PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA. "Can we do it in 10 years? I'm very confident that when you put these elected officials and these citizens that have volunteered their time together, we can definitely impact homelessness in a very positive way," stated St. Petersburg Councilmember and Pinellas County Homeless Leadership Network Chair James Bennett. The Leadership Network unveiled its 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness last week before an enthusiastic crowd of supporters at St Anthony's Hospital.

"Today you join with 212 other communities led by their Mayors and County Chairs, from New York City, to San Juan, to San Diego, to Anchorage, cities partnered to disrupt the status quo of homelessness," stated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who keynoted the event. Director Mangano highlighted the Plan's emphasis on consumer involvement, measurable outcomes, "attainable" housing, and transportation.

The planning effort enjoys widespread support throughout the County, which includes the cities of St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Tarpon Springs, and Pinellas Park. The Homeless Leadership Network, which is responsible for plan development and implementation, includes a broad spectrum of elected officials and community leaders, most of whom were present for the event and are pictured here: Largo Mayor Pat Gerard, Pinellas Board of County Commission Members Ken Welch and Ronnie Duncan, Clearwater City Council Member, and Vice Chair of the Homeless Leadership Network Carlen Petersen, St. Petersburg City Council Member Jeff Danner, Councilmember Bennett, faith and behavioral health organizations, the United Way, Chamber of Commerce, the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, St. Anthony's Hospital, Pinellas County School Board, YWCA, and the Housing Authority. Also present at the event were United States Housing and Urban Development Tampa Field Office Director Karen Jackson-Sims and Council Regional Coordinator Michael German.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. "This is an investment, make no mistake," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, as he joined with government and community partners at the Midnight Mission for the announcement of "Bring LA Home," the region's framework for a plan to end homelessness unveiled last week in Los Angeles. "Every neighborhood in our city, every city in the region has to take up the burden."

Zev Yaroslavsky of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors was also present at the announcement. The County earlier in the week approved a $100 million commitment to new homelessness prevention centers, about which Supervisor Yaroslavsky stated, "It ought to be recognized for what it is: an absolutely historic investment by the County of Los Angeles. We've got some momentum politically to do something about this, we've got some money to attach to that political momentum, and it may be an opportunity that will not pass our way again in our political lifetimes."

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, invited to join the announcement, stated, "We're all familiar with this statistic: one in every eight Americans is a Californian. Less familiar is the fact that one in every nine homeless Americans is in Los Angeles County. We are all here today because we are committed to changing that disgrace. Today we have a framework and a beginning, information and analysis on which a 10- year implementation and action plan can be created." Director Mangano pointed out that targeted federal homeless resources to the City and County over the last five years total over $300 million.

Also present and affirming the regional announcement were Blue Ribbon Panel Chair Antonio Manning, Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke, Los Angeles City Council Members Jan Perry, Bill Rosendahl, and Wendy Greuel, Los Angeles Homelessness point person Torie Osborn, Los Angeles Housing Manager Mercedes Marquez, Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca, Santa Monica City Council Member Richard Bloom, and Santa Monica Homelessness point person Ed Edelman. United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Planning and Development Director Bill Vasquez and Field Office Director Theresa Camiling were present, as well as Council Regional Coordinator Eduardo Cabrera.

Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Executive Director Mitchell Netburn and the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness, led by Robert Ehrlenbusch, were instrumental in partnering to support the process leading up to the announcement, a process which involved more than 20 focus groups and 24 community forums including more than 1,000 people.

The Blue Ribbon Panel of more than sixty members represents State, County, and City officials from communities in the County, UCLA, faith communities, private sector leaders, consumers, philanthropy, service providers, and housing developers. According homeless count information from Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena, and Glendale, the total homeless count for Los Angeles County is 88,345. Of the 82,291, there are 34,512 that are chronically homeless individuals.

The State, County, and City have all announced related investments in the months leading up to the Plan's release last week. In an earlier announcement in June 2005, the County Board of Supervisors committed $24.6 million for shelter and services. In November 2005, Mayor Villaraigosa announced a commitment of $50 million to the City's Housing Trust Fund for permanent supportive housing and support for a $1 Billion bond measure to develop more affordable housing citywide. Voters in 2005 passed State Proposition 63, which will provide funding to address mental illness, particularly for homeless people.

Pictured here is Mayor Villaraigosa at the podium, with Supervisor Yaroslavsky at left and Director Mangano second from left.

