Funders Together Bulletin Masthead

January 26, 2012

Board of Directors
David Wertheimer
(Chair)
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Seattle, WA 

Leslie Strnisha
(Vice-Chair)
Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland
Cleveland, OH 

Deborah Fung
(Treasurer)
Paul and Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation
Boston, MA 

 

Tom Nurmi
(Secretary)
William S. Abell Foundation
Chevy Chase, MD 

 

Ann Woodward
(Clerk)
Melville Charitable Trust
Boston, MA 

 

Nancy Barrand
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Princeton, NJ 

 

Sonya Campion
Campion Foundation
Seattle, WA 

 

Terri Donlin Huesman
Osteopathic Heritage Foundation 
Columbus, OH 

 

Nancy Frees Fountain
The Frees Foundation
Houston, TX 

 

Bill Pitkin
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Los Angeles, CA 

 

Debbie Reznick
Polk Bros. Foundation
Chicago, IL 

 

Martha Toll
Butler Family Fund
Washington, D.C.  

 

Joe Weisbord
Fannie Mae
New York, NY 




Make a Donation to Funders Together      
 
Funders Together is supported by generous grants from several of our member foundations. We don't currently charge dues, but we do encourage members to make a donation or a grant to help support our mission and services.


Funders Together is a 
 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 
To make a donation contact Allison Silva at
[email protected]

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IN THIS ISSUE
Interested in Veterans Homelessness? 
   Consider joining our working group. 
Members blog their success stories about their efforts to 
    prevent and end chronic and family homelessness.
 
Coming in 2012: A Funders Together Advocacy Platform
Have you taken the Operation Update Survey yet? 
     Results will be reported in upcoming bulletins. 
 
> Find details about upcoming conferences and webinars.
 
> Submit your comments on the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program
> Support your local point in time count
 
The Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) leads a five-year Social        Innovation Fund initiative and Pathways to Housing begins planning to  implement their "Housing First" treatment model to serve veterans. Find out  how you can help. 
News from Our Members newsfromourboardandmembers 
Introducing the Funders Together Working Group on Veterans Homelessness

 

Last month, Funders Together to End Homelessness announced the formation of a special working group focused on veterans homelessness.  Tom Nurmi, Funders Together board member and trustee of the William S. Abell Foundation, will serve as chair of the Funders Together Working Group on Veterans Homelessness. The purpose of this group is to ensure the availability of current information about veterans homelessness to the philanthropic community and to build a national network of committed funders working to end homelessness among our veterans.  The group also hopes to help represent the voice of philanthropy on this important subject in forums around the country.  All grantmakers with an interest in the welfare of America's veterans are invited to join. For more information, please contact Allison Silva.     
 
New Report on Conrad N. Hilton Foundation's Work to Help End Chronic Homelessness in Los Angeles 

Bill Pitkin, Funders Together board member and director of domestic programs at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, blogs Lessons Learned in Ending Chronic Homelessness, a summary of findings from Mobilizing Los Angeles County to End Chronic Homelessness, a collaborative report with the Corporation for Supportive Housing. Check out the elements of success from the Hilton Foundation's initiative to seed systems change and end chronic homelessness in Los Angeles County. 

 

Polk Bros. and McCormick Foundations Help Improve Homeless Services for Chicago Families

 

Debbie Reznick, Funders Together board member and senior program officer at the Polk Bros. Foundation, and Bill Koll, communities program director at the McCormick Foundation, blog about a partnership with the City of Chicago to improve services and outcomes for homeless families in Integrating Systems and Improving Services for Homeless Families in Chicago. To read more about the launch of Chicago's Family Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) program and learn about our board members' work, visit our blog

 

Subscribe to Funders Together Blog  

Stay Tunedstaytuned                                   

Funders Together Advocacy Platform

We are in the process of developing a framework that will provide you with a clearer understanding of how federal policies related to homelessness affect your philanthropy and how you can participate in advocacy. This year, you can expect guidance on topics such as navigating the HEARTH Act and improving access to mainstream benefits for people who are homeless. 

