Last week Stark County, Ohio leaders came together with Canton, Massillon, and Alliance, Ohio leaders to move forward regional solutions to end chronic homelessness. "The public launch of this new Stark County Interagency Council on Homelessness says a lot about how we can collectively work together to address tough problems that face the neediest in our community, "stated Canton Mayor Janet Weir- Creighton. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano (pictured here at center), invited to keynote the kickoff event, joined Alliance Mayor Toni Middleton, Stark County Commissioner Jane Vignos, Canton Mayor Janet-Weir Creighton, Alliance Department of Planning and Development Director Vincent Marion, and Massillon Community Development Director Aane Aaby.

Citing cost effectiveness as a goal in preventing and ending homelessness in the County, the cities of Massillon and Alliance, as well as the County, adopted resolutions in support of the new approach. Massillon Mayor Francis H. Cicchinell Jr. hailed the regional approach, observing, "Homelessness is a problem that is not confined to any one community. I am pleased to be a part of a regional approach working to end homelessness in Stark County."

"Through the deliberations of an expansive and inclusive group of stakeholders - plans are created that shape the common sense of planful partnerships, innovative initiatives, and strategic solutions. You point to it yourselves in your planning materials for today's event, when you identify the 'espirit de corps' that will be a building block for your efforts," observed Director Mangano. Partners in the new Council include mental health and substance abuse treatment providers, hospitals, philanthropy, faith-based organizations, United Way, the local housing authority, and law enforcement.

While in Ohio, Director Mangano also met with Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell and members of the Cleveland committee spearheading the development of a 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.

As Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato convened county leaders and officials from Pittsburgh, McKeesport, and Penn Hills for "End Homelessness Now! Creating New Partnerships for Change" last week, the Allegheny County Homeless Alliance went where no other county has gone before to address homelessness: the search for the future. Employing the internationally developed Future Search Conference Methodology to move forward on their 10-Year Plan, regional partners at the 3-day convening heard from invited guest United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano (pictured here with County Executive Dan Onorato), who applauded the county's use of a technology that seeks to "confront the past, the present and the future of homelessness."

County Executive Onorato stated, "A 10-year plan to eliminate homelessness is a goal we all support," and pledged to seek investment resources to back up the forthcoming plan. The Future Search Conference process was designed in 1982 to develop new models for collaboration in organizations and has since evolved to improving whole systems through a structured 5-step procedure, which is designed to encourage people to think globally, focus on the future, identify common ground and make public commitments to action.

With opening remarks by Lieutenant Governor Loren Leman and the presentation of a proclamation jointly signed by the Mayors of North Pole, Fairbanks, and Fairbanks North Star Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Jim Whitaker recently convened the First Interior Alaska Summit on Homelessness in Fairbanks. The proclamation further emphasized collaborative efforts in stating that each would "work to ensure policies and resources [to] support the elimination of homelessness in Interior Alaska."

Partnership was in evidence for the Summit, which was hosted by the Interior Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness and the Interior Alaska Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Partners for the initiative include the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Mental Health Trust Authority, Department of Health and Social Services, Tanana Chiefs Conference, and other representatives from local business, government, and faith-based non-profit organizations. The Summit included a focus on the consumer voice, which provided a platform for consumers to discuss solutions to homelessness.

Initiatives to end Alaskan homelessness have been moving forward over the last few months, with the Interior Summit following the July inaugural meeting of the Alaska State Interagency Council on Homelessness which invited U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano to open the meeting. The new Council was created by an Executive Order of Governor Frank Murkowski, who stated at the signing ceremony: "Homelessness is one of the most challenging domestic issues facing the United States as a nation. Alaska is no exception. Alaska's Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Task Force found housing to be the most commonly identified challenge facing those in need."

. . . that the Administration's five-year expansion initiative for health centers announced in last week's e-news with the October 1 release of a $99 million funding announcement for year four of the initiative, is expected to support more than 160 awards for new "access points" to bring additional primary health care services to needy communities, including health care services for homeless people.

. . . that there are currently 165 Health Care for the Homeless programs across the country funded through the Consolidated Health Centers program at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in the U.S Department of Health and Human Services.

