A picture is worth a thousand words. This month, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness partnered with SONY/Columbia Pictures to create "opinion leader" screenings of the new Will Smith movie, The Pursuit of Happyness, in 32 cities engaged in 10-Year Plan efforts across the country. These screenings were held prior to the movie's general release and were seen by more than 6000 elected and civic leaders, leading community service providers, and homeless guests. The movie chronicles the true story of the fall into homelessness of a single father, Chris Gardner, on the way to his becoming a successful stockbroker, who eventually owns his own brokerage firm. The movie, which opened in general release last Friday, was the top grossing movie over the weekend. "Our hope is that as many Americans as possible will see this film because it dispels myths and stereotypes and demonstrates once again that opportunity and personal responsibility overcome homelessness," said United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano.

Director Mangano joined elected and community 10-Year Plan leaders at screenings in Washington, DC, where he and Pathways to Housing Founder and Executive Director Sam Tsemberis offered opening remarks, and in Hartford, Connecticut. In Hartford, Director Mangano met with Mayor Eddie Perez and local business leader and 10-Year Plan Implementation Committee Chair William Farley prior to the screening. The screening was sponsored by the City of Hartford and the Partnership for Strong Communities, which is moving forward a statewide campaign, Reaching Home, to develop permanent supportive housing.

The Council continues to receive reactions from communities where the screenings were held:

From Norfolk, VA,

"We had between 250 and 300 people in attendance including half of our city council, funders, service providers, regional officials, and homeless persons. We had coverage from all three networks and the local paper will run the story tomorrow. The Mayor's remarks were interrupted for applause three times highlighting our ten year plan progress."

From Phoenix, AZ,

"Councilman Greg Stanton made a few remarks before the movie began. . . . An e-mail from Nora Pfeiffer, a Jesuit Volunteer at Central Arizona Shelter Services, expressed her appreciation for the event. She said 'it was especially meaningful for me because as I watched the film, I kept seeing the faces of the clients I've worked with.' People left the theater feeling energized . . ."

From Minneapolis, MN,

"We had 180 people in attendance, including our State Commissioner of Housing Tim Marx and Co-Chairs of our 10-Year Plan, Hennepin County Commissioner Gail Dorfman and the Reverend James Dertmenian. The event was a great success, combining a celebration of all our work during the year and recharged commitment. This movie is an excellent tool for the broader community to understand the path to homelessness."

From Louisville, KY,

"We had over 170 guests ranging from members of our partnering organizations, service providers, members of local government, as well as a group of at-risk teenagers from Louisville's YMCA Safe Place Services program. This event allowed us the opportunity to bring more awareness to Kentucky's own homeless population. A representative from Governor Ernie Fletcher's office, Tim Janes, presented a proclamation to Kentucky Housing proclaiming December as Homelessness Connect Awareness Month and a representative from Louisville Metro's government presented a proclamation to the Coalition."

From Birmingham, AL,

"The house was packed! Steve Freeman, ED, Firehouse Shelter . . . said that the best thing that came out of it was the education to the local public on the plight of homelessness. He was overwhelmed with the support . . ."

From Nashville, TN,

"The reaction and response to the movie were very positive. I particularly noticed that during one scene when the belongings of Chris Gardner and son were set outside the motel room door, several of the homeless attending the showing said in unison "here we go," as if to say the homelessness is about to begin. People talked about the content of the movie, such as the scene when the social worker told Chris Gardner that they did not have any shelter for a man with children. By the time I got back to my office, I had received an e-mail from a church which wanted to get involved. The next day when I arrived at the office and checked my e-mails, I had two more churches wanting to get involved in the work that the Homelessness Commission is doing. Still another church wants to get involved to address homeless youth and children . . ."

From Chicago, IL,

"It was fabulous! We had about 200 people in attendance - government- local and state-, foundations, our homeless service partners and area business leaders. We invited Chris Gardner to attend the event and he introduced the movie with really great remarks that support our Plan. Despite his emergency root canal yesterday, he stayed for the entire film and talked with our guests . . ."

