Interagency Council on Homelessness

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced the award of $1.5 billion in Homeless Assistance Grant funding to an unprecedented number of local programs - nearly 6000 - to provide housing, shelter, and supportive services to more than 168,000 individuals and families. "These grants will reach into every corner of the nation, helping individuals and families to move beyond the cycle of homelessness," said HUD Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi. "We know this record funding will literally save lives and we at the federal level are proud to play our part in helping our partners at the local level who are on the front lines of helping those in need."
Among the award highlights:

"Today's $1.5 billion announcement continues the increasing commitment by this Administration and the Congress to end the human tragedy of homelessness for those who are the most vulnerable and disabled and veterans who have served our country," said United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. "Additionally, these resources are focused to relieve and remedy the long misery of homeless families in their movement beyond shelter to housing. I commend HUD staff for their diligent, expedited efforts to move these resources into communities in a year of a record numbers of initiatives securing support."

The $1.5 billion is part of the sixth consecutive year of record resources made available from Washington. Another unprecedented seventh consecutive year of increased investment was proposed by the President in his 2008 budget. "Increased resources focused on housing have correlated with decreased numbers on the streets of our communities," Director Mangano indicated. "The announcement last month of a documented decrease of 20,000 people on our streets represents more than 100,000 cumulative years of homelessness coming to an end. That investment has demonstrated results and offered new hope to our homeless neighbors. Today's announcement from HUD is intended to increase that hope and again decrease the numbers."

Since 2001, HUD has awarded approximately $10 billion in funding to local communities to support the housing and supportive service needs of homeless individuals and families. The President's FY 2008 Budget seeking $1.6 billion represents a 55 percent increase over funding provided in 2001. To view the list of projects awarded funding in today's announcement, click here.

Today marks National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day commemorating the lives of our homeless neighbors across the nation who have died.

Some in programs and shelters and others on the streets of our country. Some served valiantly preserving freedom. Sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles. All in the course of their lives were part of families, neighborhoods, schools, communities. All were neighbors.

Through the missteps of personal decisions or misguided public policies, these neighbors found themselves homeless.

None planned to become homeless. When they were asked in seventh grade what they wanted to be, they responded policeman, firefighter, doctor, lawyer, President, basketball player, singer. None said they aspired to homelessness.

We have partnered together across this country to ameliorate the long misery of homelessness and bring this national disgrace to an end. In Washington we have prioritized those who are the most disabled and vulnerable, most at risk of dying on our streets. The initiative to end chronic homelessness has been embraced by every level of government and many on the frontlines of response.

Today's announcement of $1.5 billion targeted to homeless people across our country is meant to be invested in ending homelessness, in reducing deaths on our streets. Increased resources invested in decreased homelessness makes sense.

Through the work of those who make more resources available and those who work on the frontlines, both committed to righting the wrong, our nation is a better place to live for all its citizens.

The day when no Memorial Service needs to be planned is the day to which we aspire.

MORE THAN 65 MAYORS AND ELECTED COUNTY LEADERS SIGN AMERICA'S ROAD HOME, A 12-POINT STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES AND ACTIONS TO END CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS

Number of Charter Signatories has tripled since unveiling of Statement last month.

December 20, 2007. Mayors and elected county leaders continue to sign onto the unprecedented 12-point America’s Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions http://www.ich.gov/newsletter/Interactive_Statement _
Action Only.pdf to end chronic homelessness unveiled last month at the Under One Roof Summit convened by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, Melville Charitable Trust President Robert Hohler, and sponsored by Fannie Mae. This elected officials’ agreement affirms the commitment of mayors and elected county officials to providing jurisdictional leadership through 10-Year Plans to End Chronic Homelessness and adoption of innovations such as Housing First, ACT teams, and Project Homeless Connect; and to working with state and federal officials and the philanthropic community to ensure investments in results with a focus on permanent housing. At the press conference announcing the signing of the Statement, participating Mayors and county leaders declared their intent to promote America's Road Home with their fellow Mayors and County officials. Now more than 65 mayors and county officials representing jurisdictional leadership across the nation have signed the Agreement. Mayors and elected county officials who are interested in becoming partners to the Agreement can download the Principles and guidelines for signing here. http://www.usich.gov/newsletter/Interactive_Statement
_Action_Sign_Principles.pdf. Charter Signatories to date are:

Mayor John Hickenlooper, Denver, CO
Mayor Bill Baarsma, Tacoma, WA
Mayor Terry Bellamy, Asheville, NC
Mayor Richard Bloom, Santa Monica, CA
Mayor Marty Blum, Santa Barbara, CA
Mayor Frank Cownie, Des Moines, IA
Mayor Sheila Dixon, Baltimore, MD
Mayor Paul Fraim, Norfolk, VA
Mayor Shirley Franklin, Atlanta, GA
Mayor Oscar Goodman, Las Vegas, NV
Mayor Bill Haslam, Knoxville, TN
Mayor Tom Leppert, Dallas, TX
Mayor Ron Littlefield, Chattanooga, TN
Mayor Mike Moncrief, Ft. Worth, TX
Mayor William Phelan, Quincy, MA
Mayor Mike Ragsdale, Knox County, TN
Mayor R.T. Rybak, Minneapolis, MN
Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis, MO
Commissioner Lindy Brown, Wake County, NC
Commissioner Joe Bryan, Wake County, NC
Commissioner Bill Hall, Lincoln County, OR
Commissioner Steve O'Neil, St. Louis County, MN
Board of Supervisors Chair Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles County, CA
Mayor Chris Coleman, St. Paul, MN
Mayor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco, CA
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Detroit, MI
Mayor Kathy Taylor, Tulsa, OK
Mayor Manny Diaz, Miami, MA
Supervisor Donald Gage, Santa Clara County, CA
Mayor Robert Coble, Columbia, SC
Mayor Scott Lang, New Bedford, MA
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles, CA
Mayor Chuck Reed, San Jose, CA
Mayor Heather Fargo, Sacramento, CA
Supervisor John Woolley, Humboldt County, CA
Supervisor Jerry Hill, San Mateo County, CA
Supervisor Mariko Yamada, Yolo County, CA
Mayor Charles Ryan, Springfield MA
Mayor Dave Bieter, Boise, ID
Mayor Michael Sullivan, Holyoke, MA
City Councilor Helene Schneider, Santa Barbara, CA
Mayor Bernard Streeter, Nashua, NH
Mayor Mary Clare Higgins, Northampton, MA
Commissioner Gail Dorfman, Hennepin County, MN
Mayor Kip Holden, Baton Rouge, LA
Mayor Dannel Malloy, Stamford, CT
Supervisor Salud Carbajal, Santa Barbara County, CA
Mayor Kevin Foy, Chapel Hill, NC
Mayor Eddie Perez, Hartford, CT
Mayor Alan Autry, Fresno, CA
Mayor Mark Boughton, Danbury, CT
Mayor Sebastian Giuliano, Middletown, CT
Mayor Carl Brewer, Wichita, KS
Mayor Phil Hardberger, San Antonio
Mayor Tim Stewart, New Britain, CT
Mayor John Marks, Tallahassee, FL
Mayor James Humphrey, Fort Myers, FL
County Commissioner Mark Richard, Spokane, WA
County Executive Pete Kremen, Whatcom County, WA
County Executive John Ladenburg, Pierce County, WA
County Executive Aaron Reardon, Snohomish County, WA
Mayor Tom Potter, Portland, OR
Mayor Doug Palmer, Trenton, NJ
County Commissioner David Gilmour, Jackson County, OR
Mayor Mark Begich, Anchorage, AK
Mayor Kitty Piercy, Eugene, OR
Mayor Ray Stephanson, Everett, WA

TWENTY-TWO MAYORS AND COUNTY OFFICIALS SIGN AMERICA’S ROAD HOME, AN UNPRECEDENTED AGREEMENT TO END CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS IN AMERICA AT “UNDER ONE ROOF” SUMMIT IN DENVER CO-CONVENED BY COUNCIL

DENVER, COLORADO. Twenty-two Mayors and County officials representing jurisdictional leadership on homelessness across the nation signed an unprecedented 12-point Statement of Principles and Actions to end chronic homelessness on November 16 at the Under One Roof Summit convened by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, Melville Charitable Trust President Robert Hohler, and sponsored by Fannie Mae. National and regional philanthropies participated in the Summit and had opportunity to engage jurisdictional leaders and review the Statement. The jurisdictional leaders who signed the agreement are pictured here. See below for full text of Statement and signatories.

The elected officials’ agreement, called America’s Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions, affirms the roles of the U.S.Interagency Council, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National Association of Counties in providing jurisdictional leadership through 10-Year Plans to End Chronic Homelessness, adoption of innovations such as Housing First, ACT teams, and Project Homeless Connect, and the involvement of the philanthropic community in investing in results with a focus on permanent housing. Denver Mayor Hickenlooper and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin are pictured here with U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano as they signed the Statement.

