DOCUMENT RESUME ED 313 478 Mcdowell, Bruce D., Ed
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 313 478 UD 027 138 AUTHOR McDowell, Bruce D., Ed.; Casey, Joan, Ed. TITLE Assisting the Homeless: State and Local Responses in an Era of Limited Resources. Papers from a Policy Conference (Washington, D.C., March 1J-11, 1988). INSTITUTION Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, Washington, D.C. PUB DATE Nov 88 NOTE 151p. AVAILABLE FROM Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations, 1111-20th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20575. PUB TYPE Collected Works Conference Proceedings (021) Reports Descriptive (141) EDRS PRTCE MF01/PC07 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Agency Cooperation; *Coordination; Federal Legislation; Government Role; Health Programs; *Homeless People; Housing Needs; Local Government; *Low Rent Housing; *Me:ital Health Programs; Program Descriptions; *Public Policy; Retrenchment; State Programs; Urban Pioblems; Urban Programs IDENTIFIERS Massachusetts; New York (Westchester County); Ohio; *Stewart B McKinney Homeless Assistance TIct 1987; Wisconsin (Milwaukee) ABSTRACT This document comprises a collection of conference papers that provide a broad understanding of the problem of homelessness, highlight innovative local and state responses, and uncover key intergovernmental issues that must be addressed in order to improve public and private action. The conference was attended by more than 100 federal, state, and local officials, as well as by academic experts, advocates, and service providers. The document begins with "Opening Remarks: The Interagency Council on the Homeless" (C. Moore), which describes the federal agency whose .primary function is to implement the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. Part I, "Defining the Dimensions of Homelessness," comprises the following papers: (1) "Homeless Policy: Expansion during Retrenchment" (D. W. Kirchheimer);(2) "Discussion Paper: Implications of the Low-Income Housing Ratio for National Homelessness Policy" (K. Y. McChesnesy);(3) "The Deinstitutionalization of the Mentally Ill" (H. R. Lamb);(4) "The Low-Income Housing Crisis and Its Impact on Homelessness" (C. N. Dolbeare); And (5) "Rethinking Housing with the Homeless la H.nd" (J. Leavitt). rt II, "Exploring Intergovernmental Responses," comprises the following papers:(1) "Hope for tne Homeless- -Local and State Responses" (K. J. Beirne); (2) "Homelessness: Federal and State Legislative Solutions" (M. Foscarinis);(3) "Ohio's Coordinated Responses to the Prc'olems of Homelessness" (D. Roth and P. S. Hyde); (4) "Discussion Paper: The Ohio Case" (N. G. Milburn);(5) "Assisting the Homeless in an Era of Federal Retrenchment: The Massachusetts Experience" (N. K. Kaufma-); (6) "State Coordination of Mental Health Services to Homeless People in Massachusetts" (C.B. Johnson): (7) "Milwaukee"s Outreach to the Homeless Mentally Ill" (M. Rosnow); (8) "Homelessness and the New Federalism: The Westchester Experience" (A. P. O'Rourke); and (9) "Health Care for the Homeless: The Challengeto States and Local Communities" (J.D. Wright). Some papers include statistical data on tables and graphs. All papers include a list of references. A description of the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR) and a list of its publications are included. A copy of the conference program and lists of participants and attendees are appended. (FMW) U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION e F do alas., Rose°h and ,r"Pcs,me,,, F Pt/rAT.ONAL RF SOUR( ES INFORMArICN CF NTFRiERICI "4, T,,s do< L,ment has been reproducedas et hoed ',on the osjac,.at,p, gloat.% t Mco,Flanges na,,e bee, made n o,so reprodp, on dual as P, lots Flt l p. nreo.n. ns staled r , men! do not net ossao, rera,e,tai .a RI PoStor, of ma, Assisting the Homeless: State and Local Responses in an Era of Limited Resources Papers from a Policy Conference Sponsored by the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Commission on M 1 C1 Intergovernmental Relations November 1988 2 BEST COPY AVAILABLE ( rrt-nt Mernhork. of the Athisory Commission on Intergosernmental Relations iNo,..1111,c Prisate Citi/ens James S. IhAight,.1rImr2ron. Vurnora 1)ar,1 31.1arar, "k:on\ 1,trot Rob& it It Cirrirttirtar, S,triI idoLkto. Cahrorro,t Members of tht U.S. Senate past. Durenberger, Minncs.iut ('art I chin, NIkhig.to lame., R. Say,r, I CM1CY,CC Members of