WASHINGTON, DC. United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary and Chairman of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, Alphonso Jackson, this week issued a funding announcement awarding $1.3 billion to a record number of nearly 5,000 local programs that house and assist persons experiencing homelessness (See USICH Special Issue newsletter 12/20/05). In the past five years, HUD has awarded $6 billion in funding to state and local communities as part of a larger federal strategy being embraced by a growing number of state and local communities to end long-term or chronic homelessness. Secretary Jackson highlighted the importance of the event. "Today, we take another step along the road toward ending chronic homelessness on our streets," said Jackson. "This funding will provide homes and vital services to those who need them most - persons and families who deserve a place they can call home." Secretary Jackson is pictured here at center at the full Council Meeting in September with Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary and former Council Chair R. James Nicholson at left and Council Executive Director Philip Mangano at right.

In total, HUD funding is expected to provide critically needed assistance to approximately 172,000 persons living without a home of their own. Awards will go to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Awards were distributed across programs supporting the housing and service needs of homeless persons:

• Nearly $600 million is being awarded to projects that provide permanent housing solutions for homeless persons.
• $739 million is being awarded to more than 3,000 local projects that serve mothers and their children.
• Nearly $125 million will go to 658 programs that primarily serve victims of domestic violence.
• $53.6 million is being awarded to 226 projects that primarily target homeless veterans among those they serve.
• Nearly 1,600 of the projects funded are dedicated to providing housing and support services to severely mentally ill clients.
• Nearly $419 million will support 1,604 local programs that primarily help homeless individuals with substance abuse problems.
• $206 million will support faith-based organizations to house and serve homeless persons and families.

Awards announced by Secretary Jackson exceed the 4,400 programs covered in last year's announcement. 1,318 of the projects target individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, reflecting an increase over last year's funding of 1,089 such programs. Total funding for these projects will exceed $379 million. This commitment reflects HUD's increased emphasis on the Bush Administration's goal of ending chronic homelessness in its assistance programs.

"Once again HUD is demonstrating a deepened investment in the lives of homeless families and victims of domestic violence," said Philip Mangano, Executive Director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, "and investing in the continuation of the national initiative to end chronic homelessness."

Concord, Hew Hampshire. Governor John Lynch accepted a draft of New Hampshire's 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness prepared by the Governor's Interagency Council on Homelessness (NHICH). Peter Kelleher, Chair of NHICH, presented the plan to the Governor. "Every family, every person deserves a decent, safe place to live," Governor Lynch said. "Too many New Hampshire people, including families and children, are without permanent homes." Keith Kuenning, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Coalition for the Homeless, and many other members of the NHICH attended, as well as United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) Regional Coordinator for New England, John O'Brien, and Department of Housing and Urban Development Regional Director, Taylor Kaswell.

USICH Executive Director, Philip Mangano, also joined Governor Lynch for the announcement. Director Mangano stated, "New Hampshire's plan is housing-centric, consumer-focused, prevention-oriented, and leadership-enhanced. With a leadership council including the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, and State Commissioners, you are ensuring results and accountability."

For the past three years the USICH has encouraged states and cities to create jurisdictionally-based plans to end chronic homelessness. Over 200 states, cities, and counties have initiated 10-Year Plans, and now a growing number of states are as well. Pictured here from left to right are Director Mangano, Governor Lynch, Mr. Kelleher and Director Caswell.

New Hampshire's plan, titled A Home for Everyone, calls for the development of 400 to 600 permanent supportive housing units over the next 10 years. Other focal points include an emphasis on prevention, wrap around health and human services, consumer outreach and advocacy, and service integration to eliminate duplication and close service loopholes.

To oversee implementation, the plan calls for the Governor to convene a working group that will include state leaders and government officials. Critical follow-up steps identified include implementation of a cost savings plan, changes to state regulations regarding benefit rules, establishment of a disability housing registry, initiating collaboration between the state's housing and supportive systems, and ensuring homeless children stay in school by connecting them with a Homeless School Liaison.

Established in November 2003, New Hampshire's Interagency Council on Homelessness is made up of lawmakers, state and local officials, representatives of nonprofits, health care providers, and housing representatives. About 20,000 people experience homelessness in New Hampshire in each year.

While in New Hampshire, Director Mangano visited with Mayor-elect Frank Guinta of Manchester, the state's largest city. Mayor-elect Guinta expressed support for the development of a 10-Year Plan in his community.

