Watch the introductory clip for "Putting Homelessness in Focus", a recent documentary by Wellington, New Zealand filmmaker Charlie Bleakley and University of Otago at Wellington public health researcher Dr. Kate Amore. “The issue can be confronted from a purely economic perspective or out of sense of social responsibility. In either case it needs acknowledgement and to be addressed with consistent policy”-- Charlie Bleakley.
"Big City Mayors" discuss local 10 Year Plan efforts and announce support for proposals to increase state investment in housing, jobs, treatment, and services.
FORT WORTH. TEXAS. September 5, 2008. Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief last week hosted his fellow "Big City Mayors" from Texas cities for their quarterly meeting to discuss common issues and solutions and fashion a shared legislative agenda for their cities which represent about 4.7 million of the state's more than 20 million population. Mayor Moncrief was joined at Texas Christian University by Mayor Robert Cluck of Arlington, Mayor Tom Leppert of Dallas, Mayor Mark Burroughs of Denton, Mayor John Cook of El Paso, and Mayor Bill White of Houston. As Hurricane Gustav was making its way to the Gulf Coast, the Mayors focused on how the state could partner with local governments who are working to implement their 10 Year Plans.
The Mayors were briefed by Mayor Moncrief on the impact of current state policies on local efforts to address homelessness. Mayor Moncrief noted data from the Fort Worth/Tarrant County 10 Year Plan which indicated that, in 2007, the 10 most expensive homeless patients at the public hospital Emergency Room cost taxpayers more than $500,000. Additionally, more than $5.5 million in health care costs over the last two years are attributable to the homeless population. MedStar ambulance and the Fort Worth Fire Department responded to 3,128 calls to 911 in 2007 to four homeless shelters.
At a press conference following the meeting, the Mayors announced their support for proposals to increase state support for housing, jobs, treatment and services to help end homelessness. "Although homelessness is not an issue that is confined to the urban areas of our state, the overwhelming majority of Texas' homeless population lives in our largest cities. And so it is fitting that a gathering of Mayors of Texas' largest cities would tackle this issue head on,” said Mayor Moncrief. He also noted, "There is a new wind blowing in Texas. No one sector of society, no single level of government will end homelessness on their own . . . as Mayors, we do believe that by working together with the private sector, our community - and faith-based partners, foundations and philanthropists, the Federal government and with our partners in Austin, we can solve this problem."
The proposals outlined by Mayor Moncrief included increasing investment by $20 million each year in the Housing Trust Fund and a set aside of 33% of all Trust Fund resources for supportive housing for homeless people and other special need populations; adopting a proposed amendment to the state's tax credit allocation plan to incorporate a basis point bonus for projects that include up to 50% supportive housing units; providing state dollars for supportive services that help the most vulnerable homeless people in Texas access and retain housing; increasing by $30 million per year the Texas investment in community-based substance abuse treatment, prevention and case management services; providing 1,000 permanent supportive housing residents with employment readiness, placement and retention services per year; and issuing pre-release a Texas ID card for all persons discharged from a Texas jail or prison.
Fort Worth and Tarrant County partners recently adopted Directions Home, their new 10 Year Plan. Under Mayor Moncrief's leadership and with the support of business partners, Fort Worth established a Study Group to "pilgrimage" to other cities to see what's working as they developed their plan. The Plan proposes to increase the supply of Permanent Supportive Housing to meet the need for over 1,000 additional tenancies, setting a goal of over 540 units in six years. The City has its own Housing Trust Fund with $570,000 earmarked for homeless housing, and the Housing Authority has committed 200 vouchers to the initiative. The Plan also proposes a new local form of Shelter + Care vouchers to accelerate the availability of housing. Fort Worth will commit to an annual Project Homeless Connect event, develop a Homeless Court, and focus on discharge planning by hiring a transition coordinator for the local jail. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano who had visited Fort Worth several times at the Mayor's invitation and also that of business leaders, including Downtown Fort Worth's Andy Taft, to encourage and support the city-county 10 Year Plan was recently hosted by Mayor Moncrief, Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Brooks, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, and Fort Worth Homeless Coordinator Otis Thornton for the celebratory event (shown here).
"The effort to coordinate a larger agenda among cities in a state is another best practice now at work in several states in the country," indicated Director Mangano. "Texas now joins in that innovation and Mayor Moncrief is leading the way."
Under the leadership of Mayor Tom Leppert, Dallas homeless czar and business leader Mike Rawlings recently presented plans to the City Council for 700 more units of permanent supportive housing over the next five years to expand the results of new permanent housing and Housing First initiatives achieved so far to implement the city’s 10 Year Plan. In making the proposal, which calls for potentially $10 million to be generated through proceeds from city housing bonds, he stressed the connection between achieving the housing goals and ensuring that other new resources - including Dallas' 24/7 center, The Bridge - can focus their services without overcrowding. Mr. Rawlings is shown here at the podium at the opening of The Bridge in June with Mayor Leppert seated in the front row to his right.
DATA DEMONSTRATE 52,000 FEWER AMERICANS ON OUR STREETS, IN OUR SHELTERS
Washington, DC. July 29. For the first time in the history of contemporary homelessness in the United States, the federal government has released national data reported by local communities showing a second consecutive year of decline in the number of persons experiencing chronic homelessness with an average 15% yearly decline from 2005 to 2007.
