WASHINGTON, DC. The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services this week convened the Third National Conference Addressing Homelessness for People with Mental Illnesses and/or Substance Use Disorders in Washington, DC. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) Administrator Charles Curie (pictured here) opened the conference and welcomed the attendees, stressing SAMHSA's work in its Programs and Principles Matrix focused on "A Life in the Community for Anyone: Building Resilience and Facilitating Recovery." The theme of the 2005 conference, attended by hundreds of providers, consumers, and officials, was "Preparing People for Change: Knowledge and Choice."

In a plenary session hosted by SAMHSA's Larry Rickards, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano (pictured below), invited to keynote the conference, told attendees, "In just the past several years we have developed more of the strategies needed to get the job done. We know that there are innovative ideas out there that will both end and prevent homelessness. We are ready to convert these 'once in a while successes' that end people's homelessness with housing, services and jobs. We're ready to see those rare, arduous miracles converted into every day, common experiences."

The goal of the conference was to engage care providers and consumers in an open and ongoing dialogue about individually tailored and effective services for the homeless community. Co-sponsors of the conference were the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, also part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of HHS.

WASHINGTON, DC. At this week's convening of "Preparing People For Change: Knowledge And Choice - The Third National Conference Addressing Homelessness for People with Mental Illnesses and/or Substance Use Disorders," Charles Curie, Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) presented Exemplary Program Awards to 12 awardees from across the nation, to identify and recognize programs that are using evidence- based and promising practices to serve individuals and families who are homeless and have mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders.

Awardees were rated on how they met seven criteria: use of one or more identified evidence-based or promising practices; linkages with or use of mainstream services/resources; positive client outcomes; evidence of addressing homelessness among individuals and families with mental illness and substance use disorders; homelessness prevention; consumer involvement; and culturally sensitive services and supports.

Programs recognized with awards were: Homeward Bound, Anchorage, Alaska; Project HOPE, Concord, California; El Hogar River City Community Homeless Program (RCCHP) and Turning Point Community Program's Homeless Intervention Program (HIP), Sacramento, California; Fellowship House's Community Housing Program, South Miami, Florida; Helping Other People Through Empowerment, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland; Maryland SSI Outreach Project, Baltimore, Maryland; Worcester Homeless Families Program (WHFP), Worcester, Massachusetts; Project Outreach Team (PORT), Ann Arbor, Michigan; 350 Lafayette Transitional Living Community (The 350 TLC), Center for Urban Community Services, Inc. (CUCS), New York, New York; Albert and Mildred Dreitzer Women and Children's Treatment Center and Families United Supportive Housing (FUSH), Programs of Palladia, Inc.. New York, New York; Homeless Outreach Program at Southeast, Inc., Mobile Psychiatric Unit and Project Liaison, Columbus, Ohio; and The Neighborhood Living Project (NLP), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

WASHINGTON, DC. Federal partners and State teams are in the final stages of preparation for convening next week's Federal Policy Academy on "Improving Access to Mainstream Services for Families with Children Experiencing Homelessness." Federal partners for the ninth Policy Academy, which will convene in Anaheim, California, are the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, and the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, and Veterans Affairs. State Teams will attend from California, Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, Montana, Rhode Island, and Utah.

The intended objectives for the Policy Academy process include assisting state and local policymakers to develop an Action Plan intended to improve access to mainstream health and human services and employment opportunities that are coordinated with housing for persons who are experiencing homelessness; creating and/or reinforcing relationships among the Governor's office, State Legislators, key program administrators, and stakeholders from the public and private sectors; providing an environment conducive to the process of strategic decision-making; assisting State and local policymakers in identifying issues or areas of concern that may result in a formal request for technical assistance.

In all, fifty-five States and Territories have participated in at least one Homeless Policy Academy. Of these, forty-nine have submitted draft Action Plans itemizing strategies to help the homeless in their State or Territory access mainstream services.

WASHINGTON, DC. More than 20 U.S. cities are making plans to participate in National Project Homeless Connect Day on December 8. During the inaugural national event, which was commissioned by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, community volunteers, government agencies, nonprofits, faith-based organizations and businesses across the country will reach out to their homeless neighbors to offer a variety of immediate services, access to shelter, housing information, and benefit assistance.

The technology underlying the National Day spontaneously emerged in communities across the country in response to Hurricane Katrina. "People intuitively knew what to do to help those made homeless by Katrina," said Council Director Philip Mangano. "Raleigh, Phoenix, Fort Worth, Des Moines - wherever you went, communities were creating one-stop service centers that were designed to take care of people's immediate needs and to link them to services and housing. The same community spirit, evidenced in a fusion of political and civic will, will repeat itself on the National Day."

National Project Homeless Connect Day is named after the successful event created in San Francisco. Project Homeless Connect was created in October 2004 by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom who wanted to do more to reach people living on the streets. To date, San Francisco's "one-stop-shop" event, which is held every other month, has brought together 6,800 people experiencing homelessness with over 11,000 community volunteers. More than 600 individuals have moved from the streets into available shelter beds and stabilization rooms. "If we engage people in a kind and respectful manner," said Alex Tourk, San Francisco's Project Connect organizer, "we can make great progress getting them inside and linked to services."

