California Department of Social Services Director John Wagner, San Francisco Department of Public Health/Direct Access to Housing Director Marc Trotz, New York City Commissioner of Homeless Services Robert Hess, and Denver 10-Year Plan Manager Jamie Van Leeuwen identified the results-oriented strategies used by their jurisdictions to achieve new outcomes. Pictured here are: Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca, Director Mangano, and Supervisors Board Chair Yaroslavsky.

Pathways to Housing Founder Sam Tsemberis, whose development of the Housing First strategy has galvanized new housing outcomes across the country, described the creation of his consumer-centric strategy. New York's Common Ground, which developed its Street to Home initiative based on Pathways and the United Kingdom's Rough Sleepers Initiative (see related story), was represented by S2H Director Becky Kanis.

Innovators who gathered in partnership with City and County officials included City of Norfolk Office to End Homelessness Director Katie Kitchin and Seattle Downtown Emergency Service Center Executive Director Bill Hobson. Fannie Mae Director of Homeless Initiatives Joe Weisbord and Corporation for Supportive Housing, Director of Intergovernmental Policy Carol Wilkins also participated. Council Team Leader Michael German and Regional Coordinator Eduardo Cabrera participated.

Representing the County and City of Los Angeles were: Bryce Yokomizo, Deputy Chief Executive Officer; Sheila Shima, Deputy Chief Executive Officer; Kathy House, Branch Manager, CEO, Service Integration Branch; Garrison Smith, Homeless Coordinator, CEO, Service Integration Branch; Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca; Dr. Marvin Southard, Director, Department of Mental Health; Dr. Bruce Chernof, Director, Department of Health Services; Philip Browning, Director, Department of Public Social Services; Alisa Katz, Chief Deputy to Supervisor Yaroslavsky; Flora Gil Krisiloff, Deputy on Homelessness to Supervisor Yaroslavsky; Louisa Ollague, Deputy on Homelessness to Supervisor Molina; Martha Aviles, Deputy to Supervisor Molina; Miriam Long, Deputy on Homelessness to Supervisor Burke; Nick Ippolito, Deputy on Homelessness to Supervisor Knabe; and Helen Berberian, Deputy on Homelessness to Supervisor Antonovich.

Representing the City and other key partners were Leslie Wise, Homeless Policy Coordinator to Mayor Villaraigosa, City of Los Angeles; Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority; Elise Buik, President and Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Greater Los Angeles; and Andrea Ordin, Commissioner, Los Angeles Police Commission, City of Los Angeles.

Pictured here are: Santa Monica Homeless Czar Ed Edelman, Atlanta Champion Horace Sibley, PFM, LA County Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky, Rosanne Haggerty, New York City Commissioner Rob Hess, and Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom

Also in Los Angeles last week, Council Director Mangano and Supervisor Yaroslavsky took time from the Innovators Summit to welcome participants at the PATH National Mall Summit, a gathering focused on integration of resources in one-stop settings, such as that described in last week's e-news story on the 20th anniversary of the Cambridge, MA Multi-Service Center and in whose creation and innovation Director Mangano's role was recognized. The one- stop has evolved further both in the Project Homeless Connect innovation and Stand-Down models. PATH CEO Joel John Roberts welcomed attendees at the event, which included remarks by Department of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs Assistance Programs Mark Johnston.

PATH organized the event which brought together practitioners from around the country. CEO Roberts' efforts in Los Angeles and beyond were recognized and applauded by Director Mangano, as well as the leadership in the County of Board Chair Yaroslavsky. Director Mangano also sounded a cautionary note, asking those assembled to ensure that the resources committed to the Mall initiative did not compromise or burden the needed resources for housing and services. Pictured here is Director Mangano at the Mall Summit.

WASHINGTON, DC. Twenty years after Congress enacted and President Ronald Reagan signed into law the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act programs, the future of the programs and the lessons learned in the twenty years since their passage were the focus of hearings convened by the House Financial Services Committee last week. A wide range of federal and state officials, as well as representatives of the non-profit provider and advocacy sectors, appeared before the Committee chaired by Representative Barney Frank (MA). Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee Chair Maxine Waters (CA) (pictured here) presided over the hearing. Witnesses acknowledged both the timeliness of reauthorization efforts and common goals of program consolidation, housing emphasis, flexibility, and performance in current legislative proposals.

In her remarks, Chairwoman Waters noted that she sees preventing and ending homelessness as priorities for her work, and pointed out that hearings before the Committee 25 years before, when it was under the leadership of Chair Henry B. Gonzalez, had led to the federal legislative response.

