Key National Partners Endorse Plan

Earlier this week, USICH Deputy Director Anthony Love presented Opening Doors at the National Association of Counties (NACo). The Association endorsed Opening Doors, noting the importance of greater cooperation among federal agencies to prevent and end homelessness across the United States.

Last month, the U.S. Conference of Mayors passed its own resolution supporting Opening Doors.

Release of Supplemental Documents

USICH this week released its supplemental materials to show the resources used in the development of Opening Doors including literature reviews, special submissions from experts in the field, and summaries of stakeholder input.

Download Opening Doors and Relevant Fact Sheets

Last month, USICH and the four lead Cabinet Secretaries on the Council unveiled the first-ever comprehensive plan to prevent and end homelessness.  The Plan, titled Opening Doors is available at www.usich.gov along with population and community specific fact sheets.

Department of Education

Report noting the 20% increase in homeless students who were enrolled in public schools for the 2008-09 school year

The Department of Education’s National Center for Homeless Education released a report in June 2010 that provides a summary and analysis of the 2008-09 state data collection required by the U.S. Department of Education of the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youths program.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Webcast that will highlight HUD’s Transforming Rental Assistance (TRA) proposal

HUD is engaged in a number of efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing and ensure HUD’s existing stock of affordable housing is not lost.  One of those efforts is our Transforming Rental Assistance (TRA) proposal.  TRA is a multi-year initiative, for which HUD has requested $350 million for FY 2011, to preserve HUD-funded public and assisted housing, put the nation’s inventory of deeply affordable rental housing on a sustainable financial footing, and promote housing choice.

The webcast will be held today, Thursday, July 22 at 2pm ET and also available for rebroadcast at the beginning of next week.

HUD and VA Launch $15 Million Demonstration Program to Prevent Veteran Homelessness

Today’s announcement is a part of a new effort to benefit homeless prevention programs near five military bases. HUD and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that both agencies will invest a combined $15 million in five selected communities near military installations. The HUD and VA grant funding is intended to provide housing assistance and supportive services to veterans who might otherwise be living in homeless shelters or on the streets.

Last week, USICH Executive Director Barbara Poppe joined Common Ground’s Founder and President Rosanne Haggerty, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, NAEH President and CEO Nan Roman, and other leaders to announce the launch of the 100,000 Homes Campaign at the National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference.

The 100,000 Homes Campaign brings together change agents from across the country to find and house 100,000 of the country’s most vulnerable and long-term homeless individuals and families over the next three years.

Poppe noted, “the 100,000 Homes Campaign is an important community initiative that will help us reach our goal of ending chronic homelessness within 5 years. By targeting affordable and supportive housing resources to the most vulnerable citizens, we can ensure that those persons with the greatest need receive quick access to a stable home.”