“This historic agreement partnering mayors, county officials, foundations, and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness brings us another step closer to realizing the vision of a home for every American,” said Director Mangano (pictured here at podium). “The announcement made just one week ago by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of the first national documented decrease in chronic homelessness in our country in 25 years affirms the direction of our America’s Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions. The momentum continues to build to end the homelessness of the most vulnerable and disabled citizens of our country.”

Summit convener and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (pictured here at podium) said, “These action principles will allow all of us to move forward and build on the success we’ve had in our own cities and counties as well as work with others throughout the country to end homelessness in every city and state. It was just a few short years ago that the prevailing public sentiment was that homelessness was an intractable problem, something that couldn’t be solved. “

“Today we’re seeing in Denver and communities across the country that we can help people live lives off the streets. Denver is proud to have hosted a summit that will have such long-lasting positive impact on the lives of our most vulnerable citizens,” he added.

Atlanta Mayor Franklin, noted, “With agreement on these action principles we can accelerate our efforts to end homelessness and give vital help to our colleagues across the country. We can do – in fact we are doing – what many thought was impossible. We can renew hope for those people who face some of the harshest and most difficult times that any can imagine.”

Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, who co-chairs the United States Conference of Mayors Hunger and Homelessness Task Force and recently convened city and county officials from across Iowa to discuss 10-Year Plan best practices, said he will bring the Statement to the U.S. Conference of Mayors for support.

Image: Pictured here at the Summit, l-r, St. Louis Mayor Slay, Director Mangano, Denver Mayor Hickenlooper, and Baltimore Mayor Dixon.

At the press conference on Friday, every mayor and county leader from the largest cities—Mayor Mike Moncrief of Fort Worth, Mayor Francis Slay as well as Mayors Hickenlooper and Franklin – to the smaller communities—St. Louis County, MN Commissioner Steve O’Neil and Lincoln County, OR Commissioner Bill Hall – affirmed the Statement and their commitment to 10-Year Plans to reduce and end chronic homelessness. Pictured here at the Summit, l-r, St. Louis Mayor Slay, Director Mangano, Denver Mayor Hickenlooper, and Baltimore Mayor Dixon.

Mayors Affirm Principles. The Denver Summit opened on Thursday, November 15 with a welcome from Mayor Hickenlooper, Director Mangano, and Melville Charitable Trust President Hohler. Elected City and County officials met together in executive session on Friday to review and discuss the Statement of Principles and Actions while 10-Year Plan Champions, city representatives, and philanthropies met to discuss local results and new opportunities related to the Summit. Dallas 10-Year Plan Champion Mike Rawlings is pictured here.

In the Friday morning plenary session, Council Director Mangano moderated a discussion with Atlanta Mayor Franklin and Des Moines Mayor Cownie on jurisdictional 10-Year Plan leadership, public-private investment partnerships, and innovations that achieve results in ending homelessness. Mayor Hickenlooper moderated the closing plenary which focused on public-private partnerships between elected officials and philanthropy. Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, who is about to release a 10-Year Plan, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam whose city-county plan is in implementation, and St. Louis Mayor Slay whose city has experienced a decrease in chronic homelessness in the implementation of their 10-Year Plan, addressed the partners, along with Fannie Mae Director of Homeless Initiatives Joe Weisbord, Melville President Hohler, Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Scot Spencer, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Nancy Barrand.

Mayors and County Officials Will Promote Principles and Invite Others to Sign. At the 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. The Statement will be made available to other Mayors and County officials to sign. Mayors and County officials who are interested in becoming partners to the agreement can download the Principles and guidelines for signing. Click here for document.

Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield said that the officials’ meeting was akin to a revival meeting. "It has refocused our energy, restored our spirits and assured us we are all on the right course to solve this problem," he said, adding that he plans to hold a regional meeting to discuss the issue with other mayors.

Mayors’ Gun Summit Provided Mayoral Model. The Denver Summit was modeled on a successful bipartisan summit of 15 mayors on illegal guns convened in April 2006 by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. The representative sample of mayors met to discuss strategies and create a mayoral action plan that could be advanced with other cities, as well as with other levels of government and the private sector. Since then more than 200 Mayors from over 40 states have signed onto the principles focused on federal, state, and local action, as well as research and legislation.

Denver Signing Follows Key National Homelessness Developments. The signing of the Statement followed closely on several key national events underscoring the new national trajectory on the issue of homelessness. On November 7, for the first time in the history of contemporary homelessness in the United States, the federal government released national data reported by local communities documenting a nearly 12% decline in the number of persons experiencing chronic homelessness in the nation. At a press conference at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and in conjunction with national media attention, including a USA Today article, data was reported showing that the population of persons experiencing chronic homelessness fell from 175,914 in 2005 to 155,623 in 2006. On November 8, the National Alliance to End Homelessness released Vital Mission, a report offering recommendations to respond to the tragedy of veterans experiencing homelessness in our nation.

Then on November 14, a Gallup Poll on homelessness, commissioned by Fannie Mae in 8 cities across the country was released at the National Press Club in conjunction with the 20th Annual Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walk. On Saturday, November 17, 2007, there were new Help the Homeless events in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, and Seattle in addition to the historic Washington, D.C. event.

Symbolically over this same period of time a number of new cities and communities committed to or announced completion of their 10-Year Plans ranging from Worcester, Massachusetts to Charlotte, North Carolina and Lincoln County, Oregon, bringing the total number of cities and counties committed to 10-Year Plans to over 320 across the nation.

Role of Philanthropy Underscored.
Summit co-host and President of the Melville Charitable Trust Robert Hohler (pictured here) told participants, “The foundations represented at this summit are committed to partnering with cities, counties, states and providers to help end homelessness. We can’t stand by while men, women and children live their lives on the streets. We can and will work with our partners in elected office to make sure the homeless have the tools they need to lead happy, healthy and productive lives.”

Joe Weisbord, Director of Homeless Initiatives for Fannie Mae, said “The Fannie Mae Foundation has been working to end homelessness for more than 20 years. The America’s Road Home agreement signed here today at the Under One Roof summit represents a major step forward. He added that the Foundation is “committed to funding another summit to continue the great work that was done here in Denver.”

In addition to the elected officials’ discussions, the Summit featured four breakout sessions, where elected officials and representatives from philanthropy discussed tax and finance strategies for 10-Year Plans, permanent housing, cross-cutting issues of homelessness, health, and housing, and workforce issues.

Partnership, Planning, and Results Increase Investment. At the Summit, Mayor Hickenlooper announced a $1.5 Million ''Capital + Government'' contribution for housing under Denver's Road Home by the Schaden Family Foundation. The Foundation was represented by Rick Schaden, CEO of Cervantes Capital and founder of Quiznos, Smashburger and 1-2-3 Fit. "Capital + Government" is a philanthropic model espoused by the Schadens and designed to bring problem-solving expertise from the public and private sectors together in addressing community challenges. The model intends that private investments be both financial and advisory. Capital + Government will build housing through Mercy Housing Colorado, promote training and self-sufficiency, and contribute to the process of putting the formerly homeless people back on their feet.

Leaders Agree to Partner to Increase Focus on Family Homelessness. While in Denver, Mayors and County officials committed to a national awareness campaign announced by Vulcan Productions, a feature film and documentary production company created by investor and philanthropist Paul G. Allen. Vulcan's forthcoming motion picture release Where God Left His Shoes - starring John Leguizamo and written and directed by Salvatore Stabile - tells the story of a homeless family in New York during the holiday season. Over the next year and beyond, Mayors, community organizations and social service providers are encouraged to plan to use the film to focus on the issue of family homelessness. The movie, scheduled for release in November 2008, and related outreach materials will be a tool to engage a wide range of individuals and groups to create awareness in the fight to end homelessness. The Council is in discussions with Vulcan Productions to create a series of “opinion leader” screenings similar to the ones for the box office hit film, “The Pursuit of Happyness.”

PHOTO CREDIT: The Council thanks Gary Rhodes for the use of these Summit photos.

AMERICA'S ROAD HOME STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES AND ACTIONS SIGNED AT NOVEMBER 16 UNDER ONE ROOF SUMMIT IN DENVER.

Whereas: More than 2 million Americans across our country each year experience homelessness in our local communities, compromising the quality of life of the person, and the community; and

Whereas: As elected Mayors and County officials, we are on the frontlines of homelessness and accountable to our communities for the well-being of all citizens; and

Whereas: We recognize that no one level of government can remedy homelessness alone; and

Whereas: We affirm that we will work together with our partners in state and federal government as well as in the foundation community and private sector to maintain and enhance the sustainable investment of resources needed to respond; and

Whereas: We have taken action to create jurisdictionally-led, community-based 10-Year Plans to end chronic homelessness in our communities in partnership with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), and the National Association of Counties (NACo) to end the disgrace;

Now, therefore, we resolve to work together in a national partnership of every level of government and the private sector, with our fellow cities and counties and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to identify, adopt, and create innovative initiatives to advance the following principles and actions:

We, the undersigned Mayors and County officials, do hereby commit to this Statement of Principles and Actions, embrace its goals, and announce our intention to work in partnership in bringing the homelessness of our most vulnerable and disabled neighbors to an end in the United States.

