WASHINGTON, DC. New federal foster care measures that will expand choices and supports in the foster care system are key to bipartisan legislation signed recently by President Bush. The "Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008" will affect the almost 500,000 young people in foster care and addresses several key prevention and support issues which are related to the high risk of homelessness faced by more than 25,000 aging out youth each year. Up to a third of foster care youth are estimated to experience homelessness after leaving the foster care system.

The new law reauthorizes the Adoption Incentives Program for five years and increases incentives for special needs and older child adoptions; give states the option to use Federal funding to provide maintenance payments to relatives who serve as "kinship guardians"; establishes Family Connection grants to connect foster children with family members and assist them in meeting the needs of the foster children; and allows federal funding of child welfare systems established by tribal entities.

Called by supporters the most significant reform of the foster care system in a decade, the new law passed by unanimous consent in the House on September 17, under the leadership of Representatives Jim McDermott (WA) and Jerry Weller (IL) and in the Senate on September 22, with the support of Senators Chuck Grassley (IA), Max Baucus (MT) and Jay Rockefeller (WV).

"For years we've waited for the void to be filled in policy and resources for young people aging out of foster care and their caregivers," indicated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. "With this legislation now law, prevention of homelessness is a more viable outcome for those aging out."

Specifically the new law requires increased transitional, education, and health supports and allows states to choose to use federal foster care assistance up to the age of 21 if youth are engaged in school, work, or other constructive activities; requires transitional plans for youth aging out of foster care; requires a plan for the educational stability of every foster child and assurance of their school attendance; requires improved oversight of the health care needs of every foster child, covering their assessment, treatment, medical records, and medication; and requires reasonable efforts to place siblings together when removed from their homes, or if not possible, to allow ongoing interaction.

The new law also support caregivers who are relatives of young people, providing federal reimbursement to states choosing to provide assistance to grandparents and other relatives who become legal guardians of children for whom they have cared as foster parents and providing $15 million per year for Family Connection Grants to promote kinship navigator programs and other initiatives designed to connect and help relative caregivers.

New provisions for tribal foster care include providing direct federal foster care and adoption assistance to tribal governments for children in their care and $3 million per year to provide technical and start-up assistance to tribal foster care programs. Incentives for adoption are also expanded under the Adoption Incentives Program, which provides financial bonuses to states increasing the number of children adopted out of foster care. Federal adoption assistance will be provided to all special needs children.

Read the National Association of Counties (NACo) Issue Brief on aging out youth.

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker and local partners including Catholic Charities last week welcomed United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano for a return visit and press event to update him on their resolute movement forward toward solutions to homelessness. Mayor Baker is pictured here.

New Pinellas Hope developments included creation of 50 efficiency apartments and use of 105 HUD-VASH housing vouchers. At the press event, Catholic Charities President Frank Murphy committed to the building of 50 units on Diocesan land in St. Petersburg and emphasized in his commitment the necessity of the federal, state, city, county, private sector, and faith community partnership that has been assembled to achieve the mission.

Joining the visit and press event at the site were Mayor Baker and Director Mangano, as well as Frank Murphy, President of Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg; Wengay "Newt" Newton, St. Petersburg Council Member; James Bennett, St. Petersburg City Council Chair and outgoing Homeless Leadership Chair; Carlen Peterson, Clearwater City Council Member and incoming Homeless Leadership Chair; Kenneth Welch, Pinellas County Commissioner and member of Homeless Leadership Network; and numerous local partners.

"From the first time I met Mayor Baker in my office in Washington and experienced his determination to do the right thing here for homeless people, I had no doubt that St. Petersburg would evolve a response that would offer the consumer - homeless people - what they wanted and needed, and ensure the taxpayer that their money was being invested in what worked," indicated Director Mangano (pictured here).