San Francisco, California. This week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness released the results of its annual survey, U.S. Conference of Mayors - Sodexho, Inc. Hunger and Homelessness Survey 2005. Task Force Co-Chairs, Cedar Rapids Mayor Paul Pate and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, were joined in making the announcement by USCM President, Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill, USCM Executive Director, Tom Cochran, and United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director, Philip Mangano. Pictured above at the announcement are, from left to right, Rod Bond, President of Sodexho, Inc. School Services Division, Mayor Pate, Mayor O'Neill, Mayor Newsom, Director Mangano, and Director Cochran.

According to the report, demand for shelter assistance increased by an average of 6 percent, the same as reported last year. Requests for food assistance rose by 12 percent, a decrease from last year's 14 percent increase. Lack of affordable housing led the list of causes of homelessness identified by city officials. Other causes cited were low-paying jobs, mental illness and substance abuse, unemployment, and prisoner re-entry.

"Though the overall numbers still need to be improved, our efforts at the local level, and the efforts of the federal government have all translated into a brand new awareness of what problems exist, and how we can and should work together, cutting through the bureaucracy, to help those most in need," said Mayor Pate.

"This year's numbers in the Mayor's report are as troubling as in all previous years. Thankfully, there are other numbers. And those numbers are intended to reverse the reported trend, to disturb the status quo of homelessness, and to reduce and end this social disgrace. Together with the USCM and HUD, the United States Interagency on Homelessness has been fashioning a national partnership which now includes 20 Federal Agencies, 53 Governors and 205 Mayors and County Executives. That's resulted in unprecedented federal resources targeted to homeless people. Four consecutive years of record resources with a fifth year pending in Congress. For the first time proposed homelessness resources exceeding $4 billion. Those are all good number for homeless people. And they're good for the cities reporting data," stated Director Mangano.

Mayor Newsom echoed Director Mangano's emphasis on the importance of expanding partnerships with the federal government and private sector, through initiatives such as Project Homeless Connect, as a way to make progress on the issues of hunger and homelessness.

New to this year's survey was the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on hunger and homelessness. "Hurricanes Katrina and Rita exposed the poverty and social needs in our cities which have been the mantra of this report over the past 20 years," said Mayor O'Neill. Our hope is that everyone will make the commitment to address these serious problems." Survey cities said the impact of the hurricanes will become more evident in 2006.

Over the past two years more than 200 cities and counties have engaged in the 10-year planning process to end chronic homelessness, joining the federal partnership represented by the United States Interagency Council. In fact, all 24 of the cities surveyed in this year's USCM report, have committed to or are engaged in, the 10-year planning process.

This is the 21st consecutive year for the survey, which involves gathering data from participating cities on several areas of concern including: the causes of hunger and homelessness and the demographics of the population affected by those problems; the success of programs addressing these problems; and the availability of affordable housing for low-income residents. USCM represents mayors of over 1100 cities with populations of 30,000 or more. For the third year, Sodexho, Inc. joins the Conference of Mayors in sponsoring the hunger and homelessness survey.

Concord, New Hampshire. Homeless men and women who have died in New Hampshire were remembered in an outdoor ceremony at the State House in Concord, New Hampshire as part of the National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day.

Dec. 21st was marked in at least 48 communities around the country. Conducted by local health clinics and homeless coalitions, events to mark the day included candle light vigils, marches, choir performances, religious services, and other ceremonies.

Participants in the service in New Hampshire's capital city included United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director, Philip Mangano, Council Regional Coordinator for New England, John O'Brien, Department of Housing and Urban Development Regional Director, Taylor Kaswell, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness, Keith Kuenning, Chair of the New Hampshire Interagency Council on Homelessness, Peter Kelleher, and Martha Yager, who as a member of the American Friends Service Committee, coordinated the event.

As part of the 10th annual remembrance, the names of deceased women and men were read by the participants and songs and prayers recognized their lives. "Even as we remember homeless people who have died through National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day, we can also celebrate the lives that are being saved as a direct result of the unprecedented constellation of political will to end homelessness," said Council Director Mangano.

Earlier this month, 26 cities hosted Project Homeless Connect events in association with National Project Homeless Connect Day. They join the growing number of 10-Year Plan cities who, like San Francisco where the concept originated, are discovering the event to be an effective way to offer services to homeless people, and to engage the entire community.

