FORT COLLINS, COLORADO. Old Town Square in Fort Collins, Colorado was the setting last week for the unveiling of a new blueprint developed by community partners who will next consider creation of a 10 Year Plan. A more than year-long process of the volunteer UniverCity Connections Homelessness Task Group quantified homelessness in Fort Collins and identified best practices from around the country, along with initiatives in cities of similar size, resulting in a framework for action.

The Fort Collins Task Group was co-convened by Chris Kneeland, former City Council member and CEO of Center Partners, and Jim Sprout, Chairman, Northern Colorado First Western Trust Bank, Northern Colorado. Mr. Sprout, a prominent local business leader, championed the development of the blueprint. "Building Blocks to Ending Homelessness in Fort Collins" will now guide efforts to address homelessness in Fort Collins. Dr. Jamie van Leeuwen, Denver's 10 Year Plan Manager, developed the best practice information for the initiative.

Fort Collins Mayor Doug Hutchinson (pictured above), who joined Fort Collins, CO Council Member Diggs Brown in becoming the newest signatories to America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions at the event, stated: "The hardest part of solving a problem is finding it. This sets a very solid foundation to build on. It's a tremendous step, a springboard and a foundation."

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano (pictured here), invited to keynote the unveiling of the blueprint, commended the partners for their emphasis on best practices and their national search for innovations, noting: "Is homelessness to be the one area where we're bound to what we were doing 20 years ago? That's why Ten Year Plans are so important. They should challenge the status quo, with innovations that get the job done, that reduce the long misery of homelessness for our poorest neighbors."

"As a community, we are perfectly positioned to join other progressive communities across the country that are creating and implementing 10 Year Plans to end homelessness," said Chris Kneeland, task group co-convener. "Collectively, Fort Collins has always been a place of caring and innovation, the two critical elements needed to make sure that everyone who wants it has a chance for adequate, permanent housing." Pictured here are (left to right): Mayor Hutchinson, Jim Sprout, Director Mangano, and Chris Kneeland.

The blueprint is the result of more than a year of collaboration among community leaders, local agencies, and the volunteers and leadership of UniverCity Connections, a volunteer-driven initiative of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado focused on convening community and catalyzing opportunities for positive change with a focus on Fort Collins' strongest assets: CSU, Downtown and the Poudre River.

Sister Mary Alice Murphy, local Homelessness Advocate and a volunteer on the UniverCity Connections Homelessness Task Group and UniverCity Connections co-founder Dave Edwards also took part in the program. Council Regional Coordinator Ed Cabrera also participated.

The blueprint includes an overview of homelessness locally, statewide, and nationally, as well as an overview of twelve innovations and best practices that partners identified warrant consideration in the development and implementation of a homeless plan in Fort Collins. The report also identified more than 20 cities with active strategies that Fort Collins can model. Jamie van Leeuwen is shown here.

A series of ten recommendations are made to address the following issues related to gaps in services for the homeless in Fort Collins: permanent and transitional housing; shelter; services; outreach; prevention; education and employment; and community awareness and coordinated response. Practices and innovations identified in the blueprint included a number featured in the Council's recent 20 in 20 innovations series: agency mission conversion at South Middlesex Opportunity Council in Framingham, Massachusetts; strategies to reduce recidivism in Seattle/King County; Ohio's Special Courts; St. Paul's Police outreach; Chicago's conversion mapping strategy for its 10 Year Plan; Wichita's Benefit Bank strategy; Massachusetts' Soldier On's Veterans resources; and state partnership strategies to link to 10 Year Plans, such as those in Washington State.

According to a vast majority of those surveyed for the report, homelessness is considered a problem in the Fort Collins community. For more than 500 people in the community, homelessness is a very real struggle in their daily lives and about 60 percent of those are families, according to the Colorado Statewide Homeless Count. The report notes that UniverCity's proactive efforts mean that the problem can be solved: There are strategies to guide those individuals and families out of homelessness and there are ways of helping secure housing for the near homeless.

