
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 8, 1994                    TAG: 9406080006 
SECTION: FRONT                     PAGE: A14    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Medium 
DATELINE: 940608                                 LENGTH:

NON-PROFITS, THE FEDS AND THE HOMELESS

{LEAD} I read with interest your May 25 editorial regarding homeless-program initiatives by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Although the program calls for increased federal resources, which may or may not find agreement in Congress, it also emphasizes a change in process to make homeless programs more efficient and successful.

Despite the funding since 1987, the problem of homelessness does not seem to be abating. The ``Priority: Home'' report, therefore, calls for a reorganization of narrowly defined McKinney Act programs into a streamlined program with one administrative structure. This allows the resources to reach the needy more quickly and gives the locality more flexibility.

{REST} The Michigan program you referenced is federally funded through the state and provides 120 temporary shelters with the assistance of the Salvation Army. There are also similar successful operations throughout Virginia. The report specifically envisions continuing the delivery of shelter and services by experienced non-profit groups through performance-based contracts with the locality.

HUD Secretary Cisneros has designated homelessness his No. 1 priority so that the problems that render people homeless are addressed in addition to their need for shelter.

The problem of homelessness is complex and the mix of those in need varies widely by each locality. In Hampton Roads, the proportion of employed homeless people is nearly double that of the state. Teenage runaways constitute another identifiable and visible subset of homeless.

The solution, therefore, in Hampton Roads will not be the same as other areas and cannot be prescribed at the federal level. Non-profits working in Hampton Roads are among the most competent and successful in the state. The goal of the new HUD initiative is to build capacity at the local-government and non-profit level, including development of affordable home ownership units in Hampton Roads, temporary renter assistance to prevent homelessness and better assessment of needs through improved outreach.

Each locality will be able to identify its unique homeless problem and the mechanism that will alleviate it.

MARY ANN WILSON

Acting state coordinator

U.S. Department of Housing

and Urban Development

Richmond, May 27, 1994

by CNB