Acting Administrator
James A. Williams
General Services Administration

10 YEAR PLAN EFFORTS CAN BENEFIT FROM NEW $3.9B NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM RESOURCES

RESOURCES AND TOOLS
America’s Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions has been signed by over 400 Mayors and County Leaders to date. - Read About this unprecedented agreement to end chronic homelessness - View the Agreement and Signatories - Are you a Mayor or County Leader who’d like to sign onto this national partnership? National Project Homeless Connect Subscribe free to USICH e-newsletter Read latest USICH e-newsletter State Interagency Councils on Homelessness 10-Year Plans Resources to meet the needs of Homeless Veterans Resources to ensure access to education for homeless children USICH Inventory of Federal Programs That May Assist Homeless Families With Children
NEWSROOM
What They're Saying . . . News Archive e-Newsletter Archive   Watch the introductory clip for "Putting Homelessness in Focus", a recent documentary by Wellington, New Zealand filmmaker Charlie Bleakley and University of Otago at Wellington public health researcher Dr. Kate Amore. “The issue can be confronted from a purely economic perspective or out of sense of social responsibility. In either case it needs acknowledgement and to be addressed with consistent policy”-- Charlie Bleakley.

• Council to host tele-summit October 17 for State Interagency Council and 10 Year Plan leaders on “Partnering for Homeless Housing Investment using Neighborhood Stabilization Program Resources”

WASHINGTON, DC. October 10. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 enacted on July 30 included $3.9 billion for emergency assistance for redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes and residential properties (Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP)) to be administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Community Development Block Grant Program.  The new NSP funding is being made available to states and communities to purchase foreclosed or abandoned homes at a discount and to rehabilitate, resell, or redevelop these homes to stabilize neighborhoods and for the benefit of low and moderate income individuals and families whose income does not exceed 120% of area median income.

In a Federal Register notice published Monday, HUD announced allocations to states and communities and application procedures which include a December 1 deadline for submission of a substantial amendment to their currently approved annual action plan. Once the NPS amendment has been approved, funds must be obligated within 18 months. The Notice also explains that “because this funding is one-time funding and the eligible activities under the program are different enough from the regular (CDBG) program, HUD believes that a grantee must receive a minimum amount of $2 million to have adequate staffing to properly administer the program effectively. In addition, fewer grants will allow HUD staff to more effectively monitor grantees to ensure proper implementation of the program and reduce the risk for fraud, waste, and abuse.”  For entitlement cities and urban counties that would otherwise receive an NSP allocation of less than $2 million, the funds are allocated to the state grantee.

COUNCIL SCHEDULES TELE-SUMMIT FOR STATE AND LOCAL 10 YEAR PLAN LEADERS

"The $3.9 billion is an important balance to the macro resources which assure the financial stability of our largest financial institutions," says United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. "The $3.9 billion represents an opportunity to fashion micro strategies at the community level to prevent and end homelessness and to acquire new housing targeted to homeless people."  To this end, the Council will host state, county, and city jurisdictional leaders, 10 Year Plan leaders, 10 Year Plan Community Champions, and State Interagency Council on Homelessness leaders next week for a tele-summit "Partnering for Homeless Housing Investment using Neighborhood Stabilization Program Resources." The national conference call will share developments in shaping NSP resources to the needs of people who are homeless and encourage the inclusion of people who are homeless or below 30% of AMI in NSP plans. State Interagency Council and city and county 10 Year Plan leaders can register for the tele-summit by visiting www.regonline.com/telesummit.

The Council has encouraged attention to the needs and opportunities for homeless populations and at-risk and extremely low income renters as resources and strategies are developed at the local level to address the housing market changes accompanying foreclosure and falling values. Both government and community entrepreneurs have already stepped forward amidst the tide of foreclosures to find housing opportunity for people who are homeless in their local markets.

HUD HOUSING CONFERENCE DRAWS 800; NSP RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON HUD WEB SITE

This week HUD held a national conference that drew over 800 participants to discuss new federal housing investments including NSP and the HUD/FHA Hope for Homeowners, and to identify best practices and models emerging in the country. HUD Secretary Steve Preston, who opened the event, told those gathered: "The toolbox has grown and there are more tools to address the housing crisis. We need to figure out how best to use these tools to help people in need. And we must do this together. We need your leadership and creativity. We must maximize the power of partnership. And we need to do that right now...today!" Added the Secretary: "There are best practices to garner from state and local governments across America. As a part of this metamorphosis, we need to create powerful and lasting partnerships . . . The federal government cannot do it alone, nor should it. In my view, some of those partnerships will be created in this room today and tomorrow."

Conference sessions were moderated by senior HUD officials including Community Planning and Development Assistant Secretary Susan Peppler, and Treasury Department Senior Policy Advisor to the Under Secretary for Domestic Finance Seth Wheeler. Sessions included Best Practices for Neighborhood Stabilization with state and local government partners and practitioners providing insights into strategies and partnerships. HUD Deputy Chief of Staff Anoop Prakash, who moderated a best practice session, advised attendees to "think smartly about partnership" and align their mission, goals, and outcomes at the community level.

