Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) play a critical role in preventing and ending homelessness. In an era of shrinking resources, it is more important than ever to develop new collaborative partnerships that use mainstream resources to help people experiencing homelessness.  

In this webinar co-hosted by USICH and HUD, PHA Executive Directors from around the country will share insights and lessons learned on how their agencies are effectively serving individuals and families that have experienced or are at risk of homelessness, and why targeting these vulnerable households has been important for their agencies. PHA staff, Continuum of Care leaders, and other stakeholders interested in forging relationships with their local PHAs are encouraged to attend. Our next newsletter will provide information on how to login.

$46.2 Million for Veterans

-  Read the full joint press release  

Massachusetts Retools Homeless Crisis Response

Last week Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick passed the 2012 state budget that included substantial reforms to improve options for families experiencing and at-risk of homelessness. The budget includes $36.8 million in funds for the new HomeBASE program. The program will target resources to families earning no more than 115% of the federal poverty line that are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. The program employs the proven cost effective models of prevention, diversion, and rapid re-housing to help families in need. This new program is in line with the strategies and objectives of Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness.

-  Read more about HomeBASE 

-  Read a Boston Globe article on the program   

Reporting Requirements Information Published for Service Providers

Continuing its efforts to gather the best data possible on Veterans experiencing homelessness, the VA instituted the Homeless Operations Management and Evaluation System (HOMES), a component that links with HUD's Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). The goal is to now have all patient HOMES data fully linked with the HMIS system to improve the accuracy of data on Veterans in HMIS. There are also new requirements in reporting for VA Grant and Per Diem program providers. Some highlights of the requirements include:

• All VA staff assigned to a homeless program must enter into HOMES. VISNs and VAMCs will be reporting monthly on data collection.
• VAMCs must now ensure that all programs serving Veterans experiencing homelessness are included in their community's Continuum of Care Housing Inventory Count.
• VA grant and contract providers must enter data directly into HMIS, including those with Health Care for  Homeless Veterans residential contracts.

-   Read the full memorandum and access detailed requirements from the VA  

Department of Housing and Urban   Development   

Seeking Feedback from States, Local Jurisdictions and Service Providers on Consolidated Plan Enhancement Effort

A Consolidated Plan is a jurisdiction's affordable housing and community development needs assessment, statement of priorities, and strategies to address priority needs. The housing needs of a community (including those currently experiencing homelessness) are a pivotal item in a jurisdiction's Consolidated Plan. HUD is continuing to improve its Consolidated Plan Enhancement effort by providing jurisdictions with more data, easy to use mapping tools, and a new management information system to improve creation of Consolidated Plans and performance reports. To make these tools work for each jurisdiction, HUD is seeking input on the current Consolidated Plan requirements and how this plan template can work with federal, state, and local Plans to address affordable housing and homelessness.  

-  Visit the Ideas in Action Forum to give Feedback  

-  Access the Consolidated Plan Enhancement webpage  

The four webinars (each scheduled for 2:00 PM EDT) are primarily designed for jurisdiction staff. Each webinar is geared toward specific types of jurisdictions:

-  Wednesday, July 20 - Entitlement Grantees and Participating Jurisdictions  

-  Wednesday, July 27 - CDBG-only Grantees

-  Wednesday, August 3 - Entitlement Grantees and Participating Jurisdictions  

-  Wednesday, August 10 - States  

Apllicants must register to be eligible to receive funding.

-  Read the full notice

Grants available from HHS for projects intended to help low-income fathers.

-  Learn more and apply

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