WASHINGTON, DC. This week's e-news is dedicated to funding opportunities made available by the Administration in partnership with Congress. While most are not specifically targeted to people who are homeless, all offer potential resources that complement efforts to reduce and end homelessness, especially in collaborative State and community 10-Year Plans. Of special interest are efforts that focus on consumer- oriented resources, young people, and service dollars to support homeless families and "chronically homeless individuals."

Obviously, resources available for prisoner reentry are vital to prevent recurrent homelessness. This week in a conversation with Colorado's new Governor Bill Ritter, we spoke of the need to reduce recidivism and restore dignity to those exiting prisons. Here in Washington and across our country, that intent is shared by elected and appointed officials and by all committed to reducing and ending homelessness. The Governor's commitment to reinvigorate the Colorado Interagency Council on Homelessness will bring together State agencies in a collaboration to support policies at the State level and through 10-Year Plans in the communities. He is to be commended for this resolute action early in his Administration.

Philip F. Mangano
Executive Director

DENVER, COLORADO. Colorado’s newly inaugurated Governor Bill Ritter this week welcomed United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano to the State Capitol in Denver, where Federal, State, and City public officials focused on next steps in the State’s commitment to ending homelessness.

The reinvigoration of the State’s Interagency Council on Homelessness, created by Executive Order in October 2003, was a focal point of discussion, and Governor Ritter committed to revitalize the Council. The creation of the Council was precipitated by Colorado's participation in the Federal interagency Policy Academies on homelessness, supported by the United States Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, and Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. As a result of its participation in the academies, the Colorado Council developed strategic plans that concentrated on persons experiencing chronic homelessness and homeless families and youth, with an emphasis on improving access to housing and services.

Director Mangano, affirming the Governor's commitment to the Council, noted: "Governor Ritter, as have other new Governors across our country, has recommitted his State to the National Partnership constellated by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to ensure that every level of government is partnered to end chronic homelessness."

Director Mangano stressed that an active State Council is central to relationships with local communities, especially those communities in Colorado that are moving forward with 10-Year Plans, as well as with Federal agencies. Meeting participants discussed the need to focus the work of State agencies on increasing enrollment of homeless individuals in mainstream resources, such as SSI and Medicaid.

Governor Ritter, who identified reduction of prison recidivism and development of programs that allow inmates to successfully re-enter society as a priority in his January State of the State Address, noted the "genius" in understanding the relationship between incarceration and services for vulnerable populations. He has directed the Departments of Public Safety and Corrections to examine how to control prison costs by making recidivism-reduction a top priority of the two departments. In his speech, the Governor also addressed needed improvements to mental health services for people in jail and prison to reduce recidivism.

Metro Denver can now report a new 23% decrease in its homeless census, exceeding its 2006 report of an 11% reduction, according to City of Denver Human Services Manager Roxane White, who represented Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper at the meeting and reported on progress in implementing Denver’s Road Home 10-Year Plan. Ms. White affirmed the importance of partnerships with key State agencies to prevent homelessness among aging out foster care youth and reduce prison recidivism for some of the most vulnerable populations. She stressed the importance of ensuring that the reentry population is able to obtain key items such as identification, and increase their access to employment, housing, and other opportunities. Director Mangano discussed the option that States have to suspend Medicaid benefits for persons while they are incarcerated.

Governor Ritter and Director Mangano are pictured here. Joining Governor Ritter and Director Mangano for the meeting were Governor’s Policy Director Ken Weil, Governor's Office of Policy and Initiatives Senior Analyst Christine Murphy, Colorado Human Services Director Karen Beye, City of Denver Human Services Manager Roxane White, and Council Regional Coordinator Charlene Flaherty.

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has announced the availability of $3 million to support services in coordination with existing permanent supportive housing programs for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and homeless families. SAMHSA will fund up to eight awards of approximately $375,000 each for FY 2007 in its Services in Supportive Housing Program. Applications must be submitted by May 22.

HHS Secretary and current Council Chair Michael Leavitt, at the March 5 Full Council meeting where he assumed the Chair, told Council member agencies that his tenure as Chair would be marked by a continued commitment to persons who experience chronic homelessness and a broadened focus on homeless families and children. The recently announced services resources achieve both goals. "HHS has acted resolutely to affirm the Secretary's expanded focus on behalf of vulnerable individuals and families," indicated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano.

SAMHSA has developed two specific target populations for this funding competition. SAMHSA’s funds are designed to serve chronically homeless individuals and homeless families who are residing in permanent supportive housing. Potential applicants should review the revised Request for Applications (RFA) posted by SAMHSA on April 5.

For the purposes of this SAMHSA competition, a chronically homeless individual is defined by SAMHSA as “an unaccompanied homeless individual with a serious mental illness or a co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorder who has either been continuously homeless for at least one year OR has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years. ”

For this competition, SAMHSA has defined a homeless family as “one or more adults, at least one of whom has a serious mental illness or co-occurring disorder, who are caring for their dependent children and are currently homeless.” The term “homeless” is defined as “a person sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation (e.g., living on the streets), in emergency homeless shelters (including domestic violence shelters), or transitional housing.”

Eligible applicants for the services funds are prior grantees under the Federal Collaborative Initiative to Help End Chronic Homelessness facilitated by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and funded by the United States Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Veterans Affairs; HUD permanent supportive housing programs; and permanent supportive housing programs funded by non-HUD sources. SAMHSA intends that its services grants result in the delivery of services as soon as possible after award. Service delivery should begin by the fourth month of the project at the latest.

Supportive housing provides consumers with long- term, community-based housing options. This housing approach combines housing assistance and intensive individualized support services to people with serious psychiatric conditions and those with co- occurring mental and substance use disorders. Research indicates that this combination of long-term housing and wrap-around services leads to improved residential stability, and reductions in psychiatric symptoms, and reductions in use of expensive public mainstream health, behavioral health, and law enforcement systems. This initiative will provide chronically homeless individuals and homeless families the appropriate services and treatment needed to stay housed in a permanent setting.

WASHINGTON, DC. With income tax season drawing to a close next week, it is a key time for State Interagency Councils on Homelessness and jurisdictional 10- Year Plan partners to evaluate their strategies and initiatives to ensure that “The Pursuit of Resources” for persons who are homeless includes specific measures to reach low-income workers eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. EITC is among the mainstream resources often available to persons who are homeless, but not reaching all eligible persons due to insufficient targeted local outreach and supports.

Enacted by Congress in 1975, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is available for working families and individuals whose income is less than twice the federal poverty line and - at $38 billion in 2004 - represents the largest single source of funding for low-income working households. The EITC in 2003 lifted nearly five million Americans above the poverty line. In addition to the support the EITC can provide to low-income households, the credit benefits local economies when workers spend their refunds. Even if a worker does not have to file or pay taxes, many can still file and get an EITC refund.

An estimated 15 to 20 percent of eligible working households do not claim the credit, often because they are unaware of their eligibility, believe the application is too complex, or think their refund will be small. Many are unaware of free tax preparation services that can assist them, including in using the EITC's 3-year retroactive applicability for eligible taxpayers. "Leaving entitlement resources on the table, whether Social Security benefits, Food Stamps, or EITC, does a disservice to our homeless neighbors and calls for a re-focusing beyond programmatic resources to consumer-centric strategies," indicated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano.

Federal EITC Initiatives. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) work together through a 2004 Memorandum of Understanding to help millions of low-income working families save on their annual income taxes. Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Mark W. Everson and HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson executed the interagency agreement to improve services and coordination to reach millions of low-income taxpayers, many receiving some form of HUD assistance.

In addition to the Earned Income Tax Credit, HUD and IRS work to promote Child Care Tax Credits and free tax preparation services to families living in public housing. Individual Development Accounts also offer lower income persons asset-building opportunities that combine personal savings with tax exempt matching funds that can be used to buy a home or fund a college education.

The HUD-IRS agreement emphasized greater coordination between the agencies and expanded information sharing. This partnership promotes a national tax assistance program using the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. The goal of the IRS in this partnership is to work through communities and organizations to improve taxpayer outreach and education. HUD notified all its grantees to encourage them to assist the IRS with its outreach efforts and to educate taxpayers about free tax assistance sites, specifically regarding the underutilized Earned Income Tax Credit.

The Federal Corporation for National and Community Service is also involved in EITC participation through its Strengthening Communities AmeriCorps*VISTA EITC Initiative. The Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network, through an award from the Corporation for National and Community Service, engages up to 75 VISTAs per year in a multi- year initiative involving Volunteer Centers across the country. The Foundation is part of the National EITC Outreach Partnership which includes national organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, and the United Way, as well as federal government agencies, that consider it important to promote Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) outreach, free tax preparation alternatives, and asset development strategies. The Partnership’s web site includes case studies and organizational resources.

State EITC Initiatives. States have undertaken strategies to increase EITC participation, including use of public service announcements and the Internet, publicizing free tax preparation services, creating state EITC programs, and using EITC to provide applicants with financial literacy classes, and information on asset formation strategies. Visit the state EITC website to see resources regarding state efforts to enact or expand state Earned Income Tax Credits and see EITC data by state legislative district.

