Each week the e-news of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness brings you highlights of the latest initiatives of federal, state, and local partners who are working to end chronic homelessness, along with profiles of innovation and multi-sector partnership. In the e-news you can find the latest headlines on Federal investments and initiatives, including encouraging the establishment of State Interagency Councils on Homelessness and City and County 10-Year Plans to end chronic homelessness. Since the e-news was launched in April, weekly readership has grown to reflect the many strategic partnerships forged across the nation, including those with government partners, non-profits, faith-based organizations, United Way, Chambers of Commerce, Downtown Business Associations, health care professionals, law enforcement, civic leaders, and others.

As we head toward a new year, the e-news is adopting a streamlined look that we hope will provide you with easier access to details about the initiatives and resources we cover each week. We'll also provide more links to web based resources for followup. The e-news will continue to inform readers about the latest federal developments and resources in support of the Administration's goal to end chronic homelessness, and to disseminate current information regarding initiatives and outcomes that are achieving results.

Effectively addressing reentry needs for men and women returning from prison is recognized as a key to homelessness prevention. The United States Department of Justice's Reentry Initiative, developed in partnership with multiple federal agencies including the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Education, Agriculture, Commerce, Interior, Veterans Affairs, and the Small Business Administration, Social Security Administration, and White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives, provides on- line resources to ensure that partners from all sectors can stay up to date with reentry developments, research, and innovations at the federal, state, and local level.

JUSTINFO, published by the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS), is a biweekly electronic newsletter with links to full-text documents. JUSTINFO and the NCJRS catalog (published bimonthly) cover new and emerging topics in the criminal justice field, including juvenile justice, victimization, substance abuse, law enforcement, courts, and corrections.

JUVJUST is an electronic newsletter published by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), which announces the arrival of new publications and other newsworthy events and offers updates on the latest juvenile justice information from OJJDP and the field.

With federal, state, and local government officials joined last week by leaders from the philanthropic, civic, and health care sectors, Connecticut partners launched "Reaching Home," a statewide initiative to develop 10,000 units of supportive housing for homeless people over the next 10 years. Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez welcomed Reaching Home Leadership Council Members for a press event at the Hartford Lyceum. Among those participating were United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Field Office Director Julie Fagan, Partnership for Strong Communities Director Diane Randall, Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness Executive Director Mary McAtee, Corporation for Supportive Housing CT Program Director Janice Elliott, State of Connecticut Office of Workforce Competitiveness Director Mary Ann Hanley, Melville Charitable Trust Executive Director Robert Hohler, Stamford Hospital Director of Public Affairs Pamela Koprowski, and Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce President Anthony Rescigno. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano keynoted the event.

With the objective of bringing together key city implementers committed to quantifying and reducing street homelessness, the Rockefeller Foundation last week convened public sector leaders from eight cities to participate in the development of a measurement template and multi-city covenant to end chronic homelessness in Philadelphia. Partners from Denver, New York City,San Diego, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Nashville, Hartford, and Minneapolis had detailed exposure to Philadelphia's documented success in reducing street homelessness.

The event convening builds on efforts initiated in October's summit of civic, government, and business leaders from ten cities who have partnered with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness in the creation of 10-Year Plans to End Chronic Homelessness. The Rockefeller Foundation and New York City's Common Ground Community convened "Ending Chronic Homelessness: A Solutions Summit" in New York City. Joining United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano to encourage cities in their planning efforts was United States Department of Veterans Affairs Homeless Coordinator Vincent Kane.

Innovators from mental health, housing, and law enforcement described the essential elements of Philadelphia's approach. University of Pennsylvania Professor of Social Welfare Policy Dr. Dennis Culhane provided a national overview of data and research. Other innovators identified new service models, and private sector/faith based partnership that have contributed to Philadelphia's success. Among the innovators participating were representatives of Center City Business District, Chamber of Commerce, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.

