Last fall, USICH hosted a webinar for Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grantees and others interested in ending youth homelessness to talk about Opening Doors and strategies for helping unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness. Bob Mecum, the President and CEO of Lighthouse Youth Services in Cincinnati, Ohio, joined us. There were many great comments and questions from webinar participants. As we neared the end of the hour, it was clear that people wanted more information about using a harm reduction approach with youth.

In this newsletter, we explore how a harm reduction model can help reach youth who are most in need.   

Read a Note from Deputy Director Jennifer Ho on how using a harm reduction model for youth can help us accomplish the goal of ending youth homelessness.

We spoke with staff from three successful youth programs that employ a harm reduction approach: Preble Street in Portland, Maine; the Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska; and Outside In in Portland, Oregon. They shared lessons learned and tips on how to build trusting relationships that can help youth find stability on their own terms.

Read what they shared on the following topics:

What is harm reduction for youth?

Why is a harm reduction approach necessary?

Five ways to build a successful harm reduction program

Four local strategies for working with youth in Nebraska, Maine, and Oregon

We also spoke with Tricia Clerk, a young woman who experienced homelessness in Portland Maine, and who found stability after participating in a harm reduction program.

We hope you find the information here useful, perhaps provocative, or maybe reassuring because you have been doing your work this way all along. We invite your comments and encourage you to join our webinar on this topic next Thursday. 

-  Read the guidance   

New guidance has also been released on how to gather information on individuals and families experiencing homelessness' unmet need during this annual survey.  

Important Deadlines  

On December 1, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced $100 million in funding for supportive service grants as part of Supportive Services for Veterans Families(SSVF) program. The SSVF program provides grants to nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives that coordinate or provide services to very low-income veteran families currently experiencing homelessness, transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing, or who are residing in permanent housing. This funding is available for both initial and renewal funding for a one-year period.

Grant applications are due to the SSVF program office by 4pm Eastern Time on February 15, 2012.

-  Learn more and apply 

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Continuum of Care (CoC) Check-Up Self-Assessment Tool Timeline Extended in HUD HRE to January 20

In November, HUD launched the Continuum of Care (CoC) Check-Up. HUD sent an e-mail to CoC leads with instructions and login information for the on-line self-assessment tool located at the HUD Homelessness Resource Exchange on November 10th.    

The Check-up is designed to serve multiple purposes: to determine the current functional capabilities of each CoC and the degree to which CoCs are prepared for HEARTH implementation; to help CoCs identify areas for improvement; to serve as a tool for continuous improvement by helping CoCs identify specific goals and action steps that will be documented in a CoC Action Plan; and to help identify areas for possible technical assistance. Though it is not mandatory, completion of the CoC Check-Up is required to request HUD-funded Technical Assistance. As the first step in completing the CoC check up process, the online self assessment needs to be completed by January 20, 2012. This also extends the rest of the timeline for the CoC Check-Up, which HUD encourages all CoCs to participate in.

CoC leads should access the self-assessment using their HUD-emailed login.    

HMIS Requirements Proposed Rule Published and open for comment until February 7, 2012  

On December 9, 2011, HUD continued its process of implementing the HEARTH Act by publishing the proposed rule for HMIS Requirements. Interested parties should submit comments to www.regulations.gov by February 7, 2012.  

This proposed rule provides for uniform technical requirements of HMIS, proper data collection and maintenance of the database and client confidentiality in the data collection.

NY Governor's Medicaid Redesign Team Accepts Recommendations to Improve Supportive Housing Funding, Production 

At the beginning of 2011, Governor Cuomo established a Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) to devise a comprehensive strategy to reduce costs and improve care in New York State's Medicaid program. The MRT focused much of its attention on the 20% of high-need Medicaid recipients who use up to 75% of all Medicaid spending. Given the success that supportive housing has shown with this population in particular, the MRT Affordable Housing Workgroup convened last year to develop recommendations around expanding and managing supportive housing in New York. In December, the Governor's Medicaid Redesign Team voted unanimously to accept the report and recommendations of the Affordable Housing Workgroup.

Upcoming Webinars 

This webinar will continue to review the Emergency Solutions Grants program with a discussion of general grant administrative requirements. Webinar topics will include general program requirements, match requirements, deadlines for the obligation and use of funds, and an overview of recordkeeping and reporting requirements. This webinar is limited to 1,000 participants.

-  Register now 

This webinar will highlight new policies and best practices that integrate health care services with intensive housing solutions and will feature model programs in the field and comments from national policy leaders. USICH Deputy Director Jennifer Ho will present on this webinar as well as leaders from Pathways to Housing and SAMHSA.   

-  Register now 

The Continuum of Care (CoC) Check-Up self-assessment stage is coming to a close and CoCs are now preparing for next steps in the Check-up process. The CoC Check-Up is designed to help CoCs determine their current capacity and performance and the degree to which CoCs are prepared for HEARTH implementation. Upon completing the self-assessment, CoCs will develop final self-ratings and a CoC action plan to guide CoC capacity and performance improvements. This webinar will provide an overview of next steps for CoCs, including a review of self-assessment reports, new HDX reports, self-assessment tools, the CoC Action Plan template, and related instructions for completing the CoC Check-Up.

-  Register now     

HUD Webinar: HUD-VASH 101

Tuesday, January 24, 1:30-3:00 PM

This interactive webinar will provide an overview of HUD-VASH policies and requirements. It is designed mostly for staff from PHAs and VAMCs that are new to the program and/or staff that need a refresher. Topics covered will include: 1) HUD-VASH goals and objectives, 2) general information on VA case management, 3) HUD-VASH voucher operating requirements, 4) project-basing HUD-VASH vouchers, and 5) frequently asked questions.  

-  Register now   

Check Out More Upcoming Events on our Online Calendar