City EITC Initiatives. Cities have also initiated EITC strategies. In Louisville, Kentucky, Louisville/Jefferson County Metropolitan Government, Metro United Way of Louisville and the Annie E. Casey Foundation work together to support the Louisville Asset Building Coalition, which has offers free tax preparation services. San Antonio is working with United Way to operate asset-building “hubs” in three neighborhoods, providing residents access to free tax services, housing counseling, financial advice and screening for state and federal benefits through the “Nets to Ladders” software program.

The National League of Cities and United Way invite local elected officials, senior municipal staff and local United Way leaders to participate in the recently announced “EITC and Beyond: 2007 Leadership Summit," which will be held July 11-13 in San Francisco. The event will bring city and United Way leaders together to exchange ideas, share promising practices and develop strong local and national partnerships to promote residents’ financial stability. The summit will facilitate these efforts by challenging and supporting elected municipal and United Way leaders to implement targeted financial stability initiatives, beginning with the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has announced that it is accepting applications for $7.9 million for 40-80 awards in the Street Outreach Program (SOP) under the Grants for Runaway and Homeless Youth programs. SOP's purpose is to conduct outreach services designed to build relationships between grantee staff and street youth. A range of education, intervention, and prevention services are offered to youth who are at risk of being subjected to sexual abuse or exploitation. The goal of these efforts is to help young people leave the streets and assist in moving and adjusting to a safe and appropriate living arrangement.

Grantees must operate a program that will deliver outreach and education services to street youth, up to age 21, who have been subjected to, or are at risk of being subjected to sexual abuse, prostitution, or sexual exploitation during peak hours where street youth congregate. Grantees must deliver a set of services that encourage street youth to leave the streets. These services must include street-based outreach and education, access to emergency shelter, survival aid, individual assessments, treatment and counseling, prevention and education activities, information and referrals, crisis intervention, and follow-up support.

Awards will be for 36 months, and eligible applicants include non-profits with 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education), including faith- based and community organizations that meet the statutory eligibility requirements. Current SOP grantees with project periods ending on or before September 29, 2007, and all other eligible applicants not currently receiving SOP funds may apply for a new competitive Street Outreach grant under this announcement. Read the announcement for complete details.

Mentoring Children of Prisoners. HHS’ Administration for Children and Families is also accepting applications for the Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCP) program. This program supports the creation and maintenance of one-on-one mentoring relationships between children of incarcerated parents and caring, supportive adult mentors and represents one of the priority populations of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The intent of this program is to support the establishment or expansion and operation of mentoring programs, using a network of public and private community entities, in areas with substantial numbers of children of incarcerated parents. The MCP program is designed to be a community-based mentoring program in which children and youth ages four up to age 18, are appropriately matched with an adult mentor, who has been screened and trained, for a one-on-one (one mentor/one youth), friendship- oriented (non curriculum-based) mentoring relationship.

Eligible Applicants include state, county, and local governments, Independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, Indian/Native American Tribal governments, Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organizations, non-profits with 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education), Non- profits without 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the statutory eligibility requirements are eligible to apply. Non-profit or for-profit organizations which are neither faith- based organizations nor community-based organizations are ineligible for funding under this announcement.

Applicants must provide a community-based mentoring approach, which refers to a mentoring program that has a community presence and that can connect the social fabric of a community with a youth receiving services. Traditionally, a community-based approach encourages mentors and mentees to meet independently of the mentoring organization.

Mentoring programs may find that geography, transportation, or safety issues, among others, make it difficult for mentors and mentees to meet independently. Under these special circumstances, applicants may also propose a community-based mentoring approach that is location-specific. A site- based mentoring approach to this program is not an allowable approach. A program is considered to have a site-based approach when the location and the goals of the mentoring relationship are inherently similar. In Fiscal Year 2006, $45.8 million in funding was awarded to a total of 238 organizations, including faith-based and community organizations, State and local governments, and Tribes to operate these community-based mentoring programs.

The United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service has announced availability of $1.9 million for Rural Youth Development Grants for new and renewal programs that address needs of rural youth; and involve those youth in design and implementation of their educational activities. In FY 2007, an applicant may request a grant up to $633,600 for a duration of 18 months.

Eligible applicants are the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, the National 4-H Council, the Boy Scouts of America, and the National FFA. Research has shown that rural youth experience less community interconnection of people due to long commute times of parents to work and children to school which leads to a lack of first hand observation of potential career opportunities; fewer adult role models for civic responsibility and volunteering; and more unsupervised time, generally after-school. Youth experience geographic isolation due to distance between homes and towns, and a lack of public transportation; are impacted by new populations moving into rural communities, increasing diversity; and have fewer physical locations in which to interact with peers and adults. They also have less access to health care, services and resources necessary to healthy development and are more likely to live in poverty.

