During the summer of 2004, various community and elected representatives in Pinellas County, Florida met to discuss the possibility of forming a unified approach to ending chronic homelessness. HUD facilitated these discussions, resulting in the formation of The Pinellas County Homeless Policy Group.

Pinellas County Commissioner Kenneth T. Welch Opens Ceremony.

This group was charged with the development of a Ten Year Plan which would apply throughout Pinellas County and the municipalities therein. Membership included representation from Pinellas County, and the cities of St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Clearwater, Largo and Pinellas Park. An additional 15 representatives from law enforcement, social service organizations, housing agencies, Chambers of Commerce and the Public Defender's Office comprised the working group. The work of this group culminated on January 13, 2006 when it adopted a final Ten Year Plan. The Homeless Policy Group then transitioned into an action group renamed "The Pinellas County Homeless Leadership Network" (comprised of the original members) to ensure implementation and oversight.

Philip Mangano, Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH), congratulates government officials for working together to develop a Ten Year Plan.

Leaders from ICH, HUD, Pinellas County and municipal government, Philip Mangano, Michael German and FOD Sims gather at the conclusion of the press conference.

On Wednesday, April 5, 2006 more than 100 guests attended a press conference held at St. Anthony's Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida. Mayor Rick Baker and other local elected officials and business partners introduced Pinellas County's Ten Year Plan, with Philip Mangano, Executive Director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness, as the keynote speaker.

The county's plan, dubbed "Opening Doors of Opportunity: A 10- year Plan to End Homelessness in Pinellas County," is one of 212 nationwide that crafts a unified plan to end homelessness. The plan is unique, officials say, because Pinellas County, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Pinellas Park, Tarpon Springs, Largo and others have adopted it.

The event was a great success, with each speaker lending a different perspective on the issue of homelessness, inter-governmental cooperation, resource allocation, surveys of need and work remaining on the goal of ending homelessness in accordance with President Bush's 2003 mandate.