The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV), through a grant from Eli Lilly and Company, announces the opening of the Job Assistance for Veterans' Advancement (JAVA) Business Loan Program. Loan amounts up to $25,000 will be awarded as seed money to up to four sites to give community-based organizations an opportunity to create a business venture that will produce a new funding stream. This project, employing homeless veterans in a staff capacity, will provide veterans help in developing their business skills and increasing their employment potential. Eligible organizations include community and faith-based organizations with an established reputation of working with veterans.

 

Applications will be reviewed by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans for completeness and relevance according to established site selection criteria. Application deadline is December 1, 2005. Projects selected for the initial round of start-up loans will be announced January 6, 2006.

For application instructions, go to www.nchv.org/news_article.cfm?id=194.

 

 

A new bill to reauthorize the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Programs has been introduced by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and a bipartisan group of 13 cosponsors.

 

The Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act of 2005 (S. 1801) would consolidate the HUD's three continuum of care programs (Supportive Housing Program, Shelter Plus Care, and Moderate Rehabilitation/SRO) into a single program known as the "Homeless Assistance Program." Communities would apply for funding similarly to the existing Continuum of Care process, and would have to provide 25% in matching funds. A bonus would be established for the creation of permanent housing for people with disabilities or for non-disabled families. Five percent of funding could be used for homelessness prevention activities. For the first time, funds could be used for permanent housing for homeless people without disabilities.

 

The bill includes provisions emphasizing the creation of permanent housing, outcome based management, promoting access to mainstream systems, consolidating programs, and HMIS.

To view the bill, go to http://thomas.loc.gov, and enter "S. 1801" in the search bar.

 

 

VA Secretary James Nicholson announced on October 13 the creation of a new initiative to address the high unemployment rate of veterans who have served in the nation's War on Terrorism. "Fulfilling the Commitment – Coming Home to Work" is an umbrella initiative, a comprehensive intergovernmental and public-private alliance that will ensure separating Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) veterans that they will have employment opportunities when they return home from the war on terrorism, according to the VA.

 

The initiative focuses on linking OIF/OEF service members to existing resources through local and regional job markets, regardless of where they separate, where they return, or the career or education they pursue. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in the first three quarters of 2005, almost 15 percent of veterans in the 20 to 24-year-old age group were unemployed, nearly three times the national rate. An on-line index of VA information about benefits for veterans is available at http://www.va.gov/OPA/fact/index.htm.

 

 

The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will convene the Third National Conference Addressing Homelessness for People with Mental Illnesses and/or Substance Use Disorders on October 26-28 in Washington, DC. The theme of the 2005 conference, which is free, is "Preparing People for Change: Knowledge and Choice." The theme focuses on increasing the knowledge of consumers so they may readily share in treatment decisions, as well as increasing the sensitivity of service providers to the unique needs of people who are homeless.

 

Highlights of the conference will be plenary presentations by SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie and CMHS Director Kathryn Power, as well as keynote remarks on October 27 by U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. Full day training sessions will be available on October 26 and 28. On-line registration for the conference is available at http://www.nrchmi.samhsa.gov.

 

 

 

 

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) is hosting a conference call on Nonprofit Audits" on October 27. This conference call is made possible through a technical assistance grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The 90-minute conference call will begin at 2:00 p.m. (EDT). The presenter will be John Friel, CPA. Friel is a practicing accountant who specializes in performing single audits and indirect cost proposals for Indian Tribal governments, cities, nonprofits and colleges. He also serves as a lead instructor for The Falmouth Institute, a national training and technical assistance organization specializing in meeting the needs of Indian Country.

 

To register, send an email to audit@nchv.org with your name, organization name, address, phone number and email address.

 

 

Abt Associates Inc. recently released "Measuring the Performance of Programs that Serve Homeless People," a report that examines the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s performance measures for the Supportive Housing Program, Shelter Plus Care, Single Room Occupancy Moderate Rehabilitation for the Homeless and Emergency Shelter Grants programs, which are funded by McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants.  The report discusses the weaknesses and strengths of HUD's current measures and identifies opportunities for improving these measures.

 

A PDF of the report is available on the National Alliance to End Homelessness website at http://www.endhomelessness.org/pub/toolkit/MeasuringPerformanceofProgramsthatServeHomeless9.6.pdf

In response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, a toll-free medical services access telephone number has been established for veterans who receive care at the Biloxi, Gulfport, MS, and New Orleans VA medical centers. Veterans who need care, or their families, should call 1-800-507-4571 for information on where veterans should go to receive care, how to obtain prescription medications, or for any other concerns they may have about their care. The phone line will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.