OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA. A statewide 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness was unveiled this week by the Governor's Interagency Council on Homelessness at the Creating Lasting Solutions 2008 Oklahoma Statewide Conference on Homelessness held at the Metro Technology Center. The Plan calls for "a dramatic shift in the present approach of addressing homelessness from a shelter-based strategy to a permanent supportive housing-based strategy" and sets a goal of reducing " by at least 50% the count of homeless and chronically homeless in the 2014 homeless count compared with the 2008 count."

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was invited to give the opening keynote address during which he praised Governor Brad Henry for having revitalized the state interagency council on homelessness and tasking it with the responsibility to bring private and public partners from across the state together to fashion a plan that is "creating the change that will offer your homeless neighbors what they have been waiting for, a place to live." He also noted the importance of the "non partisan approach" that Governor Henry and Lt. Governor Jari Askins, with whom he met that day, brought to the issue of fashioning solutions to homelessness. Council Director Mangano and Lt. Governor Askins are shown here with a copy of the new state plan.

"There are still places where we are doing what we did for homeless people 25 years ago," said Director Mangano in his remarks. "Warehousing them in shelters, managing their homelessness with drive-by feeding programs, and unenforceable street ordinances. The Smith-Coronas and Encyclopedia Brittanicas of homelessness. But just as innovation in technology has brought us computers and the internet, so too there are now innovations for ending homelessness that are proven in implementation and research. Whether Rapid Rehousing and Housing First to house our neighbors. Or Assertive Community Treatment teams to engage them. Or No Wrong Door to ensure that we don't lose them. Or Project Homeless Connect to ensure a neighbor to neighbor trajectory, beyond ad hoc responses to coordinated solutions. That's the intent of your state interagency council and the State and local 10 Year Plans here in Oklahoma - to invest resources in what we now know works." Local 10 Year Plans were created by Oklahoma City in 2004, by Norman in 2005, and by Tulsa in 2007. Norman was also an early adopter of the Project Homeless Connect innovation, hosting its first event during the 2005 National Project Homeless Connect Day sponsored by the U.S Interagency Council on Homelessness.

The new state plan, whose implementation "by the various political jurisdictions working closely within and across county/city boundaries serving the homeless population" will be overseen by the Governor's Interagency Council, adopts a "permanent supportive housing based strategy" to:

• Reduce entrance into homelessness by at least 40% by 2013. Specific year by year targets are established for improving access to permanent supportive housing and reducing homelessness for those exiting hospitals, foster care, mental health facilities, and prisons.
• Put policies and guidelines in place so that as housing inventory is upgraded, there is no net loss from the 2008 "truly affordable" housing inventory and increasing the permanent affordable housing designated for the homeless by at least 50% by 2014. Truly affordable housing is developed at "Extremely Low Income Limits" (30% of Median Income) and "Very Low Income Limits" (50% of Median Income).
• Provide supportive services including the appropriate case management level. A single application form to apply for state and other benefits will be created by 2010.
• Collect and provide accurate data and measure results from all agencies receiving public funding.

Director Mangano is pictured above with Governor's Interagency Council Chair Jane Ferrell, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, and Shelly Kuhn of the Oklahoma City Department of Community Development.

In a meeting that afternoon with Lt. Governor Askins, who has accomplished a rare trifecta in government service having been a leader in the judicial, legislative, and now executive branch of state government, Director Mangano discussed with the Lt. Governor and members of the state interagency council implementation strategies and opportunities including examples of dedicated funding streams as featured in the Council's Innovation Series - "20 in 20" and "5 in 5". Council Team Leader Michael German also participated.

McMINNVILLE, OREGON. Founded in 1843 as one of four original Oregon Counties, the 718 square mile Yamhill County lies at the heart of the Oregon wine country. Last month more than 200 community residents and leaders attended the community kickoff for the Yamhill County 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness developed over the past year under the leadership of County Commissioner Kathy George.

The Plan was developed by a committee led by Commissioner George, Housing Authority Director Elise Hui, and Community Action Agency Director Lee Means who worked closely with United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson. Faculty and students from Linnfield College, a small private liberal arts college in McMinnville, were among community members who assisted in the development of the Plan. Already the students have joined a local "sleep out" campaign that helped identify and serve homeless and at risk youth in the community.