Committee Member Representative Julia Carson, whose Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (HEARTH - HR 840) is also before the Committee, was unable to attend due to health reasons. However, in a prepared statement she noted: "Today's hearing affirms that working to end homelessness is a mission taken very seriously by this Congress." In describing HR 840, she observed: "It addresses the concerns of diverse communities with distinct needs but one goal- to end homelessness."

Senators Jack Reed (RI) and Wayne Allard (CO) are sponsors of the Senate's Community Partnership to End Homelessness proposal (S. 1518) and opened last week's hearing. Senator Reed noted the close bipartisan effort that he and Senator Allard have carried forward over several years of crafting proposals and seeking input from all sectors, especially identifying the role of the Senators' key staff, Kara Stein and Tewana Wilkerson, respectively. Senator Reed observed that much had been learned in the twenty years since initial passage and that efforts had been directed to incorporating lessons learned and best practices.

Senator Allard noted that "homeless people are our country's most at-risk population . . ." and invoked testimony on one of the themes that has emerged as a consensus element - consolidation of the HUD programs - as provided by Senator Banking Committee member Senator Mel Martinez (FL) during the Committee's recent markup process of S. 1518: "Our colleague and former HUD Secretary Mel Martinez described it very well during the Banking Committee's markup of the bill. He described how as HUD Secretary he had grantees confused by the various programs, not sure how to apply and for which programs they were even eligible. It was under his leadership that HUD also began to advocate for a consolidation of the programs . . . Quite simply, consolidation will reduce administrative burdens and maximize flexibility. " Senator Allard stressed the importance of results in federal investment, noting: " . . . Communities that demonstrate results in preventing and ending homelessness will be rewarded. When using scarce taxpayer dollars we must always stay focused on what is being achieved with the money."

Connecticut State Senator John McKinney, the son of the late Representative Stewart B. McKinney for whom the programs are named, as well as Senate Minority Leader and Ranking Member of the Select Committee on Housing, also testified last week (see related stories). Additional witnesses were: Maria Foscarinis, Executive Director, National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty; Deborah DeSantis, President and Chief Executive Officer, Corporation for Supportive Housing; Barbara Anderson, Executive Director, Haven House Services; Pittre Walker, Homeless Liaison, Caddo Parish School Board; Amy Weintraub, Executive Director, The Covenant House, Charleston, WV; Jessica Vasquez, Executive Director, New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Linda Young, Executive Director, Welcome House of Northern Kentucky; and Jeremy Rosen, Executive Director, National Policy and Advocacy Council on Homelessness.

WASHINGTON, DC. Spanning the 20-year commitment of the McKinney Act, Connecticut State Senator John McKinney, the son of the late Representative Stewart B. McKinney for whom the federal homeless initiatives are named, as well as Senate Minority Leader and Ranking Member of the Select Committee on Housing, testified last week in the House Financial Services Committee hearing on McKinney-Vento reauthorization. Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee Chair Maxine Waters presided over the hearing.

Senator McKinney, introduced to Committee Members by Connecticut Representative Christopher Shays who holds the House seat vacated by the late Representative McKinney, told Committee members: "I am here today because I believe, as my father believed, and as I know all of you believe, that every American deserves and has a right to a roof over their head at night; to a home." Senator McKinney described the results in ending homelessness that have resulted from Connecticut's focus on permanent supportive housing, and urged Committee members to preserve the 30% set-aside for housing currently mandated by the Congress, as well as the current HUD definition of homelessness. He urged those present to reauthorize the programs and "campaign vigorously to end homelessness." Senator McKinney was visiting the Committee room for the first time since his late father's tenure.

Senator McKinney addressed key elements under discussion in the reauthorization process, speaking both to the current Congressionally-directed 30% housing setaside and proposed expansions to the HUD definition of homelessness. " . . . regarding the permanent housing set- aside, Congress has long directed HUD to dedicate at least 30% of funds appropriated for permanent supportive housing. It would be a mistake to remove this set-aside. Legislation reauthorizing McKinney- Vento should codify the 30% set aside because supportive housing has been highly successful in providing assistance to homeless individuals. Organizations like Operation Hope in Fairfield, Connecticut or St. Luke's Lifeworks in Stamford, Connecticut and organizations like them make incredible use of these funds. Maintaining the set-aside will help meet the critical needs of people, including those disabled by chronic health conditions or long term substance abuse problems. It will also help families with the greatest challenges to stability, who often are not receiving help from any other federal programs."

"Second, I want to address the definition of 'homeless,' which some have proposed broadening to include individuals and families who are living in doubled-up situations and motels, among other circumstances. While it is certainly admirable to want to address all people who are in need, I am concerned this could lead to thinning of resources. Changing the definition could divert resources from those with disabilities who are least likely to seek help or fend for themselves if many more people are competing for the resources provided by the homeless assistance grants programs. I don't think any of us want to see the most troubled and sick homeless get pushed to the back of the line."

