|
Champions for Ending Veterans Homelessness
VA Secretary Eric Shinseki
Retired U.S. Army General Eric Shinseki was sworn in as the 7th Secretary of Veterans Affairs on January 21, 2009. Since then, he has worked tirelessly and aggressively to develop and implement VA's 5-Year Plan to End Homelessness Among Veterans.
Department of Labor Assistant Secretary Raymond Jefferson
| | Assistant Secretary Jefferson leads the VETS team, bringing years of transformational leadership experience to provide Veterans and Service Members with the resources and services to succeed in the 21st century workforce. | |
|
Additional Resources to End Veterans Homelessness
- Veterans Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH)
- Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program Information - Turbotap.org
- National Resource Directory
- HUDVET Resource Center
|
|
|
|
USICH Honors Our Nation's VeteransToday, USICH joins our nation in honoring the men and women who have served in our armed forces. While approximately 10 percent of adult civilians in the U.S. are Veterans, they comprise a disproportionately large segment of the homeless population. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 107,000 Veterans experience homelessness in the United States on any given night. In honor of our Veterans, USICH has devoted this newsletter to highlighting resources that communities and Veterans can access to prevent and end Veterans homelessness.
Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness sets the goal of ending homelessness for Veterans in five years with the joint action of federal, state, and local leaders, together with service providers, advocates, the private sector, and faith-based, philanthropic, and community organization leaders. A fact sheet on preventing and ending Veterans homelessness is available on our agency's website.
Opening Doors represents a dramatic shift in preventing and ending Veterans homelessness. Opening Doors is based on the idea that solving homelessness requires that people access mainstream resources effectively and sufficiently to meet their needs and avoid homelessness. The new plan places prevention at the center and brings mainstream resources to bear. In Opening Doors' shift to mainstream resources, we are moving to where the dollars are. For Veterans, mainstream refers to mainstream resources for Veterans within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In addition, mainstream also refers to HUD, HHS, Social Security Administration, and the Department of Agriculture resources that include public housing, Medicaid, Social Security, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance.
Earlier this week, USICH hosted a webcast with participants from the VA, HUD, Labor, and HHS to discuss existing and new initiatives aimed at preventing and ending homelessness.
Last week, the Obama Administration held its third full Council meeting of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. In relation to the goal to prevent and end Veterans homelessness in five years, the Council charged its agencies to collaborate to increase access to mainstream and targeted programs for Veterans and their families.
In order to tackle barriers for Veterans to access mainstream resources, the Council committed to develop and then strategically disseminate key policy guidance about federal programs, services, and benefits available to Veterans and their families. The plan will help break down barriers for local communities and Veterans experiencing homelessness. Such barriers include the lack of awareness of benefits, services, and programs, as well as "myths" about eligibility requirements. Learn more at USICH's website.
|
|
Highlighted Programs and Resources to Prevent and End Veterans Homelessness
VA Call Center Supports Homeless Veterans
Earlier this year, VA opened a new National Call Center for Homeless Veterans. The 24/7 hotline is staffed by trained counselors who assess Veterans' needs and connect them with appropriate VA resources in their local areas. Hotline services are available to Veterans who are currently homeless or at risk of homelessness, as well as their families, community agencies, and anyone seeking information on resources available to homeless Veterans. To speak with trained VA staff, call the hotline at (877) 4AID-VET.
America's Heroes at Work
 America's Heroes at Work offers resources and information to support employers in hiring returning Veterans with traumatic brain injuries and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Its newest tool is the Veterans Hiring Toolkit, which offers six steps to help employers develop strategies for recruiting, hiring, and retaining Veterans.
VETS
Veterans' Employment and Training Services (VETS) provides resources and expertise to support Veterans in maximizing their employment opportunities. Visit the VETS website to discover the full range of services they offer, including technical assistance for the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program.
|
|
Council Member Agency Updates
Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Expands Support for Families of Low-Income Veterans
Earlier this week, the VA announced a program designed to provide enhanced services to low-income Veterans and their families who are at risk of being homeless. Under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, VA will provide grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that will help break the cycle of homelessness among America's Veterans at risk of homelessness. Learn more about SSVF.
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Continuum of Care Applications Due November 18
HUD's $1.68 billion in homeless assistance grants will be awarded based on Continuum of Care applications, due November 18, 2010.
HUD Announces New Funding for Education Centers at Housing Authorities
The new Capital Fund Education and Training Community Facilities Program will award $35 million to public housing authorities to develop education and job training opportunities on-site. The centers will encourage resident self-sufficiency by making possible better education and economic outcomes. Public housing authorities are invited to apply for this funding for purchase, construction, or rehabilitation of facilities through January 14, 2011.
Proposed Rule on Housing Trust Fund Open for Public Comment
On October 29, HUD announced its proposed regulations on the National Housing Trust Fund, which would seek $1 billion in funding to increase production of affordable housing with a focus on very and extremely low-income households, including homeless families. The proposed rule is open for comment on the Fund's governing regulations through December 28, 2010.
Department of Labor
YouthBuild Equips Youth While Creating Affordable Housing
The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration announced grants totaling a possible $130 million for YouthBuild programs, which provide disadvantaged youth ages 16 to 24 with construction skills and classroom instruction. In addition to career preparation in the classroom, youth apply their construction skills by increasing the supply of permanent and affordable housing for homeless and low-income individuals and families. Applications are due December 3, 2010.
VETS Brings Employment and Services to Rural Washington
Assistant Secretary for VETS Ray Jefferson announced a new outreach program targeting rural Veterans in partnership with state and local organizations in Washington. This pilot program will contact Veterans in rural areas to assess their eligibility for and access to employment services through VETS, with a focus on an identified 12,500 Veterans in 21 counties who have not been engaged in employment services in the past 5 years.
|
|
USICH News
2011 Internship Opportunities
USICH is recruiting multiple interns for 2011. Please pass along this notice to individuals who might be interested.
Newsletter and Website Survey Next Week
 USICH wants to provide newsletter content that is most beneficial for its multiple audiences. We hope you will participate in next week's online survey.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