. . . that the President's FY 05 budget request of $1.8 billion for Consolidated Health Centers includes a $218 million increase for the program. The increase is projected to support 332 new or expanded health center sites as part of the President's 5-year Health Centers Presidential Initiative to create or expand 1200 community health centers to serve an additional 6.1 million persons by 2006.

WITH THIS ISSUE, the e-newsletter focuses on remarks made at the kickoff of the Start County, Ohio, Interagency Council on Homelessness last week (see related story) by U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano and Co-Chair of the Dayton Montgomery County, Ohio, Leadership Team.

"We believe the planning process we will engage in over the next year will help develop new ideas for an old problem," stated Co-Chair Deborah Feldman. "We need new resources and new approaches to prevent and reduce homelessness in our community. This will require the support and participation of every agency . . .as well as the involvement of elected officials, and business, neighborhood, and community leaders."

"We all know that a plan that will accomplish the mission begins and ends with political will. The endorsement and active support of the jurisdictional CEO's - whether mayors, county executives, city managers, or governors - their involvement brings to the table of homelessness the inclusive and expansive group of stakeholders needed to get the job done," stated Director Mangano. "You have that here in Dayton and Montgomery County. And we also know that critical to this planning process is social and business will. And your Leadership Council is brimming with that. So that makes today a good day in the City of Dayton and Montgomery County. In moving forward on this 10-year plan, your city and county officials are saying to every citizen, housed or homeless, that the quality of life in your city and county is going to improve."

WITH THIS ISSUE, the e-newsletter continues its focus on innovative initiatives achieving results around the country in ending chronic homelessness. Combining sobriety, economic self-sufficiency, and permanent housing, Urban Housing Solutions (UHS) of Nashville owns and operates 13 permanent housing developments for homeless individuals and families including four sober properties. The Nashville based non-profit has specialized in housing and support services for homeless people, individuals in recovery, and people with mental illness since 1991, designing communities to provide independent living in a drug- free environment. To be eligible for UHS, residents must be homeless, have an income below 50 percent of the area median income, pass a drug test, and be willing to comply with property rules.

UHS offers 600 affordable rental apartments throughout Nashville, and units are Section 8 approved and accessible by public transportation. The formula for UHS' success involves attention to behavior, consequences, and opportunity. Residents are held accountable for their behaviors that violate property rules, but at the same time, are offered opportunities for self-improvement and economic success. Education and employment services offered to help individuals move ahead include literacy, computer basics, web site design, videography, and money management. Micro-enterprises are encouraged and supported. "Bridges to Wealth" is USH' economic opportunity program, helping residents save for school, a car, a home, or a PC. By attending money management classes, participants earn a match to their savings.

UHS' "Journey of Hope" program offers 84 permanent housing opportunities to homeless individuals who are on the road to recovery. Residents in these apartments commit to securing employment, attending aftercare and participating in resident community meetings.

Initial assesment and orientation for potential participants occur at local treatment centers prior to the completion of the individual's rehabilitation program. Upon acceptance into the program participants are required to complete a rental application and sign a recovery contract and resident rules for sobriety. An Individual Life Recovery Plan is developed for each resident, and every participant visits a counselor regularly to track progress within the program. Since its inception in 1991, the program has assisted 80% of participants to achieve sobriety for at least 12 months.

WITH THIS ISSUE, the e-newsletter continues its focus on elements of the Title V federal surplus property and opportunities to secure resources for homeless programs under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Following are properties listed in the most recent Federal Register notice of suitable and available land and buildings.

BUILDINGS have been declared suitable and available surplus property in Colorado and Oklahoma.

Title V provides that state and local governments, as well as nonprofit organizations, are eligible to apply for land and buildings that have been determined by the federal government to be "suitable and available" for eligible uses to benefit homeless people. More than two dozen agencies of the federal government are included as "landholding" agencies that may have property.

If you missed last week's listing, there is still time to consider a possible use of available land or buildings. LAND has been declared suitable and available in California, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. BUILDINGS have been declared suitable and available surplus property in California, Nevada, and New York.