Vermont Interagency Council on Homelessness (superseded by 05-06)

STATE OF VERMONT

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

EXECUTIVE ORDER

Vermont Interagency Council on Homelessness

WHEREAS, the number of homeless persons and families in the nation and this State has increased in recent years; and

WHEREAS, Vermont’s available shelter beds have been over capacity for the last three years; and

WHEREAS, in 2002, 1.3 million children were homeless in the United States; and

WHEREAS, in 2002, on any given day, 88 Vermont children are spending the night in a shelter; and

WHEREAS, the causes of homelessness are many and complex and homeless individuals and families have diverse needs; and

WHEREAS, the problem of homelessness denies a segment of our population a basic need for adequate shelter; and

WHEREAS, several State agencies and service providers offer programs and services for homeless persons and families; and

WHEREAS, to combat the problem of homelessness most effectively, it is critical that these agencies coordinate program development and delivery of essential services.

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor, I, James H. Douglas, do hereby establish the Vermont Interagency Council on Homelessness for the purpose of improving the well-being of our most vulnerable citizens’ lives.

The Council shall consist of no more than 15 members and shall include the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, and at least one representative from each of the following agencies, departments, and organizations: Agency of Human Services; Department of Prevention, Assistance, Transition and Health Access; Department of Health; Department of Corrections; Department of Developmental & Mental Health Services; Department of Employment & Training; Department of Housing & Community Affairs; Office of Economic Opportunity; the Veteran’s Administration; the Committee on Temporary Shelter; the Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness; and the Vermont Housing Financing Agency. The Governor shall appoint the Chair. Each appointment shall be for a term of two years, however, initial terms of membership shall be staggered.

The Commission shall have the following functions and duties:

1. To serve as the single statewide homelessness planning and policy development resource for the State of Vermont; and

2. To develop a ten-year plan to end homelessness in the State of Vermont; and

3. To develop a strategy to implement the ten-year plan and to recommend resource, policy and regulatory changes necessary to accomplish the goals of the plan; and

4. To monitor and oversee implementation of the plan to ensure accountability and results consistent with the plan.

The Interagency Council shall meet quarterly and at other times at the call of the Chair. The Council shall be attached to the Office of Economic Opportunity of the Agency of Human Services for administrative and staff support services.

The Council shall present the plan and implementation strategy to the Governor on or before December 31, 2005.

This Executive Order takes effect upon signing and expires on December 31, 2015.

Witness my name hereunto subscribed and the Great Seal of the State of Vermont hereunto affixed at Montpelier this 24th day of November, 2003.

James H. Douglas Governor

By the Governor:

Neale F. Lunderville Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 18-03

18-03