FORT WORTH, TEXAS. The Salvation Army's Mabee Center in Fort Worth was the site this week of a celebration by city-county partners of the recently adopted Directions Home, Fort Worth and Tarrant County's new 10 Year Plan. Mayor Mike Moncrief , Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Brooks, and Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley hosted United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano for the event. Director Mangano has visited Fort Worth several times at the Mayor's invitation and also that of business leaders, including Downtown Fort Worth's Andy Taft, to encourage and support the city-county 10 Year Plan. Pictured here are (left to right): Judge Whitley, Director Mangano, Commissioner Brooks, and Mayor Moncrief.

"I am so proud to be back in Fort Worth at the Mabee Center where so many of our Neighbors feel their worth," said Director Mangano (pictured here). "I'm especially glad to be with Mayor Moncrief, Judge Whitley, Mayor Pro Tem Hicks, and Commissioner Brooks who demonstrate that cities and counties can work together. And with Fort Worth Homelessness Coordinator Otis Thornton. I am so appreciative of the commitment of Judge Whitley who serves on the Board of the National Association of Counties and of Commissioner Brooks whose involvement in the National Association of Counties Health Steering Committee demonstrates his commitment to bringing remedies and a cure to the unhealthfulness of homelessness."

At the 10 Year Plan event, partners heard affirmation and encouragement from Rev. Brooks Harrington, Chairman, Mayor's Advisory Commission on Homelessness; Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley; Cindy Crain, Executive Director, Tarrant County Homeless Coalition; Jason Hall, Fannie Mae; Andy Taft, Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.; Barbara Holston, Fort Worth Housing Authority; JR Labbe, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; and Kate Scott- Ward, City of Fort Worth Homelessness Planner. Cornerstone Assistance Network Director Mike Doyle also hosted Director Mangano as he visited several local programs, including the Presbyterian Night Shelter in Fort Worth. Mayor Moncrief is pictured here.

Pictured here are (left to right): Fort Worth Council Members Sal Espino, Danny Scarth, Carter Burdette, Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Brooks, Director Mangano, Mayor Moncrief, Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks, Fort Worth Council Member Jungus Jordan, Salvation Army Major Mark Brown, and Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley.

Acting on Mayor Moncrief's leadership, and with the support of business partners, Fort Worth established a Study Group to "pilgrimage" to other cities to see what's working as they developed their plan.

The Plan proposes to increase the supply of Permanent Supportive Housing to meet the need for over 1,000 additional tenancies, setting a goal of over 540 units in six years. The City has its own Housing Trust Fund with $570,000 earmarked for homeless housing, and the Housing Authority has committed 200 vouchers to the initiative. The Plan also proposes a new local form of Shelter + Care vouchers to accelerate the availability of housing. Fort Worth will commit to an annual Project Homeless Connect event, develop a Homeless Court, and focus on discharge planing by hiring a transition coordinator for the local jail.

Following the Fort Worth events, City Coordinator Thornton and Director Mangano travelled to nearby Arlington, Texas, to meet with Arlington Mayor Dr. Robert Cluck and local leaders and stakeholders, including Arlington City Council Member Mel LeBlanc; Mary Lee Halfley, Executive Director, SafeHaven; Captain Miller, Director, Salvation Army; David Zappasodi, Executive Director, Arlington Housing Authority; Theron Bowman, Chief, City of Arlington Police Department; Dr. Stephanie Gelespie, City of Arlington Police Department; Tillie Burgin, Mission Arlington; Gilbert Perales, Deputy City Manager, City of Arlington; and Cindy Crain, Executive Director, Tarrant County Homeless Coalition. Pictured here are (left to right): Mayor Robert Cluck; Director Mangano; HUD Regional Director Cindy Leon; and David Zappasodi, Executive Director, Arlington Housing Authority.

