The HUD Secretary is chairman of the Council, and Secretary Martinez brought the 18 federal agencies that make up the Council together at the White House on July 18th for their first meeting. Part of the new strategy that came out of the reactivated Interagency Council was a unique collaboration between three federal agencies. Under this comprehensive plan, $35 million in permanent housing and critical services will be provided to help long-term homeless individuals. The funding will include $20 million from HUD, $10 million from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and $5 million from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The plan was announced jointly by Secretary Martinez; HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson; VA Secretary Anthony Principi; and, Philip Mangano, the new executive director of the Interagency Council. Mangano has day-to-day responsibility for coordinating the activities of the Council and the homeless assistance efforts of its 18 federal member agencies.

"I am proud to announce this Administration's new approach to confronting the homeless challenge," said Secretary Martinez. "For too many years, Washington waited until a person became homeless before taking action. Today we come together to commit the resources of HUD, HHS and VA as we move beyond managing homelessness toward a more holistic approach including a greater emphasis at preventing individuals from becoming homeless in the first place."

"Every year, approximately 2 million people will experience homelessness and approximately 200,000 will be chronically homeless," said Thompson. "We must improve access to and coordination of essential health and social services to prevent new episodes of homelessness from occurring. At HHS, we are committed to the President's goal of ending chronic homelessness in 10 years. We look forward to working with the Interagency Council on this important task."

Principi said, "I am looking forward to working with the Council to end homelessness among veterans and, ultimately, to work together to eliminate chronic homelessness in America."

"Today's announcements speak to the commitment of this Administration to end homelessness for our most vulnerable neighbors," said Mangano. "In collaboration, a number of federal agencies are creating innovative initiatives that will bring change in the lives of those who are homeless and at risk of homelessness and change on the streets of our country."

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Just before HUD's live satellite broadcast on Tuesday, July 16th, Tampa Field Office employees set the stage for the kick-off of National Training Awareness Week by getting together to "build" personalized ice cream sundaes before they viewed the Training Academy broadcast featuring HUD Deputy Secretary Alphonso Jackson.

Sponsored by the Tampa Field Office Training Committee, the ice cream sundae-building event was the first in a week long series of events promoting the HUD Training Academy's "Investing in the Power and Potential of HUD Employees." Tampa HUD Office staff look forward to future programs to build and enhance their career options through HUD's Training Academy.