During this week's visit to Connecticut for the unveiling of the Hartford regional 10-Year Plan with Mayor Eddie Perez, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, invited to join the Mayor for the launch of Hartford's implementation process at the Stewart B. McKinney Shelter, visited Senator McKinney at the Connecticut State Capitol. The officials are pictured here. Noting the progress in creating permanent supportive housing opportunity across Connecticut that Senator McKinney had referenced in his House testimony, the officials also discussed the legacy of the McKinney-Vento programs and new intergovernmental partnerships in the nation. Senator McKinney pledged his continuing support of local, state, and national efforts to end homelessness.

The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness was the only new Federal agency created by the McKinney Act in 1987 to coordinate the activities of the Federal agencies. Following a six-year dormancy, the Council was revitalized by the Bush Administration in 2002. The inaugural meeting of the revitalized Council in the White House on July 22, 2002 commemorated the 15th anniversary of the McKinney- Vento legislation and recommitted the federal government to the resolution of homelessness. Following are key provisions of the original law concerning its work. Twentieth anniversary events this summer included a "Compassion in Action" Roundtable convened by the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives and another in the Council's series of International Colloquies on Homelessness representing multi- lateral partnership with the United Kingdom and Canada in national government initiatives on homelessness.

MINNEAPOLIS/HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA. Over 1,800 persons experiencing homelessness were welcomed on October 1 at the fifth Minneapolis/Hennepin County Project Homeless Connect by Hennepin County, Minnesota Commissioner Gail Dorfman and City Council Member Barbara Johnson, along with more than 800 volunteers on hand to extend mobile hospitality to consumers at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

This event saw a large increase in volunteers -increasing from 500 at the last event to over 800 on October 1 - as well as recording 60% of volunteers as returning partners. One volunteer from the Unitarian Church, after successfully securing donations of 2,500 pairs of socks, reasoned that she could also seek 100 volunteers for the event. She was successful in her recruitment, and the church closed for the day, with pastors and staff as well as congregation members volunteering at the event. The church congregation also heard sermons on Project Homeless Connect before and after the event.

Organizers, who have previously made a point of identifying resources and strategies to lower barriers on-site, increased their "day-of" resources with a successful request to Thrivent Foundation which contributed $25,000. Half of the resources were used at the event to increase access and reduce barriers, and half will be distributed after the event for the same purposes. The day-of funds supported a range of needs, including dentures, IDs, and birth certificates. Post-event resources will provide anything from large-size clothes for interviews to a bed for a pregnant woman, to follow-up dental and eye exams and bus passes. Kelbar Catering served over 1700 meals, and Appletree Dental doubled the number of dentists and dental services offered. Over 1700 bus passes were distributed to assist with services. REI and Hilton Hotels were other partners, along with Easter Seals.

University of St. Catherine Nursing School sent 60 volunteer nursing students to provide primary care and triage. Two optometrists and assistants did eye exams and evaluations on site, and Lenscrafters fitted 110 pair of prescription eyeglasses for everyone who needed them at the event and also gave away reading glasses.

In the area of education and employment, 16 people enrolled in GED classes, 85 enrolled in Adult Education, and 45 children enrolled in Head Start. Over 40 people entered job skills training, and 45 applied for employment.

Minneapolis and Hennepin County first committed to Project Homeless Connect to spur development of their 100-day 10- Year Planning process. With the adoption of their Plan, they also created "InReach" teams to visit shelters to create a path to housing. Since the adoption of the 10- Year Plan, over 190 individuals have been placed in housing, making the availability of this central antidote to homelessness completely mobile and consumer-centric.

NEWARK, NJ. From its origins in the United States with the founding of the first YMCA in 1851 in Boston to the "natural resource" that Y residences represent for special populations in need, last week's YMCA national Conference on Housing & Residence in New Jersey brought YMCA partnerships in housing into focus. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, invited to keynote the conference, challenged the assembled executive directors, residence directors, program operators, and others to draw on the Y's history as a housing resource to achieve the goal of ending homelessness, including by establishing new capacity to serve veterans.

Director Mangano encouraged a new initiative that would partner YMCAs with national efforts to reduce and end homelessness among veterans and would be consistent with the Y's historic roots of meeting the needs of those new in the community, whether those moving from farms to factories in its earliest history or more recently in supporting new populations. Director Mangano pointed out that the VA makes more resources available to homeless people than other federal agency and that there are opportunities for Y residential programs to partner with the VA to support returning veterans, veterans at risk, and currently homeless veterans as a "first line of defense" in communities, offering Y's the opportunity to use both their own residences and other assets to meet this community need.

