HUD Hosts and Takes over Rein of Region II's Interagency Council on Homelessness

Anthony Love, ICH Deputy Director for National Programs, speaking to ICH members and stakeholders.

Earlier this month, Deputy Regional Director JoAnna Aniello was handed the reins of Region II's Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) from VA Network Director Michael Sabo at the Council's quarterly meeting held at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan. This transition replicates the first Interagency Council meeting under the Obama Administration in June 2009 when HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan was elected Chair of the Council succeeding Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. The regional meeting held on February 9 departed from its normal format in which federal agencies discuss their most recent efforts to combat homelessness. Instead, JoAnna introduced two senior government officials: Michael German, HUD's national team leader for ICH, and Anthony Love, newly appointed ICH Deputy Director for National Programs who discussed the ICH's latest effort to combat homelessness. Both Anthony and Michael talked about how the recent passage of the HEARTH Act charged the ICH with developing and submitting to Congress and the President a National Strategic Plan to End Homelessness by May 20, 2010. The plan will attempt to incorporate the input of as many public and private agencies as possible to discuss and create real and cost effective solutions to combat homelessness. Region II's ICH meeting helped kick-off this national effort to bring together government agencies and community stakeholders.

To maximize debate, the meeting was set up "café" style with four people per table to encourage small group discussion and brain-storming. Anthony and Michael then walked around the room to generate and keep the dialogue and ideas flowing. At the end of the discussion, which lasted about an-hour-and-a-half, each table presented their ideas of how best to address homelessness in their community. Participants included Linda Glassman, Deputy Commissioner, Center for Specialized Services, NYS OTDA and Jennifer Velez, Commissioner, NJ Dept of Human Services. Also in attendance were Everett Lo from SSA, Barbara Andrews from HHS, Administration for Children and Families; Daniel Friedman from Labor; Matthew Lattimer from DOJ; Maya Ortiz from the Census Bureau; and, Julie Irwin from the VA.

Content Archived: December 3, 2013