By Eugene T. Lowe
February 12, 2007

The U.S. Conference of Mayors Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness met January 26 during the 75th Winter Meeting to review the findings of the 2006 Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America’s Cities, and to discuss program and legislatives initiatives to address the problems of both issues.

Des Moines Mayor T. M. Franklin Cownie, co-chair of the task force, served as moderator for the session. Conference of Mayors staff presented an overview of “The United States Conference of Mayors — Sodexho Hunger and Homelessness Survey 2006: A Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America’s Cities.” The report found an increase in both hunger and homelessness over the previous year. Requests for emergency food assistance increased by an average of seven percent, while the requests for emergency shelter increased by an average of nine percent. Requests for shelter by homeless families alone increased by five percent.

Philip F. Mangano, Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, briefed the mayors on the national partnership that nearly 300 cities have signed on to reduced chronic homelessness in ten years. Mangano reported that the plans for many of the cities are showing successful results with fewer chronic homeless people on the streets. Cities are developing remarkable innovations that can be replicated in other communities across the nation. During the Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting last June, several mayors presented best practices their cities have developed to end chronic homelessness.

Derek Miller, Aide to Senator Tom Harkin (IA), Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, described some of the legislation that will be pursued in the 110th Congress to incentive increased access to nutritious foods. The Conference of Mayors has strong policy in this area with support for urban farmer’s markets and decreasing the high incident of childhood obesity in America.