The blueprint's ten recommendations include hiring/appointing a project manager to guide the development and implementation of a plan to end homelessness to create a written document with measurable goals, objectives and outcomes; determining how many new units of permanent and supportive housing must be developed; developing a coordinated plan with Poudre Valley Hospital, the Health District, Island Grove Regional Treatment Center, homeless providers and the Fort Collins Police Department to address existing gaps in detox to decrease costs; expanding and coordinating outreach services and fund additional police services to work collaboratively and reduce unnecessary use of expensive emergency and jail services; creating/identifying a centralized dispatch number to identify existing resources available and how to help as volunteers or donors; expanding prevention services; convening a Project Homeless Connect event; and developing a budget plan.

BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN. 10 Year Plan recalibration and new federal resources to house homeless veterans were the focus of events last week in Battle Creek, Michigan, where Mayor Mark Behnke welcomed United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. Mayor Behnke is pictured here addressing the community partners.

Director Mangano joined Mayor Behnke, Battle Creek VA Medical Center Director Tony Zapata, and Lee Talmage, Executive Director of the Battle Creek Housing Commission for a public announcement of the $125,000 award of 35 new HUD-VASH supportive housing vouchers to Battle Creek. The federal and local partners are shown here at the HUD-VASH press event, with Director Zapata speaking. $75 million for 10,000 new vouchers was awarded by HUD to over 130 housing authorities, and $75 million for an additional 10,000 vouchers is in the President's FY 2009 proposed budget.

Mayor Mark Behnke and Director Mangano in an additional meeting (pictured here) discussed the recalibration of A Place to Call Home: Calhoun County's Plan to End Homelessness to include innovations that are leading to results in cities across the country, including Project Homeless Connect. At a community meeting which Director Mangano addressed, he also stressed the importance of the community partnerships that have been developed to effectively implement county and city 10 Year Plans.

In conjunction with the Battle Creek events, the Battle Creek Enquirer editorialized in "Homelessness requires multi-faceted approach": "Government for too long has focused its resources on serving the needs of the homeless rather than solving the problem of homelessness. While it is important to offer emergency shelter and food to those in need, providing them with long-term housing and necessary support services to become independent is the way to ultimately reduce the number of homeless. Not only is it more compassionate, it also is more cost effective." The editorial went on to note: " . . . we support efforts such as VASH, which will work in cooperation with the Battle Creek Housing Commission, Summit Pointe and other local resources to ensure that at least 35 veterans get a place to call home and the help they need to function independently. But we also recognize that there are many other homeless people, both veterans and non-military, who could benefit from such help. That is why we also agree with Mangano that Battle Creek and the more than 350 other U.S. communities that have adopted 10-year plans to address homelessness need to focus efforts not just on meeting the immediate needs of those who wander the streets, but also on developing long-term support that can help them function as independently as possible."

Meeting participants included city and county government representatives, community and civic leadership, and community and faith based organizations, and representatives from the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. Battle Creek is developing 75 units of permanent housing that will be located on the grounds of the VA. The project in which Michigan SHDA is a funding partner is currently in the last stages of approval. Director Mangano is pictured here addressing the community partners.

KALAMAZOO'S PROGRESS REPORT ON 10 YEAR PLAN SHOWS NEW RESOURCES INVESTED IN HOUSING SOLUTIONS

KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN. In southwestern Michigan, Director Mangano was invited to meet with Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell, Kalamazoo City Commissioner David Anderson, who is Chair of the Kalamazoo Housing Commission, and Kalamazoo City Manager Kenneth Collard to discuss the city's progress in implementing its substantive and strategic Community Action Plan to End Homelessness and Create Affordable Housing, its 2006 plan. The focus of discussion was the substantial housing progress being made in the city with federal, state, and other resources invested in the 10 Year Plan. Also participating in the meeting was Ellen Kisinger-Rothi, Executive Director, Housing Resources, Inc.

The city and county issued a 2007 Progress Report on the plan, which identified 55 new Homeless Preference Vouchers through the Michigan Homeless Assistance Recovery Program (HARP) for rent subsidies for homeless persons; 150 new Housing Choice Vouchers for low-income people through Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA); $1.45 million in funding from MSHDA for affordable rental housing rehabilitation and development, and tenant-based rental assistance for homeless families, individuals, and youth; supported the Housing Assistance Fund which resulted in creation of 18 housing vouchers for homeless persons at or below 30% of area median income; Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to provide 48 additional affordable rental housing units for low- income and homeless persons and persons with special needs; and housing for an additional 10 youth and 30 families who were previously homeless using new MSHDA funding.