the U.S. House of Representatises Sander I e% in. MIL ingan Jim Rti,o, I ightfoot, to.t Fed Nok York Officers the Executise Branch, U.S. Gos eminent Inn NI(Laughlin, ScerchirN, tS I>epartmcnt of1 .aht r Rit hard Attorn ( rencril VAL.incv Gm (Thor. lohn \1r..ttuii John 11. Sununu, Itt t(hturmon, f Limhhirc Vit.,tm. Alaors Dfin,11,1 \1. I raer, Ntinoc,trolk, Vionc,,ou 0ltlliam ti. Fludnut, III, Indistrt.tpollin,hanst ,heft A1. Itiaac, ( olor,tdo S1pr olor,tdo Members of State Legislaturc, John I. Bragg, 1>cruk Spc,tk,:r,I chnc..cc I lorr,e of Rcpretnt DaNitl E. Nettling, North 1),Ikota Senate led Str idaarlit, (ttlttr.tth o Semite Elected County ()Tricia!, Philip It Elkhorn, K Inc ( ourit, Count( ortitntio liarNe) RuNin, ( aunts, IItirld.t. 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Preface and Acknowledgements The problem of homelessness in the United States has burst on the public scene so forcefully in the last few years that the issue has been seen by many citizens as almost overwhelming. Indeed, in some communities, the private organizations which traditionally have responded to homeless people have been overloaded with requests for assistance. Consequently, the public sector, especially local and state governments, has become deeply involved in the quest for solutions. Although local governments experience the problem of homelessness most directly, both the causes of and solutions to the problem involve the state and federal governments. As a result, the Advisory Commission on Intergov- ernmental Relations undertook a study of homeless- ness, primarily to identify intergovernmental issues so as to help improve public responses to this problem. As a major part of this effort, the Commission hosted a national conference on "Assisting the Homeless: State and Local Responses in an Era of limited Resources."'ne conference, held on March 10-11, 1088, in Washington, DC, was intended to develop a broad understanding of the problem, highlight innovative local and state responses, and uncover kcy intergovernmental issues that must be addressed in order to improve public and private action The conference was attended by more than 100 federal, state, and local officials, as well as by academic experts, advocates, orld service providers What complicates policymaking in this area is that homelessness is not a sing1e uniform problem, rather, it is a series of separate and often interrelated problems reflecting the different needs and circum- stances of diverse groups of homeless persons These problems stern from equally diverse causes We are no longer talking about Just a so-called "skid row" spondmg to homelessness in an affluent setting pr ()Nem I hese examples of state and local action pro ide iii gcriccal, till howelcss fropuiainui cousisis hope ioi die future. about one-third families with children, one-third Die views expressed by the contributors to this per sons w ho sul ferfrom some form of mental illness. volume arc diverse and do not necessarily correspond anu one-third persons who are addict( I to alcohol with the views of the Advisory Commission on and/or drugs Within these broad --qcgories are Intergovernmental Relationsl'he Commission en- found individuals who are employed, unemployed or courage, debate on intergovernmental issues and has underemployed, heads of families who need work- sought to provide through this conference a forum day child care se-laces. veter ans, parolees, migrant for airing dd ferent viewpoints. workers.victims of domestic violence,runaway, Atitsmeeting on September 16,1988, the children. and stranded travelersJust to name a few Commission adopted a set of findings and recom- The needs of some or these individuals and mendations thatwill be published infullin the families can be met solely by providing low-income December 1988 issue of the Commission's quarterly housing. In a few cases, only a minimum level of mag,a/ine, Intergovernmental Perspective. In brief, the assistance is needed to resolve a problem. For others, recommendations call for' however, housing alone is not sufficient, and for still Public and private agenciesto develop others, maintaining their own householdisnot distinct but coordinated responses to home- practical. Combinations of temporary shelter, social lessness capable of dealing with the diverse services,physical and mental healthprograms. circumstances of homeless people; long-term housing. community development, and institutionali,ation