HISTORY:
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness:
Congress established the Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) in 1987 as part of the Domestic Policy Council of the White House, to coordinate the activities of the federal government in responding to homelessness, by providing Federal leadership through coordinated policies, technical assistance, grant programs, and special initiatives to assist families and individuals out of chronic homelessness. The council fell dormant for several years until the Bush administration revived it in 2002 and hired Philip Mangano, former executive director of the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance. The administration was zeroing in on the most chronic homeless population--the 10 percent who are often disabled, homeless for a year, or frequently cycle on and off the streets. That 10 percent consumes 50 percent of public resources said Mangano, Executive Director of United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. The Interagency Council is comprised of 20 Cabinet Secretaries and Federal agency directors who convene regularly at the White House to ensure that Federal resources are more available and accessible to homeless people to offer funding, assistance and other resources. Since 2002, the Federal budget has included consecutive record years of resources targeted to homelessness.
National Project Homelessness Connect:
Project Homeless Connect (PHC), originated in San Francisco under Mayor Gavin Newsom in October 2004 and was central to the community response to Hurricane Katrina. PHC continues to grow as an effective means of providing services and engaging the entire community and is a national best practice model now implemented in cities across the United States as well as Canada, Puerto Rico and Australia. The mission of National Project Homeless Connect is to bring communities together to create and promote tangible solutions that remedy the homelessness of their neighbors.
For the first time, 10-Year Plan communities joined in a national event convened by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. National Project Homeless Connect Day took place in 26 cities around the country on December 8, 2005.
Birmingham Alabama’s response:
Birmingham’s ten-year plan was adapted May 4, 2007 and it includes five primary goals:
to develop /expand affordable housing
provide better supports
to reform policies that contribute to homelessness
to prevent homelessness from occurring
to build community awareness
Within each goal, the plan outlines action steps, time frames and responsible parties.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Informational Links:
Alabama has eight continuums of care organizations that coordinate services for the homeless regionally. If you are homeless and need help, or if you would like to help others, these organizations may put you in touch with those who provide direct services.
http://www.hud.gov/local/al/homeless/serviceorgs.cfm
Governor Bob Riley created the Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness with the signing of Executive Order #31 on August 11, 2005. The Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness was formed to develop and implement a plan to prevent and end homelessness in Alabama.
http://servealabama.gov/homelessness/
Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) http://www.ich.gov/
Labor Department http://www.dol.gov/
Our thanks to the Downtown Business Association, and Gail Daw for the contribution! Please visit Advanced Automotive for all of your car care needs! 205.328.8808.
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