HUD has posted a number of NSP resources on its web site including state and local allocations, the Disaster Recovery Grant Program reporting system which will be used, methodology about the formula, foreclosure recovery strategies, and plan submission details.

IMPORTANCE OF STATE INTERAGENCY COUNCILS ON HOMELESSNESS AFFIRMED BY DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY GOVERNORS

• Delaware Governor Minner signs new state law making State Interagency Council a permanent partner in ending homelessness

• New Jersey Governor Corzine announces he will issue new Executive Order

DOVER, DELAWARE. Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner has signed Senate Bill 310 into law, making the Delaware Interagency Council on Homelessness (DICH) a permanent state entity. Originally created by Executive Order of Governor Minner in March 2005, the DICH was established to help solve chronic homelessness in Delaware with a goal to connect the approximately 300 people who are chronically homeless to permanent supportive housing. Senate Bill 310 garnered broad legislative and community support. Pictured here is Governor Minner signing Senate Bill 310, with Delaware State Housing Authority Director Sandy Johnson and Representative Dan Short, who co-sponsored the Bill.

In February 2007, Governor Minner received the 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness by 2017 developed by the Council. The Interagency Council includes a broad representation of stakeholders, community leaders, state and federal government agencies, supportive housing developers, homeless service providers and formerly homeless individuals. Catherine DeVaney McKay, CEO of Connections CSP, Inc. is the Co-Chair of the Council. Twenty-five members will be appointed to serve at the pleasure of the Governor.  Read More.  

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY. Speaking at the opening of a two-day Governor's Conference on Housing and Development on September 24, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine called access to housing for New Jersey's citizens a "moral and Constitutional obligation" that must be fulfilled and committed to sign a new Executive Order for a State Interagency Council on Homelessness.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was invited to address the conference to provide a national perspective on the importance of 10 Year Plans and State Interagency Councils. Director Mangano praised the Governor's action saying, "Governor Corzine has stepped up to revive the State's Interagency Council and to join the partnership of Governors across the nation committed to ending the moral wrong of homelessness." (Once issued, Governor Corzine’s Executive Order will be posted on our State and Local page where you can find all the Executive Orders Governors have signed to create State Interagency Councils on Homelessness in their state.) 

Director Mangano pointed to the state's "early adopter status" regarding innovations, including a statewide Project Homeless Connect. The 2008 statewide Homeless Connect included 37 sites across the state and over 1,000 volunteers who welcomed more than 5000 homeless guests. "New Jersey's innovative housing finance and program initiatives deserve a national audience," indicated Director Mangano. "By deploying revenue from traffic fines to housing solutions and innovations for people experiencing homelessness, for the aging out foster care youth population, the reentry population, and others, New Jersey is showing that housing is the central antidote to homelessness." Read More. 

10 YEAR PLAN FOR FRESNO, CALIFORNIA UNVEILED BY CO-CHAIRS MAYOR ALAN AUTRY AND COUNTY BOARD CHAIR HENRY PEREA

• H.O.P.E. plan unanimously adopted by City Council and County Board of Supervisors

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. September 2008.  Under the leadership of Fresno Mayor Alan Autry and County Board Chairman Henry Perea who co-chaired the planning effort, the “Action Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in 10 Years: H.O.P.E. (Housing, Opportunity, Prevention, Establishing collaboration)" was unanimously adopted last week by the Fresno City Council and County Board of Supervisors.  The 100-day planning effort was launched in April at the direction of Mayor Autry and Chairman Perea who convened community leaders to take on the challenge led by 10 Year Planning Council Chair Tom Richards.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who had met with Mayor Autry and Chairman Perea in 2007 to encourage them to commit to a 10 year planning effort for this Central Valley community, was invited to address both the City Council and the County Board convenings before their votes: "Who would have guessed at the beginning of this decade the headlines on homelessness for our most vulnerable and disabled neighbors would be: 'Resources Up, Street Homelessness Down'? And that's the promise on this historic day in Fresno as you act on the practical, down to earth, realistic Plan announced here today." Director Mangano also noted the important roles of the Mayor's Chief of Staff Georgeanne White and Rep. Jim Costa who had sought the Council's expertise and partnership in encouraging a plan in his district. Read More.

DATA DEMONSTRATE 52,000 FEWER AMERICANS ON OUR STREETS, IN OUR SHELTERS

Washington, DC. July 29. 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 second consecutive year of decline in the number of persons experiencing chronic homelessness with an average 15% yearly decline from 2005 to 2007.

A Statement released by the White House Press Office said in part, "At the beginning of his Administration, President Bush set a goal to end chronic homelessness in America. Today, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Preston reported that the Administration has continued to make progress on this goal . . . Since the President took office, HUD has awarded approximately $10 billion to support local housing and service programs that help more Americans move off the streets and into safe, stable homes . . . President Bush also appreciates the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness' leadership in convening 20 federal agencies to work together, using increased federal resources to reach the most vulnerable and disabled of our neighbors and end their homelessness . . . . Read the full statement.