Mayors and County officials are invited to sign onto this Statement of Principles and Actions.

12% REDUCTION IN CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS ANNOUNCED BY ADMINISTRATION -- Data show results of record federal investment, partnership and innovation.

NOVEMBER 7, 2007. For the first time in the history of contemporary homelessness in the United States, the federal government has released national data reported by local communities showing a 12% decline in the number of persons experiencing chronic homelessness in the nation. At a press conference today at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and in conjunction with national media attention, including a USA Today article, HUD Secretary and former United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Chair Alphonso Jackson reported that the chronically homeless population fell from 175,914 in 2005 to 155,623 in 2006. The data are based on reports from a single day from 3,900 cities and counties, of which more than 1,500 reported a decrease over one year. Secretary Jackson is pictured here at the press conference (HUD photo).

"President Bush strongly believes that we can help to reduce chronic homelessness in America with good policy and sufficient funding," said a statement released by the White House Press Secretary. "Today, we're learning that his leadership on this issue is paying off." The statement continued: "Because of the Administration's commitment to providing permanent housing solutions for homeless individuals, there are nearly 20,000 fewer persons living on our streets this year."

Noting that the President has requested $1.6 billion for HUD's homeless programs for the FY 2008 budget - representing a 55 percent increase in funding over 2001 levels - the press statement concluded: "We will continue to help the most vulnerable in our society find housing and other services as we work towards the President's goal of eliminating chronic homelessness."

"While we have a lot of work ahead of us to eliminate chronic homelessness in America, these numbers show remarkable progress is being made," said Secretary Jackson. "HUD and local communities are increasingly providing permanent housing solutions and breaking a vicious cycle of homelessness for those who have lived on the streets as a way of life."

"These are the numbers we've been waiting to hear for a quarter of a century," stated Council Executive Director Philip Mangano. "This Administration, in partnership with the Congress, has made record resources available through HUD and other federal agencies for six consecutive years. The national partnership created by the Council of mayors, county executives, and governors has used those HUD housing-focused resources along with new local resources to invest in strategies that focus on housing and supports. The result - the first decrease in memory."

"Fewer of our most vulnerable and disabled neighbors are living on the streets or languishing in shelters. Increased resources, innovative initiatives, and a national partnership of every level of government with the private sector are the ingredients of a new strategy that is making an impact across the country," he said. "Mayors and county executives deserve much credit as do agencies who have stepped up to create housing. We are moving beyond managing the crisis to ending the disgrace of homelessness. That's good for the homeless person, good for the quality of life in our communities, and good for the taxpayer."

In his remarks, Secretary Jackson noted that the President had set the goal of ending chronic homelessness early in his Administration and that the announcement of reduced numbers is evidence that the hard work of creating "serious and sustainable assistance" to reach the most vulnerable people on the streets was paying off. The Secretary noted the constructive and successful bi-partisan, multi- governmental, public-private partnership at work in communities to achieve these results.

HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs Mark Johnston noted the important role of research in shaping the goal to end chronic homelessness first established under then HUD Secretary Mel Martinez, who was the first Chair of the revitalized United States Interagency Council on Homelessness in 2002 and cited as one factor in the new results the Interagency Council's partnership with mayors and other jurisdictional officials. Ann Oliva, Director of the Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs also took part in the briefing.

"There's much more to be done," indicated Director Mangano. "But today's report moves beyond conjecture and anecdote to data and research and offers hope that new strategies based on business principles and innovations are creating a tipping point to end a national disgrace once thought to be intractable. Most importantly, in moving beyond simply servicing homeless people to solving their homelessness, the visible and quantifiable change on our streets is re-moralizing our nation to bring an end to this human tragedy."

VA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF VA AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP IN SERVICE TO HOMELESS VETERANS WITH FOCUS ON ENDING VETERAN HOMELESSNESS

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. Stating that "we are here to examine two decades of earnest labor on behalf of homeless veterans," U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Acting Secretary Gordon Mansfield opened his keynote remarks at "Homeward Bound," the VA's Celebration of 20 Years of Community Partnership in Service to Homeless Veterans last week in San Diego. Acting Secretary Mansfield noted that the lessons of what has worked and what hasn't, informed by resources, experience, and dedication, would support VA's goal "not to manage homelessness for our veterans, but to end it. . . The time is now. . . We are going to get it done." Acting Secretary Mansfield is pictured here (right) with VA Homeless Programs Director Pete Dougherty and Paul Smits, Associate Chief Consultant, VA Homeless and Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Services.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, invited to addressed the plenary of the conference, noted: "If our primary intent is to deliver for the consumer what they want and need, namely, their homelessness ended, then we need to be open to what we're not doing, rather than being solely focused on what we are doing. . . We all need to work harder to insure that homeless veterans have access to every resource available for homeless people - targeted, mainstream, entitlement, federal, state, local, public, private."

Director Mangano also stressed the importance of housing as the central antidote to homelessness: "Permanent supportive housing works for vulnerable and disabled populations. When McKinney-Vento was first passed, this technology developed in the mental health system of response was not in common use. Today communities across the country are targeting this technology to those experiencing chronic homelessness and achieving 80-85% retention rates on average." Director Mangano noted that, along with Council initiatives to ensure the presence of veterans in 10-Year Plan partnerships and his own recent challenge to YMCA housing directors to address the housing needs of veterans, he had urged greater recognition of the needs of veterans in the recent McKinney- Vento reauthorization hearings in the House. Director Mangano is pictured here.

The 20th anniversary event included a full agenda of training and briefing sessions on data and evaluation, special populations, clinical issues and more. During the conference opening, Acting Secretary Mansfield presented the VA Secretary's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Service for Homeless Veterans to Gay Koerber and the VISN II and III VA Healthcare for Homeless Programs, Phyllis Smith Taylor of VBA Center in Chicago, Jewish Veterans Post 64 of Las Vegas, and a Massachusetts furniture bank.

The event followed a 2-day meeting of the VA Secretary's Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans in San Diego, where Committee Chair George Basher, Director, New York Division of Veterans Affairs, convened members to review the Committee's annual report, current legislative proposals, and prisoner reentry initiatives focused on veterans.

LEGACY OF ABOLITION FLOURISHES IN ROCHESTER/MONROE COUNTY, NY WITH UNVEILING OF 10-YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS

September 19, 2007. Rochester, New York, a place rich in the history of the abolitionist and suffragist movements as home to both Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass, added a new chapter this week with the unveiling of a 10-Year Plan to end homelessness in Rochester and Monroe County. The plan and report, Housing Options for All, was unveiled Wednesday morning by city and county officials and non-profit and business leaders at a special gathering preceding the 6th Annual Western New York Homelessness and Hunger Symposium. At the invitation of community leaders, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was present to receive the plan and applauded all the stakeholders for moving forward with an innovation infused, results oriented effort. Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy was joined by Dawn Staub representing Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, United Way of Rochester/Monroe County President Peter Carpino, Rochester/Monroe County Continuum of Care Chairperson Sandra Mindel, Symposium Planning Chair Sara Taylor, State Senator Joe Robach, Father Peter Young who is doing exemplary work creating housing for ex-offenders, Jennifer Sanfilippo representing Governor Eliot Spitzer, and consultant Connie Sanderson who along with Sara Taylor helped write the plan. An overview of the Plan was presented by businessman and former homeless consumer Gary Mink.

Mayor Duffy, as a former police officer and police chief, understands that punitive measures never work to reduce homelessness, and emphasized the importance of accountability and results as the city and county move forward to implement the plan. Ms. Staub affirmed the support of the county for the 10-Year Plan and acknowledged the efforts of COC Chairperson Mindel. Director Mangano congratulated the community leaders for identifying the need to plan to improve the quality of life for all in the community and joining the National Partnership to realize the intention of ending homelessness. He affirmed the importance of the city and county working together and in partnership with the private sector especially the United Way, the business community, and service providers. Referencing the community's storied history, Director Mangano urged them "not to worry about the inevitable voices of pessimism and skepticism that will tell you that the goal is unachievable. Those voices have been around a long time. They've criticized the abolitionists, the suffragists, the civil rights activists - right here in your own back yard. Said they were naïve and would never succeed. They were wrong back then and they're wrong now. So when those voices doubt our mission, our appeal is not to wishful thinking but world history." Acknowledging Mr. Mink's personal story of having lived for a time on the streets of Rochester, Director Mangano pointed out that "what Gary's personal life experience represents is itself testimony and witness that the plan to end homelessness can be realized."

Pictured, top, l-r, Mayor Duffy, Director Mangano, State Senator Robach; Middle, l-r, Father Young with Director Mangano; Bottom, l-r, Mr. Carpino, Director Mangano, Ms. Mindel.