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA) last week announced the availability of $3,000,000 in funds for eligible ‘‘grassroots’’ organizations with the ability to connect to the local One-Stop Delivery System. Applications are due May 8, and award announcements are expected by June 30. Awards are for a period of 18 months.

Objectives of the awards will be to help unemployed or underemployed individuals with barriers to employment through 1) providing services that complement and support those offered by the identified One Stop Career Center, such as pre- and post-job placement mentoring, intensive case management, job retention support, life skills training and employability skills training; 2) connecting individuals with the existing training, apprenticeship and job opportunities of the One-Stop Career Center or other local affiliates of DOL’s national business partners; and 3) providing post-job placement services to increase job retention.

Other objectives are to expand the access of faith- based and community-based organizations’ clients and customers to the training, job and career services offered by the local One-Stop Career Centers; leverage volunteer hours and in-kind donations to maximize DOL’s investment in grants to grassroots FBCOs; document the impact and outcomes of these grant investments through quarterly and final reporting; and establish methods and mechanisms to ensure sustainability of these partnerships and participation levels beyond the life of the grant.

Eligible applicants for these DOL resources are grassroots organizations that must be non-profit organizations that have an Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3) status at the time of application submission; have social services as a major part of their mission; are headquartered in the local community to which they provide these services; and have a social services budget of $500,000 or less. Interested applicants should read the entire DOL announcement for specific details.

Applicants are encouraged to leverage resources whenever possible and the potential sustainability of the project will be considered in the evaluation of proposals. This program is subject to the provisions of the ‘‘Jobs for Veterans Act,’’ which provides priority of service to veterans and spouses of certain veterans for the receipt of employment, training, and placement services in any DOL job training program.

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is accepting applications for multiple awards for residential re-entry programs for inmates at one or more pilot site institutions. The pilot sites are: Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Seagoville, TX, Low Security; Federal Correctional Complex Beaumont, TX, Low Security facility; United States Penitentiary Hazelton, WV, Secure Female Unit; FCI Fort Dix, NJ, Low Security; FCI Edgfield, SC, Medium Security; and FCI Tucson, AZ, Medium Security. Applicants may submit separate proposals for any or all of the pilot site locations, and the BOP reserves the right to place contract award(s) for services at up to six of its designated pilot institutions based upon evaluation of proposals. Each site will accommodate only one program.

The purpose of the residential re-entry program will be to reduce recidivism by promoting productive work, respect for others, self- discovery, responsibility, and accountability. The program will encourage re-connection with family and community, and the development of healthy and productive habits of living, matching inmates with community organizations or similar support groups at their release destination, for the purpose of personal mentoring and enhancement of participants’ opportunities for successful community reintegration (i.e., employment, housing, avoidance of recidivism, etc.).

The solicitation for proposals is being distributed solely through the General Services Administration's Federal Business Opportunities website, http://www.fedbizopps.gov. All future application information about this acquisition, including solicitation amendments, will also be distributed solely through this website. The anticipated date for receipt of proposals is July 1, 2007, and the anticipated date of award is no later than December 31, 2007. Faith-based and community- based organizations may submit offers/bids/quotations equally with other organizations.

The reentry program has nine interdependent program areas linked to the goals of community reintegration and reduction of recidivism: 1) daily living; 2) mental health; 3) wellness; 4) interpersonal skills; 5) academic; 6) cognitive; 7) vocational; 8) leisure time; and 9) character. The goals/areas are intended to form a framework for a program that will foster successful rehabilitation and reduction of recidivism by reinforcing the skills necessary for integration or reintegration into the release- destination community. Awardees will develop a curriculum that demonstrates consistency with program goals and outlines how the contractor plans to incorporate program components that foster growth in the nine program goal areas. Awardees will provide sufficient staffing to cover a rigorous schedule, comprised of daytime and evening programming during the week and on weekends for up to 130 inmate participants per site. The BOP will conduct pre-proposal site visits at each of the six pilot site institutions.

DOJ's Office of Justice Programs, Community Capacity Development Office (CCDO) has announced it is seeking applications from interested communities to participate in the Weed and Seed Communities Competitive Program. The Weed and Seed initiative comprises a community-based, comprehensive multi-agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and neighborhood restoration. It is designed for designated areas with persistent high levels of serious violent crime and corresponding social problems. Notices of Intent are due May 31, 2007.

