Executive Order  No. 454: Establishing the Massachusetts Interagency Council on Homelessness and Housing

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 447 (03-5) established the Executive Commission for Homeless Services Coordination for the purpose of making recommendations to improve the efficiency and coordination of services to homeless individuals and families;

WHEREAS, the Executive Commission recommended the establishment of an Interagency Council on Homelessness and Housing to review existing programs and to make further recommendations to ensure that programs aimed at preventing and addressing homelessness are provided in the most efficient and productive manner;

WHEREAS, the Executive Commission also recommended that the Interagency Council on Homelessness and Housing work to ensure the continuation of the progress made by the Commission, and to create a formal structure to improve the coordination of services and programs for the homeless population, as well as to develop, implement, and monitor initiatives to end homelessness; and

WHEREAS, increased coordination, efficiency, and uniformity will enable the Commonwealth to meet more effectively the critical housing and other needs of its citizens who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mitt Romney, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution as Supreme Executive Magistrate, Part 2, c. 2, § I, Art. I, do hereby order that all of the provisions of Executive Order 447 (03-5) are hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 1. There shall be established a council to be known as the Massachusetts Interagency Council on Homelessness and Housing ("the Council"). The Council shall consist of eleven members: the Lieutenant Governor, who shall serve as the Chair of the Council; the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services ("EOHHS") as an ex officio member; three EOHHS agency representatives to be recommended for appointment by the Secretary, to be appointed by the Governor; the Secretary of Administration and Finance as an ex officio member; the Chief of Economic Affairs as an ex officio member; the Chief of the Office of Commonwealth Development ("OCD") as an ex officio member; one OCD agency representative to be recommended for appointment by the Chief, to be appointed by the Governor; the Commissioner of the Department of Education as an ex officio member; and the Commissioner of the Department of Correction as an ex officio member. The members of the Council shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. All members, except for those serving as ex officio members, shall serve for two years, after which time they will be eligible for reappointment. All members shall not receive compensation for their service on the Council. The Council shall meet at the times and places to be determined by the Chair of the Council.

In addition, members of the Council shall meet and consult on a regular basis with individuals or groups who have specific expertise in any area to be addressed by the Council.

Section 2. The Council shall have the authority to: review existing programs and policies relating to homelessness or to individuals who are at risk to become homeless; recommend improvements to such programs and policies to ensure that such services are provided in an efficient, cost-effective, and productive manner; recommend legislation to improve the operation of the policies of the Commonwealth relating to homelessness and individuals who are at risk to become homeless; recommend changes to regulations of any agency of the Commonwealth that would assist to alleviate the problem of homelessness; recommend contracts, grants, or other agreements to improve access to or delivery of services to individuals who are homeless or are at risk to become homeless; recommend partnerships with private entities, including corporate, philanthropic, and faith-based organizations, as well as the federal government and municipalities relating to homelessness or individuals who are at risk to become homeless; and monitor the progress of any initiatives undertaken in response to the Council's recommendations.

Section 3. The Council shall report any findings or recommendations, including any recommendations for legislation or regulation, to the Governor at such periods as determined by the Chair.

Section 4. This Executive Order shall continue in effect until amended, superseded, or revoked by subsequent Executive Order. Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 20th day of November in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the Independence of the United States of America two hundred and twenty seven.

MITT ROMNEY, GOVERNOR
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH
WILLIAM FRANCIS GALVIN