10-YEAR PLAN EFFORT GETS UNDERWAY IN MARION AND POLK COUNTIES, OREGON

September 17, 2007. A regional effort to create a 10-Year Plan to end homelessness in Marion and Polk Counties, Oregon was kicked off at the Marion County Courthouse. Participating in the Call to Action were Marion County Commissioner Janet Carlson, Salem Police Chief Jerry Moore, businessman Dick Withnell who was also representing Salem Mayor Janet Taylor, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency Executive Director Teresa Cox who provided the welcome and introductions, and United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Region X Coordinator Paul Carlson.

Pictured above, l-r, Council Coordinator Carlson, Mr. Withnell, Ms. Cox, Commissioner Carlson, and Chief Moore.

Marion County Commissioner Carlson spoke of the latest Point in Time count that identified 2,006 homeless in Marion and Polk Counties and spoke of her particular concern for homeless children and youth. "For the children, youth, parents, disabled, veterans, mentally ill, and those who are hopeless and homeless in Marion County, we can do more. We can join together to solve this problem," she said.

Alluding to Winston Churchill's famous quote--"Now is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps , the end of the beginning"-- Chief Moore said that the 10-Year Plan effort "is perhaps the end of talking about it - putting walk to the talk - to a conclusion of making a difference." Businessman Withnell spoke of being a law enforcement officer in the city for many years and noted that "there are bigger and better needs for our jail space than for those who are homeless or have mental health issues or needs."

Region X Coordinator Paul Carlson congratulated the community for joining more than 300 jurisdictions partnered with the Council to develop 10-Year Plans to achieve the intent of ending homelessness and encouraged inclusion of a housing first approach, data collection to quantify the problem and costs, a focus on prevention, and measurable outcomes for visible results.

The Community Action Agency will help coordinate the planning effort whose Leadership Team includes Salem Municipal Judge Jane Aiken, Human Services Director Rene DuBoise, Retired Marion Sheriff Raul Ramirez, Salem Hospital Administrator Ruth Wagner, Prudential Real Estate Professional Byron Hendricks, Mt. Angel Mayor Tom Bauman, Polk County Commissioner Tom Ritchey, and Mayor Taylor, Commissioner Carlson, businessman Withnell and Ms. Cox.

Although she was unable to attend the event, Salem Mayor Taylor signed a proclamation acknowledging "that there is a new focus on the problems of homelessness at both the state and federal levels, as well as recognition that new approaches, including the 'housing first' model show great promise in ending homelessness" and proclaimed the week of September 17, 2007 to be Call to Action for 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. The Committee hopes to complete development of the Plan for public release in March.

GUAM GOVERNOR TO ESTABLISH STATE INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS AND LEAD 10-YEAR PLAN EFFORT

September 7, 2007. This week, the Honorable Felix P. Camacho, Governor of the Territory of Guam, became the 54th Governor of a state or territory to commit to establishing a State Interagency Council on Homelessness. The Governor also expressed interest in moving forward to develop a 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness for Guam. The commitments came during a September 4 meeting with United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Region 9 Coordinator Ed Cabrera representing Council Director Philip Mangano. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Region 9 Director Dick Rainey and Deputy Director Caroline Krewson offered the Governor their support during the meeting. Also attending the meeting were Guam First Lady Joan Camacho, Governor Camacho's Chief of Staff George Bamba and Mrs. Bamba, and Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment officials Gary Kuwabura, and Tony Gallegos.

Governor Camacho noted with concern that the most recent Point-In-Time count for Guam had revealed an increase in the number of homeless persons from 985 including 791 unsheltered in 2005 to 1,084 including 891 unsheltered in January of this year. Guam First Lady Joan Camacho had assisted with the count. Reviewing various studies done by communities on the cost of chronic homelessness, the Governor expressed interest in using these studies as models for a Guam-specific cost study to help inform the development of a 10-Year Plan. Also noted were the many similarities between Guam and Hawaii and the possibility of modeling some of Hawaii's efforts where Governor Linda Lingle has been leading a state-level response to ending chronic homelessness.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Regional Interagency Council on Homelessness point person and Federal Regional Council Secretariat Emory Lee helped arrange the meeting. Pictured here, l-r, Council Regional Coordinator Cabrera, HUD Region 9 Deputy Director Krewson, Governor and Mrs. Camacho, HUD Region 9 Director Rainey, Mrs Joyce Bamba, and Governor Chief of Staff Bamba. In April 2004, Guam participated in the Pacific Island Mini-Academy Session as part of the federal interagency Policy Academies convened from 2001 - 2006 for every state and territory to create a state-level team to focus on chronic homelessness and/or family homelessness.

SEATTLE MAYOR NICKELS ANNOUNCES CITY FUNDING FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

KENTUCKY OPENS FIRST OF 1O PLANNED RECOVERY CENTERS FOR HOMELESS AND AT RISK INDIVIDUALS WITH ADDICTIONS

HENDERSON, KENTUCKY. The first of Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher's envisioned Recovery Centers for homeless and at risk individuals with substance addictions was dedicated August 27th. The Women's Addiction Recovery Manor (WARM) in Henderson in western Kentucky will provide "housing, counseling, support and hope" for up to 100 women at any one time, of which about one-third will be referred by the Kentucky Department of Corrections to facilitate successful re-entry. 39 women are already enrolled in the WARM supportive housing and recovery program, which is modeled after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recognized HOPE Center in Lexington and the Healing Place in Louisville.

Governor Fletcher's Recovery Kentucky Initiative was developed in response to survey data that showed a severe treatment access gap for addicted homeless and at risk individuals in the state. The Initiative is incorporated into Kentucky's 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness announced by the Governor in 2005 and developed by the Kentucky Interagency Council on Homelessless and the Kentucky Housing Corporation under the leadership of CEO Ben Cook with the encouragement of United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano who also joined Governor Fletcher at the WARM groundbreaking last year. It's believed that about half of Kentucky's estimated 19,000 homeless have an addiction to alcohol or other drugs.

The statewide Recovery Kentucky Initiative is being administered as a joint effort by the Governor's Office of Local Development, the Department of Corrections, the Office of Drug Control Policy, and the Kentucky Housing Corporation. A total of 10 Recovery Centers are planned across the state, of which another 8 are at the construction phase. The Recovery Kentucky initiative is using an innovative combination of government and private resources for the construction and operation of the centers. The Henderson WARM Center was built on privately donated land with funding support that included $500,000 in Affordable Housing Program resources through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati. WARM's ongoing operation will be funded with resources including federal Community Development Block Grants made available to the state, fees paid by the Department of Corrections, Section 8, food stamps, and donations that already include a privately donated van for transportation. Other community support is coming from Bennett Memorial United Methodist Church which is providing classroom space and Methodist Hospital and the Henderson County Health Department.

Kentucky Housing Corporation CEO Ben Cook called the effort "the best project I have been associated with in my 40 year working life" and a Housing Corporation press statement noted, " Without a stable place to live and a support system to help them address their underlying problems, most homeless people who also suffer from substance abuse and addiction bounce around from shelters, public hospitals, psychiatric institutions and detoxification centers . . . It is estimated that the Recovery Kentucky initiative will save Kentuckians millions in tax dollars that would have been spent on emergency room visits and jail costs."

EXPANSIVE PARTNERSHIPS CREATE NEW PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN ST. LOUIS

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. Following by just days the dedication of the 24/7 Horizon Club Safe Haven in downtown St. Louis, the first of four safe havens being established as part of that community's 10-Year Plan, a groundbreaking and blessing ceremony was held August 31st for the construction of Rosati House, a new 26-unit permanent supportive housing complex for homeless individuals with mental illness and/or substance abuse disorder. The project is another component of the community's 10-Year Plan and is being undertaken by the St. Patrick Center led by CEO Dan Buck with the support of eight public and private funding partners. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, who was joined by United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano at the Horizon Club Safe Haven dedication earlier in the week, was joined by U.S. Representative Wiliam Lacy Clay and the Most Reverend Raymond Leo Burke, Archbishop of St. Louis for the Rosati House ceremony. Partners represented at the groundbreaking included the Missouri Housing Development Commission, Enterprise Community Partners, St. Louis Equity Fund, Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Catholic Charities of St. Louis, and various city officials and the Affordable Housing Commission.

The St. Patrick Center Assertive Community Treatment Team will be headquartered at Rosati House which will also provide living skills counselors for the residents. St. Patrick Center recently reported FY 07 program outcomes that include placing 589 clients into permanent housing, 937 clients into full time and part time jobs, and providing services to 4,105 mentally ill and substance abuse clients. Specific program outcomes included 204 homeless clients obtaining employment; 214 veterans placed into full time jobs and 124 into housing; 175 ex-offenders placed into full time jobs through Project Reach and 522 local and Hurricane Katrina clients received rent and security deposits.

In addition to the construction of Rosati House, the facilities of the St. Patrick Center are being expanded through a collaborative faith based initiative between the U.S. Department of Commerce' Economic Development Administration, which has provided a $3.5 million grant, and Catholic Charities to create job training and career services through a new trades training center, small business incubator and 256 seat auditorium for non profit service providers training conferences and events. In 2006, St. Patrick Center was presented the Department of Commerce's EDA Excellence in Economic Development Award for Community and Faith-Based Social Entrepreneurship.

