BIRMINGHAM – Governor Bob Riley went to a YWCA in Birmingham on Thursday that serves as a shelter for homeless women and children to sign an Executive Order aimed at developing a statewide plan to prevent and end chronic homelessness in Alabama.

According to a 2004 report from the Alabama Alliance to End Homelessness, 6,025 individuals were homeless on any given night in Alabama that year. The same report indicated that 515 Alabama families found themselves homeless on any given night in 2004.

“The mothers and the children served here and at shelters across the state are not numbers. They are living and caring people. They have hopes and dreams for a better life like the rest of us. We must provide them with hope and help,” Governor Riley said.

The Governor is putting his Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in charge of the effort that will coordinate state agencies’ services to the homeless and develop an action plan to end chronic homelessness within 10 years. The Faith-Based office will oversee the work being done by the Interagency Council on Homelessness, which will submit an annual accountability report outlining its accomplishments toward preventing and ending chronic homelessness in the state. Members of the Interagency Council on Homelessness will serve without pay. The council is modeled after a federal Interagency Council on Homelessness created by President Bush.

“Multiple state agencies currently bear some responsibility of serving the homeless and those who are at risk of becoming homeless. Addressing this problem requires collaboration among these agencies, and I believe Alabama’s faith-based organizations, national service programs and charitable community groups can be effective partners in bringing compassion and hope to these people in such need,” the Governor said.

Philip F. Mangano, Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, was also on hand as Governor Riley signed the Executive Order.

“Governor Riley’s leadership in creating the Council will bring state agencies together with the private sector, especially business and faith-based organizations, to end homelessness for those who are the most vulnerable,” Mangano said.

Another key task of the state’s Interagency Council is to identify and maximize federal funding that is available to address homelessness. President Bush’s Fiscal Year 2006 budget calls for a $200 million increase in HUD’s homeless assistance grant program. That increase would bring the program to a record funding level of $1.44 billion.

“For some of the homeless, we may never find the answers. Some have drifted beyond the outer realm of society and absolutely refuse help. But many, especially those like these parents and their kids, can be lifted up out of homelessness,” said Governor Riley.

Membership on the Interagency Council includes the leaders of 14 state agencies, the Alabama Alliance to End Homelessness, faith-based and non-profit agencies that are working to aid the homeless, two members of the Alabama Senate and two members of the Alabama House of Representatives.

In addition, Governor Riley’s Executive Order creates an Advisory Board of federal agency representatives who will advise the Interagency Council on Homelessness. Agencies represented on the Advisory Board are:

HUD, the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Dept. of Education, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Dept of Labor and the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security.

Photos of the event will be sent electronically later today.

The text of the Executive Order is below:

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 31

WHEREAS, in the State of Alabama, in 2004, an estimated 6,025 individuals were homeless on any one night and, within that number, approximately 563 families were homeless on any one night; and

WHEREAS, the availability of shelter beds have been insufficient to meet the needs and many homeless individuals and families could not be served by homeless and domestic violence shelters, and many have experienced repeated incidents of homelessness over the past three years; and

WHEREAS, multiple state agencies bear the responsibility of serving the homeless and those who are at risk of homelessness; and

WHEREAS, ending homelessness requires collaboration among state agencies, local governments, the private sector and service provider networks to coordinate program development, deliver essential services, and provide housing; and

WHEREAS, ending or reducing homelessness will contribute to economic development and improve the overall quality of life within our communities; and

WHEREAS, the President has established the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and has encouraged each state to establish its own Council.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bob Riley, Governor of the State of Alabama, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Alabama, hereby order and direct as follows:

1. The Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness (the “Council”) is hereby created to develop and implement a plan to prevent and end homelessness in the State of Alabama and to serve as a statewide planning and policy development resource for the Governor, the State and its various departments and agencies, and for the private sector.

2. The Council shall be chaired by the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives (GFBCI) and co‑chaired as selected by the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Faith‑Based & Community Initiatives.

3. The Council shall be comprised of a maximum of thirty-two (32) members, each of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, and serve, without compensation, at the pleasure of the Governor, as follows:

Superintendent, Alabama Department of Education

Director, Alabama Department of Human Resources

Director, Alabama Department of Mental Health

Director, Alabama Medicaid Agency

Director, Alabama Department of Economic & Community Affairs

Director, Alabama Department of Public Safety

Director, Alabama Office of Workforce Development

Director, Alabama Department of Homeland Security

Director, Alabama Department of Children’s Affairs

Director, Alabama Department of Public Health

Director, Alabama Housing Finance Authority

Director, Alabama Department of Corrections

Director, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs

Director, Alabama Department of Industrial Relations

(Each of the above governmental officials may designate a substitute, from their respective Departments, to act on their behalf when they cannot be present, which designees shall have full voting and participation rights.)

