OREGON CITY, OREGON. Last week, Clackamas County, Oregon became 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.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, invited to speak this week at the inaugural meeting of the new 26 member Central Florida Regional Commission on Homelessness - created by elected officials from the City of Orlando, and Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties - discussed the 10- Year Plan efforts to end chronic homelessness underway in more than 300 jurisdictions across the country and the results these planning efforts have begun to achieve. " The creation and implementation of a Plan establishes a new standard of expectation on this issue. The promise of a Plan infused with the will of government and the will of the community is that not only will it be implemented, not only will it create change, but that the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness will decrease in your shelters and on your streets. Without a Plan, things only get worse. Without research and data, and a community based strategy, things get worse. Worse on the streets, worse in neighborhoods, worse in emergency rooms and libraries. Worse for homeless people and worse for the taxpayer. That's what Plans are about. Driving out all the nonsense, myths and stereotypes, guesstimates and guesswork, to affirm what make sense for your community, homeless people, and the taxpayer."

Prior to the Commission meeting, Director Mangano met with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty, Orlando City Commissioner Robert Stuart and Commission Co-chairs David Porter, Internal Communications Manager for Disney Cruise Lines, and Tracy Schmidt, Chief Financial Officer for the CNL Financial Group before joining them at a press conference covered by radio, tv, and print media. Pictured here, l-r, co-chair Porter, Mayors Crotty and Dyer, Director Mangano at podium, Commissioner Stuart, and co-chair Schmidt.

Each of the four participating jurisdictions appointed six members to the Commission representing a broad range of stakeholders including former consumers, business, philanthropy, law enforcement, academia, real estate, health care, transportation, and faith based organizations. Commission members have been tasked to work cooperatively, understanding the unique sense of urgency associated with homelessness, to research best and emerging practices and identify solutions and measurements that can be adapted to meet the needs of the region and individual communities. Four subcommittees have been established - Housing, Health Care, Self Sufficiency, and Resources/Community Assets that will assess economic impacts of homelessness in the region, issues surrounding law enforcement, and leveraging/maximizing existing and new resources. The Commission is to make its recommendations to the elected officials of the four jurisdictions within 8 months.

In his remarks, Director Mangano acknowledged the presence of Dick Harkey of Congressman John Mica's office and Tom Weinberg, State Director for Senator Mel Martinez who were among the invited guests at the meeting. Director Mangano noted that the National Partnership began under then HUD Secretary Martinez's tenure as Chair of the U. S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. " He encouraged collaboration among agencies, increased resources at HUD and federally, and focused on research and data leading to an initiative for our most disabled and vulnerable homeless neighbors. And now he's a champion in the Congress for homeless people. You are fortunate to have him as part of your partnership. He adds invaluable political DNA to your efforts," said Director Mangano.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. The historic Paramount Theatre was the site Tuesday morning 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.

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY. Delivering keynote addresses last week at the 2007 State Conference meeting of United Ways of New Jersey Presidents and CEOs and later the same day to the New Jersey Association of Community Development Directors, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano discussed the opportunities for partnership to advance jurisdictional 10-Year Plan efforts to end homelessness in the nation's most densely populated state.

Director Mangano's remarks to the United Way leaders noted that United Way has proven to be an "extraordinary partner" to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness in the quest to abolish homelessness through jurisdictionally led, community based 10-Year Plans. "All over the country - Atlanta, Nashua, Quincy, Dallas, San Diego, San Francisco, Portland, Minneapolis, New York and more - coast to coast United Way is playing a leading role in working with jurisdictional leaders to convene community stakeholders and offering support and resources to assist in the creation and implementation of jurisdictionally based 10-Year Plans." He credited the leadership of the Hudson County, Passaic, and Mercer County United Ways for helping create 10-Year Plan momentum in New Jersey. "Your support with all the strengths you bring is vital in making a community impact on this issue. And what we're seeing across the country is the opportunity for the United Way to be involved in local efforts tied to a National Partnership that results in reductions in homelessness on the streets and in shelters.", said Director Mangano whose address at last week's state convention followed a meeting last fall with 17 of the UW executive leaders hosted by Jersey City/Hudson County United Way President and CEO Dan Altilio. Director Mangano is shown here with United Way of Atlantic County Executive Director and Chairman of United Ways of New Jersey John Emge.