"You know the last time I was here I said that Pinellas Hope was a good initiative. Our homeless neighbors living in the orderliness and the safety of Pinellas Hope were better off than living on the streets. But I also said that while living here was better than being on the streets, living in housing was better than living in tents. Well, I am here today to commend all of the partners who have moved forward that agenda. And that partnership is a model for our country in transforming a response that was initially uncoordinated and uncreative to one that is solution- oriented and cost effective."

"If there is a theme for today, that theme is 'Stabilization,' " indicated Director Mangano. "Today we recognize the need to stabilize the lives of our poorest and most vulnerable neighbors through the evolution of Pinellas Hope and the stabilization of our neighborhoods through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. And that's just what Pinellas Hope promises - stabilized lives."

At the press event, the Mayor, soon to be recognized by Governing Magazine as its mayoral Public Official of the Year, also noted the allocation by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of $9.5 million to the City and $8 million to the County of Neighborhood Stabilization Program resources to address the foreclosure crisis at the local level.

"Pinellas Hope" a temporary Catholic Charities triage site opened in December 2007 on a 10- acre site with tents. The two planned phases of Pinellas Hope have attracted resources from federal, state, county, and city coffers. Federal homeless funds have supported the effort, and the state has pledged $3 million in Florida Housing Finance funds which will be matched by $1 million in matching dollars from Pinellas County, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Largo. In addition will be $764,000 in county funds and $331,000 in St. Petersburg and surrounding city funds for Phase 1, 2008-2009. Additionally, $200,000 came from the faith and business communities as well as the land from the Diocese.

While in Florida, Director Mangano also visited with Reverend Dan Campbell, President, Coalition of the Homeless of Pasco County and Eugene Williams, Project Supervisor, Pasco County Community Development Division and Ten Year Plan leader. In their discussions, the leaders spoke of the need for a plan in Pasco, the adjoining county to Pinellas County, and the possibility of coordination with Pinellas County, as well as the timing for the completion of a plan.

Pictured here are (front row from left): James Bennett, St. Petersburg City Council Chair and outgoing Homeless Leadership Chair; Maureen Freaney, Pinellas County Health and Human Services Director; Sarah Snyder, Pinellas County Homeless Coalition Director; Lisa Jackson, President Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless; Rhonda Abbott, St. Petersburg Social Services Manager; Director Mangano; Sheila Lopez, Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg COO; (back row): Cliff Smith, Pinellas County Health and Human Services Assistant Director; Carlen Peterson, Clearwater City Council Member and incoming Homeless Leadership Chair; David Metz, St. Petersburg Deputy Mayor for Neighborhoods; Mayor Baker; Frank Murphy, Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg President; Wengay "Newt" Newton, St. Petersburg Council Member; Kenneth Welch, Pinellas County Commissioner and member of Homeless Leadership Network; and Michael German, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness National Team Leader.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA. City Hall in Atlanta was the recent site of a press announcement by Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin of new federal resources coming to her city to address homeless and the foreclosure and mortgage crisis. Mayor Franklin welcomed the new resources, which include a new $2 million award to Recovery Consultants for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services treatment services targeted to people who are homeless and the upcoming $12.3 million allocation of Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) resources from the new $3.92 billion initiative of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development resulting from the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA).

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano (shown here with Mayor Franklin to his left), who joined Mayor Franklin for the announcement, noted the steady stream of investment coming to Atlanta from Washington: "Today, we're announcing two more resources from federal agencies that will support Atlanta's efforts to reduce homelessness, create housing, and provide support services, as well as to respond to the mortgage/foreclosure crisis. The good news here is that HUD Secretary Preston has prioritized flexibility and expeditious distribution. That's good news here for communities being impacted by job losses and foreclosure."

"When I was here a few months ago we announced nearly $3 million targeted in the HUD-VASH initiative to provide 350 housing vouchers with services. Earlier this year we announced the third consecutive year of record resources coming to Atlanta targeted to homeless people. More than $10 million to be invested through those agencies in your city and to support Atlanta's Ten Year Plan. That Plan was initiated by the Mayor and United Way and championed by Horace Sibley, who has become a national spokesperson for Atlanta's effort. Just as Mayor Franklin has become a leader among the Mayors of this nation on this issue."

