Governor Ernie Fletcher, joined by Philip Mangano, executive director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness, recently announced Kentucky's Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. In response to President George Bush's request of cities and states to develop such plans, Governor Fletcher charged the Kentucky Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Kentucky Housing Corporation to develop the Commonwealth's plan.

Left to right: Father Ed Bradley; Michael German, HUD; First Lady Glenna Fletcher; Governor Ernie Fletcher; Ben Cook, KHC; Don Ball, Chair, KHC Board; Philip Mangano, USICH; Krista Mills HUD

To assist the Governor to meet the goals set forth in the Ten-Year Plan, Krista Mills, field office director of the Kentucky HUD office, presented a check for $8.2 million dollars in Supportive Housing and Emergency Shelter Grant funding to Governor Fletcher. The allocation will allow the state to fund seven new projects and renew funding for 25 existing projects that serve Kentucky's homeless in 118 counties.

In addition to the announcement of the Ten-Year Plan, Governor Fletcher also announced the funding of three new Recovery Kentucky facilities with services that are designed to address the needs of the chronically homeless that are chemically dependent. Under the leadership of its chief executive officer, Ben Cook, the Recovery Kentucky initiative is just one of a myriad of solutions underway by the Kentucky Housing Corporation to address the needs of this vulnerable group of citizens.

The Governor's announcement was followed by remarks by Father Ed Bradley, pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Henderson, Kentucky. Father Bradley, a long-time champion of the needs facing the homeless, thanked the Governor for the Recovery Kentucky funding award that will be used to develop a facility and program for the chronically homeless and chemically addicted people in the western area of Kentucky.