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q.A~5 SAMARITAN from page 1.. ..... .... .. ... ..... .... .......... .. .. ..... . Resolutions passed by the U.S. Conference of are demonstrating tenancy sustainment rates of Mayors, the National League of Cities, and the over 80% even among the most difficult to serve National Association of Counties endorse the long-term homeless populations. Administration's goal of ending chronic homelessness and encourage communities to Samaritan Initiative Builds on Collaborative develop 10-Year Plans, an approach spearheaded by the United States Interagency Council on Housing Program Homelessness (www.ich.aov). A target established In October 2003, $35 million in housing and by the U.S. Conference of Mayors to have 100 supportive services funding focused on homeless cities commit to 1D-Year Plan processes has been people on the streets and long term in shelters was surpassed as over 120 cities and counties are awarded to 11 communities across the country currently engaged in developing and implementing through an innovative funding collaboration by the a 10- Year Plan. U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Develop- ment, Health and Human Services, and Veterans New Research on Homelessness Affairs. The agencies were brought together as members of the United States Interagency Council The Samaritan Initiative is the product of on Homelessness which had been revitalized in research findings and a unique federal interagency 2002 after a six year dormancy. San Francisco, collaboration guided by the United States Inter- Los Angeles and Contra Costa County received agency Council on Homelessness. Among the nearly $9 million through this Collaborative Initiative research findings: (1) persons experiencing to End Chronic Homelessness, which these commu- chronic homelessness generally have a physical or nities are using to end the homelessness of hun- developmental, substance abuse or mental health dreds of persons who have been living on the disability; and (2) chronically homeless persons streets and long term in shelters. cycle repeatedly through a variety of expensive community care systems including shelters, emer- The Samaritan Initiative builds on this results- gency rooms and hospitalizations, jails and other oriented collaborative initiative, further streamlining correctional facilities. the application and reporting requirements for communities, and the FY'05 budget request of $70 Local Agencies Bear Significant Costs million doubles the amount of funds awarded in 2003. Legislation has been introduced in the As reported in the Winter 2003-2004 issue of Congress to authorize this initiative, H.R. 4057, the the San Diego Law Enforcement Quarterly, a study "Samaritan Initiative Act of 2004-. The bipartisan by the UCSD Medical Center found that 15 chroni- bill, which is cosponsored by California Represen- cally homeless inebriates living on the streets of tative Jerry Lewis, is under consideration by the San Diego made 299 trips to the emergency room House Financial Services Committee. A hearing is in just eighteen months, at a cost of over $967,000 tentatively scheduled on the bill for July 13. The to the community. When acute addiction and mental $70 million FY'05 appropriation request, which health services were added along with law enforce- includes $50 million for HUD and $10 million each ment interventions, the total cost for those 15 for HHS and the VA, will be considered by the VA- people in that period was $3 million. HUD and Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittees in the next few weeks. The research findings in San Diego and else- where in the country indicate that it is as costly for Cities can help move the effort forward by communities to maintain the status quo as it is to asking their representatives to co-sponsor the create an appropriate housing response-i.e., measure. supportive housing. Supportive housing strategies combine clinically-based outreach with housing and supportive services including primary and behav- ioral health care. Such supportive housing efforts Visit the League's Official Web Site--www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUSIPAGE 5 ~" ,.'