Shift of homeless services eyed -- The Washington Times Date sent: Wed, 20 Jun 2001 16:18:40 -0400

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez is negotiating to transfer the bulk of HUD´s $1.1 billion homeless program to the Health and Human Services Department. Mr. Martinez said at a breakfast yesterday with editors and reporters of The Washington Times that he and HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson have met about a proposed shift of responsibilities for the homeless, and the two departments have created a joint task force "to try to unravel the regulatory maze that now happens on issues of the homeless." Congress would have to approve the transfer. The housing department has "spent a large, large sum of money over the past 10 years on homeless issues, with very little to show for it," Mr. Martinez said. "The homeless population seems to be about the same as it was, while at the same time HUD dollars seem to go more and more towards services than they do towards the things that HUD does, which is housing, shelter."

About 70 percent of HUD´s spending for the homeless is for mental health counseling, drug and alcohol treatment, and other services unrelated to shelter, Mr. Martinez said. "Homelessness I think, by and large, is an issue of addiction, mental illness and things of that nature. We really have to, at HUD, do those things that only HUD does. HHS can be the health provider, the care provider, but the only one that does shelter is HUD."

Both secretaries are amenable to shifting homeless services, although Mr. Martinez said he prefers to have a federal partnership with faith-based organizations to provide counseling and treatment services to homeless adults and children. "We don´t do it well, first of all. I´m not sure HHS does it well either, frankly, but maybe a faith-based organization would do it best of all, frankly."

President Bush has assigned Mr. Martinez as the administration´s point man in identifying government barriers to the president´s faith-based initiative. The HUD secretary said he would issue an inventory of barriers by the end of next month. "The bottom line is we are very focused" on the president´s initiative, he said. "We´re really the lead agency on this, and we´re going to be very much pushing forward on that." Mr. Martinez recalled his own experience as one of 14,000 "Pedro Pans" -- Cuban children who escaped Fidel Castro´s Cuba between December 1960 and October 1962 with help from the Kennedy administration and the Catholic diocese in Miami, which placed him in a foster home 41/2 years before his parents could leave the communist-controlled island. He said of Mr. Bush´s faith-based initiative: "It´s a program and an idea that I very much relate to and understand because, in my own life, I was touched by Catholic charities ... in partnership with the federal government."

The HUD secretary said he has asked congressional leaders to give him leeway to rebuild the management team and morale at HUD, which were severely damaged with the appointments by his predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, of political operatives called "community builders" at HUD offices throughout the country. The political appointments bypassed HUD´s career professionals -- "not good management, in my view. We´re going in a different direction," Mr. Martinez said.

Some congressional leaders want prompt action on new HUD spending initiatives "to get more housing production going," he said. "I´m saying, give me a year, let´s catch our breath. Before we do more, before we throw more money at the problem, wouldn´t you want to know that the $30 billion you´re already putting in here a year is being well spent?"

A major concern is "endemic corruption" in about a dozen of the country´s 3,600 federally funded local housing authorities, particularly in New Orleans and Puerto Rico, the secretary said. "I think that there has been an attitude that boys will be boys," he said of corrupt HUD employees, contractors and local housing officials. "Only a dozen or so (of local housing authorities) are chronically troubled, but those are really bad. And so that sort of permeates the whole atmosphere. We need to be more vigilant about that, also expecting more of our local mayors who oftentimes get a pass on all this."

HUD´s inspector general and a recent state audit catalogued rampant misspending by the New Orleans housing agency, which was unable to account for $1 million spent during the review period. Auditors also could not account for three months worth of taxes withheld from the paychecks of housing agency employees but not received by the Internal Revenue Service.

In Puerto Rico, prosecutors have won at least 13 indictments against local housing officials charged with embezzling more than $2.5 million in federal funds. Because of the corruption scandal, Congress blocked payment of a $130 million settlement won by the Puerto Rico Public Housing Authority in a lawsuit charging HUD had shortchanged it over the years.

A House-Senate conference committee blocked payment in an appropriations measure in September until Congress received assurances that the scandal had been investigated and HUD´s inspector general had given the Puerto Rican agency a clean bill of health.

I am attaching a list of the needs that we identified during our 2000-2001 planning process -- most of which could not be addressed in our SuperNOFA application. (I am also attaching a list from the 1999-2000 planning process to make sure that we haven't lost any important information from one year to the next.)

House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran is to unveil a sweeping package of proposals today designed to reduce the state's affordable-housing crunch.

The details have pleasantly surprised housing advocates, who said they were impressed that Finneran's plan includes a larger-than-expected $508 million bond bill, and other elements advocated by House members, even Finneran critics.

''The speaker has kept his promise,'' said Representative Byron Rushing, a South End Democrat who has clashed frequently with Finneran.