SAGINAW, MICHIGAN FOCUSES ON NEXT STEPS FOR 10 YEAR PLAN

SAGINAW, MICHIGAN. While in Michigan, Director Mangano also visited with Saginaw Mayor Joyce Seals at City Hall. Joining the Mayor to discuss solutions to homelessness and the benefits of recalibration to include business principles in Saginaw's 10 Year Plan was Saginaw County Commissioner Eddie Fox. The federal and local officials also discussed the results of Project Homeless Connect and its potential to support 10 Year Plan goals. Mayor Seals previously worked for both the Michigan Employment Security Commission and the Michigan Department of Education and taught in the Adult Education program and at the Opportunities Industrial Council of Metro Saginaw. Mayor Seals served 10 years on the Saginaw City Council, holding the position of Mayor Pro Tem for the last two years of her term.

DALLAS, TEXAS. 700 more units of permanent supportive housing are needed in Dallas to expand the results of new permanent housing and Housing First initiatives achieved so far. Under the leadership of Mayor Tom Leppert, Dallas homeless czar and business leader Mike Rawlings recently presented plans to the City Council to achieve the new units in the next five years, stressed the connection between achieving housing goals and ensuring that other new resources- including Dallas' 24/7 center, The Bridge- can focus their services without overcrowding. The City Council's Housing Committee voted unanimously to consider the plan in September. The proposal calls for potentially $10 million to be generated through proceeds from city housing bonds.

One new Housing First initiative, Destination Home, which targets chronically homeless individuals, now houses 50 individuals through Central Dallas Ministries and more units are underway. Central Dallas Ministries and its development arm, Central Dallas Community Development Corporation (CDCDC) have also received a recent $5 million investment from the Rees-Jones Foundation started by Dallas oil executive Trevor Rees-Jones for a new site called citywalk@akard. A long-vacant 15-story office building, built in 1958 by the Baptist church's annuity investment board, the site is currently being renovated into a mixed use project that includes offices, retail space and 205 residences, with 50 reserved for formerly homeless people.

The new development will include 9,500 square feet of ground-floor retail, 18,600 square feet of office space, and 150 primarily efficiency units for households who make less than $27,000 per year. Five condos are included, four of which have already sold.

Central Dallas Ministries, after a decade of service in East Dallas, decided in 1998 to address the decreasing inventory of housing affordable to its neighbors. Seeing that the lack of housing made its other resources - food, medical care, basic necessities - less effective, the Ministries' leadership team formed Central Dallas Community Development Corporation in 2002.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who participated in the 2007 Bridge groundbreaking, met with former Mayor Laura Miller and her first 10 Year Plan Community Champion, business leader Tom Dunning, who is now succeeded in his effective leadership by Mr. Rawlings, former CEO of Pizza Hut, working with Mayor Tom Leppert. Director Mangano noted the succession of two committed Mayors and their Champions, identifying their business acumen as central to the results being achieved. In 2007 Mr. Rawlings was recognized with the 2007 Community Champion Home for Every American Award at USICH's Second Annual National Summit for Jurisdictional Leaders.

Last year, as Dallas marked its 3rd year of 10 Year Plan implementation, the nation's 9th largest city was able to report further significant reductions in chronic homelessness. Results of the January 2007 Point-in- Time Count, conducted by the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance in conjunction with the City of Dallas, revealed a 23% reduction in chronic homelessness in the prior year, and a 9% reduction in homelessness overall. This brought the reported decrease in chronic homelessness over two years to 43%.

Dallas and its county partners are one of many cities that have engaged the results of cost benefit analysis in making investment and resources decisions. A study last year showed that nearly 10% of the Dallas County Jail population was characterized by both homeless and frequent use of the jail, prompting the county to invest in the new center, along with the city.