In remarks at the Association of Community Development Directors, where he was introduced by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Newark Field Office Director Diane Johnson, Director Mangano provided an overview of the National Partnership being constellated to achieve the goal of ending the homelessness of "those who are the most disabled, the most visible, those who live and die on our streets and in encampments, and languish in shelters and are shuffled through primary and behavioral health systems, courts, and jails." Director Mangano described the mindset change and new engagement and housing strategies including permanent supportive housing and its subset, Housing First, that are fueling results for the National Partnership and jurisdictionally-led 10-Year Plan efforts. " After 20 years of funding programs that serve homeless people endlessly, our intent is now to invest in the result of ending their homelessness. These folk are going to require services - recovery, treatment, primary health - no matter where they are,on the streets, or in a room. The question becomes where can those services be most cost effectively, efficiently, and impactfully delivered. On the insecure streets? In unstable shelters? Or in the stability and security of a place to live? Research indicates that the efficacy of the services goes up and the costs go down in housing."

10-Year Plans for Passaic County and Hudson County/Jersey City are expected to be unveiled over the next couple months. On June 28 USICH Region II Coordinator Samuel Miller, who joined Director Mangano at the United Way and Association of Community Development Directors events, will participate with other Region II Interagency Council on Homelessness representatives at a roundtable in Passaic County to discuss the range of federal resources that may be available to support homeless prevention and intervention initiatives being considered for inclusion in the Passaic County 10-Year Plan. Middlesex County, NJ officials are expected to officially announce their commitment to a 10-Year Plan effort next month. This week, Coordinator Miller with Operations Specialist John Zegarelli are meeting with officials in several central and west New York communities and report that officials in Rochester NY, and Oneida County, that includes the cities of Rome and Utica, will kickoff 10-Year Plan efforts by the fall. Pictured here is Coordinator Miller (r) with Erie County, NY County Executive Joel Giambra discussing the community's 10-Year Plan and possible adoption of the Project Homeless Connect innovation.

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. In action to more quickly and effectively respond to the needs of homeless families and those families at imminent risk of homelessness, a community partnership in Norfolk, VA involving the Norfolk Department of Human Services, the YWCA, and The Dwelling Place and For Kids family shelters, has established a 24/7 hotline to serve as a central point of contact and access to services.

The Norfolk Hotline for Homeless Families Seeking Shelter is resulting in fewer numbers of homeless families being placed in motels by the DHS; improved coordination between service providers working with homeless families; improved access to eviction prevention resources; and has facilitated rapid rehousing and access to family strengthening programs in the community.

By calling the hotline, homeless and at risk families are able to obtain information and screening for placement; make application for eviction prevention assistance; and be connected to appropriate service providers based on an assessment of their service needs. Responsibility for staffing the hotline is shared by the Norfolk Homeless Action and Response Team (HART) and the family shelters. Community volunteers are also being recruited and trained to augment the Hotline staff.

Establishing the hotline was one of the recommendations included in the City of Norfolk 10-Year Plan and is the first piece of an effort modeled after the Hennepin County, MN Rapid Exit and Prevention Programs. The hotline has been in operation since April, receiving over 1000 calls a month with nearly all successfully diverted from emergency shelter.

HOOD RIVER, OREGON. The invitation to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, represented by Region X Coordinator Paul Carlson, to keynote last week's meeting of the Oregon State Sheriffs' Association is an example of the growing recognition that law enforcement can be a key partner in community outreach and engagement efforts to end homelessness. Whether in St. Paul where police officers are working with landlords and service providers to identify permanent housing opportunities for the long term homeless individuals they encounter; Reno, Nevada where two police officers identified the community costs associated with the random ricocheting through law enforcement and emergency medical care of one chronically homeless man, notably described by Malcolm Gladwell in his New Yorker article, "Million Dollar Murray"; San Diego where law enforcement partnered with the courts and social service providers in creating the successful Serial Inebriate Program and in growing number of communities where law enforcement is partnering with the courts in creating and implementing successful mentally ill jail diversion programs and other "homeless courts"; or in St. Paul and in Albany, OR where police officers have been the lead organizers for Project Homeless Connect events, law enforcement officials are emerging as key stakeholders in community 10-Year Plan efforts to create solutions to homelessness. The initiatives of the St. Paul police department were recognized by the Council with A Home for Every American Award presented to Sgt Paul Paulos at this year's The Pursuit of Solutions: Second Annual Summit on Innovation for Jurisdictional Leaders.