The Finneran plan eliminates some of the more explosive ideas initially floated - such as a proposal to count jail and prison inmates in affordable-housing tallies - and puts together a well-rounded strategy on housing policy, said Aaron Gornstein, executive director of the Citizens' Housing and Planning Association.

''It's one of the most comprehensive housing bills we've seen in many years,'' Gornstein said.

If the package becomes law, it could lead to the construction and rehabilitation of thousands of affordable homes and apartments across the state, Gornstein said.

The bills include a series of tax incentives for housing developers, along with the bond authorization, which would fund new construction and repair aging public housing. It would also set up a special commission that would develop a five-year plan to end homelessness in Massachusetts.

Finneran is to appear today in Roxbury to announce his plan, along with several other state lawmakers and Mayor Thomas M. Menino. The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to approve the housing bill by early next week, and it is scheduled for debate on the House floor next Wednesday.

The bond component of the bill, if left at $508 million, could force a confrontation with Acting Governor Jane M. Swift, who is not obligated to issue bonds approved by the Legislature. Her administration has recently agreed to increase the state's bond spending on housing from $71 million per year to $100 million, but the House bill would require $166 million per year for each of the next three years.

A Swift spokesman, Jason Kauppi, said the administration needs to review the details of the House proposal before deciding whether to raise the state's bond cap.

Finneran's stamp of approval on the proposal represents a significant concession to the liberal members of his party, many of whom have criticized the Mattapan Democrat's leadership style. The speaker and his staff were careful to include housing advocates, committee chairmen, and rank-and-file House members in cobbling together the package over the past six weeks.

''It was a combined internal and external effort, and I'm proud of what's been put forth thus far,'' Finneran said. ''Housing production at all income levels is very, very important to not just the economic picture in Massachusetts, but to the quality of life.''

The plan also includes a compromise concerning anti-snob zoning laws, which require communities to shoulder their fare share of affordable housing.

The proposal would make it slightly easier for communities to comply with the law, while at the same time opening the door to penalties for cities and towns that don't. A special commission would address sanctions for communities that don't reach state-set affordable-housing thresholds.

That aspect of the speaker's plan would effectively replace the scores of other anti-snob zoning proposals on the table, including the one to count prisoners as housing, which was filed by Finneran's own Ways and Means chairman. But any number of those proposals could come up on the House floor next week, and debate on the issue could be considerable.

Housing advocates said that although the House proposal doesn't solve all the issues in the realm of housing, it makes significant progress.

''It's been a very good process,'' said Lew Finfer, an organizer with the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization. ''He's following through. It has a lot of good things for affordable housing.''

BOSTON--OK, so you were an opponent of the tax cut. You called the president's ``tax relief'' a four-letter word: s-c-a-m. You ranted about how the $1.3 trillion cut would benefit the rich at the expense of the rest.

When you heard about the $300 rebate, you sneered, ``oh goody, I'm rich.'' You figured that could pay for one month of your mom's prescription drugs or buy three sets of silver-plated place card holders from Saks Fifth Avenue. And when you discovered that 35 million low-income workers--those who need it the most-- would get no rebate at all, you just about went apoplectic.

Well, guess what pal: YOU'RE GONNA GET THE MONEY ANYWAY. They don't just give the rebate to people who agree with the policy. You're one of the 91 million Americans who are going to be getting a big fat collective $38 billion.

Soon you'll get a letter announcing this with a fanfare: ``We are pleased to inform you that the United States Congress passed--and President George W. Bush (news - web sites) signed into law--the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, which provides long-term tax relief for all Americans who pay income taxes.''

This will read like a rouse from Publishers Clearing House or a fund-raiser from the Republican National Committee (news - web sites), but it's from IRS and the message is simple: Here Comes Santa.

The letter says something else: ``You will be receiving a check. You need to take no additional steps.'' But there, dear IRS, I beg to differ. You do need to take additional steps. You need to figure out what you'll do with your 300 ill-gained bucks.

I know. Many folks regard the rebates as their money wrenched back from the thieves in Washington. Many regard it as found money, picked up on the sidewalk of a forgetful administration. Some regard it as house money in the big gamble of the Bush budget.

But you have a suspicion that it's also hush money designed to create silent accomplices.

It's time to put your money where your mouth is. You didn't want it; give it away. You don't like the budget; make your own.

``This is like a giant social experiment,'' says Richard Thau, president of Third Millennium, an advocacy group for young adults. ``If you send unexpected money to tens of millions of households, what percentages of those households will give all or part of the rebate to charity?''

Thau is going to donate his own rebate to a program for homeless women. But his group has set up DonateRebate.org, a site that leads to Helping.org, which lists 700,000 nonprofit groups. Many help the people that are hurt the most.

Tony Adams, a Houston Web site developer and a political in-activist, goes a step further. The 35-year-old Adams, engaged to a woman who ``pledged her rebate to shoes,'' didn't even vote in the last election. But he was so infuriated when Bush reinstituted the global gag rule against international family planning groups, he pledged his rebate to ``help counteract Bush's actions.''

