U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

In testimony presented this week to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on the "State of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs," VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said,

" We will invest $3.2 billion next year to prevent and reduce homelessness among Veterans -- $2.7 billion on medical services and $500 million on specific homeless housing programs . . . Effectively addressing homelessness requires breaking the downward spiral that leads Veterans into homelessness. We must continue to improve treatment for substance abuse, depression, TBI and PTSD; better educational and vocational options, much better employment opportunities; and more opportunities for safe and hospitable housing. Early intervention and prevention of homelessness among Veterans is critical. We have to do it all; we can't afford any missed opportunities . . . "

One way in which the VA is creating new opportunities for increasing housing and supportive services for homeless and at risk veterans is through Enhanced Use Leases which capitalize on the VA's underutilized real property assets. Last week the VA announced six new Mission Homeless Enhanced Use Lease opportunities in Alabama, Louisiana, Oregon, Texas, and Wyoming.

In Tuscaloosa, AL, the VA seeks to competitively select a private developer for the renovation of a vacant building (Bldg. 33) and/or the construction of a new facility on approximately 7 acres of underutilized land at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center for homeless housing. Responses to the Request for Proposals are due by December 8, 2009.

In Tuskegee, AL, the VA seeks to competitively select a private developer for the renovation of the four story Building 62 of the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care Center- East Campus to create affordable housing for homeless veterans. Responses to the Request for Proposals are due by December 8, 2009.

In Pineville (Alexandria), LA, the VA seeks to competitively select a private developer to lease approximately 17 acres of vacant land located on the southeast corner campus of the 148 acre Alexandria-Pineville VA Medical Center. The successful private EUL bidder(s) will provide VA with in-kind consideration that includes the development and operation of new supportive housing units with on-site supportive services for individuals and/or families. Such units and services will be provided to Veterans, who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, on a priority basis. Responses to the Request for Proposals are due by December 8.

In Roseburg, OR, the VA seeks to competitively select a private developer to lease approximately 9.7 acres of vacant land on the 200 acre VA Roseburg Health Campus. The parcel is bordered by a paved two way street to the East, Roseburg City Park to the West and the South Umpqua River and City Park to the South. The successful private EUL bidder(s) will provide VA with in-kind consideration that includes the development and operation of new supportive housing units with on-site supportive services for individuals and/or families. Such units and services will be provided to Veterans, who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, on a priority basis. Responses to the Request for Proposals are due by December 8, 2009.

In Kerrville, TX, the VA seeks to competitively select a private developer to lease approximately 5 acres of land located on the 70 acre Kerrville Division of the South Texas VA Health Care Network campus. The successful private EUL bidder(s) will provide VA with in-kind consideration that includes the development and operation of new supportive housing units with on-site supportive services for individuals and/or families. Such units and services will be provided to Veterans, who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, on a priority basis. Responses to the Request for Proposals are due by December 8, 2009.

In Sheridan, Wyoming, the VA seeks to competitively select a private developer to lease up to approximately 1.2 acres of vacant land on the 190 acre Cheyenne VA Medical Center campus. The successful private EUL bidder(s) will provide VA with in-kind consideration that includes the development and operation of new supportive housing units with on-site supportive services for individuals and/or families. Such units and services will be provided to Veterans, who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, on a priority basis. Responses to the Request for Proposals are due by December 8, 2009

For more information on the VA's Mission Homeless Enhanced Use Lease program, click here. To learn about more VA programs for homeless and at risk veterans, click here.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

On October 6, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the creation of a National Re-Entry Resource Center, authorized by the Second Chance Act, in collaboration with the Council of State Governments' Justice Center. The CSG Justice Center was selected through a competitive grant process by DOJ to develop and direct the resource center in collaboration with the Urban Institute, American Probation and Parole Association, Association of State Correctional Administrators, and the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University, and an advisory board of 25 national organizations serving the reentry field.

According to DOJ's Bureau of Justice Statistics, there are currently over 1.5 million individuals serving time in federal and state prisons and another 786,000 incarcerated in local jails. About 725,000 are released from prison and millions of people cycle through local jails every year. Ninety-five percent of all prisoners incarcerated today will eventually be released and will return to communities. Through the National Reentry Resource Center, training and technical assistance opportunities will be enhanced for states, localities, and tribes and others to develop evidenced-based reentry programs, which will help reduce the recidivism rate, while still protecting the communities being served.

The Department also announced the award of more than $28 million in grant funding to states, local governments, and non-profit organizations under the Second Chance Act to support reentry programs that assist individuals' transition from prison back into the community through a variety of services such as mentoring, literacy classes, job training, education programs, substance abuse, rehabilitation and mental health programs for adult and juvenile offenders. "The Second Chance Act grants are designed to help strengthen communities characterized by large numbers of returning offenders, providing an evidence-based process that begins with initial incarceration and ends with successful community reintegration," said Mary Lou Leary, Acting Assistant Attorney General for OJP. The awards announced included:

• Second Chance Act Prisoner Re-entry Initiative Demonstration Grants
• Second Chance Mentoring Grants to Non Profit Organizations
• Second Chance Act Youth Offender Re-entry Initiative
• Second Chance Act Juvenile Mentoring Initiative

On October 29, the CSG Justice Center in collaboration with the DOJ Bureau of Justice Assistance will host the sixth webinar in its Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Series. The webinar will focus on Ensuring Access to Medicaid for Individuals with Mental Illness Reentering Their Communities from Prison: A Program Model from Oklahoma.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

The HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Offender Re-Entry Program supports community efforts to expand and/or enhance substance abuse treatment and related recovery and reentry services to sentenced juvenile and adult offenders returning to the community from incarceration for criminal/juvenile offenses. This week SAMHSA announced that it is awarding more than $28.7 million in Offender Reentry Program funding to 24 organizations in communities around the country. The grantees will receive up to $400,000 a year for up to 3 years.

"Treating substance abuse and providing recovery support services is the key to breaking the well known cycle between incarceration and drug abuse," said SAMHSA Acting Administrator, Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. "This program provides a solid foundation for people working to restart their lives and become productive members of the community."

SAMHSA notes that, "Often the juvenile or adult criminal justice system has services and structures in place for these offenders at entry into the system (i.e., at pre-trial or adjudication), but there are few and fragmented services in place for these offenders as they are released from correctional settings. Reentry into the community and reintegration into the family are risky times for these offenders and their families. The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) indicates that in the first year following release, young offenders re-offend at a rate of sixty-three (63) percent." Grantees will provide transitional services that begin even before release from correctional and juvenile facilities and just as SAMHSA and the Department of Justice' Bureau of Justice Assistance are collaborating on criminal justice-substance abuse issues on the federal level, grantees will coordinate their efforts with Department of Justice prisoner re-entry or Second Chance Act programs that may exist in the community.

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

On April 21, 2009, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (SAA). The SAA reauthorizes and expands national service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, The Corporation is a federal agency created in 1993 to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. The Corporation is also one of 19 federal agency members of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. In a Notice of Funding Availability accessible through www.grants.gov, the Corporation has announced that subject to final action on the FY 2010 appropriations, it is anticipating the availability of approximately $363 million to award new, re-competing, and continuation AmeriCorps State and National grants.

In the FY 2010 competition, the funding priorities are projects that address one or a combination of the following five national service priority areas:

• Education - unmet educational needs within communities especially those that help children and youth achieve success in school and prevent them from dropping out before high school graduation.
• Veterans- unmet needs of veterans, members of the Armed Forces who are on active duty, and family members of deployed military personnel, and engaging veterans in service.
• Healthy Futures - unmet health needs within communities including access to health care, disease prevention and health promotion initiatives, and health literacy.
• Opportunity - unmet needs relating to economic opportunity for economically disadvantaged individuals within communities including financial literacy, housing assistance, job training, and nutritional assistance.
• Clean Energy/Environment- unmet energy-efficiency and environmental needs within communities.

Applicant eligibility: Public or private nonprofit organizations, including labor organizations, faith-based and other community organizations; institutions of higher education; government entities within states or territories (e.g., cities, counties); Indian Tribes; and partnerships or consortia. Intermediaries are encouraged to apply. The Corporation encourages organizations that have never received funding from the Corporation or AmeriCorps to apply.

For New Grants: If your organization works in just one state, you will apply directly to your state commission, a list of which can be found here. If your organization works in more than one state, you are eligible to apply directly to the Corporation for a national grant. If your organization is an Indian Tribe you may apply through your state commission, or directly to the Corporation. While not mandatory, the Corporation is requesting the cooperation of potential applicants in notifying them of your intention to apply to either the national or state commission programs. Notices of intent should be emailed 60 days prior to the application deadline: for national applicants, to americorpsnational@cns.gov; for state commission applicants, to americorpsapplications@cns.gov.

The application deadline is January 26, 2010. The Corporation anticipates that at least 15 percent of the funds will support applicants that have not received an AmeriCorps State or National operational grant in the last five years. Applicants that have received only a formula operational grant within the last five years will be considered new for purposes of this 15 percent target. Please read the NOFA for more complete information.

2009 National Project Homeless Connect Week facilitated by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is December 7-13.

From its origins in San Francisco where it was pioneered by Mayor Gavin Newsom and will be celebrating its fifth anniversary on October 28, Project Homeless Connect has been identified by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness as an innovation that can move people more quickly toward housing and stability and furthers the goals of community ten year plans to end homelessness. Project Homeless Connect is a one day event sponsored by Mayors and other community leaders designed to provide housing, services, and hospitality in a convenient one-stop model for people experiencing homelessness. The PHC service delivery model emphasizes immediacy of service. Assisted by community volunteers, government and private sector resource providers work side-by-side in an "under one roof" configuration, with a focus on problem - solving and results. Project Homeless Connect gives people and organizations who have never been involved in homelessness before a way to make a difference in their community by helping to end someone's homelessness.

With technical assistance and encouragement from the Council that has included facilitating a National Project Homeless Connect Week each December, the Project Homeless Connect innovation has now been adopted by more than 200 communities, large and small, in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. While PHC events occur throughout the year, many communities choose dates that allow them to participate in the the Council facilitated National Week or that coincide with such other national activities as National Volunteer Week, United Way's Days of Caring in October or in conjunction with homeless Point-in-Time counts. The U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Association of Counties have encouraged the increased involvement of mayors and county officials in creating Project Homeless Connect events and participating in the annual National Project Homeless Connect Week facilitated by the Council.

Please visit the Council's National Project Homeless Connect web page where you will find a range of resources for hosting a successful event including a toolkit, a best practices webinar, the National Project Homeless Connect logo and helpful forms and templates, and links to descriptions of a variety of Project Homeless Connect events where lessons learned regarding logistics, partnerships, and results are instructive and inspiring. If your community is planning a Connect event during National Week and the event is not already listed on our calendar, please email us at nphc@usich.gov with the date and contact information. If you are interested in more information or need technical assistance, please email us at the same nphc@usich.gov. We're here to help.

In his recent address at the Council on Foundations 2009 Fall Conference, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, who also chairs the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said that "if you want to talk about catalytic, place-based innovations that have influenced federal housing policy - you have to start with the ten-year plans to end homelessness we've seen in communities across the country. It was that kind of work that enabled us to achieve a remarkable shift in our approach with the Recovery Act through a brand new $1.5 billion Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing program."

In Washington State, housing-focused ten year plan development and implementation has been fully embraced through the development of both a State Plan and twenty eight local plans that encompass all thirty nine counties of the state. As these plans move forward, opportunities for Ten Year Plan leaders to exchange information on what's working and what's not and keeping up-to-date on the changing landscape of federal and state resources are critically important. This week, a Ten Year Plan Forum was held in Yakima for leaders of Ten Year Plan efforts in the eastern part of the state with a similar forum for western counties scheduled for next week. The forum was organized by the Washington State Coalition for the Homeless working with U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Region X Coordinator Paul Carlson with support from the U.S. Census Bureau Pacific NW office, and in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Commerce. Pictured, l-r, USICH Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson, Washington State Coalition for the Homeless Executive Director Mia Navarro-Wells, Washington State Department of Commerce Housing Division Director Will Graham, and US Census Bureau Pacific NW, Alaska, and Northern California Deputy Director Michael P. Burns.

The goal of the day was to provide an opportunity for peer to peer learning among the local Ten Year Plan leaders. Discussions covered alignment of resources within different service systems to maximize existing resources and improve outcomes for homeless people; rethinking activities in response to new directions of federal and state programs; funding and policy decision making; contracting and monitoring, and practical uses of HMIS. Council Regional Coordinator Carlson moderated a panel session on "the perfect plan" and while it was clear from the discussion that no two plans approached the issue exactly the same, all agreed that the "perfect plan" was one that produced results.

A morning plenary session featured a discussion with the State of Washington Department of Commerce that will soon provide bonus funds for those local plans that successfully launch coordinated entry programs, as well as for increasing the number of housing units for permanent supportive housing. US Census Bureau Regional Deputy Director Michael P. Burns delivered the keynote speech at lunch, describing US Census' commitment to working with local shelter and service providers to insure that all homeless persons are included in the census next March.

CLARK COUNTY, WA HOMELESS ENGAGEMENT COLLABORATION PROJECT RECEIVES NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Among the Ten Year Plans represented at this week's forum was Clark County whose Homeless Engagement Collaboration project (CHEC) received the 2009 National Association of County Community and Economic Development Award of Excellence in the category of homeless coordination and assistance at NACCED's 34th Annual Conference on October 3rd.

Clark County's Homeless Engagement Collaboration project employs a housing first model for hard to serve individuals living on the streets or in encampments and for individuals reentering the community from jail or hospitals. In its inaugural year (July 1, 2008-July 1, 2009), the CHEC outreach team working collaboratively with the Vancouver Police Department and SHARE, Inc. were able to identify and engage chronically homeless individuals living in encampments and increase housing capacity through significant landlord outreach and education. The result? 101 individuals who were homeless received housing including 49 who'd been living in inhabitable areas and 52 who were reentering the community from jail, hospitals, or other institutions. The 6 month housing retention rate for those reentering the community, all of whom are receiving mental health services, was 100%. The six month housing retention rate for those from encampments was 75%.

The project has also significantly improved collaboration within the community. In the award application, Clark County noted that "another positive result has been improved policies and practices for clearing homeless encampments. Washington State Department of Transportation Staff noted that the Collaborative Meetings have helped to "soften hard lines and created a greater awareness of personal belongings."

Funding for the project includes $3.3 million over 3 years obtained by the Clark County Department of Community Services from the state Homeless Grant Assistance Program, with a 20% match from the housing and mental health units within the County Department of Community Services.

This is the second consecutive year that Clark County has won an award for innovation programs that address hard to serve populations. Last year the county received an award for its partnership with the Bridges to Housing program.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. At the invitation of North Brunswick Township, NJ Mayor Francis "Mac" Womack III, mayors, elected Board of Freeholders members, advocates, and nonprofit social agency directors from Middlesex County's municipalities, met on Friday, October 9 for an important conversation about reducing homelessness and financing affordable and supportive housing. Pictured, Bob Mulcahy (2nd from left), Mayor Womack, Middlesex County Chosen Freeholder Blanquita Valenti, USICH National Team Leader Michael German, Congressman Rush Holt District Director Leslie Potter, East Brunswick NJ Councilwoman Nancy Pinkin, and New Brunswick City Mayor James Cahill.

The Mayor's Conference included presentations from Michael German, National Team Leader for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness; Diane Johnson, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development New Jersey State Director; Leslie Potter, District Director for Congressman Rush Holt; and Robert Mulcahy, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Coming Home of Middlesex County, Inc.

In 2007, Middlesex County created a blue ribbon team chaired by Elizabeth Hance, President & CEO, Magyar Bank, and Mr. Mulcahy, former President and CEO of the New Jersey Exposition Authority and Rutgers University Director of Athletics to develop a Ten Year Plan to End Chronic and Family Homelessness. The resulting plan called for creating 520 units of permanent affordable and supportive housing, establishing a single point of entry, preventing homelessness, increasing economic opportunities, and creating a 501(c)(3) non profit to manage implementation of the plan. The recommended non profit has been created. Coming Home of Middlesex County, Inc,, with leadership from Board Chair Mulcahy and Executive Director Bob Stewart, is dedicated to accomplishing the goals of the Ten Year Plan. Mr. Stewart's appointment as the Executive Director was announced at the meeting and warmly received.

The Conference offered attendees the opportunity to begin an open dialogue about possible strategies for increasing the affordable housing stock and needed housing to address homelessness. The meeting "came alive" as new ideas were shared with Council National Team Leader German offering the group information on partnering with the business community. Mr. German introduced via conference call JPMorgan Chase & Co. REO Community Revitalization Program representatives Beverly Dabney who is Vice President of Community Relations, and Yves Mombeleur, Vice President-Program Manager of REO Gifting and Discounted Sales Program. The REO Gifting and Discounted Sales Program aims to leverage resources in order to stabilize communities and maintain housing stock while providing affordable housing through collaborative partnerships. Chase works with non-profits and government entities to donate or sell Chase owned REO properties within their service areas that will assist in stabilizing neighborhoods with high foreclosure activity. HUD's Diane Johnson further energized the conference by pledging support of the HUD Field Office for efforts to develop affordable green supportive housing in Middlesex centered around energy efficiency and transportation and offering to bring together Federal and State partners to discuss effective ways of assembling resources to address the comprehensive issues of homelessness and affordable housing.

Pictured, l-r, Linda Rubenstein, Executive Director, East Brunswick Community Housing Corporation; Steven Nagel, Executive Director, Infoline of Central Jersey; Andrea Krich, Executive Director, Making it Possible to End Homelessness, New Brunswick, NJ; Bob Stewart, Executive Director, Coming Home of Middlesex County, Inc., Robert Mulcahy, Chairperson, Coming Home of Middlesex County, Inc.; Francis M. Womack III, Mayor, North Brunswick Township, NJ; Bridget Kennedy, Director, Division of Social Work Services, County of Middlesex, NJ; Diane Johnson, HUD NJ State Director; and Council National Team Leader Michael German.

LINCOLN COUNTY, OREGON.This is the third year that Lincoln County, Oregon has held a Project Homeless Connect as an implementation step for its ten year plan,"At Home in Lincoln County." The plan was championed by Lincoln County Commissioner Bill Hall and has led to the creation of new permanent supportive housing units in the community. At their first Project Homelesss Connect in 2007, Commissioner Hall and U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Region X Coordinator Paul Carlson were approached by one of the homeless guests who was living on the streets, "Ed" who expressed doubt that the Connect event would have anything to offer him other than new blankets. This year, "Ed" returned to the event and once again approached Council Coordinator Carlson and Commissioner Hall. "I didn't believe any of this talk about ending homelessness," he told them, " but when a case manager approached me after I attended the event in 2007 I decided to give it a chance as I had nothing to lose. I was outside for three years. That winter when it was cold, I watched people die. I had some trouble at first but now I think things are going pretty well. I have had my own place for more than a year. I decided I should come back this year and lend a hand to other people I know on the streets." Ed is shown here in conversation with Coordinator Carlson (center) and Commissioner Hall (at right).

Lincoln County is a mostly rural county with Newport the largest town (population 10.000), set along the rugged, beautiful Oregon coast. Barbara Dougherty, Commissioner for the Lincoln County Commission for Children and Families and the event co-chair, said, "We are a small community and I see the people who are homeless day after day. Project Homeless Connect allowed me to really get to know them as people . . . This is a great event because I know it is part of our bigger effort to get them a home."

Held at the Church of the Nazarene in Newport, more than 30 government and private non-profit agencies were on hand providing medical and prescription assistance, help in obtaining identification, food stamps, energy, housing and legal assistance, free haircuts, pet care and bicycle repair. The Lions Health Van offered a variety of health screenings and Medical Teams International Dental Van also was on hand. Free transportation was provided by the Lincoln County Transit bus service. Homeless guests also received a hot meal, and packaged food and personal care items. Pictured, l-r, Lincoln County Commissioner Bill Hall, Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital Director of Services and event co-chair Tina Haines, Lincoln County Children and Family Commissioner and event co-chair Barbara Dougherty (seated), and Council Regional Coordinator Paul Carlson.

In September Lincoln County Ten Year Plan leaders released their Year 2 progress report to the community, a practice the Council encourages other ten year plan communities to adopt to increase public awareness and assure accountability.

email: usich@usich.gov

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