PORTLAND, OREGON. "We have set our eyes on the prize," stated Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski as he expressed his hope that Oregon will become "a place where no man, woman or child ever again suffers the cold night of homelessness." The Governor spoke last week as he signed an Executive Order establishing the Governor's Ending Homelessness Advisory Council. The Governor signed the Order in a public ceremony in Portland at the historic Hotel Alder, recently renovated by Central City Concern to provide housing for 65 persons who had been chronically homeless on the streets of Portland. The Council will serve as the state's interagency council on homelessness establishing state-wide strategies to end homelessness.

To a crowd of officials, agency staff, and homeless persons the Governor said, "A piecemeal approach just doesn't work. We need the cooperation of state and federal agencies, community partners, local businesses, state and local government officials, faith-based organizations and community members to incorporate and integrate services." The 24-member Ending Homelessness Advisory Council (EHAC) will serve as the designated state entity in the fight to end homelessness, the Governor said. In addition to serving as an advocate within state government, EHAC will develop a state 10-Year Plan and collaborate on implementing local plans to end homelessness. The Council will also recommend needed changes in the law to the Governor and the legislature and prepare an annual report that summarizes Oregon's progress.

Over the last two years state interagency cooperation moved forward through the work of the federally supported Oregon State Policy Academy on Ending Chronic Homelessness. This group will continue to meet and serve the new executive level Council.

Also present for the ceremony were Central City Concern Deputy Director Ed Blackburn and Rob Justus, Director of JOIN, a street outreach program in Portland, as well as Oregon Department of Housing and Urban Development Director Rick Krager, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson, with more than 100 state and local officials, agency staff and homeless persons who celebrated the landmark event.

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA. On April 3, 2006, Mayor Tom Bates, State Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, and Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson hosted the City's inaugural Berkeley Youth Connect to engage youth between the ages of 18 and 25 who are experiencing homelessness, and connect them to a wide variety of services, shelter, and housing referral resources. Through this daylong one-stop event inspired by Project Homeless Connect, about 60 homeless youth were engaged and brought together with over 40 agencies and 40 volunteers at the Lutheran Church of the Cross. Six individuals left the streets that day as a result.

"We know that young homeless people fall through the cracks of our traditional homeless service and outreach efforts," said Mayor Bates. "By bringing our community together in one place to provide a range of useful services and programs, we think we can give these young people some help and hopefully break the cycle of homelessness."

With encouragement from the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, over 25 communities have adopted the Project Homeless Connect model, which started in San Francisco in October 2004. To date, the national initiative has served over 11,600 individuals through 7,000 volunteers.

Services provided onsite during the Berkeley event included matching clients to the City's reunification program and agency shelter beds, access to education and employment information, assistance in applying for a government-issued ID and food stamps, discounted public transportation passes, library cards, acupuncture services, prescription glasses, dental screenings, HIV tests and results, showers, bicycle repair, lunch, phone calls, assistance in clearing police warrants, live music entertainment, and more.

Council Regional Coordinator Ed Cabrera joined Mayor Bates in welcoming clients and encouraging them to avail themselves of all the resources available. "Berkeley Youth Connect is all about connecting you to what you need," said Cabrera, "be it assistance with something as complex as clearing up a police record or as simple as making a phone call or having a bite to eat." Pictured here (right to left) are Mayor Bates and Mr. Cabrera.

Mayor Bates plans to make Youth Connect a regular event in Berkeley up to 2 - 3 times per year. Likewise, a number of communities - Miami, Minneapolis, San Juan, San Jose, and Portland are hosting Project Connects on a regular basis. Miami's Mayor Manuel Diaz will host the next Project Connect - Miami Cares II - on April 20.

DUNDEE, SCOTLAND. 130 government officials, civil servants, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and researchers from 24 European countries learned more about United States initiatives to end chronic homelessness at a European conference on homelessness in March in Dundee, Scotland. Organized by la Fédération Européenne d'Associations Nationales Travaillant avec les Sans-Abri (FEANTSA), which the European Commission Directorate General for Employment and Social Affairs funds as part of the EU Strategy for Social Inclusion, FEANTSA prepares an annual work programme with the aim of raising awareness of the issues of homelessness at European and national level. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was invited to speak about the United States initiative to end chronic homelessness at the conference, which explored the wide variety of public policy approaches to homelessness among European countries.