His new Web site, TaxRebatePledge.org, has already attracted more than 300 people who promised more than $100,000 to groups that oppose the administration on such things as international family planning, the environment and civil rights. ``People think I'm some kind of a liberal wacko,'' says Adams. ``If your country is a car and about to veer off the road to the right, you got to jerk it pretty hard to the left to get it back onto the center.''

Now I know that despite all your ranting, it's easiest to cash the check. You could pay down the credit cards or invest both checks at 8 percent and have $6,500 in 2031. Heck, no one-time rebate is going to create an alternative budget or an alternative politics. Your whole point is that individuals can't replace every function of a government. And you can't send it back to the government or they'll use it for some missile fantasy.

But you've got a month or more to turn this rebate scam into a discussion about how to make a difference, where to begin and what's most important. You can be a $300-a-person philanthropist, a $600-a-couple social change agent.

And while you're putting your money where your mouth is, why let the tax-cut supporters off the hook? Didn't they tell us that private folks use the money more wisely than Washington?

When George W. signed this tax cut, he said, ``This bill is more than just tax relief. This bill reflects a philosophy that says we trust the American people more than we trust government.''

Now there's $38 billion coming our way. Sometimes hush money can make a very loud statement.

Our NELRC cohorts have just issued an RFP for the ABE-to-College Transitions Project, funded by the Nellie Mae Educational Foundation. The 17-page RFP is online as a Portable Document Format (PDF) version only, as such highly formatted documents really don't translate well into HTML:

They are especially interested in funding Massachusetts programs in this round. For further details, please contact Jessica Spohn, project coordinator 617-482-9485

Now that the school year is winding down, we would like to tell you about a variety of opportunities that will enable you to continue your participation in VES throughout the summer months.

1. Online Professional Development Opportunities: VES Summer School will be offered to all VES users starting June 25th. Learn about standards based resources available to you, participate in discussions with other educators across the state, and contribute to the design and development of VES. Self-study modules will be rolled out weekly, allowing you to participate at your own pace. The program has been designed for those who wish to earn PDPs and for those who just want to learn more about VES. You will be able to access the Summer School Registration Form on the VES Homepage by June 22nd.

2. VES Design and Development Opportunities: Many of you know that VES will have major development activity underway this summer and next fall. Massachusetts’s public school educators are an incredible resource for the VES Initiative. As a result we are looking to you to support and augment our efforts this summer.

We are seeking individuals for intensive multi-day workshops, part time assignments during the summer, and part time assignments during the fall. All of the projects will give participants direct and early access to VES capabilities, as well as an opportunity to help direct the course of VES. For some it will also mean a chance to participate in advanced wireless, handheld, and Internet Appliance hardware. The following is a list of the projects that we invite you to join:

a.Student Design Team: --> We seek students who are willing to participate in an extended set of activities throughout the summer and fall, as the Student Design Team. This team will participate in the design of the student tools, resources, and student workspace.

b.Technology Competency Project: --> These individuals will help write ISTE and NETS based technology competencies for teaches and students. The competencies will be used to develop an online professional development course.

c.Standards Based Education Competency Project: --> These individuals will prepare standards for what teachers should know and be able to do in implementing standards based teaching and learning. The standards prepared by this group will be used to develop an online professional development course.

d.Curriculum Mapping Project: --> These individuals will prepare model performance based maps of the curriculum in their discipline. The product of this multi-day process will be used with the Instructional Planning and Management tools.

e.Beta Test Program: --> These individuals will test early versions, and proof of concept prototypes of VES tools, resources, and applications.

f.Edge Device Beta Test Program: --> These individuals will test early versions, and proof of concept prototypes of VES handheld, wireless, and Internet Appliances.

g.Professional Development Team: --> These individuals will help VES staff write and test online professional development courses and modules.

h.Educational Content Research and Evaluation Project: --> These individuals will work with VES to identify, validate, document, and integrate high quality Web resources into VES.

i.Programming Projects: --> J2EE, Java and XML, XSL programmers are sought for challenging assignments with the VES team.

j.Librarian Focus Group: --> Participants in this team will work on the VES Virtual Library and Content Gateway projects.

k.Business Manager Focus Group: --> Participants in this team will work on the VES District and School Administrative Support projects.

l.Research and Development Team: --> Educators with research, evaluation, cognitive science, instructional theory, HCI, knowledge base, expert system, or VR expertise are sought for challenging R&D assignments with the VES team.

If you are interested in working on any of these projects, please go to the VES Opportunities exchange at www.ves.mass.edu/voxmain.htm. You can also access the form by clicking on the VOX link on the VES homepage (www.ves.mass.edu). Once you’ve completed the form, you will be contacted regarding the specific opportunities for which you have indicated an interest.

For additional information on any of the above summer opportunities, please contact Mark Rodgers at vox@ves.mass.edu.

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