Over 50 Oregon Sheriffs and Jail Commanders attended last week's meeting at which Regional Coordinator Carlson described the 10-Year Plan process now underway in more than 300 jurisdictions nationwide, discussed the success of housing first models, and told them, " law enforcement officials are more aware than anyone of the costs of homelessness to the local community. We need your help in finding solutions that make fiscal sense and humane sense." After meeting Albany, OR Police Captain Ben Atchley at the recent Albany Project Homeless Connect for which the captain was the lead organizer, Coordinator Carlson invited Captain Atchley to join him at the association meeting. Captain Atchley described his experience in leading the PHC event including his emphasis on follow up by providers and said, "I am here to ask you to lend your voice to the homeless. No one has wanted to listen to them. They need your voice as leaders in the community to get this issue in public view and find the real and lasting solutions of housing and jobs."

Pictured here, l-r, Association Executive Director David Burright, Coordinator Carlson, Captain Atchley, and Baker County Sheriff and Association VP Mitch Southwick.

A cornerstone of the national effort to end homelessness are partnerships at and between every level of government and with the private sector that focus resources on implementing results oriented engagement and housing and supportive services strategies identified and validated through research. A key partnership promoted by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) is that of the federal agencies at the regional level, working collaboratively with each other as regional interagency councils (RICH) to disseminate information on best practices and improve resource access and availability for homeless prevention and intervention in the regions. USICH Regional Coordinators work alongside the RICH chairs. With the election earlier this year of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt as Chair of the Council, many regional council chair positions have also been transitioning to the HHS regional officials.

RICH meetings last week in Regions VIII (Colorado, Montana, North and South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming), IX ( California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii ), and X ( Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska) highlighted 10-Year Plan progress and upcoming Project Homeless Connect events in those regions with presentations by Region VIII USICH Coordinator Charlene Flaherty, Region IX Coordinator Ed Cabrera, and Region X Coordinator Paul Carlson.

REGION VIII

The Region VIII meeting held in Denver and chaired by HHS Administration for Children and Families Regional Administrator Tom Sullivan included a presentation on HHS priorities and strategic direction. A copy of the HHS Strategic Action Plan on Homelessness unveiled by HHS Secretary and USICH Chair Mike Leavitt at the March 2007 Council meeting in Washington is available on the HHS homeless website. This webpage may also be accessed from the the USICH website by clicking on Chairman Leavitt's name on the top left hand corner of the home page. USICH Coordinator Flaherty provided an overview of the USICH role in the field to facilitate creation and provide ongoing technical assistance to the RICH, state interagency councils on homelessness, jurisdictional 10-Year Plan efforts, and Project Homeless Connect events.

Last month Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed a new Executive Order expanding and strengthening the state's newly re-named Colorado Community and Interagency Council on Homelessness after having met with USICH Director Philip Mangano a few weeks earlier. Eight jurisdictional 10-Year Plan efforts are underway in the region including Billings, MT; Denver, CO; Salt Lake City, UT; Sioux Falls, SD; Bismarck/Mandan, Minot, and Fargo, ND; and Casper, WY. Upcoming Project Homeless Connect events include Fargo, ND on August 7; Helena, MT on September 15, and Denver, CO on October 19. USICH is sponsoring a Project Homeless Connect Best Practices Institute in Washington DC on July 27. This year's National Project Homeless Connect Week is December 3-7. USICH is also encouraging PHC events in conjunction with the United Way Days of Caring in October. The federal agency representatives expressed interest in expanding their onsite participation in the PHC events and brainstormed other ways to provide technical assistance and resources to state and community efforts to prevent and end homelessness including technical assistance to states that have not yet received SOAR training grants.

REGION IX

Expanding technical assistance forums offered in the region on improving access and participation by homeless consumers in federal benefit programs including food stamps, EITC, and SSI was one of the topics discussed at the Region IX RICH meeting. Held at the VA Downtown Clinic in San Francisco and chaired by VA Regional Director Bobbie Rosenthal, the federal agency officials received agency activity updates from Emory Lee, HHS; Dennis Stewart, USDA Food and Nutrition Service; and Lilian Faga, SSA. The RICH members committed to continuing participation in upcoming PHC events in the region and continued work on a regional homeless resource guide being developed by each region that will providing program descriptions and contact names modeled on a guide developed by the Region VI RICH with the assistance of the late Region VI USICH Coordinator Sally Shipman.

