Welcome to the Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness website.

Governor Bob Riley created the Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness with the signing of Executive Order #31 on August 11, 2005. The Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness was formed to develop and implement a plan to prevent and end homelessness in Alabama. I am honored that the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives was appointed the lead agency for the Council.

When creating the Council, Governor Riley recognized that in order to effectively work to end homelessness in Alabama there must be collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, and service provider networks. It is in this spirit of collaboration that the members of the Council come from a diverse background in the public and private sector given that we all have an investment in ending homelessness in Alabama.

The State of Alabama already has a tremendous resource in its community, non-profit, and faith-based organizations helping those that are homeless. Many homeless service providers in Alabama act as national models of compassionate, creative, and effective programs addressing the various causes that leave people without a home. We are blessed to have such dedicated people aiding the homeless in our state.

Thank you for visiting our website.

Sincerely,
 

Sydney Hoffman
Chair, Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness

COUNCIL NEWS

April 10, 2008: Governor Riley Receives Award for Helping the Homeless

WASHINGTON, DC - The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness has awarded Governor Bob Riley the Home for Every American Award.  Council Executive Director Philip Mangano said Governor Riley was chosen for forging partnerships to prevent homelessness in Alabama. 

March 25, 2008:  Data Book released as Philip Mangano appears at the Council's Quarterly Meeting

MONTGOMERY, AL - The first quarterly meeting of the year for the Governor's Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness for 2008 was a special one.  The Council was honored to have Philip Mangano, Executive Director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, present.  Mr. Mangano spoke about the strides the nation is making in combating homelessness.  The meeting was also notable as the Council released Homelessness in Alabama: Statewide Data Report, 2007, the Council's annual report which compiled quantitative and qualitative data on homelessness in the state.  Other topics discussed at the meeting were the state's implementation of the pilot project SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) and Promis-AL, the state's HMIS initiative.

February 27, 2007: Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness Convenes 

MONTGOMERY, AL - The Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness held its first quarterly meeting of 2007.  The meeting was a great success, bringing together 21 members from across the state.  Represented were members of state agencies, leaders from the non-profit sector, heads of statewide organizations, and state legislators.  Data collection and homelessness awareness were among the topics discussed. 

December 1, 2006: Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness
Represented at National Data Conference

HOUSTON, TEXAS — Lisa Castaldo of the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and Lillian Zaworski, now a member of the Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness, attended a conference in Houston on outcome measures and optimization of program achievement.

June 30, 2006: Governor's Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness Presents Plan to Governor Riley in Accordance with Executive Order #31

MONTGOMERY — After members of the Governor's Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness approved the Blueprint Toward a Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Alabama, the document was presented to Governor Riley within the timeframe set in Executive Order #31.  The order created the Council and tasked it to create a plan to prevent and end homelessness in Alabama.

March 28, 2006: Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness Convenes First Meeting

MONTGOMERY — The Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness held its first full meeting in Montgomery Alabama on March 28, 2006.
The meeting fulfills the requirements of Executive Order 31 that the Council meet on a Quarterly basis.
During the meeting the Council created working groups to focus on five key areas that deal with homelessness: cost benefit analysis of state resources, data, housing, services, and outreach.

February 10, 2006: Alabama Hosts In-State Policy Academy on Chronic Homelessness

MONTGOMERY — The Governor’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness hosted an In-State Policy Academy on  Improving Access to Mainstream Services for People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness in Montgomery, Alabama on February 8th -10th, 2006.

The In-State Policy Academy was part of Governor Bob Riley’s Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness’ efforts to implement a plan to prevent and end homelessness in the State of Alabama.  The Policy Academy was attended by twenty-six members comprised of representatives from state government agencies, the private sector, and service provider networks.  Participants in the Policy Academy created an Action Plan intended to improve access to mainstream services and employment opportunities that are coordinated with housing for persons who are experiencing homelessness. 

The In-State Policy Academy assisted in identifying issues of concern and allowed for an opportunity to create professional relationships among the public and private sectors that are working together on this important issue.

August 11, 2005: Governor Riley Signs Executive Order #31

BIRMINGHAM — Governor Riley signed Executive Order #31, which created the Governor's Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness.  For the Governor's full press release, click here: [More Information]