Regional Coordinator Carlson was the guest speaker for the End Homelessness Now community roll-out that included opening and closing remarks by Commissioner George, presentation on the plan specifics by Elise Hui and Lee Means, a panel discussion, and a call for citizen involvement in the plan's implementation strategies.

In his remarks noting and affirming the plan's solution-oriented approach that "adopts strategies that we have promoted nationally that are based on research and proven practice," Mr. Carlson summarized "the essence of the plan's strategies":

1. Quantify and personalize the problem. How many homeless are in the county? Who are they? What are their names and where are they staying night be night?
2. Apply the solution: Housing First
3. Prevention: keep those who are on the margins of homelessness out of the system

A Project Homeless Connect event is being planned for March 2009 as one of the first steps in the plan's implementation.

Pictured above, front, l-r, Janet Jones, Yamhill County Prevention Programs; Yamhill County Commissioner Kathy George; Becca Heuser, Yamhill County Prevention Programs; Council Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson; and Yamhill Housing Authority Executive Director Elise Hui. Back row, l-r, Newberg City Council President Bob Larson; Newberg Mayor Bob Andrews; Newberg City Council Member Marc Shelton; Yamhill County Commissioner Mary Stern; Marilyn Kennelly, Yamhill Commission on Children and Families; Lee Means, Yamhill Community Action Partnership; and Newberg City Council Member Roger Currier.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. "Housing Works" with its dual emphasis on housing and employing homeless Utahns is the brand for Utah's next steps in moving forward with implementation of its 10-Year Business Plan to End Chronic Homelessness adopted in 2005. At this week's annual Homeless Summit attended by more than 300 state and local leaders, service providers, and other private sector and philanthropic leaders, state officials reported on progress toward meeting the 10 Year Plan goal of 2,124 housing units for persons experiencing chronic homelessness by 2014, unveiled results from a small scale study with Salt Lake City police providing more evidence of the cost savings in law enforcement from housing solutions, and discussed employment initiatives.

At a press conference Tuesday evening preceding the opening of the conference, Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank, City Prosecutor Singh Gill, Department of Community and Culture Executive Director Palmer DePaulis, and Gordon Walker presented data showing that EMT, arrest, bookings and jail costs for the 39 most frequently arrested individuals from 2002-2006, all of whom turned out to be male and homeless, totaled $2.6 million. This included an average of 837 arrests, 433 bookings, 3000 nights in jail, and 150 EMT responses per year. The officials reported that these costs dramatically diminished for 8 of the 39 when the 8 men were able to move into housing through the state's 10 Year Plan effort. Post-housing, they had a 65 percent average drop in bookings and 55 percent reduction in jail time. "Housing is more cost-efficient and humane than the alternative," said Salt Lake City Police Chief Burbank. "We can't arrest our way out of social problems like homelessness and drug addiction."

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who was invited to keynote the opening session, was introduced by Utah Division of Housing and Community Development Director Gordon Walker who later presented Director Mangano with the "State of Utah Indomitable Spirit Award" in recognition of his and the Council's work with the state in the effort to end chronic homelessness. Director Mangano also met with Lt. Governor Gary Herbert, Palmer DePaulis, and Gordon Walker about targeting the new $3.9 billion in federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program resources to prevent and end homelessness. The Utah officials indicated that Utah would set aside specific NSP resources targeted to housing homeless Utahns.

In his keynote remarks, Director Mangano noted that the single most important factor in implementing 10 Year Plans and getting results is the political will of the jurisdictional CEO's - Governors, Mayors, and County Executives- and he commended Utah for a level of partnership across partisan lines and across geographic boundaries that is a model for the country. Utah's state plan is being implemented locally through plans developed by 12 geographically based Local Homeless Coordinating Committees, each of which is chaired by a mayor or county commissioner. The State Homeless Coordinating Committee is chaired by Lt. Governor Gary Herbert who addressed the summit participants later that day and who Director Mangano acknowledged along with Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. for their personal, professional and political commitment to ending homelessness. Governor Huntsman's work was acknowledged with A Home for Every American award earlier this year at the Council's National Summit for Jurisdictional Leaders. Director Mangano asked summit participants to join him in thanking Utah Homeless Task Force Director Lloyd Pendleton and Gordon Walker for their leadership in implementing Utah's 10 Year Plan effort along with Department of Community and Culture Executive Director Palmer DePaulis who served many years as mayor of Salt Lake City. Pictured above, l-r, Gordon Walker, Director Mangano, Lt. Governor Herbert, and Lloyd Pendleton.