From Trenton, N.J. in an enewsletter report written by Monarch Housing Associates, a non profit corporation working with a number of 10-Year Plan efforts,

"Actor Will Smith's new movie, 'The Pursuit of Happyness' received a resounding round of applause and praise at the Destinta Independent 12 Cinema in Trenton. The event was hosted by Mayor Douglas H. Palmer of the City of Trenton. Mayor Palmer, who is also the President of the US Conference of Mayors, stressed the importance of the screening in Trenton. Noting that the movie focuses on the crisis of homelessness in the world's wealthiest country, he reminded the almost 200 people in the theatre 'it will take all of us to end homelessness not just the city or government, but non-profits, the faith based community, business and civic leaders.'. . . The realistic scenes of the degradation of homelessness moved many in the audience to tears. Carolyn Lewis-Spruill, Director of the City's Department of Health & Human Services, thanked each of the attendees and reminded them that much work remains to be done in Trenton and in New Jersey to end homelessness."

A number of communities hosted their pre-screenings in conjunction with their participation in the Council-facilitated 2006 National Project Homeless Connect Week. The Council is continuing to receive results data from the 39 communities that participated in National Week which will be presented in a future e-news story.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. The National Conference of Black Mayors is a non profit, non-partisan organization established in 1974 to "enhance the executive management capacity of its members for the purpose of governing viable municipalities." The NCBM serves over 500 mayors nationwide, who represent more than 30 million citizens. Since 1988, the National Conference of Black Mayors has sponsored an annual Leadership Institute, a three day series of training sessions to prepare new mayors for their role as chief executives and to provide in-service training for sitting mayors.

At last week's 2006 Leadership Institute held in New Orleans, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Regional Director Michael German was invited to discuss the National Partnership to End Chronic Homelessness being constellated by the Council, including the importance of jurisdictional 10-Year Plan efforts and Project Homeless Connect as strategic tools for aligning community resources and service delivery toward ending homelessness. Pictured here,top, is Coordinator German with some of the 60 mayors who attended this year's LIM, 1st row l-r, Ft. Coffee, OK Mayor Denay Burris; Robbins, IL Mayor Irene Brodie; NCBM President and East Orange, NJ Mayor Robert Bowser, Council Coordinator German, and Greenville, MS Mayor Heather Hudson. 2nd row, l-r, White Castle, LA Mayor Maurice Brown; Eastover SC Mayor Christopher Campbell; Ames TX Mayor John White; St.Gabriel, LA Mayor George Grace; Bastrop, LA Mayor Clarence Hawkins; NCBM Executive Director Vanessa Williams, and Forrest City, AR Mayor Larry Bryant. 3rd Row, l-r, Bolton, NC Mayor Frank Wilson; Cullen, LA Mayor Bobby Washington; and Durham, NC Mayor William Bell.

Council Executive Director Philip Mangano has been invited to continue this discussion at the NCBM 2007 Annual Meeting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

WASHINGTON, DC. Last week United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was invited to speak at a meeting of the National Committee on Community Corrections (pictured here bottom) considering promising new ways to improve the availability of ex-offender housing. National Alliance to End Homelessness President and CEO Nan Roman also addressed the meeting. The National Committee on Community Corrections is a broad coalition of former public officials, researchers and correctional professionals representing local, state, and federal concerns. The Committee is chaired by Donald Santarelli, a former Director of the federal Law Enforcement Assistance Administration.

In his remarks, Director Mangano described the work of the Council and the outreach to jurisdictions across the nation to end homelessness through such innovations as 10-Year Planning efforts and Project Homeless Connect. Director Mangano acknowledged that housing for ex-offenders remains one of the most challenging issues for local 10-Year Plan efforts. He noted the important work churches and faith based organizations have been doing over the years to assist with prisoner re-entry and described Recovery homes that were developed in Massachusetts to provide substance abuse and mental health treatment and build on social networks. Federal homeless prevention efforts including the President's Re-entry Initiative involving a collaboration of several federal agencies continue to build on this approach.

