IN THE NEWS

Sen. Obama Introduces Homeless Veteran Programs Reauthorization Bill

On June 7, Sen. Barak Obama (D-IL) introduced a bill NCHV helped draft to reauthorize several programs that provide services to homeless veterans. The "Sheltering All Veterans Everywhere Act" (S.1180) includes provisions to increase authorized appropriations for the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program to $200 million per year from FY 2006 through FY 2011; expands the Department of Labor Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program to include "veterans who are at imminent risk of becoming homeless" and authorizes appropriations of $50 million per year from FY 2007 to FY 2011; and authorizes appropriations for the VA Homeless Provider Technical Assistance Program in the amount of $1 million per year from FY 2006 through FY 2011.

The bill would also extend the "General Treatment Authorization" and "Additional Services Authorization" provisions for treatment and rehabilitation of seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans through FY 2011, and authorizes the VA grant program for homeless veterans with special needs to be continued from FY 2005 through FY 2011.

The bill, which currently has no cosponsors, was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. To view the full text of S.1180, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.1180:

Base Realignment and Closure Commission Holds Public Hearings

The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission is conducting public hearings in several locations nationwide to receive comments on its recommendations to close 33 military bases and to realign others. The Base Closure and Redevelopment Act of 1994 allows local governments and service organizations to apply for use of properties on the list for homeless assistance programs.
Hearings are scheduled for Fairbanks, June 15; Portland, OR, June 17; Rapid City, SD, June 21; Dallas, June 22; Grand Forks, ND, June 23; Clovis, NM, June 24; Buffalo, NY, June 27; Charlotte, NC, June 28; Atlanta, June 30; Boston, July 6; Baltimore, July 8; San Antonio, July 11; New Orleans, July 12; and Los Angeles, July 14.

A new website on the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, hearings and procedures is available at www.brac.gov. For information on what base closures mean for homeless assistance organizations see http://www.nlchp.org/FA_Housing/SurplusProperty.cfm.

VA Announces Availability of $38 Million for Per Diem Only Grant Renewals

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the availability of funds for currently operational VA Per Diem Only Recipients (projects that were originally awarded in 2002, 2003 and 2004 that are currently providing services and receiving per diem payments as of May 15, 2005) to make reapplication for assistance for their existing project number under the Per Diem Only Grant Component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program.

The focus of this Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) is to provide previous recipients that have demonstrated performance in the delivery of services to the homeless veteran population an opportunity to seek re-application. The VA expects to award $38 million under this NOFA.
An application package is not needed for this NOFA. Applicants submitting a letter requesting re-application on their agency's letterhead agree to VA using their previously awarded Per Diem Only application for scoring purposes.

To view the complete NOFA, published in the June 6, 2005, Federal Register, go to: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-11182.htm. For further information, contact Guy Liedke, VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, 10770 N. 46th Street, Suite C-200, Tampa, FL, 33617; (toll-free) 1-877-332-0334.

HUD Releases Proposed 2006 Fair Market Rents, Solicits Comments

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has proposed Fair Market Rent (FMR) levels for Fiscal Year 2006, which begins October 1 2005. Comments on the proposed FMRs must be submitted to HUD by August 1, 2005. FMRs are used to establish rent levels for Section 8, Shelter Plus Care, and other HUD housing assistance programs. Last year there were significant problems in defining what constitutes a “metropolitan area,” which resulted in large shifts in fair market rent levels. Housing services providers need to become involved in this process. To review the proposed changes to FMR, go to http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-10882.htm.

Eli Lilly Personal Care Kit Supply for 2005 Stand Down Programs is Nearly Exhausted

NCHV has been notified that of the 25,000 personal care kits that Eli Lilly and Company is donating to homeless veterans at Stand Down programs nationwide in 2005, only about 6,500 remain available for distribution. Each kit contains a comb, toothbrush, bar of soap, a small tube of Freshmint fluoride toothpaste, and a small bottle of conditioning shampoo. Eli Lilly distributed 15,000 kits in 2002; 20,000 kits in 2003; and 25,000 kits in 2004.

Stand Down coordinators need to place their events on the National Stand Down Registry through NCHV soon to receive these kits. For instructions on how to order kits for your Stand Down, click here.

RESOURCES

SAMSHA Releases Updated Online Treatment Facilities Locator

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) updated online Treatment Facility Locator is now available. The locator includes 11,000 private and public substance abuse treatment facilities that are licensed, certified or otherwise approved for inclusion by their state substance abuse agency in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Persons seeking treatment can find a list of state substance abuse agencies, contact information for those agencies and links to their websites. To access SAMHSA's Treatment Facility Locator visit http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov. The short report, "Using the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator," is accessible at www.oas.samhsa.gov.

NAEH Hosts Training Institute for State Initiatives to End Chronic Homelessness

At the upcoming National Alliance to End Homelessness conference in Washington, DC, "Ending Homelessness: Progress and Challenges," July 11-13, the Alliance and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness will jointly sponsor a full-day training institute focusing specifically on the role of state government in ending chronic homelessness. This session, on Monday, July 11, is designed for state officials from agencies that address the prevention and remediation of homelessness, including housing, mental health, substance abuse, TANF, Medicaid and others. It is particularly appropriate for state government employees who are staffing state-level Interagency Councils on Homelessness. For complete information about the Alliance conference, see www.endhomelessness.org/conf2005/ index.html.

Department of Labor Accepting Applications for Stand Down Grants

The Department of Labor-Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL-VETS) has approximately $200,000 available to support Stand Down events. The maximum award amount is currently $5,000 per year per event. Effective July 1, 2005, the maximum award amount will increase to $8,000 per year per event. Applications for Stand Down funds will be accepted from State and local Workforce Investment Boards, local public agencies, for-profit/commercial entities, and nonprofit organizations. To apply for Stand Down funds, contact the Director for Veterans' Employment and Training (DVET) in your state. For the VETS Directory, click here.

NCHV and VA Offer Staff Training Grants to Help Organizations Build Capacity

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are offering Capacity Building Technical Assistance grants up to $3,000 each to nonprofit community-based groups with experience in providing assistance to homeless veterans. The purpose of these grants is to reimburse community- and faith-based organizations for staff training costs to better serve homeless veterans. Individual nonprofit organizations are eligible for up to $1,000, but organizations working in partnership with statewide programs are eligible for up to $3,000. For more information, click here. The next quarter’s application deadline is July 29.