By Eugene T. Lowe
February 9, 2004

Philip F. Mangano, Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, came before the mayors in the closing luncheon during the 72nd Annual Winter Meeting, and gave an update on the administration's effort to encourage 100 cities to develop 10-year plans that would end chronic homelessness. Mangano spoke at last year's winter meeting as well as the Conference of Mayors' Denver meeting in June 2003 and challenged cities to develop homelessness plans.

Mangano said: "Since June, more than 80 cities and mayors have committed, joining Indianapolis, Chicago, Memphis and other cities that have existing plans. And, more recently, Mayor Menino in Boston, Mayor Perez in Hartford, Mayor Franklin in Atlanta, Mayor Bloomberg in New York, Mayor Hahn in Los Angeles, and Mayor Corker in Chattanooga have commence the planning process. And the beat goes on in city after city: Burlington, Manchester, Tampa, Jacksonville, Springfield (Illinois), Shreveport, Columbus (Ohio), Denver, Portland and Seattle. Mayors are beginning the process of creating the plans that will end homelessness in their cities."

Mangano said there are a number of reasons mayors are creating and endorsing 10-year plans to end homelessness in their cities. These include the recognition that the old ad hoc response does not work. Mayors also have come to realize that the 10-year plans bring all the stakeholders of homelessness together to create strategies through collaboration and partnership. In addition, Mangano said: "Ten-year plans address complex and difficult issues in our communities with an incremental common'sense approach tied to a management agenda, which is tied to a performance agenda which is based on results and performance outcomes."

Finally, Mangano told the mayors that "we have deepened our commitment to this issue here in Washington. Both last year and this year, we have increased the Federal investment to both end and prevent homelessness. The 10-year planning process that is creating a plan to reduce and end homelessness in your city will stand you in good stead for the increased funding."