Harvard Study Examines Affordable Housing Shortage Crisis

The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University has released The State of the Nation's Housing 2006. The study documents the nation's growing affordable housing crisis. Among factors contributing to the shortage of affordable housing are a large number of low-wage jobs, rising interest rates, strict development regulations and increased permit costs and impact fees.

 

About 10% of the nation's poor live in neighborhoods with poverty rates over 40%. The Joint Center for Housing Studies says all levels of government will need "to expand housing subsidies, create incentives for the private sector to build affordable housing, institute land use policies that reduce barriers to development, and educate the public about the importance of affordable housing."

 

To review or download a copy of The State of the Nation's Housing 2006, go to:

www.jchs.harvard.edu/publications/markets/son2006/son2006.pdf.

 

Department of Labor Awards $26 million in HVRP, VWIP Grants

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao has announced the award of 91 grants, totaling nearly $26 million, to provide approximately 17,000 veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants were awarded under the Department of Labor's Veterans' Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) and Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). 

Funds are awarded on a competitive basis to state and local workforce investment boards, local public agencies, and nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community organizations. These agencies have a familiarity with the area and population to be served and have demonstrated that they can administer an effective program.

 

Grantees network and coordinate their efforts with various other local, state and federal social service providers. HVRP is recognized as an extraordinarily efficient and effective program and is the only federal program that focuses exclusively on employment of veterans who are homeless.

 

To view a complete list of grantees under this DOL-VETS funding cycle, go to: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/vets/vets20061057fs.htm.

 

 

The purpose of the 2006 Competitive Grantees Annual Training Conference is to provide technical grant-related information and training to all active competitive grantees and provide grantees with on-the-spot technical assistance. VETS staff and other partners will conduct training sessions on general and special grant provisions and reporting requirements. The conference also provides the opportunity for all current grantees to network, share best practices and learn from each others experiences.

 

The conference will be held from July 31 through August 3, 2006, in Denver, CO.  Training will be provided by the staff of the U.S. Department of Labor-Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL-VETS) and the National Veterans Training Institute (NVTI). It is anticipated that there will be over 300 attendees participating at the conference.

 

To register for the conference and make hotel reservations, go to: http://www.nvti.cudenver.edu/06GranteesConference/.

 

 

 

 

On July 20, NCHV will be holding a conference call on resource diversity for nonprofit organizations.  The call will focus on how to raise funds for your organization and will feature Elizabeth Stacey, Chief Consultant with Philanthropic Solutions. 

 

NCHV will also be partnering with Advocates for Human Potential and other organizations to conduct a series of conference calls on employment strategies. The dates for these calls will be August 16, September 6, and September 26.  All calls will be held from 2-4 p.m. EDT.

 

For the latest information on all conference calls and instructions for free registration, visit www.nchv.org and click on the Conference Calls link.

 

 

The National Alliance to End Homelessness has published a policy guide to help policymakers and advocates understand federal programs and policies regarding housing and homelessness. The 80-page guide includes information and recommendations about recent action on appropriations, pending legislation, and the broader context in which existing policies are being debated. It also provides advocates with information about the legislative process and key strategies for influencing the process.

To view the guide visit: http://www.endhomelessness.org/pol/2006_policy_book.pdf.

 

 

The U.S. Department of Labor-Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL-VETS) continues to support local Stand Down events that assist homeless veterans. VETS is now accepting applications for Stand Down grant awards. A Stand Down is an event held in a local community where homeless veterans are provided a wide variety of social services. Up to $325,000 will be available for FY 2006 grant awards, up to a maximum of $8,000 per event. However, if the event is held for one (1) day, the maximum amount is $5,000. VETS expects to award approximately 40 grants. Applications for Stand Down funds will be accepted from State Workforce Agencies and State and local Workforce Investment Boards, Veterans Service Organizations (VSO), local public agencies, and nonprofit organizations, including community and faith-based organizations. VETS is not authorized to award these grant funds to organizations that are registered with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(c)(4) organization.

 

Deadline: All Stand Down grant requests must be received by the appropriate State Director for Veterans' Employment and Training (DVET), who serves as the Grant Officer Technical Representative (GOTR), no later than 60 days prior to the event. For information on Stand Down grants and application instructions, go to: http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/hvrp/main.htm.

 

 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Department of Health and Human Services, has announced its preliminary list of grant funding opportunities for FY 2007. Although it is in the preliminary stage, this list allows service providers time to plan and develop their grant proposals before the actual Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs) are released. To review the anticipated FY 2007 funding opportunities for SAMHSA, go to: http://www.samhsa.gov/. To view a chart of the anticipated grants, go to: http://www.samhsa.gov/Grants/2007/fy2007opps.aspx.

 

 

The goal of the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation is to eliminate domestic violence. As a part of this effort, the foundation awards grants to women's shelters across the United States. With the exception of travel, the funds awarded by the foundation may be used for the operating expenses of the shelter. Failure to receive a grant does not prohibit the shelter from applying the following year. Shelters that receive grants may not apply the following year.