A Statement released by the White House Press Office said in part, "At the beginning of his Administration, President Bush set a goal to end chronic homelessness in America. Today, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Preston reported that the Administration has continued to make progress on this goal . . . Since the President took office, HUD has awarded approximately $10 billion to support local housing and service programs that help more Americans move off the streets and into safe, stable homes . . . President Bush also appreciates the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness' leadership in convening 20 federal agencies to work together, using increased federal resources to reach the most vulnerable and disabled of our neighbors and end their homelessness . . . . Read the full statement.
The chronically homeless data is from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) based on reports from single Point in Time counts from 3,800 cities and counties. This year the AHAR for the first time also reports on the scope of homelessness in America over a full-year period, finding that nearly 1.6 million persons experienced homelessness and found shelter between October 1, 2006, and September 30, 2007. This estimate is based on year-long data collected from more than 284,000 persons located in 98 communities nationwide. Read More.
NATION'S ELECTED COUNTY OFFICIALS AFFIRM PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNCIL, ENDORSE INNOVATIONS IN 10 YEAR PLANNING EFFORTS, AND SUPPORT AMERICA'S ROAD HOME AT 2008 NACo ANNUAL CONFERENCE
New resolution affirms 10 Year Plans, urges adoption of innovations achieving results, calls for special focus on veterans, encourages counties to participate in National Project Homeless Connect Week
Number of county and mayoral signatories to America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions now top 350
Jackson County/Kansas City, MO. July 15. Meeting in the American heartland for the 2008 NACo Annual Conference and Exposition, the nation’s county officials endorsed and affirmed through a Resolution innovations that are reducing and ending chronic homelessness in communities throughout the nation.
Five years ago to the day that NACo first adopted a Policy Resolution supporting 10 Year Planning and encouraging counties to engage with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to create 10 Year Plans, county officials affirmed with a new resolution the progress being made and the innovations responsible for the decreased numbers. Reaffirming support for 10 Year Plans and with special focus on homeless veterans, cost benefit analysis, Project Homeless Connect, and America’s Road Home, the NACo Resolution adopted today endorses innovative initiatives in 10 Year Plans, including Rapid Rehousing and Housing First strategies, and calls on communities to adopt these and other innovations that are making a difference on the streets and in the neighborhoods of our country.
At the conference United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was invited to address the Human Services and Education Steering Committee chaired by Sacramento Supervisor Roger Dickinson. Director Mangano reported on the progress of the national effort that now includes 345 city and county 10 Year Plans, an increasing number of cost benefit studies, and the bipartisan development by a representative group of mayors and county officials in partnership with the Council of the America’s Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions at a Denver Summit in November 2007. Director Mangano is pictured here with Supervisor Dickinson and NACo’s Associate Legislative Director Marilina Sanz. Sacramento is one of an increasing number of examples across the country of cities and counties partnering to develop regional plans. A public 1st Year Report Card on the Sacramento City and County 10 Year Plan was highlighted in the Council’s recent “20 in 20” Innovation series for its effectiveness in improving public accountability and community education. Read More.
"PARTNERSHIP OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESULTS" TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS AFFIRMED BY U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS AT 76th ANNUAL MEETING IN MIAMI
Mayors affirm and expand their partnership to end homelessness in the nation
Adopt Policy Resolutions affirming the goal of ending chronic homelessness and supporting strategies including America's Road Home, 10-Year Plans, Community Champions, Project Homeless Connect, Housing First, HUD-VASH, and reentry resources
MIAMI, FLORIDA. Hosted by incoming United States Conference of Mayors President and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz who on Monday accepted the gavel from Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer, the nation's Mayors convened in Miami on Friday for their 76th Annual Meeting. Throughout the Conference events, Mayors affirmed the goal of ending homelessness and expanded their bipartisan partnership with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness ("Council") to end homelessness in the nation through partnership, innovation, jurisdictional accountability, and results. Mayor Diaz (shown here with Council Director Mangano) was recognized with the Council's 2008 Mayoral Leadership "Home for Every American" Award earlier this year at the Council's Third Annual National Summit for Jurisdictional Leaders.
The
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
409 Third Street SW | Suite 310 | Washington, D.C. 20024
Phone (202) 708-4663 | Fax (202) 708-1216
Fort Worth and Tarrant County partners recently adopted 
Under the leadership of Mayor Tom Leppert, Dallas homeless czar and business leader Mike Rawlings recently presented plans to the City Council for 700 more units of permanent supportive housing over the next five years to expand the results of new permanent housing and Housing First initiatives achieved so far to implement the city’s 10 Year Plan. In making the proposal, which calls for potentially $10 million to be generated through proceeds from city housing bonds, he stressed the connection between achieving the housing goals and ensuring that other new resources - including Dallas' 24/7 center, The Bridge - can focus their services without overcrowding. Mr. Rawlings is shown here at the podium at the opening of The Bridge in June with Mayor Leppert seated in the front row to his right. 
Jackson County/Kansas City, MO. July 15. Meeting in the American heartland for the 2008 NACo Annual Conference and Exposition, the nation’s county officials endorsed and affirmed through a Resolution innovations that are reducing and ending chronic homelessness in communities throughout the nation. 
At the conference United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was invited to address the Human Services and Education Steering Committee chaired by Sacramento Supervisor Roger Dickinson. Director Mangano reported on the progress of the national effort that now includes 345 city and county 10 Year Plans, an increasing number of cost benefit studies, and the bipartisan development by a representative group of mayors and county officials in partnership with the Council of the America’s Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions at a Denver Summit in November 2007. Director Mangano is pictured here with Supervisor Dickinson and NACo’s Associate Legislative Director Marilina Sanz. Sacramento is one of an increasing number of examples across the country of cities and counties partnering to develop regional plans. A public 1st Year 