Acting President of the Alabama Alliance to End Homelessness (ALEAH)

One member from the State Board of Education

A representative of the Head Start‑State Collaboration Office

A representative of the League of Municipalities

Four members from non-profit agencies concerned with housing issues and service provision to the homeless

Two members from faith-based organizations working with homeless and/or substance abuse treatment of homeless

Two members from the private sector

Two members of the Alabama Senate

Two members of the Alabama House of Representatives

BE IT ORDERED that there is created an Advisory Board which shall be comprised of the following Ex‑Officio members who may advise the Council on matters relating to their appropriate agencies of federal government:

A representative of the U.S. Department of HUD

A representative of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

A representative of the U.S. Department of Education

A representative of the U.S. Department of HHS

A representative of the U.S. Department of Labor

A representative of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

A representative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

4. Terms of Membership - Each appointment shall be for a term of three (3) years.

5. Meetings – The Council shall meet quarterly and at other times at the call of the Governor, the Chair, or upon written request of at least ten (10) of its members.

6. Functions

(a) The Council shall advise the Governor and the Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives on issues related to the problems of persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, identify and secure available resources throughout the state and nation, and provide recommendations for joint and cooperative efforts and policy initiatives in carrying out programs to meet the needs of the homeless.

(b) The Council shall set short-term and long-term goals and determine yearly priorities.

(c) The Council shall submit an annual report to the Governor by September 1st of each year, beginning on September 1, 2006, on its accomplishments and the status of homelessness in Alabama.

7. Staff Assistance – The Governor’s Office of Faith‑Based & Community Initiatives shall provide administrative and staff support services required by the Council. The Council shall serve as a statewide homelessness planning and policy development resource for the Governor and the State of Alabama, and shall:

(a) Develop a plan to prevent and/or end homelessness in Alabama including evidence-based improvements to programs and policies that will ensure services and housing are provided in an efficient, cost-effective, and productive manner.

(b) Develop recommendations to:

1) Expand and maximize housing resources as central to all efforts to end homelessness.

2) Increase access to mainstream state and federal social service resources such as Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI), and veteran benefits.

3) Expand and maximize service resources such as mental health and substance abuse services

4) Improve cross system policies and procedures through system integration, streamlined application and eligibility processes, and improved outreach.

5) Ensure persons in state institutions have access to services that will help prevent homelessness upon their discharge.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Council is hereby directed to complete the following tasks by June 30, 2006:

1. That the Governor’s Office of Faith‑Based & Community Initiatives shall have access to all necessary program information and reports to conduct the cost/benefit analysis of the current supportive housing programs in Alabama.

2. That the Council review and recommend measures to maximize federal resources and improve state administered Mainstream Service Programs (Medicaid, TANF, SSI, CHIP, Workforce Investment Act, Food Stamps, and Veteran’s Health Care and Benefits) for homeless individuals and families.

3. That the Council review and recommend measures to establish state policies that assure appropriate housing and community treatment for individuals with disabilities discharged from institutional settings.

4. That the Council develop the State of Alabama Homeless Action Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in ten (10) years and present recommendations on the implementation strategy.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Alabama Department of Economic & Community Affairs work jointly with the Council to conduct a cost/benefit analysis of the current supportive housing programs in Alabama and prepare a projection of the overall costs and benefits of implementing the Alabama Action Plan to End Homelessness.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Council shall:

1. Develop a strategy to implement the plan and to recommend resource, policy and regulatory changes necessary to accomplish the goals of the plan.

2. Recommend and assist in developing partnerships with private entities, including corporate, philanthropic and faith and community-based organizations, as well as the federal and local government, to obtain involvement and support to achieve the goals of the plan.

3. Monitor and oversee the implementation of the plan to ensure accountability and consistent

4. Identify and maximize the leveraging of resources to improve the system of services for people who are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless.

5. Identify a sub-group to meet with the Governor to discuss and explain the Council’s recommendations.

6. Meet with the Governor to discuss and consider the Council’s recommendations.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Council shall be supported by a work group to assist it in its duties and make recommendations about its work. The work group shall report its activities and recommendations to the Council. The work group may be comprised of state agency staff, representatives of the state’s continuum of care organizations, a statewide homeless advocacy group, and other public and private entities as determined by the Council. The work group shall also assist the Council in reaching out to local communities regarding the state’s plan to prevent and end homelessness.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal to be affixed by the Secretary of State at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on this 11th day of August 2005.

Bob Riley

Governor

ATTEST:

Nancy L. Worley

Secretary of State