January 2016 NCHV eNewsletter


NCHV eNewsletter
January 2016
Save the Date: 2016 NCHV Annual Conference
June 1-3, 2016 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. 

Save the date! Mark your calendars for June 1-3, 2016 when the 2016 NCHV Annual Conference will take place at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C.

You will want to be in attendance for three days of training sessions, plenary sessions featuring distinguished speakers, policy updates from Federal agencies and Congress, the Annual NCHV Awards, and more!
Have you renewed your NCHV membership? Interested in becoming a member? NCHV members receive discounted rates for the Annual Conference. Click here to renew or become a member today! For more information about NCHV membership, email Anna Kaminski at akaminski@nchv.org.

Stay tuned to www.nchv.org for updates as they become available.
The Home Depot Foundation Seeks Applications for Veteran Housing Grants Program
Next deadline for proposals is Feb. 24, 2016

The Home Depot Foundation (THDF) is seeking opportunities to support veteran housing projects around the country to further its mission to provide and preserve housing for veterans. The Veteran Housing Grants Program provides grants to nonprofits to fund the development and repair of housing for veterans. Projects may be new construction or rehab and must be either in progress or about to commence within the next 12 months. Awards typically range from $100,000 to $500,000.
The Foundation will only fund 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that are in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service. Only proposals submitted through the online application process will be considered for funding. Proposals submitted by mail, phone, or e-mail will not receive funding and will be directed to the online application process.
2016 Proposal Deadlines are listed below:
Grant Proposal Due Date
Final Determinations
2/24/2016
August 2016
6/23/2016
December 2016
Service Provider Survey on Food Insecurity
Responses requested by Feb. 12
Service providers working with homeless veterans know that access to food is essential for stability. Veteran food insecurity within the homeless population is unfortunately under-reported and under-researched. Responses to these surveys from providers and homeless veterans will assist in developing an understanding on the issues from both perspectives. 
Hill Watch: Appropriations Down to the Wire
Veteran homelessness provisions have only a few months to become law
Following the mad dash of productivity at the end of the last year, Congress is back in Washington and turning to a laundry list of unfinished projects. This calendar year marks the second session of the 114th Congress; at the end of this year, every bill that has been introduced but not passed into law will be wiped away, and would need to be reintroduced in the 115th Congress to be considered. Among these bills-in-process are several which would directly, positively, and substantially impact homeless veterans and providers across the country. NCHV is working hard to advocate for their passage into law by the end of the current year.
Some of these bills you will have read about in Hill Watch before: namely, the bill which would ensure "Other Than Honorable" discharged veterans' access to the GPD and SSVF programs (S. 1731), and the bills which would ensure that veterans leased up in the HUD-VASH program can enroll in employment services through HVRP (H.R. 474, or S. 425). Some of the other bills, however, have only been profiled in the Policy and Legislative Updates in our print newsletter, or at presentations at the NCHV Annual Conference.
Two of the most relevant of these are the "Homeless Veteran Prevention Act" (S. 684), and the "Veteran Housing Stability Act" (S. 1885). The former bill, S. 684, would expand dental care for homeless veterans, create a greatly expanded legal services program for homeless veterans, raise the authorization cap for the SSVF program, and allow per diem reimbursements for services to the dependents of homeless veterans. The latter, S. 1885, permanently authorizes the National Center for Homelessness Among Veterans, waives penalties for programs transforming their GPD's to permanent housing, and establishes a grant fund for follow-up case management for GPD graduates.
These two bills remain unpassed on the floor of the Senate, but NCHV believes strongly that they merit passage this year through both houses of Congress. Prospects for this are good, as the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has committed to moving a large veterans omnibus bill in the coming months. NCHV will continue advocating, and continue to keep you updated, as this process continues.
First Lady Urges Mayors to Continue Commitment to Ending Veteran Homelessness
Video and transcript from address before U.S. Conference of Mayors
At last week's U.S. Conference of Mayors, First Lady Michelle Obama commended communities for their progress so far, and reiterated her support -- and that of the entire Obama Administration -- for ending Veteran homelessness everywhere.

Watch Mrs. Obama's full remarks. Read the transcript.
Funding Opportunities
The McGregor Fund emphasizes support for activities in southeastern Michigan addressing emergency needs for housing, food, clothing and other direct aid. In addition, support may be provided for activities that address the root causes of poverty, homelessness and hunger, and help individuals and families achieve personal and financial stability and other life-changing outcomes. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the Fund to discuss their program. For more information, click here
Independence Foundation's current Human Services funding agenda focuses on programs that address the following areas:
  • adequate food and food distribution
  • affordable housing and access to shelter by homeless persons
  • services which support independence for people living with disabilities
Independence Foundation supports programs that empower less advantaged residents of the Philadelphia area to achieve self-sufficiency by providing these most basic of needs. Letters of inquiry are reviewed throughout the year. For more information, click here
This eNewsletter is funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.
For the latest news, resources and grant information, visit our website at www.nchv.org.
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
333 1/2 Pennsylvania Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20003
202-546-1969 or toll-free 1-800-VET-HELP