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The
U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is truly a vehicle of out-of-the-box
thinking and creative problem-solving. Everyone deserves a place
to call home, and we can make that a reality by improving access
to and coordination of essential services. Through innovative partnership
and leadership, I believe we can end chronic homelessness within
a decade.
-Secretary Thompson
No
longer do we settle for the old approach of merely managing and
accommodating homelessness. Instead, we will press ahead in developing
and implementing innovative new strategies to eliminate chronic
homelessness from the streets of America once and for all.
- Secretary Martinez
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| Picture
of the ceremonial passing of the gavel |
At
the third Council meeting in nine months held at the White House
Conference Center on March 28, the historic collaboration agenda
of the Council received new impetus. The Council has called for
a broad intergovernmental collaborative effort that encompasses
federal, state, and local governments, in which "partnership
trumps partisanship" in the words of Executive Director Philip
Mangano. At the Council meeting both HHS Secretary Thompson and
HUD Secretary Martinez added their unqualified support.
Secretary
Thompson, former chairperson of the National Governors Association,
indicated during the meeting that he would support the creation
in every state of an interagency council on homelessness. He went
a step further and said that he would soon send a letter to the
Governors of all states and territories encouraging them to convene
such a council.
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(Left
to Right) Picture of ICH Director Philip Mangano, HUD Secretary
Mel Martinez, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, and VA Secretary
Anthony Principi.
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Secretary
Martinez, who completed the eventful year of his chairmanship at
the meeting, recommitted himself and his department to ending chronic
homelessness in the next 10 years, and focused on the 10-year planning
process many cities are adopting. In alluding to Mayor Daley's endorsement
of a 10-year plan in Chicago, Secretary Martinez encouraged other
cities to engage in similar processes and pledged his support to
the Council to encourage that strategy.
The
Council's call for a collaborative effort among federal, state,
and local governments will be enhanced through state interagency
councils and city ten year plans. The ten Regional Coordinator Positions
on Homelessness being hired by the Council (PDF
| Word) will be assisting
states and localities in those efforts.
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During
the meeting Secretary Thompson released a report entitled "Ending
Chronic Homelessness:Strategies for Action" prepared by
the HHS Work Group on Ending Chronic Homelessness. This document
outlines HHS initiatives to improve access to health and human
services, build state and local capacities to respond to homelessness
and prevent new homeless episodes. For further information,
HHS
press release or go directly to the full
report.
Outgoing
Chair Martinez accepted the Abolitionist Award from the members
and staff of the Council "for his professional and personal
commitment to ending homelessness as chair of the revitalized
Council during its inaugural year."
ICH
Executive Director Mangano's remarks - PDF
| Word
ICH/HUD Press Release - PDF
| Word |
Other
announcements during the meeting:
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Executive
Director Mangano welcomes VA Secretary Principi as the
Council's new Vice Chair
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- The
Department of Labor is defining "at risk population"
so it specifically includes homeless persons in the proposal
for reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).
The Department is also proposing incentives in the WIA reauthorization
for states that operate programs to place homeless persons
in jobs through the One Stop/Career Centers.
- The
Department of Labor is working with HHS to identify more
opportunities in its residential Job Corps program for young
adults aging out of foster care.
- The
Department of Education has released new guidance for implementation
of the No Child Left Behind legislation.
- The
Veterans Administration issued new regulations recently
to increase per diem rates for the care of homeless veterans;
they also expect to add this year an additional 1800 transitional
housing beds to the 6600 currently in place.
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Other
Resources:
- A
Summary Report of the Council's work over the past year can be
viewed in PDF
or Word.
- ICH
Director Mangano's remarks during the Council Meeting on Council
Activities (PDF |
Word) and Emerging
Strategies (PDF |
Word)
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