Mayor Franklin said the city expects to aid working families with its NSP resources, since an increasing number of homeless are renters are in jeopardy for landlord foreclosures. "Our challenge is to demonstrate that this program can succeed," she said.

Atlanta Planning and Community Development Commissioner James Shelby, calling the foreclosures "an epidemic in our city" also took part in the press event. Council National Team Leader Michael German and Mayor's Advisor Debi Starnes also participated.

PINE MOUNTAIN, GEORGIA. "Bringing Georgia Home" was the theme and Callaway Gardens was the setting for the Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness Fifth Annual Conference last week, convened by Executive Director Katheryn Preston. Conference highlights included the Coalition's Humanitarian Awards and Learning Institutes.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, invited to keynote the conference, which he previously addressed three years ago, joined Ms. Preston and Coalition Board Member and Atlanta Blueprint Community Champion Horace Sibley for the event, who was recognized with the Council's 2006 Community Champion "Home for Every American" Award. Mr. Sibley was joined by his wife, Beverly Sibley.

Whether as a practicing and now retired attorney or in his community involvements, Horace Sibley has epitomized and personified what a 'good citizen' ought to be, noted the Council's 2006 recognition. His vitae is filled with the civic responsibilities he has undertaken on behalf of numerous civic and charitable organizations in Atlanta. When Mayor Shirley Franklin asked the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta to lead the development of a 10-Year Plan, it was Horace Sibley who answered the call to chair the effort that in 2003 created Atlanta's Blueprint to End Homelessness in Ten Years. Noted Director Mangano: ""These involvements chronicle the heart of a man given to his community, but are insufficient to reveal the soul of the man now committed to ending chronic homelessness in his adopted home town of Atlanta. He is the first born of that new breed of homeless advocates who has a good grip on compassion and the moral and spiritual obligations to neighbor, while with the other hand has a sure grasp on the political and economic levers necessary to accomplish the mission, resulting in record resources for the plan and unparalleled business partnership."

Director Mangano, affirming Ms. Preston's leadership and partnership with stakeholders across Georgia, highlighted the inclusive partnership the Georgia Coalition has built under her leadership. He also noted the consumers who were part of the 3-day conference program: "I understand that several formerly homeless people will speak here at the Conference. They are the authentic voice, as Scripture says, that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. They bear witness and give testimony that our efforts to end homelessness are possible. They dispel the myths and stereotypes about homeless people that undermine policy and demoralize implementation of Plans." Director Mangano is shown here at right with Ms. Preston and Horace Sibley.

Conference sessions focused on homelessness prevention strategies and effective interventions, as well as special populations, including single mothers, reentering prisoners, and youth. Other conference awardees included: Sandra Morris, Executive Director, Carrollton Housing Authority (City of Carrollton and Carroll County, GA)for the 2008 Essential Piece Award. Zack Bonner, Founder of the Little Red Wagon Foundation/Kids Helping Kids, is a Florida elementary school student who volunteers to "help kids in distressed situations," including by collecting donations, stuffing backpacks for children, assembling school supplies, and holiday gifts for shelters, FEMA trailer parks, and more.

Renee Kennedy, Community Consumer Advocacy Board on Homelessness, Savannah, GA received the 2008 Robert Vincent Smith Volunteer of the Year Award, and Rainbow Village, Inc., Norcross, Georgia was recognized with the 2008 Bridge Builder Award.

