United States Interagency Council on Homelessness - No on should experience homelessness. No one should be without a safe, stable place to call home.
USICH Newsletter
December 8, 2011
VA Announces $100M for Veteran Families

VA sealDepartment of Veterans Affairs announced $100 million in funding available for Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) grants. The SSVF program provides grants to nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives that coordinate or provide services for very low-income Veteran families currently experiencing homelessness, transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing, or who are residing in permanent housing as well as organizations that prevent at-risk Veterans from becoming homeless.

 

Grant applications are due to the SSVF program office by 4pm Eastern Time on February 15, 2012This funding is available for both initial and renewal funding for a one-year period.   

 

The SSVF website has information for applicants for both initial and renewal funding, the full NOFA, and a list of workshops being held from December to February on the grant application process.

 

Learn more about the SSVF program and application process

    

News from our Federal Partners

Department of Health and Human Services    

   

New Research Brief on Promising Practices to Address Family Homelessness

 

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation completed a study of 14 communities that have programs that link housing and human services to identify promising practices that facilitated the development, implementation, and sustainability of these programs. The report highlights promising practices for helping families gain stability such as promoting partnerships, utilizing nontraditional funding sources, and working with public housing agencies in creating a "continuum of housing" options for families. 

 

Read the research brief

 

hud sealDepartment of Housing and Urban Development   

    

Comment Period on Interim ESG Program Rules Open until February 3, 2012 and Final Definition of Homeless Released 

 

On December 5, HUD announced two important rules in the federal register, one of which seeks comments from the public and those that will be affected by the changes. The interim Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program rule and the corresponding amendments to the Consolidated Plan are now open for comment from stakeholders. Comments on the provisions set forth in the interim rule will be accepted until February 3, 2012.  

 

Read the interim ESG program rule 

 

Comment on the interim ESG program rule 

   

HUD also released final regulations on the definition of homelessness used for HUD's homeless assistance grant programs. As a final rule, the comment period is now over. This new rule codifies the Continuum of Care (CoC) planning process and integrates the regulation of the definition of homelessness into all ESG recipients, the Supportive Housing Program, and the Shelter Plus Care grantees that receive funding through FY 2011 CoC grants.

 

 

Webinar: Determining Homeless and At-Risk Status, Income, and Disability Using HUD's New Definitions  

 

December 13, 2011 3:30-4:30pm EDT  

 

This webinar will provide a comprehensive introduction to HUD's Homeless Definition Final Rule and the new at-risk of homelessness definition included in the ESG Rule. These definitions must be adhered to when screening potential participants for ESG assistance, as well as assistance provided by HUD Supportive Housing Program and Shelter Plus Care program recipients with new or renewal projects starting on or after 1/1/2012.  

 

-  Register Now       

 

HUD and HHS Secretaries Donovan and Sebelius: Commentary on Housing and Health

  

As part of a series from Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity and the MacArthur Foundation, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan wrote about how housing can serve as a platform for improving health outcomes. The article summarizes research that shows that "housing is a powerful public health intervention that actually saves taxpayers money." It details several collaborations between HUD and HHS which help make the connection between housing and health to help people in need gain stability.

Read the commentary 

  

Department of Justice

  

Congress Restores Funding for Second Chance Act Programs at $63 million   

 

In the minibus bill passed on Monday, November 14, Congress restored funding for the Department of Justice's Second Chance Act programs which assist adults and youth reentering society from jails or prisons. Individuals reentering communities from these institutions are at a higher risk for homelessness because they lack employment, health, and other resources and often have no place to stay when they are released. Programs funded by the Second Chance Act provide resources to help these individuals get back on their feet and prevent recidivism, key elements in improving outcomes.

  

Learn about the Second Chance Act  

 

Read about homelessness and the judicial system    

 

News from around the Country 


New Orleans

Mayor Landrieu joined by USICH Executive Director in Unveiling 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness

  

On November 28, Mayor Landrieu, who was joined by officials from HUD, USICH, and VA, unveiled the New Orleans strategic plan to end homelessness. The plan encourages collaborative efforts across all sectors and adopts the use of proven strategies to end homelessness.  

