The event will feature two panel discussions on youth homelessness and the path forward which will be moderated by Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and Commissioner for the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families Bryan Samuels. The 13 Champions of Change will share useful lessons they have learned in their careers spent improving the lives of children, youth, and families experiencing or at-risk of homelessness.

-  Learn which 13 leaders were chosen and read about the promising practices they use to achieve results

On Thursday July 12^th at 1:30 the event can be viewed live on the White House website.

-  Watch it here

Each of the 13 champions wrote a blog post about their work for the White House blog.

-  Visit the White House blog  

Watch the June Council Meeting Online 

Mayors Challenge Announced for 1,300 Cities 

The latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association has issued an article focusing on the cost-effectiveness of supportive housing and future directions in homelessness. The article catalogues a growing body of evidence suggesting that it is more cost-effective to provide individuals experiencing chronic homelessness with supportive housing than to allow these individuals to remain on the street, where they may require costly public services.

Department of Health and Human Services

New Grants for States to Improve Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Programs

The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced the availability of funds to State agencies in order to improve the integrity of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. State human service agencies can apply for the funds to use data and other promising approaches to prevent overpayments to ineligible families and increase the share of eligible families receiving TANF assistance.   According to the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), less than one-third of eligible families are currently receiving TANF. To improve access to TANF for eligible families in need, states may elect to improve outreach to families that access other systems by using data from the SNAP program, HMIS, or other systems to help agencies connect eligible families to TANF. States may also choose to improve the eligibility process and administration procedures to streamline assistance. 

-  Read more 

Deadline Reminder: ACYF Child Welfare and Housing Collaboration Grant Funds 

The Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, in partnership with national philanthropies, announced the availability of five competitive grants for child welfare agency and supportive housing and shelter organizations collaborations aimed at combating family homelessness. Modeled after the Corporation for Supportive Housing's Keeping Families Together Initiative and illustrative of President Obama's public-private partnership initiative, this grant program will fund projects that incorporate stable housing and comprehensive services that focus on safety, family functioning, and child well-being. Deadline for this grant is July 30. 

-  Learn more and apply

Department of Housing and Urban Development 

 

Guidance on Closing out Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program Grants

 

This week, HUD released details on closing out Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) grants. The notice provides guidance and procedural directions for CPD field offices and HPRP grantees as the program comes to a close. This notice does not apply to Homeless Assistance Grants administered through the Office of Special Needs Assistance (SNAPS) or to other Recovery Act programs.

 

-  Read the notice

 

Final $2.5M HUD-VASH Allocations for FY 2012 Announced

 

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced this week that HUD will provide an additional $2.5 million to public housing agencies to supply housing and case management for 380 homeless veterans. The permanent supportive housing assistance is delivered through HUD's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH), a program administered by HUD, VA, and local housing agencies to offer permanent housing with case management and other supportive services for homeless veterans nationally.

  

-  Learn more about HUD-VASH and funding recipients  

 

HUD Posts New Guidance for PHAs on Persons with Disabilities

 

The new guidance describes the effects of the Olmstead ruling on the interpretation of the Americans with Disabilities Act for PHAs receiving HUD funding. The guidance explains actions PHAs may take to assist persons with disabilities transitioning from institutions and persons at serious risk of institutionalization access PHA-assisted housing.

 

-  Read the guidance

 

Department of Justice  

 

Second Chance Act Grantees to Receive New Funds, Guidance for Legal Service for Ex-Offenders 

 

Last month, the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs issued guidance to Second Chance Act grantees clarifying the wide range of legal services that may be an appropriate use of funds in order to further the Second Chance Act's purpose to "break the cycle of criminal recidivism, increase public safety, and help states, local government, and Indian tribes, better address the growing population of criminal offenders who return to their communities." Legal services are often one of the most needed services in order to help individuals get rehoused once they return to their communities, and this guidance and these funds will help this vulnerable ex-offender population gain stability. 

 

Several agencies have issued new guidance or solicitation language clarifying the use of grants funds for legal services. 

 

-  Learn more about how agencies are removing barriers to legal services 

 

Department of Labor 

 

HVRP Awards Announced to Assist Thousands of Veterans

 

The Department of Labor announced 64 new grant awards totaling $15 million for job training programs that assist roughly 8600 Veterans experiencing homelessness in the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). In the same program, the Department of Labor also awarded 90 renewal grants totaling more than $20 million that will help more than 11,000 veterans succeed in civilian careers. HVRP is the only program within the federal government focused exclusively on the employment needs of Veterans experiencing homelessness.

 

-  Read more about the program and grantees

We are looking for two Special Advisors who would be appointed under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act. Special advisors will provide high level support of the mission, priorities, and strategies of the Agency. USICH is seeking up to two individuals who would work within the goals and objectives outlined in Opening Doors and achieve a set of expected outcomes during the tenure of the fellowship.

We are also looking for graduate level interns to support agency work especially in communications.