New banner

         

Latest News on the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
10.14.2010
In This Issue
SPOTLIGHT: Valerie Jarrett Addresses LGBT Youth Experiencing Homelessness
In the Field
Council Member Agency Updates
Senate Hearing on Hate Crimes Against People Experiencing Homelessness
Strategic Plan on Federal Youth Policy
USICH Updates

SPOTLIGHT

 

Senior Obama Administration Official Addresses LGBT Youth Experiencing Homelessness

 

White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett

 

Senior Advisor to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement Valerie Jarrett noted Opening Doors and its focus on addressing the needs of LGBT youth experiencing homelessness at the annual national dinner of the Human Rights Campaign

 

- Remarks

- Video

In the Field
 
USICH Executive Director Barbara Poppe Meets with Youth Experiencing Homelessness


 

Join Our Newsletter List

Council Member Agency Updates


Department of Health and Human Services

 

SAMHSA Seeking Stakeholder Feedback on Strategic Initiatives


SAMHSA's recently-released plan Leading Change: A Plan for SAMHSA's Roles and Actions 2011 - 2014 builds on 8 strategic initiatives to focus the Agency's work. In conjunction with the Plan's release, SAMHSA is seeking comment on the initiatives in their ongoing efforts to increase public engagement, collaboration, and participation. The online forum is open for feedback and suggestions until October 22, 2010 at 5 p.m. EST.

 

Department of Housing and Urban Development

 

HUD to Distribute $15 Million in Housing Choice Vouchers for Families


Public housing authorities are invited to apply through December 1, 2010 for these vouchers, available through HUD's Family Unification Program. The vouchers will serve families involved in the child welfare system, as well as youth aging out of foster care.


4,300 Vouchers Announced for Persons with Disabilities


On October 1, HUD announced $33 million in rental assistance for non-elderly persons with disabilities. This funding will secure vouchers in 19 states to help non-elderly individuals with disabilities access affordable housing.


Department of Veterans Affairs

 

$41.9 Million Announced to Fund 2,568 Transitional Beds for Homeless Veterans


On October 1, VA Secretary Shinseki announced $41.9 million in Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem program funding that will be allocated among 40 states. $15 million will fund existing transitional housing for Veterans and the remaining $26.9 million will be used to renovate, rehabilitate, or develop new transitional housing. 

 

Advisory Committee on Women Veterans to Meet October 26 - 28


The Committee serves to advise Secretary Shinseki on the needs of women Veterans and will meet this month to discuss recommendations from the 2010 report and other updates and to hear briefings on physical and mental health, along with initiatives focusing on female Veterans experiencing homelessness. Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public, with interested participants required to confirm their attendance in advance.

Senate Hearing Examines Hate Crimes Against People Experiencing Homelessness

On September 29, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's Sub-Committee on Crime and Drugs held a hearing entitled "Crimes Against America's Homeless: Is the Violence Growing?"  Panelists included legislators, law enforcement officers, academics, researchers, and family members of people victimized while experiencing homelessness. The hearing contributed to ongoing deliberations in both the Senate and the House of Representatives on the Hate Crimes Against the Homeless Statistics Act of 2009, which proposed amending the Hate Crimes Statistics Act to include crimes against people experiencing homelessness.  If passed, the legislation would require the Attorney General to collect data on hate crimes against this population. 

- Watch the hearing
Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs Seeks Input
Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs Seeks Input
The IWGYP is an independent federal agency comprised of representatives from 12 federal agencies. It promotes positive, healthy outcomes for youth and collaborates with USICH to develop resources for homeless youth. As part of their strategic plan development, IWGYP is holding listening sessions across the country to hear from stakeholders on how to improve youth programs, policies, and outcomes. Stakeholders who are unable to attend a listening session can also submit input on the Strategic Plan for Federal Youth Policy online.
USICH Updates

USICH Executive Director Barbara Poppe Presents at HEARTH Conference
Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness

USICH Executive Director spoke in September to HMIS administrators, Continuum of Care leaders, and ESG and HPRP grantees from across the country about Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness and how it relates to efforts in local communities across the country. Representatives from HUD, VA, and Labor also presented on the panel.


USICH Hiring Communications Specialist

USICH is hiring a communications specialist who will assist the Director of Communications in proactively maintaining all facets of an aggressive, fast-paced communications office while managing the agency's online tools and implementing communications and media information programs to support the work of the USICH and its initiatives.
 
USICH Mission

. . . to coordinate the federal response to homelessness and to create a national partnership at every level of government and with the private sector to reduce and end homelessness in the nation while maximizing the effectiveness of the Federal Government in contributing to the end of homelessness.