Initiatives to Address Homelessness

Phil Mangano, Executive Director of the White House Interagency Council on Homelessness, participated August 22 in the announcement of the "The Blueprint to Break the Cycle of Homelessness and Prevent Future Homelessness" by City of Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton and Shelby County Mayor Jim Rout. "This blueprint puts Memphis/Shelby County in the forefront of a national movement to move beyond "managing" homelessness. With this comprehensive plan, Memphis/Shelby County joins the highly respected National Alliance to End Homelessness and the approximately 20 progressive, committed cities, counties and states that have developed "Blueprints" to end or significantly reduce homelessness," stated Phil Mangano. "I am very pleased to be in Memphis today to be a part of this important announcement."

The report, based on a year of work by 28-member task force and numerous local service agencies, concluded the local homeless population largely involves people who abuse drugs and alcohol, the mentally ill and families with children. The 44-page study offered general ideas: fill in service and housing gaps for the homeless, and make sure clients use those services; increase prevention efforts and work more closely with the faith and corporate communities to achieve goals. Each category outlined detailed steps the task force intends to take in achieving those goals.

Mr. Mangano toured the newly opened drop-in shelter for the mentally ill homeless. The Calvary Street Ministry Drop-In Center, that provides daytime activities for more than 100 homeless, and the adjacent 16-bed permanent housing facility were recently constructed using Supportive Housing Program (SHP) funds and private donations. Mr. Mangano also attended the Creating Homes Initiative Meeting.

Some 72 persons representing numerous local, state, nonprofit and faith-based housing providers learned that the initiative of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities had already exceeded its goal to provide 2,005 housing units for people with mental illness by 2005. Two years into its 5-year plan, the initiative has created 2,223 housing units. HUD funding includes Section 8, Section 202, Section 811, Continuum of Care, and HOME.