Assisting the Homeless: State and Local Responses in an Era of Limited Resources. Papers from a Policy Conference (Washington, D.C., March 10-11, 1988).

This document comprises a collection of conference papers that provide a broad understanding of the problem of homelessness, highlight innovative local and state responses, and uncover key intergovernmental issues that must be addressed in order to improve public and private action. The conference was attended by more than 100 federal, state, and local officials, as well as by academic experts, advocates, and service providers. The document begins with "Opening Remarks: The Interagency Council on the Homeless" (C. Moore), which describes the federal agency whose primary function is to implement the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. Part I, "Defining the Dimensions of Homelessness," comprises the following papers: (1) "Homeless Policy: Expansion during Retrenchment" (D. W. Kirchheimer); (2) "Discussion Paper: Implications of the Low-Income Housing Ratio for National Homelessness Policy" (K. Y. McChesnesy); (3) "The Deinstitutionalization of the Mentally Ill" (H. R. Lamb); (4) "The Low-Income Housing Crisis and Its Impact on Homelessness" (C. N. Dolbeare); and (5) "Rethinking Housing with the Homeless in Mind" (J. Leavitt). Part II, "Exploring Intergovernmental Responses," comprises the following papers: (1) "Hope for the Homeless--Local and State Responses" (K. J. Beirne); (2) "Homelessness: Federal and State Legislative Solutions" (M. Foscarinis); (3) "Ohio's Coordinated Responses to the Problems of Homelessness" (D. Roth and P. S. Hyde); (4) "Discussion Paper: The Ohio Case" (N. G. Milburn); (5) "Assisting the Homeless in an Era of Federal Retrenchment: The Massachusetts Experience" (N. K. Kaufman); (6) "State Coordination of Mental Health Services to Homeless People in Massachusetts" (C. B. Johnson): (7) "Milwaukee"s Outreach to the Homeless Mentally Ill" (M. Rosnow); (8) "Homelessness and the New Federalism: The Westchester Experience" (A. P. O'Rourke); and (9) "Health Care for the Homeless: The Challenge to States and Local Communities" (J. D. Wright). Some papers include statistical data on tables and graphs. All papers include a list of references. A description of the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR) and a list of its publications are included. A copy of the conference program and lists of participants and attendees are appended. (FMW)