With federal spending having increased 23% over the last three years, the FY 05 Omnibus Appropriations bill, expected to be sent to and signed by the President in the coming days, reflects Administration and Congressional determination to slow the rate of growth in federal spending while continuing to improve homeland security and to provide for U.S. service members, including returning troops. For programs that provide assistance to homeless individuals and families, the FY 05 bill includes a few limited increases in funding, most notably for community health centers, Health Care for the Homeless, Education for Homeless Children and Youth, Emergency Food and Shelter Program, PATH mental health outreach, and Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs. An increase was also provided for Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP). Third year services funding for the 11 Collaborative Initiative on Chronic Homelessness grantees and for the 34 grantees under the Social Security Administration's HOPE outreach demonstration was also provided. No funding was included for the Samaritan Initiative pending action in the next Congress on the authorization legislation.

The continuation of support for the 11 Collaborative Initiative grantees was welcome news. In November the eleven sites - Broward County, FL , Chattanooga, TN, Chicago, IL, Columbus, OH, Contra Costa, CA, Denver, CO, Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, Portland, OR, and San Francisco, CA - reported that they had housed 428 men and women experiencing chronic homelessness to date, representing a cumulative 2873 years of homelessness ended. The numbers indicate that the sites are achieving success in engaging and housing those most at risk and hardest to serve.

"The time is right to take advantage of a rare consensus about the solution to long-term homelessness, and growing momentum as the Administration, Congress, and communities across the nation have adopted the goal of ending chronic homelessness in ten years, " stated National Alliance to End Homelessness President Nan Roman, as several philanthropies and two national organizations gathered recently in Washington to announce their collaboration to spur efforts to end long-term or chronic homelessness. The newly named Partnership to End Long-Term Homelessness is comprised of The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Melville Charitable Trust, Fannie Mae Foundation, Fannie Mae, and Deutsche Bank, who each have committed a minimum of $1 million to the effort. The Corporation for Supportive Housing and the National Alliance to End Homelessness will implement the strategy toward ending long-term homelessness, proposing to provide more than $37 million in grants and loans toward the creation of 150,000 units of housing over the next 10 years.

The Partnership aims to leverage at least $30 million more from other foundations, financial institutions and businesses, in addition to increasing public and private sector financing for the capital, operating and service costs of supportive housing. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Chief Executive Risa Lavizzo- Mourey observed, "It's very clear that with supportive housing people are able to live healthy lives and use fewer resources."

"Thanksgiving is also a time to share our blessings with those less fortunate. Americans this week will gather food and clothing for neighbors in need. Many young people will give part of their holiday to volunteer at homeless shelters and food pantries. On Thanksgiving, we remember that the true strength of America lies in the heart and souls of the American people. By seeking out those who are hurting and by lending a hand, Americans touch the lives of their fellow citizens and help make our Nation and the world a better place."

WITH THIS ISSUE, the e-newsletter continues its focus on federal surplus property and opportunities to secure resources for homeless programs. This story features information on the role that the General Services Administration (GSA) plays in the property disposition process, including the McKinney-Vento Title V program.

The General Services Administration, through the Public Buildings Service (PBS), is responsible for promoting effective use of federal real property assets, as well as the disposal of real property that is no longer mission-critical to federal agencies. Unneeded or underutilized federal property can vary widely in type and value, and may include: undeveloped land; office buildings; warehouses; commercial and industrial facilities; military holdings; and single - and multi-family residences. GSA works together with partner federal agencies, state and local governments, non-profit organizations, business groups, and citizens, using several methods of property disposition, including declaring a property as excess or surplus, undertaking a federal transfer of property, carrying out a Homeless Conveyance under McKinney-Vento Title V, or using a Public Benefit Conveyance, Negotiated Sale, or Public Sale to dispose of property.

Finding Federal Property. When surplus property becomes available as a possible Public Benefit Conveyance (PBC) or Negotiated Sale, GSA prepares a surplus screening notice for the property. The notice contains a brief description of the property, a list of the PBC uses and statutes under which the property can be conveyed, and contact information for the Regional office and appropriate sponsoring agencies. Surplus screening notices are available on line at http://rc.gsa.gov. Public entities are encouraged to visit this website for valuable information regarding federal properties and GSA regulations.