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The Las Vegas City Council today gave unanimous approval to the city’s 10-year plan to end homelessness. Philip F. Mangano, the executive director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, lauded the plan before the City Council.
Director Mangano said, “Las Vegas will no longer fund programs that endlessly serve homeless people, rather will be investing in the result of ending their homelessness.”
Mangano called housing the “antidote to homelessness” and praised the city’s strategy to place 900 chronic, temporary, and/or episodic homeless individuals/families in housing and preventing 1,000 individuals and/or families from entering the cycle of homelessness during the next 10 years.
Mangano also said the plan addresses employment and coordination by government and providers working together to reduce duplicative services, making it easier for the homeless. Mangano called the plan “services enriched, addressing basic quality of life and treatment services from substance abuse and mental health to showers and bathrooms.” He added that he especially liked that the city’s plan is results-oriented and takes seriously data collection. It incorporates innovative tracking of success and delivers results. Mangano also applauded the consumer-centric nature of the program. Homeless people provided input on the process and gave a picture of where resources needed to go.
The city’s 10-year plan to end homelessness includes initiatives to:
1. Promote interagency coordination of human service delivery programs.
2. Increase the availability of stable and sustainable housing.
3. Enhance coordination between non-profit organizations and government.
4. Prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless.
5. Provide seamless client services through effective partnerships.
6. Foster self sufficiency through access to education, training, and employment opportunities.
7. Facilitate the transition from homelessness through intensive case management.
8. Increase access to medical, dental, and vision care services.
9. Ensure availability of basic needs services.
10. Improve availability of mental health services.
11. Improve substance abuse treatment programs.
Mangano was appointed by President Bush to lead the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness in March, 2002. The Interagency Council is a part of the Domestic Policy Council within the Executive Office of the President and is responsible for the coordination of 20 federal agencies in their response to reduce and end homelessness.
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