In June, St. Patrick Center and Catholic Charities announced a joint housing campaign to raise resources for permanent supportive housing. The goal of the new Key Player Initiative is to raise $1 million annually by FY 2011 to pay for rent, utilities, Living Skills classes, casework and other program costs associated with providing permanent supportive housing opportunities in the community. The initiative will recruit "key players" from corporations, foundations, churches, schools, and social and trade organizations to organize creative fundraisers. Founding Key Players already include Wells Fargo Home Mortgage which recently met a 4 year, $1 million pledge to St. Louis through a series of annual golf tournaments, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and St. Joseph School in Manchester. In April, the Mortgage Bankers Association launched a Homers for the Homeless fundraiser that is expected to raise $30,000 this year collecting pledges from Cardinals baseball fans for every home run hit during the season.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY OFFICIALS GET FIRST HAND LOOK AT DENVER'S 10-YEAR PLAN INITIATIVES AND OUTCOMES

DENVER, COLORADO. Central to the work of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness is the creation of a National Partnership of every level of government and the private sector to achieve the goal of ending chronic homelessness and reducing all homelessness. This National Partnership begins in Washington with 20 federal agencies partnered to make federal resources more available and accessible, moves to State Houses where 53 Governors have created State Interagency Councils on Homelessness, and is made tangible in local communities where the Council has encouraged and supported mayors and county supervisors to partner together and with an inclusive and expansive group of stakeholders in creating jurisdictionally-based, results-oriented, and business-principled 10-Year Plans to End Chronic Homelessness. To date, more than 300 such jurisdictionally based 10-Year Plan processes are underway, and increasingly jurisdictions that have begun implementation are reporting reductions in homelessness. Denver is one such jurisdiction. In the second year of its 10-Year Plan, Denver's Road Home, Denver has reported a 36% reduction in chronic homelessness.

One way in which the Council fosters and supports 10-Year Plan efforts is by facilitating peer-to-peer exchanges on challenges faced and overcome, innovations, and best practices that are achieving results such as the August 29 visit by Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Zev Yaroslavsky and his deputy, Flora Gil Krisiloff, to Denver. Supervisor Yaroslavsky is working to facilitate collaboration and cooperation between Los Angeles County and its 88 cities in creating housing and supportive services to end chronic homelessness.

Accompanied by United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, Supervisor Chair Yaroslavsky and Ms. Krisiloff met with Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Denver Department of Human Services Manager Roxane White who helped lead development of the Denver's Road Home plan. The day long site visit, facilitated by Denver Housing Programs Director Patrick Coyle, included visits and briefings on Denver's successful Housing First Collaborative with Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) Executive Director John Parvensky, health care and outreach initiatives with CCH's Stout Street Clinic Director Louise Boris and members of the multidisciplinary ACT teams, and discussions of other housing initiatives with Denver Housing Authority Director Ismael Guerrero. Pictured here, top l-r, Director Mangano, Mayor Hickenlooper, and Supervisor Yaroslavsky. Pictured next, l-r, Director Mangano, Supervisor Yaroslavsky, Ms. Krisiloff, and CCH Executive Director Parvensky. Also pictured, meeting with ACT Team members, and conversing with housing clients. Council National Team Leader Michael German also participated in the day's events.

The Denver Housing First Collaborative (DHFC) for which the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is the lead agency, is one of the 11 grantees of the $55 million multi-agency federal Collaborative Initiative to Help End Homelessness which combined federal housing and service resources including facilitating access to VA services, to create permanent supportive housing opportunities for persons experiencing chronic homelessness. Partnered with the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless in implementing the Denver Housing First Collaborative are Arapahoe House, Denver's largest substance abuse provider; Mental Health Corporation of Denver; Denver Health; the Denver Department of Human Services; and the Denver VA Medical Center. Successful efforts to integrate permanent supportive housing into mixed income developments were also discussed. Groundbreaking is expected soon on the 100 unit Renaissance Riverfront Loft complex which will include 40 units targeted to persons experiencing chronic homelessness modeled after an already successful downtown Off Broadway Loft project.

Board Supervisor Yaroslavsky is working to facilitate collaboration and cooperation on the development of housing and supportive services between Los Angeles County and its 88 cities. A resolution introduced by Supervisor Yaroslavsky and Supervisor Yvonne Braithwaite Burke and approved by the County Board in July aims to facilitate "consistent partnership between the County and cities and entities interested in delivering housing linked to supportive services that will reduce homelessness throughout the County."

"I have been encouraged by the individual initiatives of both the City and County of Los Angeles. Both the Mayor and County Supervisors understand the need for action," said United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Mangano. "I commend Supervisor Yaroslavsky for visiting Denver to see first hand the impact of actions in the context of a jurisdictionally-led, community-based 10-Year Plan. A Plan that has reduced street homelessness, saved taxpayers money, and improved the quality of life in the community. Those results are the return on investment desired by the Supervisor and the Mayor."

SEPTEMBER IS RECOVERY MONTH

The proclamation signed by President George W. Bush designating September 2007 as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month ("Recovery Month") marks the 18th year of this national effort to raise awareness of addiction, the associated human and societal costs, and the availability of treatment.

This year's theme, Join the Voices for Recovery: Saving Lives, Saving Dollars, aims to focus attention on the financial and human costs of substance use disorders to promote a better understanding of the benefits that investing in treatment can have on those who enter recovery, their families, and the larger community. The month-long event will be formally kicked off at a September 6 news conference led by White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director John Walters, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Administrator Terry Cline, and SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Director H. Wesley Clark and will include the release of SAMHSA's 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

As the lead federal agency for Recovery Month, SAMHSA maintains a Recovery Month webpage that includes toolkits and powerpoint presentations to promote community events and links to the national inventory of treatment facilities that includes a quick search by state.

Another important resource is the archive of monthly SAMHSA moderated webcasts which began in February targeted to a variety of community stakeholders. A new webcast premiered September 5 on Investing in Treatment: Policymakers' Positive Impact on Their Community. The panel discussion references a California study "that treatment has a benefit-to-cost ratio of 7:1, meaning that the cost to taxpaying citizens of treating approximately 150,000 people is $209 million, while the benefits from that treatment are worth about $1.5 billion in taxpayer savings (Ettner S, et al. Benefit-Cost in the California Treatment Outcome Project: Does Substance Abuse Treatment Pay for Itself? Health Services Research, 41(1):192-213, 2006)."

Archived webcast topics include Treatment 101, an overview of available treatment methods including inpatient and outpatient programs, and medication-assisted therapies; Helping Families Find Recovery, which examined how foster care programs, family drug courts, mutual support groups, community-based organizations, and other services are helping families "walk the road to recovery together"; Financial and Medical Benefits of Treatment for Medical Providers and Insurers, which explored the cost benefits to health care providers and insurers of investing in treatment for substance abuse and mental health disorders; Treatment and Recovery: Reducing the Burden on the Justice System and Society; and Improving the Bottom Line: Supporting Treatment Profits Employers and Employees. This year's National Drug Free Work Week sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and members of the Drug Free Workplace Alliance will take place October 14-20.

Addiction prevention among youth is the aim of the $74 million in Drug Free Community Grants announced by ONDCP Director Walters last week to 736 communities across the nation. The DFC program, administered by ONDCP in conjunction with SAMHSA, provides grants of up to $500,000 over five years to community organizations that facilitate citizen participation in local drug prevention efforts. Coalitions are comprised of community leaders, parents, youth, teachers, religious and fraternal organizations, health care and business professionals, law enforcement, and the media. The funding will support 90 new local community anti-drug coalitions and continue support for 646 existing community coalitions. 34 grants were awarded through the DFC Support Mentoring Program to advance efforts by existing DFC grantees to develop more self-supporting community anti-drug coalitions.

"Engaging our communities is critical to continuing our progress reducing youth drug use. Drug-Free Community coalitions bring together our individual strengths to push back against our common challenge of substance abuse," said Director Walters in announcing the awards.

PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT: BEGINNING TO PUT HOMELESSNESS BEHIND THEM

SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS . It's a simple question, How Can We Help You? and for the 500 homeless and at risk women, men and children who were welcomed to the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts August 17th for the community's first Project Homeless Connect, that question was the beginning of putting homelessness behind them.

Springfield is the 3rd largest city in the Bay State and 4th largest in New England with a population of just under 152,000. In January, Springfield Mayor Charles V. Ryan unveiled the community's 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, Homes Within Reach, at a press conference with United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. Peter Pan Bus Lines Executive Vice President Bob Schwarz chairs the Plan Implementation Committee. Last Friday, the community held its first Project Homeless Connect, an effort led by Plan Implementation Committee member Reverend Greg Dyson of Church in the Acres. Mayor Ryan, Reverend Dyson, and Mr. Schwarz were joined by Council Director Mangano and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region 1 Director Brian Golden, in welcoming those who came seeking assistance along with the 150 volunteers and representatives of more than 80 service providing organizations that included the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration. Shown here (top l-r), are Mr. Schwarz, Director Mangano, and Mayor Ryan speaking with PHC participants. Reverend Dyson is shown addressing the volunteers.