 

Operation Update Survey

Earlier this month, we asked you to take part in our first annual Operation Update survey. We recently extended the deadline to January 31. So far, respondents have indicated that they have given well over $180 million to programs that affect people who are at-risk for or currently experiencing homelessness. 

  Click here to take the survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OperationUpdateSurvey 

Save the Datessavethedates

Health, Housing, & Homelessness Webinar

Hosted by the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), Funders Together to End Homelessness, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO), and Grantmakers in Health (GIH)

February 2, 2012 | 1:00-2:30 EST

 

GIH logo 

 

 




 

 

Funders Together, in partnership with CSH, GEO, and GIH invites you to a funders-only webinar that explores the intersection of health care and homelessness as well as philanthropy's role in the creation of supportive housing solutions. 

Join board members Bill Pitkin, director of domestic programs at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and Ann Woodward, chief operating officer and interim director at the Melville Charitable Trust, as we discuss ways for funders
specifically to get involved in the conversation about health care and homelessness. Please feel free to invite fellow funders to this event. 
For more information, contact Nancy McGraw.

 Register today

 

Site Visit to Los Angeles' Skid Row  

Hosted by Funders Together and the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)

February 8, 2012 | TBD

Los Angeles, CA

 

In conjunction with the National Conference on Ending Family and Youth Homelessness, Funders Together and CSH are hosting a site visit featuring a youth housing program, permanent supportive housing units, and a health center on Skid Row. Contact Allison Silva for more details. 

 

2012 Family and Youth Homelessness Conference

  

2012 National Conference on Ending Family and Youth Homelessness 
Hosted by the National Alliance to End Homelessness
February 9-10, 2012 | Millennium Biltmore Hotel, 
Los Angeles, CA 

 

The National Conference on Ending Family and Youth Homelessness will bring together people from across the country to share successes and challenges; to examine the latest research findings; and to explain upcoming changes in policy, practice, and context. Topics include: implementing and maintaining rapid re-housing; coordinating with larger anti-poverty programs to multiply impacts; strengthening families; and preventing homelessness for families and youth. Register now to attend.   

  

Family & Youth Homelessness Funders Breakfast  

Hosted by Funders Together to End Homelessness

February 10, 2012 | 8:00am-9:00am PST

Millennium Biltmore Hotel,  Los Angeles, CA  

  

Please join Funders Together staff and board members to discuss questions, concerns, ideas, and efforts around ending family and youth homelessness. We have reserved the Corsican meeting room for a private breakfast. If you plan to attend, please contact Allison Silva.

  

Ending Veterans Homelessness: Philanthropy's Role
Hosted by the Council on Foundations 
February 14, 2012 | 4:30-6:00 EST  
2012 Family Philanthropy Conference 
Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Miami, FL
 
As part of their 2012 Family Philanthropy Conference, the Council on Foundations invited Funders Together board member and trustee of the William S. Abell Foundation, Tom Nurmi, and Funders Together executive director, Anne Miskey, to participate in the panel discussion Ending Veterans Homelessness: Philanthropy's Role, A Model for Public/Private Collaboration. Vince Kane, director of the Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program and Sam Tsembaris, founder and CEO of Pathways to Housing will join Tom Nurmi in a presentation and discussion on solutions to ending veterans homelessness. Register now. 

  

President's Budget Proposal Briefing Webinar 
Hosted by the National Alliance to End Homelessness 
February 15, 2012 | 1:00 EST

  

On Monday, February 13, the Obama Administration is releasing its 2013 Budget Proposal, outlining funding priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. This webinar will provide an overview and analysis of the proposal and highlight opportunities to get involved with advocacy. Register now.

 

Innovations Forum 2012: Working to End Homelessness  

Hosted by United Way of Greater Atlanta  

February 28-March 2, 2012 | Hilton Marietta Conference Center | Marietta, GA 

 

This conference will focus on innovation in ending homelessness and provide the opportunity to connect with funders and experts. Present an innovation from your community and share your expertise. Contact Kelly Temple for more information. 