WASHINGTON, DC. With Labor Day coming up next week, the U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans Employment and Training Services (VETS) has announced the availability of resources to support Stand Down events for veterans across the nation under the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). VETS is now accepting applications for Stand Down grant awards. The Stand Down model supports local events where homeless veterans are provided with a wide variety of social services and has provided an opportunity for community partners to learn more about resources for veterans and to partner Project Homeless Connect events and strategies. DOL's Stand Down grant funds must be used to enhance employment and training opportunities or to promote self-sufficiency for homeless veterans.

Under this announcement, VETS anticipates that up to $400,000 will be available in each of three fiscal years for grant awards of up to a maximum of $10,000 per multi-day event (more than one day), and a maximum of $7,000 for a one (1) day event. VETS expects to award approximately forty-five (45) grants each fiscal year. Stand Down funding is a non- competitive grant awarded on a first-come, first- served basis until available residual funding is exhausted.

Applications for Stand Down funds will be accepted from State Workforce Agencies and State and local Workforce Investment Boards, Veterans Service Organizations (VSO), local public agencies, and non- profit organizations, including community and faith- based organizations. Current competitive HVRP grantees are not eligible for a separate non- competitive Stand Down grant award as described in this announcement. Current competitive HVRP grantees are authorized to utilize existing funds for Stand Down purposes.

Stand Down grant applications are to be submitted to the appropriate State Director of Veterans Employment and Training/ Grant Officer Technical Representative (DVET/GOTR). Address and contact information for each State DVET/GOTR can be found at the VETS Web site.

To be considered for FY 2008 funding, applications must be received within thirty (30) days of the August 1 announcement. This will allow for obligation of funds prior to 9/30/08. Any events approved in Fiscal Year 2008 must be held prior to 12/31/08.

Applications for other events planned in Fiscal Year 2009 must be received at least sixty (60) days prior to the event and no later than July 30, 2009. Applications for events planned in Fiscal Year 2010 must be received at least sixty (60) days prior to the event and no later than July 30, 2010.

More than 160 organizations across the country partner with local businesses, government agencies, and community- and faith-based service providers to hold Stand Down events for homeless veterans and their families in the local community. The critical services provided at a Stand Down are often the catalyst that enables homeless veterans to reenter mainstream society. Typically, some of the services available at these events include temporary shelter, showers, haircuts, meals, clothing, hygiene kits, medical examinations, immunizations, legal advice, identification cards, veterans benefit information, training program information, employment services, and referral to other supportive services.

For the purpose of this Stand Down grant award, applicants must plan (and indicate in writing in their grant application package) to provide the following minimum services to homeless veteran participants: Department of Veterans Affairs medical and mental health services; Department of Labor--State Workforce Agency employment and training services to include Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program and Local Veterans' Employment Representatives participation where available; an assortment of hot and/or cold foods to provide to homeless veteran participants; an assortment of clothing appropriate for the local climate to provide to homeless veteran participants; and referral services to secure emergency housing on-the-spot for homeless veteran participants.

Stand Down grant funds must be used to enhance employment and training opportunities or to promote self-sufficiency for homeless veterans. The funds may be used to support Stand Down activities such as: purchase of food, bottled water, clothing, sleeping bags, one-person tents, backpacks filled with non- perishable foods, and hygiene care kits; rental of facilities and/or tents for the duration of the Stand Down event; payment for special one-time electricity costs, equipment rentals, advertising, event posters, portable toilets, janitorial/kitchen supplies, and communications/Internet access for the duration of the Stand Down event; hiring of security personnel for the duration of the event; rental of transportation equipment (bus, van, car, taxi, etc.) and/or actual gasoline expenses of volunteer drivers to provide transportation of homeless veterans to and from the Stand Down event; and other pertinent items and services for homeless veteran participants as deemed appropriate by VETS.

To learn more about upcoming Veterans Stand Down events, visit the on-line schedule at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Thirty-four states are currently participating in the Federal SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery) technical assistance initiative to increase access to SSI and SSDI for homeless people with mental illnesses and/or co-occurring substance use disorders. Each participating state takes part in an in- state forum to develop a plan for systems change related to access to SSI and SSDI for homeless persons. Successful application for SSI benefits can also bring increased access to housing, treatment, and other resources. Many states, cities, and counties identify increased access to these resources as a goal of their 10 Year Plans.