In their meeting, Mayor Cluck and Director Mangano had an engaging conversation about the economics of homelessness, which Mayor Cluck, a physician, understood from his position as Vice President for Medical Affairs at Arlington Memorial Hospital, a position he has held since 2002. Prior to that, he was the Medical Director at Arlington Memorial Hospital and Harris Methodist Health Plan. Director Mangano and Mayor Cluck also discussed Arlington's 10 Year Plan in progress. The Plan, co-chaired by Housing Authority Director David Zappasodi, is expected to be presented to the Arlington City Council for adoption within the next 30 days. Director Mangano encouraged Mayor Cluck to look forward to a regional strategy that would include the plans in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Regional Director Cynthia Leon, who has been very supportive of the work of the Interagency Council and 10 Year Plans, as well as HUD's Katie Worsham, Stephan Eberlein, Linda Hadley, and Regional Faith based Coordinator Nicolas Ramon, also took part in the visit.

Director Mangano toured several local programs including Mission Arlington, Arlington Life Shelter, and the local Safe Haven. At Mission Arlington, Executive Director Tillie Burgin hosted a visit to the program supported by the citizens of Arlington and providing food, clothing, furniture and furnishings, toys for children, transportation and much more, including family homelessness prevention. Director Mangano is pictured here with Ms. Burgin.

At Arlington Life Shelter, Becky Orander, Executive Director, led a tour of the program which is one of three emergency homeless shelters (Arlington Life Shelter, Salvation Army and SafeHaven) who not only focus on immediate shelter needs but strongly encourage movement towards life stabilization and employment. Director Mangano also visited SafeHaven Women's Shelter where Mary Lee Hafley, President of SafeHaven, welcomed him.

Upon Director Mangano's arrival in Texas, Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance Executive Director Mike Faenza hosted him and Council National Team Leader Michael German for a visit to the new Dallas homeless center, The Bridge. The new center is a key element of the Dallas 10 Year Plan, and Director Mangano participated in the 2007 groundbreaking for the site.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA. Federal and local officials gathered in Atlanta last week to announce the award of $3 million for 350 housing vouchers for homeless veterans under the HUD-VASH program. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin welcomed United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Regional Director Burt Wilkerson, Jenifer Turner Reid, Coordinator of the Atlanta VA Homeless Program, and Sterling Bethea, DeKalb Housing Authority Executive Director to City Hall for the announcement. Mayor Franklin was joined by Atlanta Blueprint to End Homelessness Community Champion and civic leader Horace Sibley.

Noting that the new HUD-VASH resources will support the central antidote of housing for homeless veterans, Director Mangano commended Mayor Franklin and Mr. Sibley for their consistent strategy and results through the regional 10 Year Plan: "Being one of the first cities to move forward with a plan to reduce and end the homelessness of those who were the most vulnerable and disabled may have seemed naïve and foolish to some, five years ago. Some thought Atlanta was going way out on a limb. But Atlanta helped lead the way - more than 500 communities are now partnered in more than 350 results oriented plans."

$75 million was provided by the Congress in the FY 2008 budget for 10,000 HUD-VASH vouchers, which have been awarded to over 130 Housing Authorities in all 50 states. The President's FY 2009 budget proposes an additional $75 million for 10,000 new vouchers for the next year. Pictured above are (left to right): HUD Regional Director Wilkerson, Teresa Chappell of HUD, Thomacina Brown of HUD, Mayor Franklin, Director Mangano, Jenifer Turner Reid, Coordinator Atlanta VA Homeless Program, Sterling Bethea, DeKalb Housing Authority Executive Director, Horace Sibley, Barry Troutman, Georgia Public Housing Office, Council Team Leader Michael German, and Debi Starnes, Atlanta Homeless Services Coordinator.

To implement the HUD-VASH program, the Department of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with HUD, identified over 130 VA Medical Centers that will participate with the program. In doing so, the VA took into account the population of homeless veterans needing services in the area, the number of homeless veterans served by the homeless programs at each VAMC during Fiscal Years 2006 and FY 2007, geographic distribution, and VA case management resources. There is at least one site in each of the 50 states and in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. HUD, in consultation with the VA, and in consideration of a PHA's administrative performance, identified eligible PHAs located in the jurisdiction of the VAMCs and invited them to apply for HUD-VASH vouchers. The number of HUD-VASH vouchers awarded to each PHA was determined by HUD and the VA. Approximately 35 rental vouchers were awarded for each professional, full-time HUD-VASH case manager at the local VAMC. HUD- VASH vouchers may be reallocated in the future based on need and usage. A PHA that participates in the HUD- VASH program must partner with their VASH VAMC.

