IN MERCED COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: NEW TEN YEAR PLAN MOVES FORWARD WITH NEW HOUSING RESOURCES TO END HOMELESSNESS

MERCED, CALIFORNIA. Merced County, California became the newest jurisdiction to adopt a Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness as the Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) voted last week to adopt a new strategy to implement evidence-based practices, including Housing First. American Round Table President Philip Mangano, who last year met with local leaders to encourage their commitment to a plan, joined partners at the MCAG meeting for the vote. Mr. Mangano delivered keynote remarks at an all-day forum on abolishing homelessness at the University of California, Merced in April 2011 (pictured here).

Merced stakeholders from city and county government, the Merced County Association of Governments, United Way, business, and faith-based and community organizations were partners to the plan whose development was affirmed in mid-2010. At that time, Mr. Mangano visited Merced at the invitation of local leaders, including Flip Hassett, Executive Director of the United Way, who had participated in the convening of California Keys Ten Year Plan leaders, and Kathy Hassett, Merced County Human Services Agency. 

Instead of managing homelessness, jurisdictional partners chose to forward a new focus on solutions to homelessness that reflect the desire of consumers for housing and employment. Key efforts through the planning process came from MCAG leadership including Executive Director Jesse Brown, Public Information Officer Lori Flanders, and Continuum Coordinator Jeanette Garcia in convening partners and ensuring the movement of the plan on schedule.

Merced partnered with the American Round Table and the Pasadena-based Institute for Urban Initiatives led by Joe Colletti, whose work has been integral to the development of plans in Pasadena, Long Beach, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and Ventura County. Dr. Colletti and Dr. Sofia Colletti of the Institute were integral to the Merced partnership and the writing of the Ten Year Plan, as well as to initiatives to maximize federal resources for the county. 

From his first visit to the final adoption of the plan, Mr. Mangano met with jurisdictional partners including Mayor Bill Spriggs, City Manager John M. Bramble, County Supervisor and former Mayor Hubert "Hub" Walsh, and County CEO Larry Combs. On his several trips to Merced, Mr. Mangano met consumers to hear their ideas for the plan and visited residents of the key encampment to talk about their experiences. He also visited the D Street Shelter where a weekly one-stop center is conducted.

In April 2010, the Merced City Council voted to move ahead with the Ten Year Plan. The commitment to a business-oriented strategy came as the City Council voted down a citizens' commission recommendation to create a permanent campground site for individuals who were living in a local encampment. Steps to disperse the campgrounds began in Fall 2010 as the planning process was being launched, with solutions to end homelessness replacing the maintenance of the status quo that had marked the local response.    

The planning initiative is already showing results, with the Merced 2011 Point-in-Time count making credible new data available and recently announced federal funding awards improving the region's record of competing for targeted homeless resources. A partnership is at work to secure new HUD-VASH vouchers to end the homelessness of veterans.

The new plan, which calls for the rapid development of an Implementation Team, naming of a Community Champion, and a cost analysis based on a newly funded permanent supportive housing initiative, includes recommendations to support eight goals: increase access to housing with services; enhance employment readiness and resources; prevent homelessness; implement rapid re-housing; improve community outreach and engagement; evaluate effectiveness; conduct cost benefit analysis; and increase leadership, collaboration, and civic engagement. Specifically, the plan will focus on Housing First and ACT resources, employment strategies through a Business Leadership Committee, and two Project Homeless Connect events annually. Increased prevention initiatives will emphasize improvements to discharge planning and reentry.  The plan is available at: http://www.mc10yearplan.com/

Mr. Mangano previously also addressed the Merced County Association of Governments, met with the Merced City and County Continuum of Care, and addressed a special meeting for faith-based organizations and the community at the Civic Center Auditorium. Merced County, with a population of over 240,000, is in the state's agriculturally-based San Joaquin Valley. Merced faces economic challenges due to high unemployment, a high child poverty rate, and a heavy local impact from the collapse of the housing market through foreclosures.   

IN BIRMINGHAM: PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT WELCOMES HOMELESS NEIGHBORS AND INCORPORATES BEST PRACTICES AND LESSONS LEARNED

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. Alabama's largest city recently welcomed homeless neighbors to the Boutwell Auditorium for the city's 4th Project Homeless Connect event. More than 800 community volunteers were on hand to greet and support more than 950 neighbors, according to Don Lupo, Co-Director of the Mayor's Office of Citizens Assistance (MOCA). Mr. Lupo's leadership and commitment to Birmingham's vision have been key to the event and its ongoing results and enhancements. The United Way and OneRoof were partners to the event.

American Round Table President Philip Mangano, who as Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (2002-2009) visited Birmingham as it advanced its  Ten Year Plan and advised on best practices for the PHC innovation, congratulated Mr. Lupo and the city on a job well done, noting: "Birmingham continues to show its political and civic will to end homelessness in this one-day, one-stop array of resources that is focused on consumer preference and results."

Lessons learned from prior events were key to this year's success and examination of barriers and issues from past efforts was key to improvement. Pre-registration for a "Golden Ticket" and appointments for services meant no lines and a quicker welcome for guests. To achieve greater focus on chronic homelessness, the Connect event was advertised differently to reach its audience, using print, TV, and electronic messages. Partnership with the American Round Table and USICH Regional Coordinator Michael German ensured that the Social Security Administration was on site for the Saturday event. Both civil and criminal courts were present, expanding the previous court participation to address barriers to housing and employment. All volunteers and guests enjoyed the same meals and drinks, delivered on a rolling schedule so that each delivery of 75 pizzas from a local Domino's was fresh. The Department of Veterans Affairs sponsored an on-site supply of jackets, sleeping bags, and other gear. HandsOn Birmingham sponsored a drive for toiletries.

According to Mr. Lupo and OneRoof (formerly Metropolitan Birmingham Services for the Homeless (MBSH)), the results of the event included 168 State IDs issued through the state Department of Public Safety, including Commercial Driver's Licenses needed for employment (pictured above). Other results included medical exams (188 clients), mental health counseling (28 counseled and referred), dental services from the University of Alabama/Birmingham (73 screened, 77 extractions, over 55 dental care vouchers distributed), eye care (115 pairs of prescription glasses distributed), legal services (over 400 clients), HIV testing (60), veteran outreach (59 referrals),

In July 2006 the City of Birmingham became the third Alabama jurisdiction to commit to a 10-year planning process to end chronic homelessness. The Plan was finalized in 2007 and called for Project Homeless Connect and the development of Housing First opportunities supported by Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams.