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The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness e-newsletter |
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Partners In a Vision 
WASHINGTON, DC. Over $25 million in new awards for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program(HVRP), the only federal program focused exclusively on the employment of homeless veterans were announced this week by U.S. Department of Labor Secretary and U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Vice Chairperson Hilda Solis. 98 awards will reach almost 15,000 veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The funds are being distributed nationwide through 50 new grants and 48 continuing grants receiving second- and third-year funding. "This funding will help veterans across the country access the resources they need to find good jobs and build a bright future for themselves and their families," said Secretary Solis. Funds are being awarded on a competitive basis to state and local workforce investment boards, local public agencies and nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community organizations. Homeless veterans may receive occupational, classroom and on-the-job training, as well as job search, placement assistance and follow-up services. The HVRP grants include two cooperative agreements that currently assist in developing the HVRP National Technical Assistance Center. The center provides technical assistance to current grantees, potential applicants and the public; gathers grantee best practices; conducts employment-related research on homeless veterans; conducts regional grantee training sessions and self-employment boot camps; and performs outreach to the employer community to increase job opportunities for veterans. Grantees under the HVRP program network coordinate their efforts with various local, state and federal social service providers. 
WASHINGTON, DC. First Lady Michelle Obama this week visited a neighborhood health center in the nation's capital to announce the release of $851 million in federal grants to address health center facility and equipment needs and increase access to health care for millions of Americans. The resources were made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). "Community Health Centers provide care to the Americans who need it most and their work has never been more important," said the First Lady. "These grants will help Unity's Upper Cardozo and thousands of centers across the country expand and serve more Americans who simply can't afford insurance coverage anymore." Health centers deliver preventive and primary care services at more than 7,500 service delivery sites around the country to patients regardless of their ability to pay; charges for services are set according to income. Health centers serve more than 17 million patients, about 40 percent of whom have no health insurance. Community Health Centers are the responsibility of the Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Health Centers are community-based and patient- directed organizations that serve populations with limited access to health care; the Health Care for the Homeless program is a component of Health Centers funding. Some Health Centers also receive specific funding to focus on certain special populations: individuals and families experiencing homelessness; migrant and seasonal farmworkers; those living in public housing; and Native Hawaiians. In 2007, health centers served nearly 930,589 individuals experiencing homelessness. The ARRA Recovery Act Capital Improvement Program (CIP) grants will support the construction, repair and renovation of over 1,500 health center sites nationwide. More than 650 centers will use the funds to purchase new equipment or health information technology (HIT) systems, and nearly 400 health centers will adopt and expand the use of electronic health records.
WASHINGTON, DC. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a new on-line resource available that identifies the VA's role and procedures in the implementation of the HUD-VASH supportive housing voucher program for homeless veterans. In partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, VA has been executing the 2008 allocation of 10,000 vouchers that were awarded last year, even as details are finalized for the allocation of another 10,000 vouchers included in the FY 2009 HUD budget. At the June meeting of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, outgoing Council Chair and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and incoming Chair and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan announced the allocation of the 2009 resources and noted the cooperative work of the agencies in moving the program forward. Said Secretary Donovan: "VASH has been a very, very important partnership between the two agencies." Secretary Donovan noted that 80% of the vouchers were allocated across the country, and 40% were presently utilized. The new handbook explains the national authority for the administration, monitoring, and oversight of HUD- VASH services and clarifies the admission process and procedure for homeless veterans into the HUD- VASH Program, as well as the duties of those assigned responsibilities under the program. The handbook also addresses staffing changes associated with implementing and monitoring HUD- VASH-funded programs nationally and addressing program enhancements as a result of recent program expansion.
NEW YORK CITY. New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) Commissioner Robert V. Hess joined St. John's University Executive Vice President and COO Dr. James P. Pellow have announced a key partnership between DHS and St. John's University to offer homeless individuals the opportunity to receive college degrees. The "Advantage Academy" will provide more than 40 homeless and formerly homeless individuals the chance to obtain an associate degree in the fields of Information Technology and Business. Enrolled students will receive free housing and support services from DHS. According to officials, the program strives to prepare participants for independent lives and career paths and ultimately, to break the cycles of poverty and homelessness by way of higher education. "Thousands of families have moved into homes of their own through New York City's Advantage rental assistance program," said Commissioner Hess. "Now they can further solidify their successes and ensure that they will be able to care for their families in stable jobs with a degree that will take them far. I am so proud of the students for overcoming obstacles and setting out to achieve ambitious goals. We will see great things of them." "Commissioner Hess invited us to help shape a vision, in collaboration with the Department of Homeless Services, to create an Academy for homeless mothers and fathers because they were convinced education was the way out of poverty," said James P. Pellow, Ed.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at St. John's University. "This initiative supports our own mission to help the underserved in our surrounding communities and we gladly partnered in this effort which we feel is a winning formula for success." In its first year, Advantage Academy has more than 40 homeless and formerly homeless individuals enrolled, striving to complete two-year programs from St. John's University. This endeavor exemplifies a positive collaboration between DHS and the University, in tandem with its Vincentian Institute for Service (VISA). St. John's has a longstanding reputation of serving the New York community and encouraging students to take an active stand in the world around them. Advantage Academy builds on Advantage New York, a municipal rental assistance program which goes above and beyond federal subsidies. Since its inception two years ago, Advantage New York has helped more than 11,000 households sign leases and successfully exit shelter. Advantage Academy classes began June 1, at the Manhattan campus of St. John's University. In New York City, the average income for a household with an associate degree is $44,000 - 30% more than the average incomes of households without such degrees. In addition, households with associate degrees are more likely to be employed in stable jobs with livable wages. Upon graduation, clients will have the knowledge and stability needed to meet their professional goals and be financially sound. Many students who comprise the first group of Advantage Academy participants are mothers and fathers, who hope to set a positive example for their children about the importance of education.
With this issue, the e-newsletter continues its series of reports on veterans' Stand Down events around the country, including many events planned over the summer months. Stand Downs are community- based events targeted to homeless veterans and designed to offer a welcoming atmosphere, a safe gathering place, and easy access to a broad range of services for homeless veterans. Stand Downs are derived from the military practice of 'standing down" from customary activity or the front line. Stand Down events offer communities an opportunity to participate in United We Serve, the nationwide call to service by President Barack Obama. The President has called on Americans to respond to growing community needs resulting from the economic downtown and create meaningful change in their communities by engaging in service. United We Serve was launched with a National Day of Service on June 22 and will culminate with the National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11, 2009. Community volunteers are encouraged to take part in these events. Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs web site to identify a contact for each of the events listed here. July 11: Bonner County, WA August 8: Seminole County, FL September 2: Bismarck, ND
Project Homeless Connect is an innovative one-day, one-stop engagement event sponsored by Mayors and County Executives and other community leaders and is designed to provide housing, services, and hospitality in a convenient one-stop model directly to people experiencing homelessness. More than 220 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Australia have adopted Project Connect, evidence of the rapid implementation of this innovation. Cities of every size from coast to coast have engaged in Project Homeless Connect events. Project Homeless Connect events offer communities an opportunity to participate in United We Serve, the nationwide call to service by President Barack Obama. The President has called on Americans to respond to growing community needs resulting from the economic downtown and create meaningful change in their communities by engaging in service. United We Serve was launched with a National Day of Service on June 22 and will culminate with the National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11, 2009. From its origins in San Francisco, Project Homeless Connect has been identified by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) as an innovation that mobilizes civic will to end homelessness. Communities replicate this model to move people more quickly toward housing and stability and to help further the goals of their 10 Year Plans to end homelessness. Listed below are local events that have been scheduled and linked to volunteer opportunities. July 17: Buffalo, NY Is your community planning a Connect event? Email us your event details at nphc@usich.gov
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email: usich@usich.gov
web: http://www.usich.gov
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