MIAMI, FLORIDA. Hosted by incoming United States Conference of Mayors President and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and convened by outgoing President and Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer, the nation's Mayors are continuing to meet this week in Miami for their 76th Annual Meeting. Throughout the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) events, Mayors affirmed the goal of ending homelessness and expanded their bipartisan partnership with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to end homelessness in the nation through partnership, innovation, jurisdictional accountability, and results.

This Special Issue of the e-news highlights the meeting of the Mayors Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness during the Miami conference, and the continuing partnership and support extended to the work of the Council through USCM Executive Director Tom Cochran and Assistant Director Eugene Lowe.

SATURDAY, JUNE 21, MIAMI -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, Co-chairs of the Mayors Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness, welcomed their fellow Mayors to the Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness meeting convened at Miami's Chapman Homeless Assistance Center at the invitation of Miami Mayor Diaz. The Task Force meeting was one of several events during the USCM Conference that highlighted the importance to the nation's Mayors of the issue of homelessness and their more than five-year old partnership for results with the Council to reduce and end homelessness in their communities through jurisdictional planning.

Mayor Diaz, who assumed his new role as USCM President at the conference and acted as host to his fellow Mayors, took time from his rigorous schedule to travel to the off-site Task Force meeting at the city's Homeless Assistance Center, emphasizing the importance of the issue to him and the results already achieved in his city. Miami has previously reported a 50 percent decrease in its homeless population. Mayor Diaz was recognized in April at the Interagency Council's Third Annual National Summit for Jurisdictional Leaders with the "Home for Every American" Award for his mayoral leadership. Mayor Diaz is pictured here (left) with Director Mangano (center) and Mayor Cownie (right).

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano (pictured here) more than five years ago spoke at the Plenary Session of the Mayors' Conference and challenged Mayors to join a national partnership to reduce and end the homelessness of those who are the most disabled and vulnerable homeless people. Director Mangano at that event asked that by mid-2004 100 mayors develop plans to accomplish that mission in their cities. By that date 127 mayors had committed, and now there are 340 plans in communities across the county that are led by Mayors and County Executives and partnered with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness.

The Doe Fund's George McDonald, also honored by the Interagency Council at its Third Annual National Summit in 2008 with a "Home for Every American" Award for his innovative employment and housing strategy, also was asked to address the Mayors. ''Too many people in our country advocate for three hots and a cot, and the idea that we shouldn't expect anything from these individuals,'' said McDonald. "Work works" is the motto of The Doe Fund's Ready, Willing, and Able program of housing, training, and employment, which - along with several profit-making businesses - has assisted thousands of persons in their transition out of homelessness. Mr. McDonald (at right) showed a new video of success stories to the Mayors.

At this week's Task Force meeting, Director Mangano reported to the assembled Mayors on the results of the partnership and reported decreases across the nation - in cities large and small - in street and chronic homelessness. Director Mangano reported to the Mayors on the adoption and results from the innovation of Project Homeless Connect, first pioneered to mobilize civic will to end homelessness in San Francisco by Mayor Gavin Newsom. Director Mangano indicated that more than 170 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Australia have now adopted the results-oriented innovation to welcome their homeless neighbors into the life of the community.

Addressing the Task Force focus on hunger issues in the nation, Patience Butler, Senior Manager of Share Our Strength, also reported to the Mayors on the partnership to end childhood hunger.

New ideas and innovations that are focused on ending homelessness were the emphasis in the Mayors' discussion at the meeting, an emphasis that was underscored by press coverage of the meeting in the Miami Herald, which noted: "The new mantra among big-city mayors and activists: curing homelessness," identifying the distinction between treating or managing homelessness and the innovations and solutions that are field-tested and evidence-based to end homelessness. The Herald commented on the "dollars and cents" argument of the Council and Director Mangano's report to the Mayors that "plans work," with Miami's among the most successful. Director Mangano noted in his remarks that Mayors are examining costs and turning to "what's working" to achieve results.