As reported by Policy Research Associates, which provides the SOAR TA, preliminary outcomes for 18 of the 34 states in the SOAR initiative show that following training 70 percent of applications assisted were approved in an average of 93 days. For comparison purposes, the rates on initial application for homeless applicants who do receive assistance are estimated at 10-15 percent, while the national average for all persons applying for SSI is 37 percent. Persons assisted by the states had been homeless an average of 27 months. Using a train-the-trainer model, as of June 30, 2008, 224 SOAR trainers have conducted 300 trainings in 180 cities with 9,400 attendees.

SOAR currently operates in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Los Angeles, CA, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. To identify your state team lead, visit the SOAR site.

PRA reports initial positive indications that SSI approval leads to quicker placement in permanent housing for people who were homeless. Covington, KY, reports that they are able to place people, most of whom have been homeless for more than three years, into housing immediately upon receipt of benefits. In Atlanta, GA all those receiving benefits are housed. Their average length of homelessness is almost 3 years. Nashville, TN, reports people who receive benefits are housed within 40 days on average.

Cost savings have also been demonstrated. Utah reports that the state has recovered more than $496,000 in general assistance benefits from SSA over the past two years in the Salt Lake City region alone. Accepting referrals of homeless persons from a local hospital, the SOAR project in Covington, KY, helped people who were homeless get benefits and helped the hospital to recoup over $182,000 in uncompensated care from Medicaid and Medicare since the start of the program in December 2006. The B.E.S.T program in Portland Oregon reports that $111,000 of past medical bills has become reimbursable through retroactive Medicaid for only three cases to date.

FRANKENMUTH, MICHIGAN. Elected leaders of the 83 counties in the state of Michigan gathered last week for their annual summer conference under the leadership of Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) President Ken Lautzenheiser. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who has addressed Michigan's Annual Statewide Summit for its Campaign to End Homelessness in 2006 and 2007 and will do so again in October, was invited to keynote the counties' event. Director Mangano was introduced by incoming MAC President and Kent County Commissioner Harold Mast, who has a professional background in non-profit housing and health care administration, and has consistently supported Council's initiatives through the National Association of Counties.

"Aren't you proud to be up here in Michigan?" Director Mangano asked. "You should be with every square mile covered by a Ten Year Plan. Congratulations." Added Director Mangano: "I love bragging across the country about the work you're all doing here - why Michigan has so many 10 Year Plan communities, why there is so much partnership between state and county government."

At the conference, Monroe County, MI Commissioner Floreine M. Mentel, Osceola County, MI Commissioner Larry Emig, Hillsdale County, MI Commissioner Maxine Vanlerberg, and Berrien County, MI Commissioner Debra Panozzo all became new signatories to America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions.

In addition to addressing the county leaders, Director Mangano met with Keith Molin, Interim Executive Director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, which leads the state's 10 Year Plan and investment strategy with counties to create housing, adopt innovations such as Project Homeless Connect, and measure results. Sally Harrison, of MSHDA's Office of Supportive Housing and Homeless Services also took part. Director Molin is committed to MSHDA's continuing partnership with communities through 10 Year Plans to achieve results in the statewide campaign to end homelessness.

MSHDA's 2008 Campaign to End Homelessness Housing Initiatives awarded invested $12.5 million in MSHDA Reserves and Federal HOME funds for housing related supports for the following targeted populations: chronic homelessness; domestic violence; homeless youth; homeless families with children; and Housing First.

Director Mangano also met with the MAC Board Leadership and MAC Homeless Subcommittee to brief them on the national partnership and innovations being adopted across the nation. Participants in Homeless Subcommittee included Nicolette McClure, Lake County Commissioner; Debra Panozzo, Berrien County Commissioner; Maxine Vanderberg, Hillsdale County Commissioner; Jeanne Pearl-Wright, Eaton County Commissioner; Joan Flynn, Macomb County Commissioner; Larry Emig, Osceola County Commissioner and incoming First Vice President , Michigan Association of Counties; Cheryl Hadsall, Saginaw County Commissioner; Jack Boelema, Kent County Commissioner; Florence Mentel, Monroe County Commissioner; Bill Gill, Muskegon County Commissioner; Harold Mast, Kent County Commissioner and incoming President, Michigan Association of Counties; and Andy Weldon, Hillsdale County Commissioner.