The chronically homeless data is from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) based on reports from single Point in Time counts from 3,800 cities and counties.  This year the AHAR for the first time also reports on the scope of homelessness in America over a full-year period, finding that nearly 1.6 million persons experienced homelessness and found shelter between October 1, 2006, and September 30, 2007. This estimate is based on year-long data collected from more than 284,000 persons located in 98 communities nationwide. Read More.

NATION'S ELECTED COUNTY OFFICIALS AFFIRM PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNCIL, ENDORSE INNOVATIONS IN 10 YEAR PLANNING EFFORTS, AND SUPPORT AMERICA'S ROAD HOME AT 2008 NACo ANNUAL CONFERENCE

• New resolution affirms 10 Year Plans, urges adoption of innovations achieving results, calls for special focus on veterans, encourages counties to participate in National Project Homeless Connect Week
• Number of county and mayoral signatories to America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions now top 350

Jackson County/Kansas City, MO. July 15. Meeting in the American heartland for the 2008 NACo Annual Conference and Exposition, the nation’s county officials endorsed and affirmed through a Resolution innovations that are reducing and ending chronic homelessness in communities throughout the nation.   

Five years ago to the day that NACo first adopted a Policy Resolution supporting 10 Year Planning and encouraging counties to engage with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to create 10 Year Plans, county officials affirmed with a new resolution the progress being made and the innovations responsible for the decreased numbers. Reaffirming support for 10 Year Plans and with special focus on homeless veterans, cost benefit analysis, Project Homeless Connect, and America’s Road Home, the NACo Resolution adopted today endorses innovative initiatives in 10 Year Plans, including Rapid Rehousing and Housing First strategies, and calls on communities to adopt these and other innovations that are making a difference on the streets and in the neighborhoods of our country.

Read Full Text of NACo Resolution.

At the conference United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was invited to address the Human Services and Education Steering Committee chaired by Sacramento Supervisor Roger Dickinson. Director Mangano reported on the progress of the national effort that now includes 345 city and county 10 Year Plans, an increasing number of cost benefit studies, and the bipartisan development by a representative group of mayors and county officials in partnership with the Council of the America’s Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions at a Denver Summit in November 2007.  Director Mangano is pictured here with Supervisor Dickinson and  NACo’s Associate Legislative Director Marilina Sanz. Sacramento is one of an increasing number of examples across the country of cities and counties partnering to develop regional plans. A public 1st Year Report Card on the Sacramento City and County 10 Year Plan was highlighted in the Council’s recent “20 in 20” Innovation series for its effectiveness in improving public accountability and community education. Read More.

"PARTNERSHIP OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESULTS" TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS AFFIRMED BY U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS AT 76th ANNUAL MEETING IN MIAMI

1. Mayors affirm and expand their partnership to end homelessness in the nation
2. Adopt Policy Resolutions affirming the goal of ending chronic homelessness and supporting strategies including  America's Road Home, 10-Year Plans, Community Champions, Project Homeless Connect,  Housing First, HUD-VASH, and reentry resources

MIAMI, FLORIDA.  Hosted by incoming United States Conference of Mayors President and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz who on Monday accepted the gavel from Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer, the nation's Mayors convened in Miami on Friday for their 76th Annual Meeting. Throughout the Conference events, Mayors affirmed the goal of ending homelessness and expanded their bipartisan partnership with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness ("Council") to end homelessness in the nation through partnership, innovation, jurisdictional accountability, and results. Mayor Diaz (shown here with Council Director Mangano) was recognized  with the Council's 2008 Mayoral Leadership "Home for Every American" Award earlier this year at the Council's Third Annual National Summit for Jurisdictional Leaders.

Read More

Read Policy Resolutions Adopted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors:

• AMERICA'S ROAD HOME STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES AND ACTIONS

• ENDING HOMELESSNESS FOR VETERANS BY INCREASING INVESTMENT IN HUD-VASH VOUCHERS

• ENDORSING THE INNOVATION OF NATIONAL PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT TO ENGAGE OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBOR AND OFFER RESOURCES

• ENDORSING  10 YEAR PLANS TO END CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS

• THE SELECTION OF “COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS” BY MAYORS TO INSPIRE 10 YEAR PLANNING EFFORTS WITH JURISDICTIONAL LEADERS

• HOUSING FIRST AND RAPID RE-HOUSING AS KEY STRATEGIES IN ENDING HOMELESSNESS AND CREATING RESULTS IN 10 YEAR PLANS

• ENDORSING THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP TO END HOMELESSNESS

• SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE POLICIES TO END AND PREVENT CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS ACROSS THE NATION

• ENDING HOMELESSNESS OF EX-OFFENDERS THROUGH SECOND CHANCE ACT

• EXPAND THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE WORKING FAMILES AND INDIVIDUALS (This resolution was considered and recommended by the Mayors Jobs, Education, and Workforce Committee)