News from the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness

Released Today: Guidance on ending youth homelessness through coordinated community response

September 22, 2015

NEW GUIDANCE: Ending Youth Homelessness Through a Coordinated Community Response  In Opening Doors, we set a national goal to prevent and end youth homelessness in 2020. To get there, it will take all of us--government, non-profits, business, and philanthropy--to make sure every community has the capacity to achieve the goal.  Preventing and Ending Youth Homelessness: A Coordinated Community Response builds upon the Federal Framework to End Youth Homelessness and lays out the preliminary vision for the system communities need to build to end youth homelessness forever. It draws upon what we know works to end homelessness for other populations, along with strategies that support the unique needs of unaccompanied youth and young adults under 25. REGISTER NOW: Webinar on the FY 2015 CoC Competition  Last week, HUD released its Notice of Funding Availability for the FY 2015 Continuum of Care Program Competition. The NOFA establishes policy priorities aimed at accelerating progress on Opening Doors. It also includes important changes, including the opportunity to apply for a permanent housing bonus and expanded reallocation opportunities that provide CoCs the opportunity to apply for SSO projects specifically for operating coordinated entry systems. The CoC competition uses a different tiering and selection process than in past years, making the process much more competitive and increasing the importance of effectively ranking projects.   Join USICH on September 29 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. ET to discuss the NOFA and how it supports the goals of Opening Doors. Register Now.  In Ending Homelessness, We Leave No-one Behind Congresswoman Maxine Waters hosted a briefing earlier this month to review the progress we have made in ending homelessness for all Americans under the newly amended Opening Doors. The briefing especially highlighted the opportunity we have to end chronic homelessness in 2017.   USICH Deputy Director Richard Cho reflects on our national commitment to ending chronic homelessness and why that commitment matters.    Show Me Collaboration! How Missouri Works Together to End Homelessness The Missouri Governor's Committee to End Homelessness believes that individuals and families in the state have the right to safe, affordable housing in healthy communities with access to a network of supportive services. The Committee also knows that it will take collaboration across state government and with non-profits and other stakeholders to make that vision a reality.    Dustin Allen and Jenni Miller from the Missouri Housing Development Commission explain how collaboration drives efforts statewide. Opening Doors is a living document that provides the strategies to prevent and end homelessness in America.  Take a closer look.