While in Atlanta, Director Mangano also visited the city's new 24/7 Gateway Center, one of the initiatives with resources from the city's Homeless Opportunity Fund and a key element of the 10 Year Plan. Statistically, the Gateway Center is one of the largest providers of homeless services in the state of Georgia. More than 16,000 homeless individuals have been served at the Gateway Center since its 2005 opening. The depth of collaboration and partnership makes the Gateway Center unique in the nation and a best-practices model. The Gateway Center has been operated since start-up by the Atlanta Union mission, which is now underway with a transition plan with the United Way for the Center to become an independent entity. Director Mangano is pictured here with Gateway Executive Director Vince Smith.

SHELBY, NC. Shelby, North Carolina Mayor Ted Alexander and the Shelby Rotary Club - over 125 leaders in business, government and other civic institutions throughout Shelby and Cleveland County - last week gathered to welcome United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who has previously met with Mayor Alexander and local leaders to encourage 10 Year Planning. Mayor Shelby invited Director Mangano to speak to the civic and business leaders to provide a vision of 10 Year Planning and to encourage broad partnership with the faith community, businesses, government, and others to address the issue of homelessness in the community with both a humanitarian motive and an eye to costs. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Homelessness Policy Coordinator Martha Are also participated in the visit.

"Thank you, Mayor Alexander, for your consistent intent to remedy homelessness in your community. Your persistence is inspiring. And I am glad to be here in Shelby again, and especially grateful to be at a Rotary Club. The noble legacy of Rotary and the good works from your motto of 'Service Above Self' are well known across the globe."

Director Mangano encouraged the business community to partner and bring their expertise to the issue of homelessness: ""When you look through that lens, you evolve the response from simply servicing homeless people to solving their homelessness," he said. "Mayors like your mayor, county executives like your county commissioners, are re-framing the issue into a business model that's all about results, accountability and outcomes. It's a change of mindset. We need to upgrade that strategy."

Members of the Shelby City Council, City Manager, Cleveland County Commissioners, and a Representative from Congressman Patrick McHenry's office, Cleveland County United Way, state representatives, and the faith community, along with the members of the Mayors' Task Force on Homelessness, joined the events in Shelby.

In addition to meeting with the Rotary Club, Director Mangano met with the Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness, which includes representatives of the Salvation Army, Cross Roads Ministry, Chamber of Commerce, Uptown Shelby Association, the local hospital, First National Bank, Ebenezer Baptist Association, Hopper's Chapel, Christ Temple Church, Greater Cleveland County Baptist Association, Browns Automotives, City of Hope Church, First Baptist Church, United Way, Department of Social Services, Cleveland County Veterans Affairs, and the Shelby Police.

Pictured here are (left to right): Dr. Frank Bonner, President of Shelby Rotary Club and President of Gardner- Webb University; Director Mangano; NC State Representative Debbie Clary; and Shelby Mayor Alexander. Council Team Leader Michael German also participated.

LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS. "Art is the handmaid of human good," reads the seal of the City of Lowell, Massachusetts. In June 2008, the e-news reported on the unveiling of Lowell's new 10 Year Plan, noting that a citywide Essay Contest on homelessness was one of the first initiatives of the new Action Plan. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, invited to Lowell by Mayor Bud Caulfield for the unveiling of the Plan, is pictured here at the Essay Contest celebration.

According to City Manager Bernard Lynch, who wrote the welcome and introduction to the essays as they are now assembled into a book, the goal of the contest was to engage students in the discussion of the main principle of the plan, the importance of "home." Essays were to focus on "why a home is so important to us, and what it would be like not to have a home - to be homeless. Through the essay contest the City began a dialogue with the community on the challenging and often misunderstood issues relating to homelessness - starting with those who will be most effected by the decisions that we make today." Several essays also revealed the experiences of their writers in facing homelessness as well as foster care and immigration to the U.S.

133 Students participated from five schools. Alexa McGuire was Citywide Grand Prize Winner from the 5th Grade from the James S. Daley Middle School. There were eight Honorable Mention Award Winners. Following is Alexa's essay. Alexa is pictured here with Mayor Caulfield.

"Have you ever known what it feels like to be without a home? I have never felt it but I can imagine. A home is like a family gathering place where so many great things have happened during and throughout the years. A house keeps you warm and cozy at night with warmth. A home gives you a bed to sleep in at night to snuggle up in and be tucked into. A home is a special place for us but sometimes we take it all for granted. A home provides you with so many great things but we just don't have the time to notice them all.

