Three resources highlight the importance of collaboration and innovation to accelerate progress on Veteran homelessness  

Just recently, we reported remarkable progress on reducing homelessness among Veterans-the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness has declined by 17 percent since January 2009. Collectively, we are working to make lasting and transformative system changes at the national and local levels in order to end homelessness among Veterans by 2015.  We dedicate this newsletter to recent findings on what it will take to achieve this vision. 

In December the Council heard from Dr. Dennis Culhane from VA's National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, who shared progress and opportunities for greater collaboration to achieve the results we need to reach the goal. Dr. Culhane's analysis and report are now available: Ending Homelessness Among Veterans: A Report by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.  We encourage you to take a look. 

 Read Ending Homelessness Among Veterans: A Report by USICH

Solving Veteran homelessness across the nation requires success in every community. There are some communities that are on-track to meet or exceed the 2015 goal. When he was a Special Advisor at USICH this fall, Dr. Josh Bamberger talked with these leaders and analyzed their approaches in order to understand what it will take to achieve this level of success in every community.  He also authored a short piece that compiles ways that some communities have overcome a barrier in implementing HUD-VASH: move-in costs. We encourage you to consider how your community might step up local efforts by adopting the practices we've profiled. 

Read Positive Outliers: Communities on Track to End Veteran Homelessness

Read about local solutions to move-in cost barriers in HUD-VASH  

Reflecting on Dr. Culhane's report,  I authored a blog that raises some key questions that leaders at the local level should consider.  We can only achieve our goal if we ask the hard questions and work together to respond.  I hope the questions I raise here will spur your community to make tough decisions that will ultimately lead to greater success in ending Veteran homelessness.

Blog highlights work of 100,000 Homes Campaign Rapid Results Teams 

Just over 100 days ago, teams from Colorado, Arizona, and Utah set goals for improvements in implementation of the HUD-VASH programs in their communities following transformative work in a Rapid Results Housing Bootcamp with Community Solutions. Recently, these teams came back together to share their work in a Rapid Results Sustainability Review. This Sustainability Review was an opportunity for teams to report on their progress and how it was achieved as well as work through challenges with other Rapid Results teams from their region. USICH Regional Coordinator Beverley Ebersold shared her experience on a blog, read it here. 

For the past three years, USICH has been honored to have Jennifer Ho serve as a Deputy Director. In her time, she has helped author Opening Doors, develop the framework to end youth homelessness, and strengthen and build greater collaborations across all Council member agencies.  Jennifer brings the strategies and vision of the Plan to life everywhere she travels and in everything she does. This week she transitions to her new role as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development on housing and services, where she will work to improve the connections between housing, health, and social services. We are so glad that our work will continue to overlap, and we wish her all the best in her new role.

Tool helps Campaign communities reduce barriers to housing placement  

The 100,000 Homes Campaign studied the data from 100,000 Homes campaign communities across the country and reviewed existing research and literature on homelessness. They identified 19 factors that may correlate with high rates of housing placement for vulnerable people who are experiencing chronic homelessness. This week, the Campaign launched a free, online self-assessment tool that provides 100,000 Homes Campaign communities with a customized report identifying greatest strengths and weaknesses. Along with this tool, the Campaign also developed the High Performance Series of tools, which are keyed to these nineteen factors and designed to help turn a community's self-assessment tool report into a successful quality improvement initiative.

Access the Community Self-Assessment Tool

Department of Housing and Urban  Development

HUD-issues rule formalizing discriminatory effects in housing, strengthens Fair Housing Act 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it is issuing a final rule to formalize the national standard for determining whether a housing practice violates the Fair Housing Act as the result of discriminatory effect. "Through the issuance of this Rule, HUD is reaffirming its commitment to enforcing the Fair Housing Act in a consistent and uniform manner," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "This will ensure the continued strength of one of the most important tools for exposing and ending housing discrimination." The rule provides clarity and consistency for individuals, businesses, and government entities subject to the Fair Housing Act.  HUD anticipates the rule also will make it easier for individuals and organizations covered by the law to understand their responsibilities and comply with the law. 

Read more about the final rule