Director Mangano also acknowledged the "authentic voices" of the several formerly homeless individuals at the conference who "in their lives and in their overcoming of homelessness, bear witness and give testimony that our efforts to end homelessness are possible." Pictured here is Director Mangano with AC Garcia, once homeless and now a member of the Governor's Interagency Council. Later in the conference, White House Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives Deputy Director Elizabeth Wiebe presented an award to John Hailes - who was homeless off and on for 20 years and is now living in market housing and gainfully employed after a period of receiving supportive housing assistance through the state 10 -Year Plan. "People like John are changing misconceptions about the causes of homelessness and prognosis for recovery," said Gordon Walker, Director of the Utah Division of Housing and Community Development. "He's an inspiration to all of us." Volunteers of America was also recognized by Ms. Wiebe for their work with Mr. Hailes.

Utah was the first state to receive training under the Social Security Administration's SOAR initiative which streamlines the process for homeless persons to receive benefits for which they are eligible. Utah rolled out the SOAR effort statewide in September after completing its pilot effort during which approval times were reduced from 18/24 months to 4.3 months with 82% approval on initial application. Don Ketcham of the Social Security Administration's Denver office, presented an award to the Utah Department of Workforce Services in recognition of their success.

SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS. The 1st report card is in for Springfield, Massachusetts 10 Year Plan, Homes Within Reach, and the news is good. A Report to the Community signed by Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and Homes Within Reach Implementation Chair Robert Schwarz notes that in its first year, Homes Within Reach, reduced the number of homeless individuals living on the streets by 39% and the total number of homeless individuals in the city (on the streets and in shelters) declined 9%. "What we saw this year was a different approach regarding the homeless," said Geraldine McCafferty, deputy director of the city's Office of Housing and the city's 10 Year Plan Point Person. "Even if the economy goes up or down, if we continue on this path we should see a difference."

Among other accomplishments:

• 70 chronically homeless individuals and 24 chronically homeless families have been housed.
• The Rapid Re-House Program provided security deposits or first month rent to assist 93 individuals and 62 families to move from homeless to housed.
• Multiple agencies are collaborating on creative ways to combine housing assistance with intensive support services such as the collaboration between the Springfield Housing Authority and the Mental Health Association.
• The community has hosted two Project Homeless Connect events at the downtown MassMutual Center, the most recent one on June 28 where 600 homeless and at risk of homelessness individuals and families received assistance.

Construction will soon begin on a 24-hour Homeless Resource Center. The new facility will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It will include single room occupancy apartments, a medical/dental clinic, literacy and job training and related resources. Funding for the project is coming from a combination of public funds and private equity investment. The report notes that a fundraising campaign spearheaded by local business has already provided substantial assistance.

In the report, Springfield Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Russell Denver notes that "Implementation of the 10-year plan is having noticeable impact. There are fewer homeless individuals congregating downtown, and this is creating a more positive outlook for downtown businesses." Vice President of Peter Pan Bus Lines and 10 Year Plan Implementation Chair Bob Schwarz was recognized by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness for his leadership in bringing the business community to the table with A Home for Every American Community Champion Award at this year's National Summit for Jurisdictional Leaders at the National Press Club. Pictured above are Mayor Sarno, Mr. Schwarz, Ms. McCafferty and other community leaders together with Council Director Mangano at Springfield's 2nd Project Homeless Connect in June, an important strategy in their 10 Year Plan. L-R : Northampton Mayor Clare Higgins, Mr. Schwarz, Connect Co-chair Doreen Fadus, Director Mangano, 10 Year Plan point person Gerry McCafferty, Mayor Sarno, and MA Interagency Council on Homelessness and Housing Executive Director Robert Pulster.

