USICH Summarizes Public Comment on Federal Strategic Plan
Document published online

The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) has published a summary of results from its public engagement – which has included regional stakeholder meetings, an online interactive forum, and listening sessions with federal workgroups – on the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness.

Input included a broad range of perspectives from both external and federal government stakeholders on the challenges, priorities, and strategies for ending and preventing homelessness in America.

To read the summary, titled “What We Learned,” click here.

Make Your Reservations for the 2010 NCHV Annual Conference
Late fees go into effect mid-May

The 2010 NCHV Annual Conference and Membership Meeting, “Supporting the Five-Year Plan,” will be held June 21-23, 2010, at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C. This is a special opportunity for service providers to access knowledge, training and experience to increase the effectiveness of their organizations in assisting homeless veterans. The conference brochure, including the schedule of sessions, is now available for download here.

A limited number of rooms has been reserved for conference attendees at the discounted government rate of $209 plus tax – this rate is only available until May 20. Make your hotel reservations here.

Also, conference registration forms received after May 14 will be subject to a $35 late fee.

• Call for entries: Attendees will be able to partake in the Annual NCHV Awards Banquet, where peers in the homeless veterans assistance movement will receive recognition for their accomplishments. Submit your nominations now! 
• Capitol Hill visits: Time is set aside on June 22 from 1:30 - 5:00 p.m. for attendees to arrange visits with their congressional representatives to discuss issues and legislation affecting homeless veterans. To learn how to set up your meetings, click here.
• Attention members: We need your photos! To celebrate our 20th year, we're putting together a slideshow of photographs from the past 20 years. In order to be included, please email photos that show your organization at work to photos@nchv.org.

For more information on the annual conference, click here.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Army implements “I. A.M. Strong” initiatives

The month of April has been designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), which is intended to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate communities and individuals on how to prevent it. The SAAM site contains valuable information and materials on this topic.

Additionally, the Army has issued a proclamation on SAAM and vowed to proactively address behavior that can lead to sexual assault.

For information on the Army’s “I. A.M. Strong” campaign, which is designed to combat sexual assaults by engaging all soldiers in prevention, click here.

Massachusetts Bar Association Answers Vets’ Questions Free of Charge
On Thursday, April 29

The Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA) will host a free Veterans Dial-A-Lawyer program from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 29. During this time, veterans can receive free legal advice on access to benefits, family issues, employment concerns, landlord/tenant matters, etc.

To use this service, call (617) 338-0610 to speak to a volunteer attorney at the MBA’s Boston headquarters. The phones tend to be very busy during this time frame, so callers are encouraged to be persistent.

For more information, click here.

Funding Opportunities

Charitable Leadership Foundation (CLF) supports programs across the country with the power to positively change lives, especially those of low-income individuals and families. To achieve optimum impact, CLF supports innovative programs and organizations that address problems in three key areas: education, housing and medical affairs. The goal of the housing program is to support moderate-income homeownership; innovative low-income rental models; volunteer-built and community-developed housing; and long-term supported housing programs. There are no application deadlines. For more information, click here.

The Rockwell Fund provides grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Texas. The Fund focuses its giving in the Houston/Gulf Coast region. Funding emphases include human services such as social service agencies, emergency services, financial literacy, youth and children, and prevention programs; and community health services, including neighborhood clinics, mental health and telemedicine. Applications are accepted year-round. For more information, click here.