USICH Coordinator Cabrera and Region IX SSA and VA officials were among the more than 500 providers and volunteers at last Friday's Project Homeless Connect in San Francisco, held for the first time in the Bayview/Hunter's Point neighborhood rather than the downtown Bill Graham auditorium. Preliminary results reported by SF PHC Coordinator Judith Klain indicate that more than 561 homeless clients were engaged including many who had not attended previous PHC events and an estimated 100 families. Between stabilization beds and shelter placements, 45 persons were able to leave the streets that day.

REGION X

At the Region X meeting held in Seattle, regional officials from HHS, FEMA, the Social Security Administration, and the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Education, Veterans Affairs, and Agriculture's Rural Development Office received an update on HHS homelessness grants from Region X Executive Officer Bobbie Mowery; were updated on 10-Year Plan progress by USICH Coordinator Carlson; heard a presentation from Tacoma Police Officer Robert Luke and Metropolitan Development Council representative Rose Stidham on the City of Tacoma Housing First initiative which has successfully housed 72 of 75 persons who'd been living in informal encampments around the city for as long as 5 years; and made plans to invite the Washington State and Oregon state interagency councils on homelessness to a joint meeting in the fall.

As noted elsewhere in this issue of the e-news, Helena, Montana will be hosting its second Project Homeless Connect on September 15. Helena is one of 115 communities to have adopted the PHC innovation that brings hospitality and immediacy of results to people who are homeless. The excerpts below are from an article titled " Learning To See Invisible People " written by Montana Lt. Governor John Bohlinger after last year's event. Lt. Gov. Bohlinger co-chairs the Montana Council on Homelessness which is the state interagency council on homelessness created by Executive Order of Governor Brian Schweitzer. His words are a powerful reminder that the homeless are indeed our neighbors. On July 11, the Council will convene a National Project Homeless Connect Best Practices Institute in Washington, DC. The Institute will provide firsthand expertise from partners across the country to communities interested in establishing or improving their welcome to their homeless neighbors through Project Homeless Connect events. Space is limited so pre-registration is required. Priority will be given to jurisdictional representatives from cities and counties seeking to establish Project Homeless Connect in their communities. To indicate your interest in the Institute, please send an email to the Council at: nphc@usich.gov.

Dear Citizens of Helena and surrounding areas:

. . . Ostracism to ignore and exclude is a punishment as old as the world. . . Many of us practice it when we see homeless people standing on our corners, holding signs in median strips, waiting. It's less painful to look away than to meet their eyes, it's easier to cross the street than to speak, to pretend not to see the person behind the sign. But if you take a moment to speak with those you are looking away from, many will say that they can go for days without having anyone meet their eyes. They will tell you that they feel invisible.

. . . That's not a small thing. Some new research by Kipling Williams, Ph.D. of Purdue University has revealed that human reactions to ostracism are very strong, perceived by the brain in the same way it would perceive physical distress and pain . . . It's no wonder that those without homes suffer from ill health at much higher rates than their housed counterparts. The consequences of poor nutrition, inadequate hygiene, exposure to violence and the elements, increased contact with communicable diseases, and constant stress are painfully obvious.

. . . Many, if not most, of Helena's homeless residents exist in the shadows. They sleep on couches, in cars, the woods, and often when trouble spirals completely out of control, in jails and hospitals. Who the homeless are might surprise you. About a third are members of families with children. More than one in five (22 percent) work either part or full time. Nearly half have been diagnosed with a disability. Sixty percent have lived in the Helena area for at least two years and half of the adults had at least a high school education . . . The good news is that most of the issues that result in or rise from homelessness can be treated and resolved.

. . . the Way Home (PHC) event took place at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. More than 20 helping agencies from Helena Housing Authority to the Good Samaritan, from the Food Bank and the Office of Public Assistance to the Social Security Administration assembled to provide a one-stop setting where the homeless and nearly homeless could access services and meet their neighbors. At least 77 people showed up, from babes in arms to a few men in their seventies . . . For that day at least, they were not invisible. My greatest hope is that by bringing people together, providing the opportunity to hear one another's stories, to share a meal, to exchange names, that those who were there will never again be able to look away, and that the invisible will be rendered visible.

email: ichnews@setechnology.com

web: http://www.usich.gov