Springfield has also collaborated with neighboring communities to launch a regional plan to end homelessness. The Pioneer Valley Plan, All Roads Lead Home, was unveiled in March 2008 and is a partnership of jurisdictional leaders that include Springfield Mayor Sarno (and his predecessor former Mayor Charles Ryan), Holyoke Mayor Michael Sullivan, Northampton Mayor Clare Higgins, Greenfield Mayor Christine Forgey, West Springfield Mayor Edward Gibson, and Chicopee Mayor Michael Bissonnette. The plan focuses on the creation of a collaborative prevention and rapid rehousing network, in which local, state, and federal funds are used in a coordinated and easy-to-access manner. The regional plan also seeks to raise $200,000 per year in flexible regional funds and $150,000 per year in new funds for the Tenancy Preservation Project. Another goal is creation of 260 supportive housing opportunities for individuals; 50 supportive housing opportunities for families; and 4 small Safe Havens housing projects for seriously mentally ill individuals throughout the region.

In issuing a Report to the Community on the progress of its 10 Year Plan implementation, Springfield, like Sacramento whose 1st year Progress Report to the Community was one of the innovations cited in the Council's "20 in 20" Innovation Series, is both ensuring public accountability and expanding community education.

Continuing the Council's coverage of Dedicated Revenue Streams as part of the Innovation Series launched in May

BOULDER COUNTY, COLORADO. For Boulder County residents, a trip to the ballot box on November 4 will include the opportunity to approve a 10 year extension of a .05% county sales tax that over the past five years has funded more than $9.3 million in capital improvement projects for human service non profit agencies. The impact of the initiative was described to United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano during a recent visit to Boulder where he met with Boulder Deputy Mayor Crystal Gray and other city officials.

The Boulder County Worthy Cause Sales Tax Initiative, begun in 2000 and last extended in 2003, recognizes the inherent partnership that exists between local government human services programs and community non profit agencies. In a Letter to the community accompanying the Worthy Cause Report for 2004-2008, the Commissioners wrote, " Our collaborative efforts together far outweigh the sum of our individual parts. That's why Boulder County partners with local non profits and with you, the public, to provide the services that make our community a better place to live. Our local non profits contribute expertise, skills, qualified staff, and other resources to provide services that might otherwise go unmet. Through partnerships, funds can be leveraged to achieve the most effective use of public and private funds."

During 2004-2008, 35 non profits were awarded more than $9.3 million for capital improvements that included building purchase, remodeling, and/or debt reduction which allowed the non profits to concentrate their expertise and more of their resources on service provision. A task force appointed by the Commissioners identified community clinics, domestic violence services, and transitional housing as being priority areas and recommended that funding be divided into two pools: the first being designated funding by the Commissioners to agencies in the priority categories and the second a general funding pool which would be allocated through a competitive annual application process.

Examples of projects that have been funded with Worthy Cause revenues include:

• A $683,350 capital investment allowed the Salud Family Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Community and Migrant Health Center, to complete expansion and relocation of a clinic that was at capacity and also created dental services.
• Funding of nearly $700,000 to The Mental Health Center has allowed dramatic improvements to be made to the Warner House developed in 1979 as an alternative to hospitalization providing short term acute treatment for clients with mental illness. Warner House costs one quarter of the daily rate of local psychiatric hospitals and committed discharge planning efforts mean that "virtually no one who leaves is expected to stay at a homeless shelter."
• The Sister Carmen Community Center serves more than 13,000 people annually through its food bank and offers emergency assistance with rent, utilities, transportation, and other basic needs. A $75,000 investment in both 2007 and 2008 is helping make possible a new facility made necessary by safety concerns with the existing facility.
• During each of the past five years, Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley, which provides safety and services to women and children affected by domestic violence, has had to turn away an average of 70 women and children due to lack of space. More than a half million dollars in Worthy Cause funding has helped Safe Shelter to afford an outreach/counseling facility and is helping fund the construction of a new shelter.
• Renovations to Chase House, a program of Attention Homes through which boys ages 13-18 who have experienced drug/alcohol abuse and attendant mental health issues live in abstinence-supported housing for 3 months to a year.

The proposed 10-Year extension, expected to raise approximately $2 million annually, would allow Worthy Cause sales tax revenue to be distributed to non-profit human services agencies and housing authorities within Boulder County providing:

• Health services
• Transitional and affordable rental housing
• Basic needs such as food and clothing
• Other human services, including but not limited to childcare, early childhood education, and services for the elderly and people with disabilities

Recipients of Worthy Cause funding would be selected by the Boulder County Board of Commissioners. During the first five years of the proposed 10-year extension, funding would continue to be divided between two pools: a designated pool of agencies already selected by the Board of Commissioners, and a funding pool that will be allocated annually through an application process.