The all day event began with a rally for volunteers that included remarks by Mayor Ryan, Director Mangano and PHC Chair Dyson. Director Mangano praised the Mayor and the volunteers for welcoming back to "community connection" their most vulnerable and disabled homeless neighbors through the national innovation of Project Homeless Connect held at the MassMutual Center, "the community's living room." The day included breakfast and lunch seatings, workshops and direct services from over 80 entities, and concluded with musical entertainment sponsored by several faith based organizations. Housing application assistance, referrals, and counseling; eye exams and eyeglasses; medical care including HIV tests, dental screenings; haircuts; and ID issuance and birth certificate orders paid for from the more than $5000 in corporate donations were among the services identified during exit interviews as being most helpful. Corporate sponsors included Alta Moda, Bertera, Babson Capital Management, Bay State Medical Center, Lions Den, Mercy Hospital, Montenia's Restaurant, Peter Pan Bus Lines, the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Springfield College, and Williams Distributing. On site child care was provided to 55 children reports City Homeless and Special Needs Director Geraldine McCafferty. Pictured top in this sequence of photos of services at the event is U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Region I Director Brian Golden speaking with Deborah Burns of the Springfield Health and Human Services Agency regarding oral health services at the event that were funded in part by HHS.

Reflecting a sentiment shared by many, one volunteer described participating in the event as "absolutely eye opening regarding the struggles the homeless endure."

By increasing community awareness of the needs of homeless neighbors, and forging new partnerships among service providers, and with the business and faith based communities, the Connect event has increased momentum for the community's 10-Year Plan implementation efforts that include development of a 24/7 resource center and as Mayor Ryan said at the Plan's unveiling, "not housing after shelter, not housing never, but housing first."

FEDERAL AND CITY PARTNERS LAUNCH INITIATIVE FOR 10-YEAR PLAN RESULTS

WACO, TEXAS. Dozens of local and federal officials and community leaders recently gathered in Waco, Texas for a meeting that launched a pilot effort by Region VI Federal Interagency Council on Homelessness members to provide dedicated technical assistance across the range of federal agencies to the implementation of a jurisdictional 10-Year Plan.

Participants were welcomed by Waco Mayor Virginia DuPuy whose leadership helped the community complete development of a 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness entitled, Opening Doors,Unlocking Potential. Mayor DuPuy was joined by Waco Director of Housing Jeff Wall, and Homelessness Administrator Teri Holtkamp for the meeting between the federal Regional Interagency officials and Waco's 10-Year Plan Implementation Committee. In 2005 a Baylor University study estimated that homelessness cost Waco, a city of 114,000, an estimated $7.6 million annually with the cost of each chronically homeless person estimated at $39,000 per year.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Regional Director and 2007 Chair of the Region VI Interagency Council Michael Garcia and Administration for Children and Families Program Coordinator and Working Group Chair Susan Macaulay led the Federal team that also included U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Network Director and 2005 RICH Chair Thomas Stranova, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Region VI Faith Based Coordinator Nicolas Ramon representing HUD Regional Director Cynthia Leon; and other senior regional officials from HHS, HUD, VA, Labor, Transportation, Internal Revenue Service, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Also participating was Dr. Larry Rickards, Chief of the Homeless Programs Branch of the Center for Mental Health Services at SAMHSA. The Education Department was represented through officials of the Texas Homeless Education Office at the University of Texas at Austin.

"Mayor DuPuy has been a leader among mayors with her city's adoption of a results-oriented plan, the implementation of Project Homeless Connect, and leadership in the U.S. Conference of Mayors," noted United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who joined Mayor DuPuy for the July 2005 unveiling of Waco's 10-Year Plan. "The Mayor now partners in a strong federal collaboration to end the homelessness of Waco's most vulnerable and disabled neighbors."

The City's 10-Year Plan Implementation Steering Committee includes representatives of the Waco Housing Authority, Mission Waco, Baylor University, the Cooper Foundation, the Waco Independent School District, and the business, real estate, and legal communities. Also in attendance were members of the Housing, Data/Finance, Outreach, and Healthcare, and Ex Offender Reintegration Implementation Committees and other invited community participants including representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, and congressional offices.

Among the topics discussed at this first meeting were housing opportunities with a special focus on the potential availability of a building on the Waco Veterans Affairs Medical Center campus; mental health and substance abuse; and discharge planning from prison facilities and other state facilities.

The July 31st meeting was held on a day proclaimed by Mayor DuPuy as "Sally Shipman Day" in the City of Waco, honoring the late United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Region VI Coordinator Sally Shipman "for her committed public service for our community, as well as at the county, state, and federal levels of government, in an effort to better the lives and conditions of homeless individuals and families. . . The City of Waco honors the memory of Sally Shipman by recognizing her passionate desire to eliminate homelessness." Bob Shipman, Sally's husband, was a special guest at the meeting and was presented with a copy of the City's Proclamation honoring Sally and a special collage of pictures.

VIRGIN ISLANDS GOVERNOR AND INTERAGENCY COUNCIL FOCUS ON HOMELESSNESS

DENVER REPORTS 36% REDUCTION IN CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS

DENVER,COLORADO. June 2007. "We are pleased to report that our analysis of the Denver-specific portion of the survey reflects an 11 percent decrease in overall homeless counted in Denver and a 36 percent decrease in the count of chronic homeless in Denver since we began implementing Denver's Road Home in 2005 with services and accountability. We are on track for accomplishing our initial goal of reducing chronic homelessness by 75 percent by 2010 and ending homelessness altogether in ten years. The numbers are yet another strong indicator that our plan to end homelessness is working in getting people off the streets and into lives of stability and self- sufficiency." With those words, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper announced the Mile High City's most recent results which were included in the 2007 Colorado Statewide Winter Homeless Count Survey by the Colorado Division of Housing, the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) and Mile High United Way.

Noting that homelessness is a regional issue, Hickenlooper added, "Denver as a community has made great strides in our work to ensure Denver's homeless people have the tools they need to live life off the streets. We have been talking with city and county officials around the metro area and stand ready to help them institute similar plans if they choose to do so."

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, commenting on the news from Denver, indicated, "Denver shows once again that results are infectious, and innovation leads the way. With political leadership and commitment at the forefront, Denver has partnered with the business, sports, and university community, conducted cost benefit analysis, created new housing opportunities, and adopted Project Homeless Connect."

10-YEAR PLANS UNVEILED IN CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OR AND VIRGINIA BEACH, VA

OREGON CITY, OREGON. June 2007. Clackamas County, Oregon has become the latest Oregon jurisdiction to adopt a 10-Year Plan on ending homelessness. Over 100 housed and homeless members of the community including County Commissioners, the County Sheriff, judges, and agency heads packed the County Commission Chamber of this now suburban Portland community of 340,000 that was among the early settlements in the West for the plan unveiling and discussion about the more than 600 persons living on the streets and the estimated 3000 "desperately poor," said to be mostly families.

"In Clackamas County, everyone deserves a safe place to call home because homelessness affects all of us," said County Commission Chair Martha Schrader, "Homelessness can affect an entire community in terms of the costs of health care services, law enforcement, shelters, and the impacts on libraries, education, and other public services. It is more humane, and is more fiscally responsible, to prevent homelessness from happening in the first place," she added.

Representing the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, Region X Coordinator Paul Carlson commended the county for taking the bold step to commit to ending homelessness. Encouraging them to focus on action steps leading to outcomes, Coordinator Carlson discussed the effectiveness of strategies including Housing First, Coordinated Entry, and Project Homeless Connect. " The Council is committed to working with you in finding the strategies that will produce results in Clackamas County and that will lead to an end to homelessness," said Coordinator Carlson.

Pictured here at the Plan unveiling are l-r, Coordinator Carlson, Commission Chair Schrader, Commissioner Bill Kennemer, and Clackamas County Community Action Director Brenda Durbin.

Clackamas County is already seeing results in reducing the number of chronically homeless individuals from its participation in the Social Security Administation's HOPE (Homeless Outreach Projects and Evaluation) initiative. Clackamas County was one of 40 jurisdictions chosen to participate in this multi-year demonstration to identify and remove barriers homeless people face in applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits for which they may be eligible because of disabling impairments. Through HOPE, Clackamas and other grantee communities have designed and are implementing a package of outreach and application approaches and services to locate homeless persons with disabling impairments and assist them in gathering documentation and other steps necessary to make application. Being able to apply for and receive SSI or SSDI payments for which they are eligible provides a source of income, and in the majority of states that link SSI eligibility with Medicaid, access to health care which is allowing the most disabled to get "a place to live" and to sustain their tenancies.

The Clackamas Department of Social Services reports that since the beginning of the initiative in 2004, 28 chronically homeless persons, representing 80% of those with whom they worked through HOPE in making application for benefits, have had their applications accepted on initial application, a vast improvement over the national 37% initial application disability approval rate. "As we do this work with people experiencing chronic homelessness, we have come to recognize the basic fact that income+housing= A Fighting Chance," said Clackamas HOPE Project Director Sarah Briggs.