 

Speaking at the event, USICH's Barbara Poppe focused on the next steps for New Orleans: "We applaud New Orleans for developing a strategic plan to end homelessness that is guided by many of the best practices that have worked in communities across the country. Now is the time to collaborate with all stakeholders, to invest, and to act on strategies that are proven to make an impact."

  

Read more from Mayor Landrieu's office  
 

 

Read the Times-Picayune's coverage       

  

San Diego

  

San Diego County Releases Plan, Creates Resources to End Family Homelessness by 2020

  

In San Diego County, a local coalition of government, nonprofit, philanthropic and private sector organizations have come together to end family homelessness locally by 2020. The Keys to Housing: Ending Family Homelessness Coalition took the lead from Opening Doors and created a plan with measureable goals and clear roadmaps for action coordinated between all local actors and service providers. A centerpiece of this effort is the Toolbox to End Family Homelessness on the Keys to Housing website. This Toolbox contains promising policies and practices for reducing family homelessness, provides links to other relevant organizations and reports, and provides timelines for action among San Diego County leaders and organizations to reach their goal. USICH applauds the work in San Diego as a collaborative, regional approach that brings multiple resources to bear to end family homelessness.

  

Learn more about Keys to Housing 

   

Virginia   


New Initiative to Reduce Family Homelessness by 2013

 

In November Governor Bob McDonnell announced a new initiative to reduce family homelessness in Virginia by 15 percent by 2013. This initiative is focused on increasing rapid re-housing for families with children, a successful intervention for this population. Working with the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Virginia Coalition for the Homeless, 1,000 Homes for 1,000 Virginians and the Freddie Mac Foundation, this is the first commitment by the Commonwealth of Virginia to take concrete steps to solve the problem of family homelessness. This is a positive first for Virginia and we encourage further collaboration and investment in resources to end homelessness for all Virginians.

 

Read more   

 

Harm Reduction for Youth

Save the Date: USICH Webinar   

January 12th 3:30-4:30     

 

Harm reduction is a model that has been very successful helping youth experiencing homelessness gain stability and direction. Using harm reduction for youth requires adapting the model to develop a youth appropriate intervention focused on positive development. Panelists from Lighthouse Youth Services in Cincinnati, OH and Preble Street in Portland, ME will join Jennifer Ho in an interactive forum to discuss the basics of a harm reduction model for youth and the benefits gained from meeting youth where they are at, offering them the supports and trusting relationships they need to gain stability.    

 

Register now

 

New Research      


Youth Housing Outcomes after Leaving Public Welfare Systems   

 

Researcher Dennis Culhane of the University of Pennsylvania investigated the adult outcomes of three distinct groups of youth in Los Angeles - those that exited the child welfare system, those that exited the juvenile probation system and those that exited the child welfare system with a history in the juvenile probation system.  

 

The study found that a history in the child welfare and juvenile probation system puts youths at a higher risk for extreme poverty, poor employment outcomes, and risk of arrest in the years following their exit from these systems. This evidence points to the importance of stronger prevention programs and resources for this high-risk group. Identifying the highest risk groups can help leaders create processes to lower public system costs and increase stable outcomes for individuals in their young adult years.

 

Read the full report
Table of Contents
 
VA Announces $100M for SSVF
Partner Updates from VA, HHS, HUD, and Justice
Updates from New Orleans, San Diego, and Virginia
USICH Webinar: Harm Reduction for Youth
New Research on Youth Exiting Public Welfare Systems
Veterans Homelessness Map
 
New Map Tool on Veterans Homelessness from the National Alliance

The National Alliance to End Homelessness has developed a new demographic tool that shows the number and rates of homelessness among Veterans by state. An accompanying map shows overall total homelessness among Veterans by state. This tool helps to visualize places where resources need to be targeted if our nation is to achieve the goal of ending Veterans homelessness by 2015.

 

 View the Map 


Upcoming Events

National Center on Family Homelessness Webinar

Trauma Informed Care

Wednesday, December 13
2:00-3:00pm EST  
 
  
HUD Webinar

Determining Homeless and At-Risk Status, Income, and Disability

 

Wednesday,  December 13
3:30 - 4:30 pm EST

 

 
USICH Webinar

Harm Reduction for Youth

 

Thursday, January 12th
3:30-4:30 WST

 
  
   

Check Out More Upcoming Events on our Online Calendar  

 

 

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