Boulder County solicited potential candidates to be considered for designated funding through a six-month capital needs project evaluation process, in which human service non-profits within Boulder County were asked to provide information about plans for capital projects and how they would serve the needs of the community.

The ballot initiative identifies eight agencies as having been proposed for designated funding: Boulder Day Nursery (Boulder/Lafayette), OUR Center (Longmont), Mapleton Early Childhood Center (Boulder), Clinica Campesina (Boulder/Lafayette), Mental Health Center of Boulder County, Special Transit, Sister Carmen (Lafayette) and Plan de Salud (Longmont).

NEWPORT, OREGON. In Lincoln County, Oregon community leaders have adopted the Project Homeless Connect innovation to serve as a practical point of coordination between housing and service agencies that can model the needed year round coordination as the county continues to move forward with the implementation of its 10 Year Plan. Some 200 community volunteers under the leadership of County Commissioner Bill Hall and Children and Families Commission Director Barbara Dougherty were on hand October 9 for Lincoln County's 2nd Project Homeless Connect at the Newport Church of the Nazarene which welcomed 150 homeless guests. Shown at the event are, l-r, Lincoln County Commissioner Bill Hall; PHC event organizer Barbara Dougherty; Newport City Council Member Larry Henson; and United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson.

With a total population of only 45,000 in an area that includes some of the most spectacular scenery along the Oregon coast, Lincoln County leaders were surprised a few years ago to learn the extent of homelessness that included a number of campsites in and around Newport and Lincoln City. The community mobilized under the leadership of Commissioner Hall to find solutions. Working closely with Council Director Mangano, Council Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson, and State of Oregon officials, Commissioner Hall, assisted by Tom Hatley of the local community action agency, held a series of community forums that led to the development of the community's 10 Year Plan, "At Home in Lincoln County." For his leadership, Commissioner Hall was recognized by the Council with A Home for Every American - County Leader Award at this year's National Summit for Jurisdictional Leaders.

Underway for a year, implementation of the plan has already led to the opening of housing and services resources that had been practically non-existent in the community. Twenty units of permanent supportive housing will soon be available, a new program for runaway youth has been established, a community resource center to coordinate services and housing for homeless persons is under development, and a novel community land trust has been developed that will provide land for the creation of more permanent supportive housing.

Participation by the faith community has been a factor in the success of Lincoln's efforts. Church of the Nazarene Senior Pastor Dr. Billy Grigory and Pastor Lee Pate have committed the use of the church facilities for the Project Homeless Connect events.

REDMOND, OREGON. A few years ago the City of Bend in Central Oregon was one of the fastest growing communities in the nation, with a rate of growth just behind that of Las Vegas and Phoenix. Today the community has been hard hit by the recent troubles in the housing market. On October 11, nearly 2000 people came to Central Oregon's second Project Homeless Connect event where they were welcomed and assisted by over 600 volunteers. Central Oregon includes Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties with a population just over 200,000.

"The end of the housing boom hit us very hard," said Bend Mayor Bruce Abernethy, a strong supporter of the event and the development of the Central Oregon 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson joined Mayor Abernethy, Deschutes County Commissioner Tammy Melton who is also pursuing a regional plan, and Oregon state representative Gene Whisnant in welcoming the volunteers during an opening rally.

One of the most active areas of the event was the children's area. Community volunteers and a local folk singer entertained a small horde of children while their parents completed applications for housing and jobs and also gathered food, clothing and other basic needs available at the event. More than 400 attendees visited the medical and dental care. At the end of last year's event, $10,000 in excess donations were distributed to agencies to be used as resources to assist homeless people into permanent housing. Organizers expected to have at least that amount to distribute this year. Additionally 20 eligible households were selected through a lottery system for housing placement. Cindy Pasko of the Central Oregon Partnership to End Poverty is the project director of the Central Oregon PHC events and led a committed group of community organizers in doing outreach for the event.