Both HOPE and the joint SSA-U.S Department of Health and Human Services SOAR initiative, discussed in recent issues of the e-news that has provided training for more than 4,000 front-line case managers who actively assist the most needy applicants in 24 states and almost 80 cities, are increasing successful enrollments for disabled persons who are homeless on the first application, avoiding lengthy delays or appeals.

VIRGINIA BEACH AIMS TO "MORE FULLY COORDINATE WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS" THROUGH CRAFTING OF 10-YEAR PLAN.

More than 3000 miles away, Virginia Beach officials were unveiling a draft 10-Year Plan that will continue the momentum already underway through regional cooperative efforts in the Hampton Roads area with Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake. That regional collaboration has already resulted in the construction of the 60 unit Gosnold Apartments, a permanent supportive housing project in Norfolk, and will include groundbreaking this year for a similar 60 unit project in Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach officials also intend to increase eviction prevention resources for families, and like Norfolk, will adopt the Project Homeless Connect innovation.

UNITED WAY OF KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON ANNOUNCES $25 MILLION INITIATIVE TO HOUSE 1000 CHRONICALLY HOMELESS PERSONS.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. June 2007. The historic Paramount Theatre was the site for an equally historic announcement by United Way of King County President and CEO Jon Fine and 2007-2008 Campaign Chair John Stanton that the United Way will raise $25 million to provide permanent supportive housing to 1,000 of the county's most vulnerable citizens.

Since launch of the King County 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness two years ago, street homelessness has been reduced by 10% each year. Funds raised through this dedicated campaign, will help achieve even more rapid measurable and visible results. The funds will be "highly leveraged through partnerships with the City of Seattle, King County, and the King County and Seattle Housing Authorities," said Mr. Fine. Additional case managers will be hired to do outreach to those being released from institutions and homeless people living on the street , and all housing will include wraparound mental health, and chemical dependency and employment services.

The announcement was made at the United Way of King County 2nd annual "Report to the Community" Breakfast attended by more than 600 business and community leaders. The keynote speaker, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Scott Carson hailed the effort, and noted that while Boeing " is about making the impossible happen, ending homelessness is not something that is impossible. It's just hard." Campaign Chair and wireless technology entrepreneur Stanton said, " We can end chronic homelessness in King County. It's not only the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do. It makes sense for all of us -- individuals and business alike."

Also speaking at the breakfast was Karen Marcotte Solimano, chair of the United Way of King County homeless planning council ("Out of the Rain"), who said that the community's success in ending chronic homelessness would energize efforts to end homelessness for all homeless people.

BISMARCK-MANDAN, NORTH DAKOTA LAUNCH 10 YEAR PLANNING EFFORT

BISMARCK-MANDAN, NORTH DAKOTA. June 2007. Bismark and Mandan, North Dakota Mayors John Warford and Ken LaMont last week gave their cities just six months to develop a new 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. "As mayors, we established a Steering Committee to begin the process of developing a 10-year strategic plan for eliminating long-term homelessness in this region," said Mayor Warford, Mayor of the state's capital city. "These plans, inspired by the President's call to end homelessness, offer new energy to create solutions for our communities," said Mayor LaMont.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who has visited the region previously to discuss 10-Year Plans with local officials, has already been invited to one of the planning meetings and the scheduled unveiling. The Steering Committee has identified 30 prominent local stakeholders, including the United Way, who will develop and implement the strategic plan. Four half- day meetings of the stakeholder group will take place between July and October of this year. The finalized 10- year plan will be presented to both Bismarck and Mandan City Commissions for their acceptance and will then be presented to the community during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in November.

The Bismarck-Mandan initiative is being funded by an $8,000 grant from the Housing Finance Agency, which is also providing money for similar projects in Grand Forks, Minot, Devils Lake, Jamestown, Williston, Dickinson and the state's four Indian reservations. Each of the strategic plans will be used to formulate a statewide plan.

IN THE CITIES AND COUNTIES: GUILFORD COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA ANNOUNCES 10-YEAR PLAN AND NEW $1 MILLION IN RESOURCES TO HOUSE HOMELESS PEOPLE

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA. "This plan represents the culmination of our work over the past year. We have learned that the most successful approaches in other communities have been based on helping chronically homeless persons achieve stability in housing. Helping these individuals achieve stability decreases their usage of existing resources and makes those resources more available to assist other community members, including other, non-chronic, homeless persons." With this introduction, the Guilford County, High Point, Greensboro, North Carolina 10-Year Plan was unveiled at the Guilford Technical Community College, where Guilford County Board of Commissioners Chair Paul Gibson and Greensboro Mayor Keith Holliday joined Greensboro United Way President Neil Belenky and Greater High Point United Way President Bobby Smith to welcome United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano for the unveiling. Representative Howard Coble attended, indicating his willingness to support the Plan in any way his office could be helpful. North Carolina state homelessness point person Martha Are, and Council Regional Coordinator Eddie Woodhouse also participated.

The 10-Year Plan event was also the setting for the announcement of nearly one million dollars of assistance to homeless people in the first targeted resources to housing homeless people ever committed by the state. Secretary Carmen Odom of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services had focused the $2 million that was invested in three sites across the state. Guilford County won $644,000 of those resources and another $300,000 for housing vouchers.

"We are about to embark on a truly remarkable journey," said Chair Gibson. "We are challenged by the upcoming journey, but we will attain our goal."

"The Mayors and County Commissioners deserve credit for working together to advance this plan," noted Director Mangano. "And a special word of commendation goes to the Greensboro and High Point United Ways, for their close working relationship, their understanding of the issues, and their push toward a plan that anticipates results and change."

The new plan, "Partnering to End Chronic Homelessness in Guilford County, High Point, and Greensboro" was developed with United Way support by the Task Force on Ending Homelessness under the leadership of Chair Carole Bruce of Smith Moore LLP, who noted in her introduction to the plan the level of expansive partnership that at work: "We have spent hundreds of hours gathering data on homelessness in our community, and reviewing the best practice approaches being used in other communities to reduce and end homelessness. We have held Town Hall Meetings in High Point and Greensboro, held focus groups with providers and consumers of services, and completed surveys and interviews with homeless individuals. We have attended forums on best practices, and worked with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and the North Carolina Interagency Council for Coordinating Homeless Programs to determine the best approaches for our community." The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, The Weaver Foundation, Tech Triad, Carolinanet.com, and The Guilford Center were among the other partners.

Task Force leaders Donna Newton and Ed Kitchen presented the Plan, which builds on practices that are proving successful in other communities, and focuses Housing First strategies on assisting those experiencing chronic homelessness. The plan lays out recommendations for increasing the local inventory of housing and for building community capacity to provide supportive services. It also details a community-wide policy of "zero tolerance" for discharge into homelessness for those cycling through crisis care systems and recommends ways to maximize the ability of homeless individuals to obtain and maintain income, along with a structural framework and projected budget for implementation of these recommendations.

Noted planners: "In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, our community mounted an extraordinary and highly successful effort to help persons who had been made homeless by the storm, finding housing and developing support systems to ease the crisis in which they found themselves. We demonstrated our ability to take action and make a difference . . . Building on that successful model of community action and partnership, we can make a commitment to a new, evidence-based approach of ensuring that our own chronically homeless community members are housed and receiving the services and support they need to remain in their homes."

COLORADO GOVERNOR RITTER COMMITS TO EXPANDED AND STRENGTHENED STATE INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS WITH NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER

DENVER, COLORADO. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter has signed a new Executive Order expanding and strengthening the state's newly re-named Colorado Community and Interagency Council on Homelessness. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano met with Governor Ritter at the State Capitol in Denver last month, and, during their conversation, the Governor committed to reinvigorate the State's Council. Governor Ritter appeared last week at the 20th annual statewide conference of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless to sign the Council's new Executive Order.

"Homelessness isn't about not having a roof over your head," Governor Ritter told attendees. "It tears at the fabric of family. It provides fertile ground for crime and health problems. And it leaves physical and mental health scars on far too many of our children." Referencing his own experiences as a District Attorney and Catholic lay missionary, the Governor noted that he personally experienced the broad diversity of stories of people in crisis and suffering.

Colorado Coalition President John Parvensky, who introduced Governor Ritter at the conference, noted that the state now has its first baseline census figures available from which to build new strategies. He reported on the success of the Denver Housing First Collaborative, one of the 11 federally funded sites under the landmark $55 million HUD-HHS-VA Collaborative Initiative to Help End Chronic Homelessness, coordinated by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. The Denver initiative housed 170 chronically homeless persons with an average of 8 years of homelessness per person; 77 percent remain successfully housed. A 73 percent reduction in emergency costs has been documented for those housed, including a $31,000 per person reduction in costs including detox, incarceration, emergency care, and shelter.