WASHINGTON, D.C. Last week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the national organization of mayors of communities with populations of 30,000 or more, released the results of its 2006 Hunger and Homelessness Survey. The mayors of 23 cities, who are members of the USCM Hunger and Homelessness Task Force, participated in this year's survey. The survey results were reported at a press conference by USCM President, Trenton NJ Mayor Douglas Palmer; USCM Hunger and Homelessness Taskforce Co-Chair, Des Moines Mayor T.M. Franklin Cownie; USCM Past President, Charleston SC Mayor Joseph Riley; USCM Executive Director Tom Cochran; Sodexho, Inc, School Services Division President Rod Bond; and Co-Chair of the Congressional Hunger Caucus Congressman Jim McGovern ( D-Mass).

This is the 22nd consecutive year for the survey report, a complete copy of which can be found on the USCM website. According to the report, 74% of the survey cities reported an increase in the demand for emergency food assistance though the average increase of 7% was lower than last year's 12%; and 68% reported an increased demand for emergency shelter assistance with an average of 9% compared to last year's 6%. However, the report also notes 95 percent of the cities participating in the survey have developed 10-Year Plans to End Chronic Homelessness and that 25% of those cities are already able to report that their plans have led to a reduction in the number of people living on the streets. Twenty of the cities surveyed provided descriptions of "exemplary programs and efforts" in their communities to prevent and/or respond to homelessness, which can be found in the survey report. Mental illness and the lack of needed services led the list of causes of homelessness reported by city officials participating in the survey. Other causes cited, in order of frequency, include lack of affordable housing, substance abuse and the lack of needed services, low-paying jobs, domestic violence, prisoner re-entry, unemployment, and poverty.

Commenting on the USCM report, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano said,

"As a nation we continue to owe a debt of gratitude to the U.S. Conference of Mayors for ensuring visibility on the issue of homelessness for more than two decades. The Conference has made certain that the human tragedy of Americans without a home is part of public policy deliberations in this country. Their Report, not so much science as perception, is important in indicating that we have a long way to go on the issue. The Report calls our attention to a pervasive national disgrace that has plagued us for two decades in its contemporary expression.

"There are some numbers not included in the Report. Numbers that speak to an unprecedented level of political will, creativity, and results. Numbers that are part of a national partnership that has been constellated by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness that includes 20 Federal agencies, 53 Governors of States and Territories, and 285 Mayors and County Executives, all partnered in business-oriented, results-focused, consumer-centric 10-Year Plans to end chronic homelessness. This is a partnership that was launched by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness in partnership with the U.S. Conference of Mayors. And there are results in that partnership. Nearly 30 cities are reporting reduced street and chronic homelessness.

"Additionally, 39 cities participated in the 2006 National Project Homeless Connect Week this month sponsored by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. This initiative, created by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness, is a one-day, one-stop targeted to connecting homeless people with resources. From 1 city two years ago to 39 cities this past week where nearly 16,000 homeless men, women and children were welcomed and accessed important services. Yes, there is much to do on homelessness. But not all the numbers are going the wrong way. In an increasing number of cities across the nation political will, innovation, and creativity are making a difference with the reality and promise of reducing the numbers and the attendant human tragedy."

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. Last week, 39 communities participated in 2006 National Project Homeless Connect Week facilitated by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. The Council is continuing to receive results data from the participating jurisdictions and will be hosting a future conference call with event organizers to hear more about their experiences and identify replicable innovations. One such innovation already identified occurred at the Minneapolis Project Homeless Connect. Pictured here are volunteers at the event. As reported last week, this was the 3rd PHC hosted by Minneapolis/Hennepin County in downtown Minneapolis. Each event has built on lessons learned from earlier efforts. For this latest PHC, funds were raised from private and business sources to enhance the immediacy of services that could be delivered during the Connect event.

$42,000, including a $30,000 private donation, was raised and used during the event to "break down remaining barriers to immediate assistance." In some cases, this meant assisting with first and last month rental deposit. In other cases it meant meeting medical and dental care needs such as dentures. Knowing the difficulty faced by homeless guests in locating extra-large sizes of clothing and shoes, these items were purchased and made available at the event. To facilitate the ability of homeless guests to keep follow-up medical, dental, behavioral health, employment and housing search appointments, bus passes were purchased and given to each homeless guest. Throughout the day, Minneapolis/Hennepin County Coordinator to End Homelessness Cathy ten Broeke circulated through the event, using the donated funds to ensure that homeless guests were able to receive services that day to the maximum extent possible to move them toward greater self sufficiency.