LANSING, MICHIGAN. As partners from across Michigan's 83 counties and more than 60 10 Year Plans met in Lansing for their Third Annual Statewide Summit on Homelessness, the theme of partnership from every level of government and the private sector was emphasized by the event theme of "Building a Foundation for Success." In a televised greeting Governor Granholm told more than 400 attendees, " We in Michigan as well as others across the country realize that well intended shelters cannot get the job done . . . there is a new model." The Summit convened at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center at Michigan State University.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, invited to keynote the Summit as he has each of the prior statewide events that are part of the Michigan Campaign to End Homelessness, told attendees:" I can tell you that this level of collaboration you have here in Michigan - where every square mile of the state is covered by a Ten Year Plan - is not common. Things often get in the way - turf, ego, funding. That is the work that Keith Molin of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority has supported, and Sally Harrison of the state Office of Supportive Housing and Homeless Initiatives has implemented. The statewide partnership across partisanship lines, across geographic boundaries is most impressive and a model for our country."

Summit partners also heard from state officials including Ismael Ahmed, Director, Michigan Department of Human Services; Keith Cooley, Director, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth; Patricia L. Caruso, Director, Michigan Department of Corrections' and A. Edwin Dore, Chief Deputy Director, MI Dept of Community Health. Also participating were Jamie van Leeuwen of Denver's Road Home and Carla Javits, former CEO of the Corporation for Supportive Housing and for whom a new Carla Javits Award was named and presented at the Summit. Summit attendees also heard about cost benefit analysis, collaborative partnerships and their impact on 10 Year Plans, United Way investments, Housing First strategies, and the Local Housing Assistance Fund (LHAF) which provides vouchers, homeless prevention supports, leverage matching opportunities and long term sustainability support through the use of local tax dollars.

While in Lansing, Director Mangano joined Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero for a press briefing on the new Department of Housing and Urban Development Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) resources allocated to Lansing. The City, about to mark its 150th birthday, will receive $5.9 million of the $263.5 million allocated to Michigan, and Mayor Bernero indicated he would work with the Ingham County Land Bank, neighborhood leaders and community and housing groups to create Lansing's plan by HUD's December 1 deadline.

Michigan's long-term commitment to end homelessness was launched with the 2006 commitment of the Governor to drive creation of 10- Year Plans for all 83 Michigan counties - plans were unveiled at the first statewide summit. These strategic initiatives and investments, begun under previous MSHDA Director Michael De Vos, have been continued by his successor, Keith Molin. Subsequently, State housing funds were tied to 10 Year Plans by MSHDA, and new planning grants made available for innovations, including Project Homeless Connect. MSHDA has targeted federal HOME and state housing dollars to communities for new permanent supportive housing programs for persons experiencing chronic homelessness.

Housing accomplishments of the Michigan Campaign include: Michigan's Housing and Community Development Fund (HCDF) received $2.2 M from the legislature for the first year of the fund, and, of this amount, $650,000 was committed for homeless housing activities and rental development. MSHDA has committed over $38 million for homeless initiatives, including Housing First Grants, since the Campaign began in 2006. MSHDA awarded $350,000 in grant funds to shelters to re-write their policy and procedures to embrace Housing First, known as Instant Access to Housing grants. Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) has 1,132 subsidies under contract statewide. Homeless Assistance Recovery Program (HARP) has 3,245 subsidies under contract statewide as of October 7, 2008. Currently there are 391 Project Based Vouchers (PBV) under contract as of October 7, 2008. MSHDA financed an additional 62 of new supportive housing units in 2008. The Department of Community Health (DCH) is creating Housing Resource Centers in eight cities.

DHS, through Balance of State HUD grants, is providing leasing assistance to 220 households, funding the costs of 5 Housing Resource Coordinators located in rural communities, contracted for 49 units of Shelter + Care targeted to people who are severely mental ill and/or substance abusers, and issued an RFP for 86 units of housing targeted to persons who are chronically homeless and/or homeless with special needs.

DCH and MSHDA funded the SSI/SSDI Outreach Access and Recovery (SOAR) initiative for a second consecutive year. Forty people were trained as trainers, and the trainers have completed 45 training sessions across the state. Approximately 688 people have been trained as a result of this program. Over 200 applications have been submitted on behalf of applicants utilizing the SOAR process. According to officials, Michigan is the leader in the country in implementing SOAR with a 78% success rate in having applications approved upon initial application in an average of 55 days.