The Mayors discussed the role of jurisdictional leadership in their plans and partnerships, themes that were later echoed in formal remarks of Senator Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton, who addressed the Mayors. Each speaker identified that jurisdictional leadership and responsibility of Mayors on the front lines of their community's issue is the nexus of accountability for performance and results in all areas of the community. Indicated Senator Obama: "Because whether it's a small town or a big city, the government that people count on most is the one that's closest to the people."

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, new President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, was a gracious host for fellow Mayors and used the opportunity of the Mayors Hunger and Homelessness Task Force meeting to invite Mayors to meet on-site at one of the city's two Homeless Assistance Centers, a model he credits for results in his city. Mayor Diaz joined the Task Force meeting and site tour, taking time from his heavy schedule of duties to continue his affirmation of the goal of ending homelessness and his commitment to solutions.

The Task Force met at the Community Partnership for Homelessness' Chapman Center, a one-stop center whose Founding Chairman is Alvah H. Chapman, a former Knight-Ridder Chairman. H. Daniel Vincent, Executive Director of Community Partnership since 2001, led a tour of the site. Mr. Vincent came to the Community Partnership with over 20 years of experience in non-profit organizations, primarily with The Salvation Army. The Partnership operates two Homeless Assistance Centers and raises private resources for the implementation of the Miami-Dade County Community Homeless Plan, as well as building private sector partnership.

The capital and operational needs of the Community Partnership for Homeless are met from a one percent sales tax on food and beverages at certain restaurants in Miami-Dade County. Charitable foundations, corporations, and individuals provide the remainder of the financial needs of Community Partnership for Homeless. The Chapman Center in downtown Miami is one of two Homeless Assistance Centers operated by the Partnership, with the other being the South Miami-Dade Center in Homestead at a former military base site.

Miami has a strong public-private partnership built over more than a decade, with the Community Partnership for Homeless as the private sector partner and the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, led by Executive Director David Raymond, as the public partner. The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust was created in 1993 by the Board of County Commissioners to administer proceeds of the one percent food and beverage tax; to implement the Miami-Dade County Community Homeless Plan; and to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of County Commissioners on issues involving homelessness.

Since the Chapman Center's opening in 1995, over 60 percent of residents have successfully moved off the streets of Miami-Dade to stability and self- sufficiency. Residents are provided three meals per day, clothing, showers, temporary housing, laundry facilities, transportation, case management, job development and training, permanent housing assistance, and an on-site child care program. In addition to these services, Miami-Dade County Public Schools operates on-site adult and vocational classes and job training. The Health Foundation of South Florida and the Public Health Trust (at the Homestead site) provide a primary care clinic for the residents health care.

The nation's Mayors focused their attention on the range of issues in their communities for which jurisdictional leaders accept responsibility and accountability and seek results. As the Mayors noted in opening the Miami meeting: "Mayors will adopt policy recommendations on key issues to forward to Congress and the new Administration. Mayors know that despite their geographic location, cities large and small are plagued by the same challenges."

Conference speakers and committee deliberations addressed many issues of interest to those committed to ending homelessness. Additional Special Issues during the coming week will feature other USCM Conference proceedings, including the unanimous adoption of Mayoral resolutions affirming the goal of ending chronic homelessness, the role of innovation, and strategies including America's Road Home, 10 Year Plans, Housing First, HUD-VASH, Project Homeless Connect, Community Champions, and reentry resources.

In his remarks to the assembled Mayors from across the country in the moments directly after he was named to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Presidency, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz offered his thoughts on the coming year. Brief excerpts follow, and a more detailed version of his speech will come this week.

Alluding to his own journey from Cuba to the U.S., the new President wondered if the same opportunities available to him at that time are available to a six-year- old now:

"Government invested in me, and now I can give back."

Speaking of his new role leading the efforts of our nation's cities:

"Investment in America's cities is an investment in America's future."

Echoing the comments of Senator Barack Obama at Saturday's Plenary Session, Mayor Diaz affirmed the role of Mayors:

"Cities are not the problem. They are the solution. Solutions are coming from our cities."

Speaking of his special concern regarding homelessness in his community and across the nation, Mayor Diaz called for partnership in creating solutions:

"Homelessness is at unacceptable levels in our country. Are hunger and homelessness a local or an American problem?"

More later this week . . .

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