"We are now achieving in our country what we have sought for a quarter century - results on homelessness. We see change and progress on our streets and in our shelters, for our neighborhoods and communities - visible, measurable, quantifiable change," stated Director Mangano, citing the Administration's commitment to end chronic homelessness and five years of record targeted federal investment, with a sixth record year in the FY 2007 budget. Attendees also heard from other countries with results from their national strategies: Andy Gale of the Homeless Persons Unit, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the Blair government and Ms. Derval Howley of Ireland. Minister of Communities for the Scottish Executive Malcolm Chisholm welcomed the national representatives to the conference.

FEANTSA's work, with key leadership by its President Robert Aldridge and Director Freek Spinnewijn, relies on a research strategy implemented through the European Observatory on Homelessness. The Observatory consists of researchers in 23 EU member states whose work is coordinated by a team from the Joint Centre for Scottish Housing Research based at the Universities of Dundee and St. Andrews, led by Bill Edgar (Dundee) and Professor Joe Doherty (St. Andrews).

FEANTSA is the only major European network that focuses exclusively on homelessness in Europe. FEANTSA includes some 100 member NGOs from 30 European countries, including all 25 Member States of the European Union.

"Housing fulfills the promise of hope that we make every time the mobile van heads out," noted Volunteers of America Florida President and Chief Executive Officer Kathy Spearman. "It's another key stop on the road to independence for homeless veterans".

VOA Florida is now responding to the housing goal of consumers by creating "Cabins in the Woods" - a 32- unit, efficiency-style transitional housing complex on 16 acres in a rural setting in Lake City, Florida. Conceptualized by veterans, Cabin in the Woods was specifically designed to serve those who don't want to live in an urban setting.

The complex will serve disabled homeless veterans with mental health, substance abuse, and primary healthcare issues. The units will be handicapped accessible, pet friendly, and private. They will be constructed by veterans in need of employment, at an average cost of $44,000 each.

As an engagement tool for homeless veterans, Volunteers of America's (VOA) Mobile Service Center has established itself as a link to meet the needs homeless veterans for care and services and to build trusting relationships. VOA - Florida describes the Mobile Service Center as a fully self-contained medical, dental and service facility on wheels that offers treatment to veterans for physical and mental trauma. The fact that the mobile unit is a program "on wheels" allows the team to go where the need is greatest.

200 days each year, the mobile unit travels throughout Florida so staff members from VOA and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs can work with veterans who are often isolated and living in rural areas and barrier islands, as well as in urban areas. Over 4,000 homeless veterans have been engaged by the mobile team in the last five years.

The mobile unit is equipped with two examination rooms and facilities for dental care. Staff members offer homeless veterans immediate assistance with food and clothing, health screening and assessment, benefit determination, crisis intervention, and counseling. Staff members also assess veterans' need for housing, education and job training, as well as mental health, substance abuse, and employment.

WITH THIS ISSUE, the e-news continues its focus on elements of the Title V federal surplus property and opportunities to secure resources to assist persons experiencing homelessness under the McKinney- Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

WASHINGTON, DC. Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, federal surplus real estate - land and buildings - can be transferred to eligible non-federal applicants for purposes of homeless assistance. The transfer of properties identified as "Suitable and Available" are listed each Friday in the Federal Register. The Interagency Council's web site includes a link to the latest weekly Federal Register notice. Under "Funding," look for the link to the Title V notice.

Applicants for federal surplus property identify how they intend to utilize the property based on the needs of their communities. Under a new policy, which is expected to take effect this spring, local governments and community organizations will soon be able to use federal surplus property for permanent supportive housing. To date, the use of federal surplus property was restricted to homeless shelters, transitional programs, and services.

DO YOU want to support the Interagency Council's State and City Initiatives to End Chronic Homelessness? Come to work for the Council!

The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness is looking for qualified individuals who are committed to the Administration's goal of ending chronic homelessness and the Council's mission and objectives. Join us full-time in support of our federal partnership with jurisdictional leaders in States, Cities, and Counties across the nation. Results-oriented, performance-based experience is important, as is knowledge of the Council's initiatives, and the ability to work closely and flexibly with Council staff and partners in Washington and the field to enhance our technical assistance tools and events for 10-Year Plan Cities and State Interagency Councils. Superior skills in all forms of communication are essential.

Are you interested? Send us a letter and resume by email, and we'll tell you more: usich@usich.gov

FYI: The Council is still taking applications for summer internships. Email a cover letter and resume to: usich@usich.gov