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO. Delivering his State of the City address this week, San Juan Mayor Jorge Santini affirmed his commitment to accomplish the mission of ending homelessness in San Juan, noting: " . . . we have found that when we spark the hope in the heart of those that lost everything, even their sense for life, we can make them succeed." Mayor Santini, who invited United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano to join him for the address, welcomed the Director, stating: "I want to take this occasion to recognize the presence of Philip Mangano . . . and allow me the opportunity to acknowledge publicly that San Juan, the City of San Juan, is in great gratitude to you, in your support of our extensive efforts to solve the plight of the homeless. Thank you for being here with us. Thank you for also recognizing our resolve in attending to this problem." Mayor Santini is pictured here at left with his father at center and Director Mangano at right.

In his remarks on the San Juan 10 Year Plan, Director Mangano indicated: "I am very encouraged as I travel to cities across our country and see unprecedented partnership, collaborations, initiatives, and, most importantly, results. San Juan is no exception. Mayor Santini has led an interagency effort in his Administration to ensure that the Department of Families under the leadership of Dalia Marti, CBO's, the police, and others are on the same page. That's why San Juan's 10 Year Plan - Puerto Rico's only completed Plan - is so important."

Director Mangano joined the Mayor for the State of the City event, which also included the First Lady, Irma Garriga (shown here), and the Mayor's father, as well as Director of Federal Relations María del Carmen Muñoz Delgado.

The First Lady is deeply committed to initiatives to benefit women and children in need in San Juan, and Casa Cuna is just one example of her efforts. Casa Cuna, which Director Mangano had visited when it was yet to be rehabilitated from its surplus condition as a former U.S. Naval Radio Station and Naval Reserve Center is under the Office of the First Lady of San Juan. Interagency Council National Team Leader Michael German also participated in the visit which included a tour of San Juan's homelessness initiatives, as well as the Casa Cuna program. The visitors are shown below at the Casa Cuna site

.The development of the San Juan Plan, which was unveiled in 2006, was commissioned by Mayor Santini in 2004, when he designated a 20-person committee led by the City's Office of Federal Affairs and External Resources (OFAER) to oversee the Plan's development. Through an extended working group and a series of meetings and public forums involving a wide group of stakeholders, the committee collected data and information about people experiencing homelessness in San Juan, as well as the service delivery system, housing, and other resources. The Plan emphasizes substance abuse treatment, employment, and a reorganization of resources to better achieve results.

The unveiling took place in conjunction with Iniciativa Hacia La Esperanza ("Initiative for Hope"), a City- sponsored, mobile one-stop event similar to Project Homeless Connect, which has organized several hundred events to provide intensive services, treatment, and detoxification "without barriers or waiting lists" in areas frequented by people experiencing homelessness.

WASHINGTON, DC. Renowned scientists, writers, artists, political figures, journalists, scholars, and religious leaders constitute the invitees for "Critical Issues in the Light of Faith" the theme of the Washington National Cathedral's Sunday Forum series. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director last week joined Cathedral Dean Sam Lloyd to address the question "Can we end homelessness?" at the Forum, held in the Nave of the Cathedral.

The Forum, open to the public, broadcast live on- line, and introduced by Deryl Davis of the Cathedral College, offers a conversational format for a focus on important issues of the day from a Christian viewpoint. In his one-on-one interview with Director Mangano, Dean Lloyd, who came to his post from Boston's Trinity Church Copley Square, invited the Director to discuss the innovations that are changing the way both government and the faith community address the issue of homelessness with the goal of ending the misery of their most vulnerable and disabled neighbors.