Eligible applicants are local, state, or tribal governments or nonprofit organizations in communities with persistent high levels of serious violent crime that have not previously received Weed and Seed Official Recognition and that do not include areas from or share any boundaries (in whole or in part) with a previously recognized Weed and Seed site.

Four elements make up the two-pronged Weed and Seed Strategy: Law Enforcement; Community Policing; Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment; and Neighborhood Restoration. Limited discretionary grant resources are available annually for communities selected as Weed and Seed Communities subject to Congressional funding and level of grantee performance.

A Weed and Seed Community (WSC) must be developed in partnership with a variety of key local organizations and the local United States Attorney’s Office (USAO). WSCs must work to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for residents in a community primarily through the redeployment of existing public and private resources, addressing both crime and social related problems that without proper intervention often lead to violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity.

Weed and Seed Communities must develop a 5-year strategic plan; adopt and achieve performance measures in accordance with the 5-year strategy; include on the Steering Committee residents from the community, decision-makers responsible for control (i.e., law enforcement, corrections, judiciary, and prosecution), support resources (i.e., social services/mental health, drug treatment, housing, employment readiness, health, remedial education, etc.), and neighborhood service providers (public/private) active in the designated area. A strong application incorporates the use of evidence- based programs; utilizes primarily leveraged resources to implement the 5-year strategy (i.e., uses leveraging of public/private resources from other areas to address control and support needs in the proposed designated area, as appropriate); and focuses on pervasive issues such as prisoner re- entry, youth violence, and the control of gun violence, gangs, and drugs in the community.

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Health and Human Services continues to support options available to the States in adding features to State Medicaid plans. HHS Secretary and current Council Chair Mike Leavitt announced that Iowa will be the first to benefit from a Federal law giving States more choice over their Medicaid benefit plans. Iowa last week received Federal approval to add home and community based services (HCBS) as a permanent feature of its Medicaid plan, eliminating the need for repeated requests for time-limited waivers.

Under the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA), States may permanently alter their standard Medicaid benefit package, eliminating the need to get previous statutory requirements “waived.” Such waivers were generally limited to three or five years, requiring States to ask for renewals in a lengthy process. States still must seek Federal approval to add even optional benefits to the agreement they have with Federal authorities, known as the “State Plan.” Once a State Plan has been approved, any changes to it must be reviewed and approved by HHS. However, once that is done, no further permission to offer the benefit is required.

Iowa’s new benefit will provide statewide HCBS case management services and “habilitation services” at home or in day treatment programs that can include such things as support in the workplace. Services approved under this option will help individuals to delay or avoid institutional stays or other high-cost out- of-home placements.

Medicaid is a major Federal program that can play a critical role in assisting people who experience or are at risk of homelessness to access vital medical, behavioral health and support services. Medicaid services can make important contributions to meeting the immediate needs of homeless people and help them to achieve self-sufficiency.

HHS' A Primer on How to Use Medicaid to Assist Persons Who are Homeless to Access Medical, Behavioral Health, and Support Services, announced by Secretary Leavitt at the March 5 Full Council meeting, provides information about Medicaid that is especially relevant in assisting homeless individuals, including people who experience chronic homelessness. The Primer is intended to serve as a resource for state officials and homeless program managers to support efforts to access and coordinate services and supports for homeless people.

Since each State has designed its Medicaid program differently, the Primer illustrates how some States have used Medicaid to support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. For example, States can elect to maintain, rather than suspend, Medicaid benefits for persons who are incarcerated. Under guidance given to all State Medicaid directors in a 2004 letter from HHS clarifying Federal policy with respect to the effects of incarceration or placement in a mental health facility on Medicaid eligibility, a State may place the person in suspended status and return the individual to active Medicaid eligibility upon release from jail (including release to parole or probation) or discharge from the mental health facility. The Primer points out that incarceration or institutionalization does not affect the eligibility of an individual for the Medicaid program. Individuals who meet the requirements for eligibility for Medicaid may be enrolled in the program before, during, and after the time in which they are held involuntarily in secure custody of a public institution or as a resident of a mental health facility.

Instead of terminating Medicaid eligibility, HHS' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid encouraged States to establish a process under which an eligible inmate or institutional resident is placed in a suspended status so that the State does not claim Federal Financial Participation for services the individual receives, but the person remains on the State’s rolls as being eligible for Medicaid (assuming the person continues to meet all applicable eligibility requirements). Once discharge from the facility is anticipated, the State should take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that an eligible individual is placed in payment status so that he or she can begin receiving Medicaid-covered services immediately upon leaving the facility.

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