"A home is more important to me then winning the lottery. A home is a good place where I can get good food. A house for me provides food, water, good hygiene, and all important things like that. Some people that don't have a home can't look forward to that everyday. My home provides me with a bed to sleep in at night. Some people with no home can't even have a good night sleep. A home is so important to me I could never give it up.

"If I was homeless I'd be broken inside. I couldn't live without a home. There would be no bed to sleep in at night. No good food on the table. My mom probably couldn't pay for school education anymore. No more gas for the car. Losing your house means you lose all of your faith in yourself. A home provides me with so much needed warmth, protection and water. My family would probably get split apart or we won't get the same bond as if we would in a home. I would probably cry. I can understand and feel what homelessness is like. A home is where the heart is. It makes everything in the world work. That is why I'm happy to have a home and I send my heart to those who don't."

Essay entries were judged on how they expressed the principle theme of the 10 Year Plan, that is, that there is nothing more important than having a home and the importance of each student's home to them. Contest prizes included a Certificate of Participation for each student who submitted an essay, signed by Lowell City Manager Bernard F. Lynch; a $10.00 Barnes & Noble Gift Certificate for one essay from each class; four Grand Prizes of a $100 Savings Bond for one student from each grade citywide who was also given the honor of reading their winning essay at a Lowell City Council or School Committee Meeting. Director Mangano is pictured here with Honorable Mention Award Winner Rhonda Khut from the Rogers School.

Essay contest judges were from City of Lowell, Lowell Public Schools, Lowell School Committee, Northern Middlesex Council of Governments, Enterprise Bank, Community Teamwork, Inc., Barnes & Noble, Washington Savings Bank, Coalition for a Better Acre, Cisco Systems, The Wish Project, St. Anne's Episcopal Church/LTLC, House of Hope, Inc., Lowell Transitional Living Center, Bridgewell/Pathfinder Safe- Haven, Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Dynamics Research Corporation, and Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership.

WASHINGTON, DC. Employment and training for homeless veterans was the focus of this week's national conference of awardees under the U.S. Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) and Veterans Workforce Investment Programs (VWIP). More than 95 HVRP and VWIP awardees convened to examine program operation and performance measure and to hear from DOL and other federal officials.

DOL Assistant Secretary for Veterans Employment and Training Services Charles Ciccolella keynoted the conference, noting that the revitalization of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and the collaborative work of the federal agencies in ending chronic homelessness has been accompanied by better research and strategies that focus on veterans and show the important role of employment, as well as innovations such as Housing First. A panel of federal and national representatives, moderated by DOL's Miguel Hernandez, included the Interagency Council, HUD, VA, and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

Interagency Council Executive Director Philip Mangano, in St. Louis to participate in local announcements of new resources for homeless veterans, including HVRP, affirmed the event's focus, indicating: "From Day One of the Council's revitalization, Assistant Secretary Ciccolella has ensured that DOL has exceeded all expectations in extending resources to our homeless neighbors, especially to homeless veterans. Further, he has ensured that employment is identified as a priority for the most vulnerable."

HVRP, created by the McKinney-Vento Act, provides services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force and to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that address the complex problems facing homeless veterans. VWIP supports employment and training programs, through grants or contracts, program to meet the needs for workforce investment activities of veterans with service- connected disabilities, veterans who have significant barriers to employment, veterans who served on active duty in the armed forces during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, and recently separated veterans.

HVRP grantees provide an array of services utilizing a case management approach that directly assists homeless veterans as well as provide critical linkages for a variety of supportive services available in their local communities. The program is "employment focused" and veterans receive the employment and training services they need in order to re-enter the labor force. Job placement, training, job development, career counseling, resume preparation, are among the services that are provided. Supportive services such as clothing, provision of or referral to temporary, transitional, and permanent housing, referral to medical and substance abuse treatment, and transportation assistance are also provided to meet the needs of this target group.