Director Mangano was welcomed to the conference by Conference Sponsor Kevin Trapani, CEO and President of The Redwoods Group, and Conference Chair Deborah Bowles of the Y of Greater New York (pictured left). Director Mangano acknowledged the important ongoing commitment of YMCA consultant and conference point person Dick Foot (pictured top), who formerly was Executive Director of the Cambridge, MA YMCA. Director Mangano noted his own history as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance in working with more than a dozen Y residences in Massachusetts, including the original Boston Y - to create transitional capacity for men and women who were often working, in recovery, and receiving support services and ready to leave emergency shelters and achieve stability in the community using emergency shelter funds.

Of 975 Ys across the country, 125 now maintain some form of housing, including Single Room Occupancy, permanent supportive housing, family programs, and programs for special populations including persons who are homeless. Y housing currently serves about 19,000 persons.

Conference sponsor The Redwoods Group is a privately held provider of specialized property and casualty insurance underwriting, risk management, and claims adjustment services, which has focused its business on the YMCA for almost twenty years, in addition to two other entities. Interagency Council Team Leader Michael German also participated in the conference.

With this issue, the e-news continues its series of recent remarks from elected officials committed to ending homelessness, and the Council continues its commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the McKinney Act. Connecticut State Senator and Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, son of the late Representative Stewart B. McKinney, whose commitment on the issue of homelessness led his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1987 to name for him newly passed federal legislation creating the federal response to homelessness and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

"My father was among the earliest and staunchest advocates for the homeless. He watched with great concern in the early 1980s as a flawed and fragmented policy toward homelessness started to unravel. At the time, our country really didn't have a federal policy to deal with the problem of homelessness. As a nation, we thought then, that state and local governments were better equipped to address the issue. And we didn't really understand the underlying social and economic problems that were causing substantial growth in the homeless population.

"Local and state resources funded soup kitchens, shelters and public service announcements. But, while these efforts helped people cope with being homeless, they rarely helped anyone escape homelessness. We were, in effect, treating the symptoms, but not the disease.

"Over the past 20 years, the face of homelessness has changed. It is no longer only single men or the mentally ill who are sleeping on streets or inhabiting emergency shelters. Today, it is all too common to see mothers and their children - entire families - arrive at an emergency shelter in need of a place to sleep.

"Another dramatic change has occurred over the last 20 years: we no longer need simply to manage homelessness, we can end it.

"In my home state of Connecticut, we are doing just that - we are working to end homelessness, not just manage it.

"Today we know that people who are homeless need a helping hand out of poverty and distress and into housing stability. One of the most promising solutions to achieve this is supportive housing. For many, the combination of affordability, together with support, is the right recipe for personal success.

" . . .I call on this Congress to Reauthorize the McKinney-Vento Act. Do it in a generous and responsible way. And then don't stop there.

"As Stewart McKinney did 20 years ago, campaign vigorously to end homelessness.

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) has announced over $190 million in awards for treatment for special populations and for targeted capacity. The Department is under the leadership of Secretary and current United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Chair Michael Leavitt.

Nearly $159 million was announced for the Targeted Capacity Expansion Program for Substance Abuse Treatment and HIV/AIDS Services, in 67 grants over five years in more than 25 states to provide coordinated substance abuse treatment and HIV/AIDS services targeting African American, Hispanic, and other racial or ethnic minority communities affected by the epidemics of substance abuse and HIV/AIDS.

All of the grantees will offer rapid HIV testing, through on-site testing or by referral to a licensed partner agency or health department. Along with substance abuse treatment and HIV counseling and testing, these Targeted Capacity Expansion Program projects offer health education, referrals, case management, and testing for sexually transmitted infections, hepatitis and tuberculosis. In addition, the program funds outreach and pretreatment for people living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS related to their substance abuse.

$24 million in 16 awards over three years has been awarded for Targeted Capacity Expansion grants to address gaps in substance abuse services or to increase the ability of communities to help specific populations - such as justice- involved populations and those with co- occurring disorders - or geographic areas with serious, emerging substance abuse problems. Awards include resources for grass-roots organizations and unmet need.

$11.2 Million in eight awards over four years is directed to community-based organizations for Peer- to-Peer Recovery Support Services Grants. These services are designed to help prevent relapse among people in recovery, promote timely re- entry into treatment if relapse occurs, and promote sustained recovery and an enhanced quality of life.

Community Bridges, Inc., of Phoenix received a Peer-to-Peer award which will provide homeless individuals with outreach, engagement, and peer support through treatment and assistance with accessing other support services, such as health care, housing, employment, and a relapse prevention program. Women in New Recovery, of Mesa, Arizona will operate Our Common Welfare, a peer recovery support services program, which will promote sustained recovery from alcohol and drug addiction among more than 1,000 individuals residing in local recovery and halfway housing programs.

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