Director Mangano, noting the consumer-preferred and cost effective innovation of Housing First, described the policy priority created by targeting the most expansive and visible part of the homeless population - persons who are chronically homeless - and changing the equation of hopelessness to one of hope. Noting the recently reported and unprecedented documented national reduction of 30% in chronic homelessness over two years, Director Mangano stressed that results in ending homelessness have come from expansive partnership led by jurisdictional leaders and embracing new models of faith community involvement, such as those in Denver and Norfolk which establish long-term relationships between faith communities and people experiencing homelessness.

Speaking of the current issues of foreclosure and job loss, Director Mangano indicated that both good and bad economic times negatively impact homelessness, but provide opportunities to be strategic and entrepreneurial on behalf of the housing needs of people who are homeless.

Director Mangano highlighted the important partnership of the Cathedral with its neighbor, the Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place in Washington, as well as the DC Pathways to Housing/Housing First initiative, represented at the Forum event by Rev. Linda Kaufman, COO.

Pictured here are (left to right): Director Mangano and Dean Lloyd.

The Fourth Annual National Project Homeless Connect Week starts December 1, 2008. With this issue, the e-news continues its coast to coast coverage of the 2008 National Project Homeless Connect Week. We'll continue coverage over the next several issues to bring you the highlights of new tools and best practices in partner communities this year. Over 200 communities in the U.S., Canada, and Australia have adopted the innovation of Project Homeless Connect.

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.

In Waterbury, Connecticut, over 230 guests were welcomed at the Waterbury Armory for Project Homeless Connect, under the sponsorship of the United Way of Connecticut, represented by Angie Medina, Connect coordinator and local providers.

Guests and volunteers were welcomed by Mayor Mike Jarjura, Brian Gibbons, supervisor of the homeless outreach team for the Greater Waterbury Mental Health Authority, and U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness New England Regional Coordinator John O'Brien. State Representative Jeff Berger presented a check for almost $1,000 to support the Waterbury Project Homeless Connect. Other officials participating in the welcome were State Senator Joan Hartley, 15th Senate District; State Representative John "Corky" Mazurek, 80th Assembly District; and State Representative Selim Noujaim, 74th Assembly District. State Representative Jeff Berger, 73rd Assembly District is shown here speaking.

Mrs. Connecticut 2008, Lynette Letsky Piombo participated and helped serve lunch. Veterans services and resources, including connection to HUD- VASH were also available. Pictured here are John Sullivan, VASH Coordinator for Connecticut and John Lankford, Veterans Service Representative, Hartford Regional Office, Veterans Benefits Administration. Sixteen State IDs were issued, almost 50 people got haircuts, showers were available, ten took medical tests, and four received approval for benefits such as food stamps and SSI.

Local radio station WATR broadcast from the Armory. Act 4 gave away sweaters, hats, gloves and new socks at the final table before exit.

As planning proceeds for upcoming events across the nation, there are more than 50 events planned, with 14 new cities welcoming their homeless neighbors.

San Francisco, the historic home of the innovation of Connect will host its 25th Connect event during National Week. Other National Week Project Homeless Connect events are scheduled in Concord, NH, Phoenix, Danbury, CT, Miami, FL, Nashville, TN, Madison County, IL, Nashua, NH, Springfield, IL, St. Louis, MO, Pomona, CA, Springfield, MO, St. Clair County, IL, Hartford, CT, Los Angeles (multiple events), Morristown, NJ, Clarksville, TN, San Diego, Manchester, NH, Huntington, WV, San Antonio, and Minneapolis.

If your community is planning a Project Homeless Connect, be sure to visit the Council's new on-line resources to guide your results-oriented use of best practices and consumer focus. The Council has recently posted all 2007 and 2008 e-news profiles of local Project Homeless Connect events, describing partnerships, on-site innovation, resources, and results.

You can also visit web sites of local Project Homeless Connect event to read more about local planning and partnership and view short videos and other features about events. And you can download sample forms and tools for planning and debriefing your event.

email: usich@usich.gov

web: http://www.usich.gov