EXECUTIVE
ORDER EO 91-01
ESTABLISHING A STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS
An increasing
and unacceptable number of Washington citizens are becoming homeless. The
reasons for homelessness are many and complex. They include a lack of
affordable housing, wages and transfer payments which do not keep up with the
rising cost of housing, domestic violence, shortage of special housing with
support services for persons with mental illnesses, the problems of alcoholism
and substance abuse, and the growing number of troubled youth.
Private businesses, charitable organizations,
cities, counties, the federal government, and the State of Washington have
started to invest substantial resources in assisting the homeless and have
begun to address the root causes of homelessness. Because homelessness is a
multifaceted problem, its solution requires a coordinated blend of resources
and efforts from the private sector and all levels of government.
NOW, THEREFORE,
in recognition of the nature of the problem, the need for coordination, and to
put into action the first recommendation of the Governor's Task Force on
Homelessness in its report to me, I, Booth Gardner, Governor of the State of
Washington, do hereby establish a State Advisory Council on Homelessness, as
follows:
1. The
Council shall consist of up to 15 members selected by the Governor to represent
private businesses, non-profit organizations that provide services to the
homeless, public housing authorities, cities, counties, and the federal
government. In addition, the Council shall consist of the Directors of the
Department of Community Development, Department of Social and Health Services,
Employment Security Department, Department of Health, Department of General
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Corrections, and
the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction or their designees.
2. The
Director of the Department of Community Development shall chair the Council,
with a vice chair selected from among the members who do not represent state
agencies. The members shall serve without compensation except for reimbursement
for travel expenses to and from meetings. Staffing to the council shall be
provided by the Department of Community Development with the assistance of
other member state agencies.
3. Each
state department shall cooperate with the Council, and furnish it with such
information as necessary to accomplish the purposes of this order.
4. The
Council shall meet at least quarterly in locations agreed upon by the members.
5. The
Council shall carry out the following responsibilities:
a. Review actions recommended by the
Governor's Task Force on Homelessness and advise the Governor on what measures
can be taken to coordinate state efforts on behalf of people who are homeless.
b. Make annual policy recommendations to
the Governor on ways to enhance the state's ability to respond to the needs of
people who are homeless.
c. Provide a forum for representatives of
private businesses, service providers, and local, federal, and state government
to address issues and coordinate programs relating to homelessness across the
state.
d. Increase the awareness of homeless
Issues at state and local government agencies and local organizations that
provide services to people who are homeless, and promote training for employees
to better serve people who are homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless.
e. Promote interagency cooperation in
distributing public information, both to educate the general public about the
needs of the homeless and to provide homeless people and service providers with
current information about available resources.
6. This order shall take effect immediately.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto
set my hand and caused
the seal of the State
of Washington to be
affixed at Olympia
this 23rd day of
February A.D., Nineteen hundred and ninety-one.
BOOTH GARDNER
Governor of Washington
BY THE GOVERNOR:
_________________________________
Secretary of State
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