  

Innovation in Ending Homelessness: Funders Reception 

Hosted by United Way of Greater Atlanta with Special Guests Funders Together to End Homelessness

February 28, 2012 | 4:30-6:30 EST

 

The funders reception is open to grantmakers interested in networking with local and national peers whose grantmaking affects vulnerable populations. Funders Together board chair, David Wertheimer, will make brief opening remarks, followed by refreshments. Please contact Allison Silva with any questions.     

 

Housing First Partners' Conference

Hosted by Pathways to Housing and the DESC

March 21-23, 2012 |Astor Crowne Plaza, New Orleans, LA 

 

The Housing First Partners' Conference aims to create a national dialogue between providers; federal, state, and local government officials; researchers; advocates; trainers; peers; and thought leaders engaged in ending homelessness through the Pathways to Housing First program. Events include training sessions, workshops, research, presentations, and exhibitions. Register by March 1

Opportunities to Get Involvedgetinvolved
Submit Your Comments on the Emergency Solutions Grant Program 

The Department of Housing and Urban Development currently is accepting comments on its interim regulation for the Emergency Solutions Grant program for homeless emergency assistance and rapid transition to housing. It is important to voice your thoughts because HUD will be taking public comments into consideration when drafting its final regulation for the ESG program, which adds expanded prevention and rapid re-housing as eligible activities to the Emergency Shelter Grant. 

Take a look at the National Alliance's feedback and recommendations in this draft version of its comments to HUD and submit your own comments by Friday, Feb. 3

Support Your Local Point-In-Time Count: Volunteer for a Homeless Census in Your Area 

 

Communities across
the country are ramping 
 up their data collection efforts for the 2012 Point-in-Time Homeless Persons
Count. You help support your community efforts or volunteer your time to help your community take an accurate count of the number of persons who are unsheltered. Many communities selected today, January 26, as the date to conduct their official point-in-time count. To find your local contact person, go to HUD's website and enter your state and city or town. 
  
Opportunities to Leverage Federal Fundingleveragefederalfunding 
As detailed below, Funders Together is working with CSH, pathways to Housing, and some of our members to help philathropy leverage federal dollars that support effective solutions to homelessness. 
 
Corporation for Supportive Housing's (CSH) Social Innovation Fund Initiative

 

CSH is leading aCSH Logo
groundbreaking, five-year national initiative to create innovative solutions at the intersection of supportive housing and healthcare. Backed by a prestigious federal Social Innovation Fund award, the initiative will pilot and test models of supportive housing linked to health services that will improve the health of vulnerable men and women caught in a "revolving door" of various high-cost emergency health services, while also helping to curb rising health care costs. CSH is seeking additional partners in philanthropy to be a part of this national effort. To learn more, contact Richard Cho, CSH director of innovation and research, at [email protected]

Pathways to Housing's Pilot Project: Housing First for Veterans

 

The U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have joined together in an unprecedented effort to end homelessness among veterans. The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) voucher program created 50 dedicated "Housing First" vouchers, which will be used to serve 50 veterans in 14 cities selected by Congress with the highest rates of homelessness among veterans. Congress charged the VA to reduce the number of veterans who are homeless in those cities.     

 

The VA plans to implement Pathways to Housing's Housing First individualized treatment model to serve these 50 veterans experiencing homelessness and mental health and addiction problems in each city. This pilot project seeks funding for elements essential to the creation of functional housing units--such as hiring of a housing specialist and furnishing the housing units. HUD and the VA are not permitted under federal rules to allocate the necessary resources to these essential elements. For additional information, please contact Jessie E. Ulsoy, Director of Policy and Development, Pathways to Housing, Inc. at  [email protected]

 
 CONNECT           SHARE            BUILD 

Promote Effective Solutions to Homelessness. 

Join Funders Together Today!

 

Through Funders Together, you can connect with other funders like you, share lessons learned and promising practices, and help build the movement to end homelessness in America. Your voice can help make the difference in your community and across the country.

 
Contact Allison Silva, member services and development officer, at [email protected] with any questions about membership. 
 
December 19, 2011                                                              Edited by Allison Silva and Divya Amladi