Director Mangano, affirming the Governor's execution of the new Order, noted: "Governor Ritter, as have other new Governors across our country, has recommitted his State to the National Partnership constellated by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to ensure that every level of government is partnered to end chronic homelessness." Director Mangano stressed that an active State Council is central to relationships with local communities, especially those communities in Colorado that are moving forward with 10-Year Plans, as well as with Federal agencies.

The new Executive Order comes just after Governor Ritter signed an important expansion of Medicaid for the state, extending coverage until age 21 for foster children, who have been "left adrift" after leaving the system, he said. The law means about 1,400 young adults leaving foster care now are eligible for Medicaid. The former cutoff was age 18. The Governor signed Senate Bill 2 at Denver Health Medical Center last week.

Starting with his January 2007 State of the State address, Governor Ritter has also focused attention on the issue of prison recidivism, pointing out that the state has a 50 percent prison recidivism rate within 3 years of release. The Governor has committed to examine this issue and prioritized development of programs that allow inmates to re-enter society successfully. He has directed the Departments of Public Safety and Corrections to examine how to control prison costs by making recidivism-reduction a top priority of the two departments, including an emphasis on improvements to mental health services for people in jail and prison.

The Executive Order includes a new Statement of Purpose, which notes: "For a caring community, homelessness creates both moral challenges and significant economic burdens, as people who lack permanent shelter and the ability to access regular support ricochet through separate but always expensive public and charitable systems - law enforcement, hospital emergency rooms, mental health programs, substance abuse treatment programs, shelters, and emergency housing . . . Colorado needs a smarter, more humane, more effective approach to the issues of homelessness. At the very least, it needs to work on assuring that public resources and public programs and public efforts work together to confront, and to the extent possible, end homelessness . . . The purpose of this Executive Order is to declare that we must give priority to developing consolidated, coordinated, cooperative approaches to the issues of homelessness."

The Governor's Order sets a goal of making "cross- agency and community cooperation the norm in responding to homelessness and to use a more efficient and supportive approach in creating and implementing evidence-based plans to address homelessness," as well as streamlining funding to leverage existing resources more effectively, facilitating "tighter partnerships and linkages" among service providers, assembling accurate data upon which strategies and policies should be based and against which outcomes can be measured, and identifying best practices from other states in combating homelessness.

A significant aspect of the expanded Order is expansion and evolution of the State Council's membership, which will include leadership of key State agencies such as the Departments of Human Services, Corrections, Health Care Policy and Financing, Education, Local Affairs, and Agriculture, and two members each from the Colorado House of Representatives and Colorado Senate, along with three representatives of county Departments of Social Services, one each representing metropolitan Denver, other urban areas of the state and rural counties, all appointed by the Governor. Three representatives of non-profit providers or faith-based communities involved in housing or services to the homeless, two representatives of the philanthropic community active in homelessness issues, one homeless or formerly homeless individual, one representative of the Governor's Office of Policy and Initiatives, and one representative from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, will also serve. Council Regional Coordinator Charlene Flaherty also attended the event.

BATTING 300! A NEW MILESTONE IS REACHED IN THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP TO END CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS AS FORT MYERS AND LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA PARTNER FOR 300TH 10-YEAR PLAN COMMITMENT.

April 5, 2007,

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA. Fort Myers and Lee County, Florida have long been known as the site for springtime baseball with two Major League teams having stadiums there. So it was only fitting that it should be a bright spring day when Fort Myers Mayor Jim Humphrey and Lee County Commissioner Bob Janes announced last week they will be forming a new team for the community- a partnership of city, county, and private sector leaders to develop the nation's 300th jurisdictional 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.

Mayor Humphrey and Commissioner Janes were joined by United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano as they made their announcement at a meeting of key community stakeholders. The "lineup" included Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marietta Mudgett, Lee Memorial Health System President and CEO Jim Nathan and Chris Nesheim, Family Health Center CEO Lalai Hamric and VP Bob Johns, Lee County Human Services Director Karen Hawes and Ann Arnall, Lee Mental Health Director David Winters, United Way Executive Director Cliff Smith, Fort Myers Community Development Director Mellone Long, Fort Myers Housing Authority Director Marcus Goodson, Fort Myers News-Press Publisher Carol Hudler, Salvation Army General Manager Meg Geltner, South West Florida Addiction Services Executive Director Kevin Lewis and Board member Larry Hart, Community Cooperative Ministries Director Sarah Owens, Northern Trust President Sandy Robinson, Bonita Bay Group Government Affairs Director Margaret Emblidge, Lee County Library System representatives Madeline Plummer and Terri Crawford, and Sheriff's Department officers Frank Taboadela, Bob Buissereth, and Matt Powell. The announcement was followed by a discussion of challenges and initiatives including Behavioral Health Core Services and a "community social service one stop center."

Director Mangano commended Mayor Humphrey and Commissioner Janes for joining with mayors and county officials from 299 other communities who are using their jurisdictional leadership to exert political will on behalf of their homeless neighbors, and by committing to a 10-Year Plan process, are creating intergovernmental and intracommunity partnerships through which everyone can pull in the same direction to "go beyond charity to justice" in creating housing solutions for persons experiencing homelessness. Director Mangano, who had made a site visit to the library and the Lee Memorial Hospital Emergency Room with Mayor Humphrey and USICH Regional Coordinator Team Leader Michael German, discussed studies now going on in more than 60 10-Year Plan communities that uniformly "are demonstrating that the status quo response to street and shelter homelessness of ad hoc, uncoordinated crisis interventions is more expensive and less effective than solving chronic homelessness." Lee Memorial Health Systems President and CEO Nathan confirmed that approximately 10 people had been identified as having been to the emergency room at least 100 times each in one year at an average cost of $1000 each time.

Director Mangano also spoke of the leadership of now U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, represented at the meeting by his Southwest Florida Regional Director Dick Keen, on the issue of homelessness. As the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development prior to his election to the U.S. Senate, Senator Martinez was an "indomitable champion for homeless people whose efforts helped revitalize the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness after a six year dormancy and whose legacy continues to live through the now 300 10-Year Plan efforts to end chronic homelessness underway across the nation and in the results those plans are producing," said Director Mangano.

Pictured here is Mayor Humphrey at podium with Director Mangano. Pictured right are many of the stakeholders at the announcement. At the head of the table from right to left are Mayor Humphrey, Director Mangano, Commissioner Janes, and USICH Regional Coordinator Team Leader German.

THE PURSUIT OF SOLUTIONS: COUNCIL’S SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL SUMMIT ON INNOVATION FOR JURISDICTIONAL LEADERS.

Image: Second Annual National Summit 200 state and local jurisdictional leaders and their representatives who are developing and implementing 10-Year Plans gathered in Washington for the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness’ second national summit for jurisdictional leaders. This year’s event, The Pursuit of Solutions: Second Annual National Summit on Innovation for Jurisdictional Leaders, included special presentations by Louise Casey, architect of England’s successful “rough sleepers” initiative that has successfully reduced street homelessness by 75%, and Chris Gardner, whose remarkable personal story is depicted in the movie, The Pursuit of Happyness. Through peer to peer dialogue and discussion sessions on the Pursuit of Partnerships, Housing, Research, Media, and Resources, innovative ideas and initiatives that have produced results were identified and disseminated to insure that communities have access to the best ideas for preventing and ending homelessness. St. Louis St. Patrick’s Center Executive Director Dan Buck served as emcee.

Receiving the Council’s A Home for Every American Award this year were:

Jurisdictional Leaders:

Governor:              Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
County Executive: King County, Washington Councilmember Kathy Lambert
                              (on behalf of Washington Counties)
Mayor:                   Norfolk, Virginia Mayor Paul Fraim

Project Homeless Connect: Minneapolis, MN --Commissioner Gail Dorfman, 10-Year Plan Coordinator Cathy ten Broeke; Portland, OR- accepted by Jamaal Folsom

Community Champion: Mike Rawlings, Dallas, TX

Media: Michael Dunthorn, Knoxville, TN

Research: Dr. James Dunford, City of San Diego (SIP)

Innovation: Louise Casey, UK
Officer Dean Koehnen, St. Paul Police Department

Faith: Gil Davis, St. Louis

Plenary Sessions included:

Keynote Addresses by Louise Casey and Chris Gardner (by live video broadcast)

Pursuit of Results: reports by St. Louis, MO; Quincy, MA; and Portland, OR.

Pursuit of Research: reports by Dr. Dennis Culhane, Univ of Pennsylvania; Jamie Van Leuwen, City of Denver; and Dr. James Dunford, City of San Diego.

Pursuit of Partnership: Several national organizations were recognized for their partnership with the Council in the effort to reduce homelessness and end chronic homelessness:

    - U.S. Conference of Mayors
    - National League of Cities
    - International Downtown Association
    - National Alliance on Mental Illness
    - YMCA
    - National Governors Association

Concurrent Sessions were held on:

- Pursuit of Housing
- Pursuit of Resources

Peer to Peer Dialogue Sessions were held for state leaders, city/counties over 250,000 population, and cities/counties under 250,000.

News of the Interagency Council on Homelessness - 2007

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCES AWARD OF RECORD $1.5 BILLION IN HOMELESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS