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Featured Webinar:
Listen to an interagency presentation and Q&A on the January 2011 Point-in-Time Count hosted by HUD for information and guidance on conducting the count
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From the Desk of Executive Director Barbara Poppe
With the help of many of you and 9,000 others from across the country, together we made history in 2010. While 2010 brought the nation its first ever comprehensive plan to prevent and end homelessness among all populations, it is simply unacceptable that so many children, families, Veterans, and individuals are experiencing homelessness tonight on our streets. Here at USICH, we recognize that the release of Opening Doors was just the beginning. Since June, unprecedented collaboration between USICH staff and our Council member agencies has allowed us to make substantial progress towards the goals in the plan. We hope you have a moment to read about the recent collaborations that are ongoing at the federal level.
The Council's last two meetings have brought the goals of ending Veterans and chronic homelessness by 2015 into focus. We are collaborating on a plan to increase access to mainstream and targeted programs for Veterans and their families. In December, Secretaries in attendance highlighted the ways in which their agencies individually were working toward the goal of ending chronic homelessness, as well as ways agencies are collaborating.
This New Year reminds us that we are already one year into Opening Doors. Last week's high profile news story about Ted Williams' "golden voice" should reenergize our efforts to alter the common perception that a person experiencing homelessness lacks talent or a promising skill-set. The work we are doing together across the country recognizes that people who experience homelessness have simply run out of options and need a new chance to start over. Opening Doors and its five themes (increase leadership, collaboration, and civic engagement; increase access to stable and affordable housing; increase economic security; improve health and stability; and retool the homeless crisis response system) are about making real alternatives available, which are also cost-effective for the dwindling social service budgets across the nation. Similar to the photographer who took the initial video of Ted Williams, Opening Doors is also about the role each one of us can take to help out someone who is in need. Providing job opportunities, housing, and physical and behavioral supports is necessary not just for Ted, but for each youth, adult, family, and Veteran experiencing homelessness.
In the upcoming months, we look forward to sharing more about the wide range of work that is going on in Washington, but more importantly highlighting the work that is going on at the local level. We will soon debut a new website so that we can improve our ongoing communication with our key stakeholders and the public.
Thank you for the work you do every day to help people get and stay off the streets. I look forward to continuing to work with you to make the vision of Opening Doors a reality - no one should experience homelessness, no one should be without a safe, stable place to call home.
- Opening Doors' implementation update
- HUD Secretary Donovan blog on progress made and the road ahead
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| Final Council Meeting Emphasizes Goal of Ending Chronic Homelessness
On December 16, 2010 the Council convened its last  meeting of 2010 and elected Labor Secretary Hilda Solis as the Chair and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as the Vice Chair for the 2011 term. The Council focused specifically on agency programs and plans in 2011 that will work towards ending chronic homelessness by 2015. Secretaries in attendance highlighted the ways in which their agencies individually were working toward this goal, as well as ways agencies are collaborating.
- Full recap
- Press release
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January 2011 Point-in-Time Count: Let's Make Everyone Count
 Continuums of Care (CoCs) across the country undertake community-wide efforts to collect information on the number and characteristics of individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires CoCs to complete this point-in-time (PIT) count at least every two years during the last ten days of January. The PIT count is a snapshot of how many individuals and families experience homelessness at a single point in time. HUD and USICH provided guidance in December on implementing this count and tips for counting specific populations such as unaccompanied youth and Veterans.
At the recent National Forum on Homelessness Among Veterans, Veterans Affairs Secretary Shinseki and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan requested that the VA and all community providers fully participate in the homeless point in time count which is conducted by the local Continuums of Care (CoC). VISN and VA Medical Center leadership must ensure that existing, key homeless staff knowledgeable in issues pertaining to homeless Veterans are actively involved with local CoCs. The 2011 PIT counts will be the definitive national count of homeless veterans. See Guidance for Counting Veterans if you have questions pertaining to counting this specific population.
- Read more information and guidance about the PIT count and access additional resources
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Council Member Agency News
Department of Housing and Urban Development
New Funding Opportunity: Homeless Families Demonstration Small Grant Research Program
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) has announced availability of funding through the Homeless Families Demonstration Small Grant Research Program. This makes available up to $150,000 in small grants to support research activities that will enhance the demonstration project currently being funded by HUD/PD&R entitled "The Impact of Various Housing and Services Interventions on Homeless Families." The research funded under this program must be related to, complement, and enhance the Homeless Families study. Preliminary applications are due by February 18, 2011.
Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Releases NOFA on Supportive Services for Veteran Families
On December 17, the VA released the NOFA for its new 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. Applications are due March 11, 2011.
- Learn more about SSVF and download the application
VA Initiates Participation in HMIS for VA-funded Programs
A component of the VA's plan to end homelessness among Veterans in 5 years is promoting use of management systems to monitor outcomes for both individual Veterans and the programs that serve them. Accordingly, the VA announced on December 21, 2010 that it plans to fully participate in Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) over the next 12 months, and VA-funded homeless assistance providers will be required to participate in their local HMIS before or by March 31, 2011. Teleconferences with VA staff and community agencies regarding HMIS use will occur on January 21 and 28.
- Read the full memorandum and learn how to participate in the teleconferences
Department of Justice
DOJ Convenes Inaugural Reentry Council Meeting
On January 5, Attorney General Eric Holder convened the first meeting of the interagency Reentry Council, whose goal is to assist those returning from prison to become productive and healthy citizens. Those who cycle in and out of prison are more at risk of becoming homeless due to the barriers that exist in gaining adequate employment and housing, including substance abuse and mental illness. The Reentry Council and USICH look to address the lack of housing stability for this population with interagency collaboration and programs that improve discharge planning and support systems to limit reentering individuals from becoming homeless.
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Related News
Alliance Releases Comprehensive Report on the State of Homelessness
This groundbreaking report by the National Alliance to End Homelessness chronicles changes in American homelessness from 2008-2009 using state and national data to assess economic and demographic drivers of homelessness. The report found that the recession has driven an overall increase in homelessness over the time period of 3%. Families saw the largest percentage increase of the sub-populations studied. Doubled up living situations, the high cost burden of housing, and unemployment were all found to be indicators of homelessness.
- Read the full report
- Visit the Alliance's interactive toolkit to explore the data on demographics, economics, and state trends
US Conference of Mayors Releases Annual Hunger and Homelessness Report
 According to the 2010 report issued on December 21, homelessness has increased by 2% in the surveyed cities, and family homelessness has increased by 9% over the prior year. The report measures use of emergency food assistance and homeless services in the 27 cities represented on the USCM Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness from September 1, 2009 to August 31, 2010, and details plans and strategies to address those issues in each of those 27 cities. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan participated in the announcement.
100,000 Homes Registry Week Boot Camp
From January 28th to 31st, the 100,000 Homes Campaign will host the first Registry  Week Boot Camp in Albuquerque, NM. Communities from across the country will come to Albuquerque to learn how to identify and house their most vulnerable homeless residents, moving them off the streets for good. This is a major event with potential to help end homelessness in the Campaign's 67 partner communities. Learn how to get involved.
European Parliament Calls on EU and all Member States to Make Concrete Progress to Ending Homelessness in Europe
 On December 16, the European Parliament adopted a Written Declaration on homelessness, which calls on the European Council and all Members of the European Union to re-commit to their goal of ending street homelessness by 2015. 2010 was declared the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, and ending homelessness in all forms is a key initiative in the Europe 2020 growth strategy.
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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.
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