Executive Order  No. 492: Reconstituting the Massachusetts Interagency Council on Homelessness and Housing

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 454 established the Interagency Council on Homelessness and Housing (the "Council") for the purpose of reviewing existing programs and making recommendations to ensure that programs aimed at preventing and addressing homelessness are provided in the most efficient and productive manner;

WHEREAS, the Council, as successor to the Executive Commission for Homeless Services Coordination ("the Commission"), has worked to ensure the continuation of the progress made by the Commission, to create a formal structure to improve the coordination of services and programs for the homeless population, and to develop, implement, and monitor initiatives to end homelessness; and

WHEREAS, reconstituting the Council will increase coordination, efficiency, and uniformity and 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, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution, Part 2, c. 2, § I, Art. I, do hereby revoke Executive Order 454 and order 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 ex officio members: the Lieutenant Governor, who shall serve as the Chair of the Council; the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services; the Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Services; the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services; the Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health; the Commissioner of the Department of Transitional Assistance; the Secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance; the Secretary of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development; the Undersecretary for the Department of Housing and Community Development; the Commissioner of the Department of Education; and the Commissioner of the Department of Correction. The members of the Council shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor and without compensation. The Council shall meet at 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 subject areas that the Council is addressing.

Section 2. The Council shall have the authority to: review existing programs and policies relating to homelessness or to individuals who are at risk of becoming 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 of becoming 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 of becoming 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 of becoming 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 18th day of November in the year of our Lord two thousand and seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America two hundred and thirty-one.

DEVAL L. PATRICK
GOVERNOR
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

WILLIAM FRANCIS GALVIN
Secretary of the Commonwealth