By Eugene T. Lowe
February 11, 2008

The Conference of Mayors Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness met January 24 during the 76th Winter Meeting to review a number of items, including a legislative update of the reauthorization of McKinney-Vento, an overview of the recent activity and future plans of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, and a briefing on strategies to eliminate hunger. Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, Co-Chair of the task force, served as moderator for the meeting.

Jonathan Harwitz, Council to Representative Maxine Waters, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, told the mayors that the House is developing homelessness legislation that will be marked up by the end of March. Hearings have already taken place. The Conference of Mayors testified and Cownie submitted written testimony in support of the reauthorization of McKinney-Vento. The Senate Banking Committee has approved legislation that would consolidate homeless assistance programs that now operate separately. Harwitz encouraged the mayors to do what only they can do: exhort their city agencies with homelessness responsibilities to talk to each other. Harwitz said, “This is especially true of service agencies.”

Phil Mangano, Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, reminded the mayors that he had challenged them five years ago to develop 10-Year Plans to eliminate chronic homelessness. Since that time he has briefed the mayors at virtually every national Conference of Mayors meeting on the progress of that effort. He said that over 325 mayors and county officials have now committed to 10-Year Plans across the nation. Mangano said, “Our nonpartisan partnership with mayors across our nation has led to unprecedented results and resources in cities and most importantly to the reduction of street homelessness across our country.” Mangano briefed the task force on “America’s Road Home,” a 12-point agreement developed at a meeting in Denver last November. The “America’s Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions,” which has now been signed by more than 100 mayors and elected officials, commits mayors to work together in a housing-focused strategy that gives special attention to the needs of veterans and involves partnership with business, philanthropy, and community and faith-based organizations.

Shondra Jenkins, Community Relations Manager, Corporate Communications Department of Sodexho, Inc., briefed the mayors on several programs developed by her company to eliminate hunger. Jenkins described the activities of Sodexho employees during the month of April that the company has designated as “Community Service Month.” During April, Sodexho employees are encouraged to work on hunger programs. The company also awards a number of Stop Hunger Scholarships to students and has created a “Feeding Our Future” program that provides free summer lunches to children in a number of cities.