Shown above, l-r, are Council Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson; Troy Ferguson, Director, and Judy Treco, Office of Congressman Greg Walden; Deschutes County Commissioner Tammy Melton (and daughter); Oregon State Representative Gene Whisnant;; City of Redmond Mayor Alan Unger; Bend City Council Member Chris Telfer; Deschutes County Deputy Adminstrator Erik Kropp; and Bend Mayor Bruce Abernethy (and son).

BOISE, IDAHO. The City of Boise's two-year old Charitable Assistance to Community's Homeless (CATCH) program, which has housed four dozen families and nearly 100 children, is a finalist for the National League of Cities and CH2M HILL 2008 Awards for Municipal Excellence. "CATCH is successful because it emphasizes long term solutions rather than quick fixes," said Mayor David Bieter about his initiative launched in 2006 that mobilizes communities of faith in partnership with the City and the United Way of Treasure Valley and has received support from the business community to rapidly rehouse homeless families.

Pursuing a "housing first" approach, CATCH was launched by the Mayor with an invitation to local congregations to sponsor the rental housing costs for one or more homeless families for the term of a lease, generally 6 to 12 months. Hearing of the intiative, businesses offered to join the effort. Families are linked with community support services including mental health and substance addiction treatment and workforce training through case management supported by the City and the United Way of Treasure Valley. The program has had an 83% success rate with many families self sufficient within six months.

The NLC Municipal Excellence Awards, which will be announced during NLC's Congress of Cities and Exposition in Orlando, Florida November 11-15, are intended to "identify and showcase outstanding city programs that improve the quality of life in America's communities."

CATCH was one of the first initiatives to be announced from the Helping Neighbors in Need Livability Summit at which the Mayor was joined by United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano to begin the process of developing a plan to end homelessness by focusing on housing, social services, and employment. A 10 Year Plan to Reduce and End Chronic Homelessness was adopted by the Boise City Council in 2007. Pictured above is Director Mangano with Mayor Bieter and United Way CEO Sally Zive who chaired the Boise 10 Year Plan development. Last month the City Council approved Mayor Bieter's proposal to create a $2 million Neighbors in Need Trust Fund which will be used as an ongoing revenue source to support solutions to homelessness.

Fourth Annual National Project Homeless Connect Week is December 1-7, 2008.

Every Project Homeless Connect event is a "welcome" for homeless neighbors into the "living room of the community" by elected officials, resource partners, and community volunteers seeking to make resources more available and accessible to end homelessness. Every Connect event is also a learning experience for communities that are interested in adopting this innovation. Since 2005 when the Interagency Council organized a national "pilgrimage" to a San Francisco Connect event for cities from New York to Portland, Oregon who were interested in partnering in the first National Project Homeless Connect that year, the Council has continued to encourage communities to "make a pilgrimage" to an experienced PHC city to see and hear what the event has to offer, its welcoming spirit, and learn best practices for logistics, service partnerships, role of volunteers, and data collection.

With the adoption of the Project Homeless Connect innovation by more than 170 cities across the nation and across borders, there are many opportunities for communities to make a pilgrimage to a planned event. To facilitate such pilgrimages, the Council maintains a calendar on our web site of upcoming PHC events around the country. The Council provides coverage of many of these events, describing partnerships, innovations, resources, and results in our weekly enewsletter. The Council has recently posted all 2007 and 2008 profiles of local Project Homeless Connect events.

This year's Fourth Annual National Project Homeless Connect Week is December 1-7. Already, Concord, NH, Phoenix, Danbury, CT, Nashville, Madison County, IL, Nashua, NH, Springfield, IL, St. Louis, MO, Pomona, CA, Hartford, CT, Los Angeles (multiple events), Morristown, NJ, Clarksville, TN, San Diego, Knoxville, TN, San Antonio, and Minneapolis have committed to hosting events during this week. San Francisco, the historic home of the innovation of Connect, will host its 25th Connect event during National Week. It's not too late for your community to join us for National Week. The Council will be glad to provide technical assistance. Just email us at nphc@usich.gov. There is also a wealth of information on our web site. If your community is interested in this innovation but not quite ready to host an event, please consider making a pilgrimage to one of the planned events. You will learn first hand why the Project Homeless Connect innovation is such an effective way to further your 10 Year Plan goals.

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