Since the National Day, staff members at the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness have been interviewing organizers to collect best practices. While each community's event is unique in its own way, common themes are emerging:

Immediacy refers to making it possible for people to complete transactions on site during the event. "Handing out information about job programs is helpful," said Council Special Advisor Janna Jahn, "but having employers on site conducting interviews as they did in Long Beach takes the event to another level. People walked away with jobs that day. That's powerful.

Having representatives from mainstream agencies on site with laptops enrolling people for social security, food stamps, health benefits, state IDs and other services is a key part of Project Connect. And the prime example of immediacy is, of course, transporting people from the event site to shelter, housing or treatment facility. Miami, Long Beach, San Francisco, and other communities make that the focus of their event."

Hospitality is another critical factor. San Francisco organizers take special efforts to train their volunteers regarding not only what to do but how to greet and converse with participants. "Our job is to make people feel welcome," said Scott Walton, who trains volunteers for each Project Connect. Volunteers escort client from one station to the next to make it easy for people to get what they need.

Community is the third key focal point. Organizers are making a special effort to directly engage people and organizations who aren't ordinarily involved in serving the homeless on a regular basis - the business community, foundations, students, civic leaders and citizens from all walks of life.

"Project Connect really touched a nerve in this community," Cathy ten Broeke, coordinator of Minneapolis Project Connect said. Since last week's event, ten Broeke said she has been "getting all kinds of calls from people who want to get involved." Minneapolis is making plans to hold its next Project Homeless Connect in March.

"The event itself creates a small model of the community," said Knoxville organizer Mike Dunthorn. "Putting everybody together in the same room helps everyone realize how we all fit. It changes the community perspective on the whole issue. Success begets success." Mr. Dunthorn is pictured above, with Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam (center) and Council Special Advisor Janna Jahn.

With this issue of the e-news, we continue our coverage of excerpts from remarks by public sector partners ending chronic homelessness. These Words of the Week come from Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill and Cedar Rapids Mayor Paul Pate, speaking at a press conference announcing the release of the USCM Hunger and Homelessness Survey.

"We have found over the years that hunger and homelessness appear to be problems that will not go away as we look toward our future . . . but, they can be solved if we have the commitment. There is a more directed effort now for the homeless, for the 10-Year Plan that most of the cities in the country are following."

• Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill, President USCM

"Hunger and homelessness are not just problems that will go away if we ignore them. It's about solutions. The fact that there are over 200 cities that have put together a 10-Year Plan to end chronic homelessness is to be applauded and we are going to continue to do that. It's about a new awareness of the solutions."

• Cedar Rapids Mayor Paul Pate, Co-Chair USCM Taskforce on Hunger and Homelessness

When I was in Birmingham, Alabama just after Katrina hit, I heard the story of two men who lived under an overpass in the downtown area. Directly across the street was the shelter for evacuees. One day when some families from the shelter were out in a nearby park and the children were getting some much needed playtime, those two homeless gentlemen walked over and began a conversation with parents that quickly involved the curious children.

After trading stories, and as they were leaving, one of the homeless men reached into his pocket, rummaged through his few papers and found what he was looking for. He presented the children with a folded one dollar bill, smiled, wished them well, and returned to his spot under the overpass. That act of kindness is repeated over and over again across our country. Those who are housed and homeless reaching out to their homeless neighbors offering their support and comfort.

Our privilege is to work offering what we have. Through the national partnership, now encompassing 20 federal agencies, 53 governors of states and territories, and 205 community mayors and county executives, we are offering unprecedented political will to our homeless neighbors.

That political will has resulted in unprecedented federal, state, and local funding targeted to homeless people and invested in solutions to end homelessness - offering housing, services, employment, and treatment.

Through the Council's National Project Homeless Connect Day initiative, communities across the country are following San Francisco's lead in offering to our homeless neighbors an array of opportunities all in one place. Ranging from haircuts to housing assistance, from massage to medical services, from internet connection to interagency treatment facilities, Project Connect offers resources with a focus on ending homelessness.

Progress has been made in cities and states. A foundation of political will, resources, and connection has been created. Now our work is to build the initiatives that ensure a home for every American. In this season we extend gratitude to all who have offered our homeless neighbors opportunity and hope.