Immediacy of services is one of the hallmarks of the Project Homeless Connect innovation and the effort by Minneapolis/Hennepin County to create an "emergency fund" to break down remaining barriers to such services is a replicable best practice which other communities are encouraged to consider to improve outcomes from their Connect events.

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA. 10-Year Plan leaders from across North Carolina were invited to a Leadership Summit last week sponsored by the North Carolina Interagency Council for Coordinating Homeless Programs.

12 communities including several city/county collaborations are currently moving forward with 10-Year Plans in the state: Asheville/Buncombe County, Chapel Hill/Orange County, Durham/Durham County, Fayetteville/Cumberland County, Greensboro/High Point/Guilford County, Henderson/Vance County, Raleigh/Wake County, and the cities of Charlotte, Gastonia, Shelby, Wilmington and Winston-Salem. Elected leaders in two additional jurisdictions-Pitt County and Rocky Mount-have expressed intentions to also engage in a 10-Year Plan effort. Earlier this month during 2006 National Project Homeless Connect Week, Asheville became the first North Carolina community to hold a Project Homeless Connect event.

Elected officials and community plan leaders were invited to the state summit to discuss Lessons Learned in 10-Year Plan Implementation, Best Practices in Working with the Media, and Maintaining Momentum. Among the elected officials in attendance along with other plan leaders were Shelby Mayor Ted Alexander, Raleigh Mayor Pro-tem Dr. James West, Wake County Commissioner Harold Webb, Durham City Councilor Cora Cole-McFadden, and Pitt County Chairman Jimmy Garris.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano and United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta Executive Vice President Chris Allers were invited to provide an overview of lessons learned in implementing 10-Year Plans at the opening reception. Mr. Allers chairs the Community Education Council Committee for the Atlanta Regional Commission on Homelessness which is overseeing the region's 10-Year Plan effort. The United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta partners with the Regional Commission on Homelessness to "increase and leverage awareness, funding and action in support of the Gateway Center and the other projects of the Commission."

Martha Are, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Homeless Policy Specialist, updated participants on state initiatives including plans to provide technical assistance to implement SOAR, the federally created SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery Initiative, and an upcoming RFP for a pilot program through the state mental health trust fund for housing support teams targeted to homeless persons with a history of cycling through publicly funded systems. The state is currently reviewing applications received in response to the "400 Initiative" through which nearly $11 million in "bricks and mortar" funds and $1.2 million in recurring operating subsidy is being made available to develop an estimated 400 units of independent and supportive housing for very low income persons with disabilities. Participants also heard from Barbara Goodman from the A.J. Fletcher Foundation regarding a public education campaign to increase the North Carolina Housing Trust Fund, and Stan Holt of the Triangle United Way who discussed the active participation of the United Way with its outcome focus in many ongoing 10-Year Plan efforts.

Mike Dunthorn of the City of Knoxville, TN and Katie Donovan of Donovan and Smith in Lansing, MI. led the discussion of best practices in Working with the Media. The Knoxville/Knox County Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness was unveiled in October 2005. Last week, Knoxville was one of the 39 communities that participated in National Project Homeless Connect Week. In October, Michigan became the first state in the country to unveil 10-Year Plans covering 100% of Michigan's 83 counties. Mike Dunthorn also led the discussion on Maintaining Momentum along with Portland, OR City Council staff member Bob Durston. The Portland 10-Year Plan is in its 2nd year of implementation with the city already reporting a 20% reduction in street homelessness. An optional site visit to housing for persons with disabilities, a significant percentage of whom are formerly homeless, being developed and managed by the non profit CASA was also offered to Summit participants.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA. Legislation to improve veterans programs passed by the House and Senate on the final day of the 109th Congress and sent to the President for signature was among the topics of discussion at the December 13-14 meeting of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans, reports United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Regional Coordinator and Vietnam veteran John O'Brien, who attended the meeting.