WASHINGTON, DC. More than 385 elected officials from cities around the nation are now signatories to the America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions, first developed by Mayors and County officials at a summit in Denver in November 2007 and affirmed by both the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Association of Counties at their recent annual conferences

Signatories to the unprecedented 12-point agreement focused on how elected officials, government agencies and the foundation community should work together to end homelessness. At the November 2007 Denver press conference announcing the signing of the Statement, participating Mayors declared their intent to promote America's Road Home with their fellow Mayors and County officials, as well as with candidates in 2008 federal, state, and local elections. The Statement has been made available to all Mayors and County officials to sign.

Elected officials who have recently become signatories include: Mayor Joseph Boles, St. Augustine, FL; Councilmember Regina Romero, Tucson, AZ; and Supervisor Rose Gibson, San Mateo County, CA.

WASHINGTON, DC. Just one week after USA Today headlined "Drop in homeless count seen as 'success story' " as the national newspaper reported on the announcement of a 30% national decrease in chronic homelessness over two years, a broad range of print and on-line media from publications representing a wide variety of political views are affirming and applauding the unprecedented results from the Administration's commitment to end chronic homelessness.

In The American Prospect, the focus of a Q and A was on the results from Housing First initiatives that target chronically homeless people: " . . . initial evidence suggests there has been a substantive absolute decrease in homelessness, even in the midst of an economic downturn and a housing crisis."

The National Review observed that the new "approach to homelessness has transformed a situation once seen as hopeless by discarding orthodoxies once seen as unquestionable . . ." adding that the Administration deserves "immense credit" for the results.

In Boston, the Globe opined in "Progress on the Home Front": "Massachusetts is recreating its services to find better ways to prevent homelessness; to move homeless people out of shelters more quickly; and to guide people into programs that will increase their long-term economic stability . . . For years, compassion meant comforting the homeless. Now compassion, insight, and action are helping people find homes."

Making the connection between the national news and local results, The Pilot in Norfolk noted of the focus on chronic homelessness: "It makes sense: Get a victory on one part of a problem, and use that success to achieve further successes . . . That formula seems to be working locally."

Actor Chuck Norris, in his on-line column, described his family's recent vacation encounter with a man who was homeless and endorsed the results as "progress," observing: "In particular, the executive director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, Philip Mangano, should be commended for leading communities across the country to develop plans for reducing homelessness. Also very helpful are the community outreaches by Rolling Thunder and other groups that are extending their helping hands to homeless veterans. There really are some amazing stories about how communities, civic organizations and churches have come together with the goal of eliminating chronic homelessness."

Rolling Thunder is a voluntary organization of veteran and non-veteran men and women from all wars and peace-time who advocate for service members, veterans, and POW/MIA's.

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the ongoing addition of new properties for use as new homeless housing utilizing one or more VA Medical Center (VAMC) campuses where VA will lease currently underutilized VAMC land or buildings long- term. Under VA's Enhanced Use Lease authority VA is now seeking "expressions of interest" from interested bidders. Expressions of interest are due August 15, and interested parties should consult the posted VA material in detail for further information.

The Department's intent is to aggressively pursue the immediate development of these sites with "teams with a proven track record of developing affordable housing and providing support services to the homeless, preferably homeless veterans." According to VA, project teams could include one or more development/service organizations. Both permanent housing and transitional programs are eligible uses.

VA has identified underutilized land and buildings available for homeless housing development on the following VAMC campuses: Asheville, NC, Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, and Hines VA Hospital in Chicago. Aerial photos and property specifications are available on line. The Enhanced Use Lease web site offers a subscription to support future updates.

According to VA, expressions of interest do not constitute an obligation to proceed on behalf of the developer or VA. Once expressions of interest have been thoroughly reviewed, VA will proceed by issuing RFPs to potential developers or enter into direct negotiations if there is a single viable response. The selected non-profit and for-profit developers and service providers will collaborate with VA to provide veterans with access to medical care and other services.

If your organization is interested in one or more of the VAMC campuses available under this initiative, you may express an interest by fax at (312) 416-5187 or e- mail at rei@vahomelesshousing.org (preferred). Expressions of interest should be submitted on official letterhead and must include a point of contact, the signature of at least one organization officer, and the name of the site(s) in which interest is being expressed.

A copy of the official VA Request for Expressions of Interest announcing this development opportunity is attached. For more information, including site-specific development opportunities and a list of frequently asked questions, please visit http://vahomelesshousing.org

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