In the last PHC held in San Francisco on October 18, 1,274 volunteers assisted 1,320 homeless clients. Of those, 137 individuals moved from the streets into shelters and stabilization rooms and referrals were made to substance abuse and mental and primary health treatment. Here's the range of services offered and the number of eprsons served: included: Housing Information / Referral ( 267); Medical Care (285); Behavioral Health Counseling and Referral (82); Vision Care / Glasses (200); Benefits Support / Counseling (230); Legal Assistance (232); Employment Services (58); Massage Therapy (55); Foot washing (78); Wheelchair Repair / Replacement (11); and free Phone calls (436).

Other cities are already starting to adapt the model. In recent weeks, Project Connect events were held in Long Beach, California and New York City. "It was truly inspiring to see so many dedicated New Yorkers come together to help individuals connect with vital services," said Becky Kanis of Common Ground who organized the event along with the Times Square Alliance, a neighborhood business association. 200 volunteers assisted 124 individuals with housing advice and assistance, shelter referrals, access to Medicaid, food stamps and other benefits, medical and dental assessments, and drug treatment.

The December 8 National Day was commissioned by USICH to support growing interest among 10-Year Plan communities in establishing their own version of Project Homeless Connect. To date more than 25 communities have sent representatives to San Francisco to gain first-hand experience with event organization and logistics.

Shannon West, Regional Homeless Services Coordinator for Southern Nevada, attended the October PHC in San Francisco. "The assessment process, array of providers and the availability of services -- although extremely vast and extremely well organized -- are easily replicable from community to community." West also commended San Francisco on its ability to engage the community via PHC. "It is truly a civic movement."

Most communities participating in the National Day plan to host their own version of Project Homeless Connect modified to meet local needs and priorities. Philadelphia's PHC, for example, will include a public awareness component in addition to the traditional services component. Others have found creative ways to use the day to further 10-Year Plan goals and objectives. Chattanooga, Tennessee will host a planning session on permanent housing in support of their initiative to create 1400 units of permanent housing in the region by 2014. Quincy, Massachusetts plans to release a documentary on homelessness during a forum to build local awareness, a key component of their 10-Year Plan. Additional cities planning to participate include: Miami, San Jose, San Diego, Chicago, Denver, Portland, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Atlanta, Hollywood/West Hollywood, St. Louis, Tallahassee, Nashua, Dallas, and San Francisco.

Communities interested in sponsoring events in support of the December 8 National Day should contact USICH Special Advisor Janna Jahn at: 202- 708-4663 or anna.jahn@usich.gov. Information about Project Homeless Connect can be found on the USICH website at www.usich.gov.

WASHINGTON, DC. The House of Representatives this week voted overwhelmingly to allow the first round of U.S. military base closures and consolidations in a decade, opening the way for facilities across the country to start closing or realigning. The report of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) led by former United States Department of Veterans Affairs and United States Interagency Council Chair Anthony Principi now is almost certainly headed to final resolution in the next few weeks. Targeted facilities then would have six years to close their doors and shift forces as required under the report.

Local homeless planning partners in all sectors will be interested in the opportunities presented by the closure and reuse process. The Base Closure Community Redevelopment and Homeless Assistance Act (1994 Base Closure Act) addresses the use of military base property as surplus federal property on military bases. The Act requires consideration of the needs of persons experiencing homelessness during the redevelopment process.

DOD maintains a web site of resources that can assist a variety of community partners in understanding and participating in the upcoming process, including accommodations to the needs of homeless people in the community. DOD's Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) is the primary source for assisting communities that are adversely impacted by such changes, including base closures or realignments, base expansions, and contract or program cancellations. To assist affected communities, OEA manages and directs the Defense Economic Adjustment Program, and coordinates the involvement of other Federal agencies. Under the 1994 Base Closure Community Redevelopment and Homeless Assistance Act, DOD, in a joint process with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), also plays a role in the community's base reuse planning process and future homeless assistance.

WASHINGTON, DC. WITH THIS ISSUE, the e- newsletter continues its focus on news about 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 recent Federal Register notices of suitable and available land and buildings.

The October 28 listing of suitable and available property contains a listing of Federal buildings and other real property determined to be suitable and available for use. Buildings are available in Idaho and Michigan.

In the September 13 full Council meeting, a key federal housing policy development regarding the Title V program and in support of the Administration's goal of ending chronic homelessness was announced. United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) Dr. Michael O'Grady announced to Council members that the Department, responding both to the Administration's goal and the needs of communities, will in the future consider permanent supportive housing as an eligible use for federal surplus property under the McKinney-Vento Title V program.

The Department will publish a notice for review and comment this fall to operationalize the change. The policy change will reverse the approach in place since the creation of the property program in 1987, under which eligible uses for surplus property have been emergency shelter, transitional programs, and supportive services. According to HHS, this policy change will expand the options available to communities to better meet the needs of disabled individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness.

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.