The legislation, Veterans Benefits, Health Care and Technology Act of 2006, reaffirms a national goal to end homelessness among veterans; extends the authorization of the VA Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans until 2011 and establishes the Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness as an ex-officio member of the Advisory Committee; permanently authorizes the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem program; requires the VA to ensure that each VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (VBOC) has the capacity to provide mental health services; establishes a VA Office of Rural Health Care; and requires not less than 100 additional outreach staff at Vet Centers.

Other provisions would authorize appropriations for additional rental assistance vouchers for veterans; authorize appropriations through FY 2011 of $1 million annually for grants to provide technical assistance to homeless veteran service providers and $7 million for grants for homeless veterans with special needs; and extend authority through December 31, 2011 for the VA to provide treatment and rehabilitation for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans and to enter into agreement with non profit organizations to utilize properties in the VA inventory to shelter homeless veterans and families.

The Advisory Committee meeting held at the Atlanta Veterans Medical Center also introduced New York State Division of Veterans Affairs Director George Basher as the new chair of the Advisory Committee and former Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Ray Boland as a new member. The legislative discussion was led by VA Director of Homeless Programs Pete Dougherty. The meeting also included a discussion by VA Homeless and Residential Treatment Programs Associate Chief Consultant Paul Smits of new VA initiatives to allocate an Incarcerated Veteran Re-Entry Specialist to each VISN; strengthen the Network Homeless Coordinator effort in each VISN; provide additional liaison care managers to support Grant and Per Diem community based programs; and fund a full time substance abuse counselor at medical centers designated as high volume homeless veterans service sites.

Also participating in the meeting were U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs Mark Johnston, Department of Labor Assistant Secretary for Veterans Employment and Training Charles Ciccolella, and Bryant Monroe of the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment. National Coalition for Homeless Veterans President and CEO Cheryl Beversdorf and Operations and Program Vice President John Driscoll discussed NCHV policy initiatives in four areas - providing access to health care; ensuring economic security; supplying affordable housing; and preventing homelessness.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced the award of more than $151 million through the Emergency Food and Shelter program to support food and shelter for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness in cities and counties across the country. This is the 25th anniversary of the EFS program, which is administered by a National Board of voluntary agencies chaired by FEMA. The Board includes the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches in Christ in the U.S.A., the Salvation Army, United Jewish Communities, and the United Way of America.

Over $2.9 billion in federal funds has been distributed through the public-private partnership of the EFS program since its inception. EFS funding is used by more than 12,000 local agencies to provide provide food, shelter, and homeless prevention assistance through emergency rent, mortgage and utility assistance. The 2007 funding will provide more than 35 million meals, 1.3 million nights of lodging, and assistance with more than 98,000 rent and mortgage payments and nearly 232,000 utility bills. "The ongoing success of the EFS program is a testament to the compassion of the American people," said FEMA Director David Paulison. Click here to view a complete list of the 2007 EFS agency grant recipients.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced a new national program to recognize public sector and private sector community-based organizations and coalitions that have shown exemplary implementation of evidence-based mental health and substance abuse interventions that benefit consumers and communities. The Science to Service Awards will be awarded in 4 categories: substance abuse prevention, treatment of substance abuse and recovery support services, mental health promotion, and treatment of mental illness and recovery support services. A maximum of three awards will be made in each category. The evidence-based intervention should be one published in scientific literature and/or appear on a Federal and/or state registry of evidence-based practice. More information on this national recognition program can be found on the SAMHSA website. Applications are due February 28, 2007.

This year's White House holiday theme of "Deck the Halls and Welcome All" is poignant in its symbolism of home, hearth, and sharing with family and neighbors. Our homeless neighbors have the same human desires for creating holiday family traditions and expressing community and friendship through the intimacy of welcome. Working together over the past four years we have built a national partnership of political will, resources, and connection that is ever growing and moving us forward toward ending the human tragedy of homelessness that keeps millions of our citizens feeling separate and apart. In this season, we extend gratitude to all who have partnered with us through 10-Year planning and implementation, through Project Homeless Connect, through screenings of "Pursuit of Happyness", in the provision of opportunity and hope. Thank you for your commitment to our poorest neighbors.