WASHINGTON, DC. More than 390 elected officials from cities and counties around the nation are now signatories to the America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions, first developed by Mayors and County officials at a summit in Denver in November 2007 and affirmed by both the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Association of Counties at their recent annual conferences.

Signatories to the unprecedented 12-point agreement focused on how elected officials, government agencies and the foundation community should work together to end homelessness. At the November 2007 Denver press conference announcing the signing of the Statement, participating Mayors declared their intent to promote America's Road Home with their fellow Mayors and County officials, as well as with candidates in 2008 federal, state, and local elections. The Statement has been made available to all Mayors and County officials to sign.

Elected officials who have recently become new signatories include: Battle Creek, MI Mayor Mark Behnke; St. Leo, FL Mayor Mayor James Hallett; Denver City Councilmember Doug Linkhart; Fort Collins, CO Mayor Doug Hutchinson; Fort Collins, CO Council Member Diggs Brown; Monroe County, MI Commissioner Floreine M. Mentel; Osceola County, MI Commissioner Larry Emig; Hillsdale County, MI Commissioner Maxine Vanlerberg, and Berrien County, MI Commissioner Debra Panozzo. Mayor Behnke is pictured here with Director Mangano during the signing event in Battle Creek.

WASHINGTON, DC. New electronic resources are now posted on the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Project Homeless Connect web site, including audio and toolkit resources from the August 5 national webinar on best practices for Project Homeless Connect events.

Listen to audio highlights of the recent Best Practices webinar. With over 200 cities across the nation, in Canada, and Australia convening Project Homeless Connect events, there's a lot to know about Best Practices. Peer-to-peer support has proven to be critical for results-oriented Project Homeless Connect events. Expert faculty for the webinar included a trio of partners from Springfield, Massachusetts who shared their diverse views: Community 10 Year Plan Champion and business leader Bob Schwarz, City 10 Year Plan Point Person Gerry McCafferty, and Faith- Based Project Homeless Connect Chair Pastor Greg Dyson, as well as experienced jurisdictional experts Jamie van Leeuwen from Denver, Katie Kitchin from Norfolk, and Cathy ten Broeke from Minneapolis.

Look at new Best Practice Toolkits. Two new toolkits are posted on line from the webinar. One is a new Step-by-Step Guide to Project Homeless Connect, available to download and print. The second is a heavily illustrated chapter-by-chapter Toolkit on the ten key elements of Project Homeless Connect, showing action photos from some of the 300 events convened to date.

PORTLAND, OREGON WELCOMES HOMELESS NEIGHBORS IN SIXTH PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT EVENT. Portland and Multnomah County, Oregon convened their sixth Project Homeless Connect event last week, with 500 community volunteers and agency staff welcoming more than 800 people experiencing homelessness at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland.

Sponsored by the Multnomah County and the City of Portland as part of the strategies of their 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, this Connect added a new major partner in the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association. While many cities have engaged the faith community in their Project Homeless Connects events, Portland went a step further in developing a new faith based collaboration. Pictured here are (left to right): Reverend Andrew Palau, Associate Evangelist of the Luis Palau Association; Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish; Council Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson; Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler; and State Representative Greg MacPherson.

Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish addressing the volunteer rally. Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler, Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish along with U.S. Interagency Council Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson welcomed the volunteers at the opening volunteer rally. The Luis Palau Association, represented by Association evangelist Andrew Palau (son of the founder), took a special role in brokering relationship with 72 area churches in a unified strategy that brings together local congregation in support of Project Homeless Connect but that also continues the connection with homeless and poor people through a network of church sponsored neighborhood events called Compassion Connects. This unique partnership knits together the efforts of the faith community in Multnomah County with the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness on a year round basis. The Luis Palau Association staffs this strategy and maintains the communication with the City and County led efforts to end homelessness.

Apiculture here are (left to right) event media coordinator Kathleen Gardipee and PHC event coordinator Ruth Benson; Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler addressing the volunteer rally; and the Social Security Administration team assisting guests.

 

 

 

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