April 2017 NCHV Newsletter

NCHV eNewsletter
April 2017
Boost Your Expertise, Lead Your Community! Register Today for the 2017 NCHV Annual Conference – Yes, In My Back Yard: Putting Veterans First
May 31-June 2 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. 
This year's NCHV Annual Conference will be a defining moment in the future of serving homeless veterans.
Over the past several years, we have seen progress in ending homelessness among veterans that had previously been unimagineable. States, cities, and towns across the country have put systems in place to effectively end veteran homelessness and are vigilantly committed to maintaining, improving, and adapting those services as necessary.
With any change in national leadership there come questions about the path forward. The 2017 NCHV Annual Conference is your chance to discuss those questions, to forge strategies moving forward, and to access knowledge, resources, and information that you can take back to your community to act on the challenges you face in ensuring no veteran goes without a safe and stable home.
We have built a schedule of sessions, forums, and events for you to better lead efforts in your community. Don't miss out on this opportunity!
Download the 2017 NCHV Annual Conference brochure, featuring Conference schedule, session tracks, and more information on this year's event.
Register today! The 2017 NCHV Annual Conference, Yes, In My Back Yard: Putting Veterans First, will take place May 31-June 2, 2017,  at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. This year's event is on pace to sell out at maximum capacity, register today to make sure you're there! The discounted room block at the Grand Hyatt is now SOLD OUT.
If you are unable to use the online form above, download a registration form to return by fax here.
Have you renewed your NCHV membership? Interested in becoming a member? NCHV members receive discounted rates for the Annual Conference, in addition to other benefits. Click here to renew or become a member today!
Exhibitor space will be available for you to feature your products and services in front of over 700 service providers, housing developers, government officials and employees, and other stakeholders. Download your exhibitor registration to return by fax here.
Stay tuned to www.nchv.org for updates as they become available.
Hill Watch: Appropriation Deadline Nears
Congress confronts a time limit on funding for FY 2017
The 2017 Fiscal Year may be more than half over, but Congress has yet to set the final funding levels for most of the government. Running from Oct. 1 of 2016 to Sept. 30 of 2017, FY 2017 so far has seen two continuing resolutions (CR’s) which extend the deadline for Congress to act on finalizing the budget by setting the spending levels for most of the government at flat rates, based on the previous year’s funding level.
As the original deadline approached in September of last year, Congress decided to pass a CR for most of the government in order to make spending decisions after the presidential election. That initial CR continued federal funding until Dec. 9, 2016. When that deadline arrived, Congress again passed a CR to carry the same spending levels through until April 28, 2017 in order to give the new Administration time to weigh in on the budget process. That April 28 deadline is fast approaching now, and Congress must fund the government between when they return from recess on April 24 and the expiration of the CR four days later.
You’ll notice the use of the phrase “most of the government” used several times above; this is because Congress did pass legislation to set the final funding levels for FY 2017 for one area of government – veterans’ affairs. This included many of the programs which are considered the pillars of the federal response to the problem of homelessness among veterans. You can read more about those final funding numbers by clicking here.
So what is likely to happen when Congress returns to confront the funding deadline? What funding levels will programs that bear directly on homelessness among veterans, like HVRP and HUD-VASH, receive through this process?
Congress has been fairly quiet about these questions in public, recently. Not many members are speaking to the press and the bills which govern HVRP and HUD-VASH spending have not yet been made public in the final forms. NCHV can, however, provide a rough idea of the possible scenarios that may play out in the coming weeks.
Because of the short turnaround between when Congress returns and the deadline, the most precious commodity in this process is Senate floor time. This limited amount of floor time may mean that passing each of the separate, remaining appropriations bills is unfeasible. If this is true, Congress may decide to:
  • wrap all of the remaining bills together into an “omnibus” bill that provides new and specific levels of funding for FY 2017, or
  • wrap related bills together into several “minibuses” that also provide new and specific levels of funding for FY 2017, or
  • resort to a short term CR that will last a few days to a few weeks to allow themselves time to do one of the above, or
  • resort to a yearlong CR that continues the flat funding from last year all the way through the rest of FY 2017.
And while any of those scenarios are possible, it is not possible at this time to say which will take place. It is also not possible to say what the funding levels for HVRP or HUD-VASH will be when the process is finished. As always, keep checking Hill Watch for information as it becomes available.
For Our Network: 2017 Annual Conference Opportunity
Showcase your organization in front of 700+ attendees
In 1990, a small group of community-based service providers formed the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. Today, our members, partners, stakeholders, and supporters remain the essence of who we are and what we do. As a member of this truly national coalition, your organization is a vital part of the effort to end homelessness among veterans. Your commitment to ending homelessness for each individual veteran in your community is admirable, and your commitment to being involved with NCHV and collaborating with other organizations around the country gives your organization an important place in our movement.
For the 2017 NCHV Annual Conference, taking place May 31-June 2 at the Grand Hyatt Washington, we are offering sponsorship opportunities which will support the Conference as well as providing your organization with a stage to share your work.
We have created a number of sponsorship opportunities (outlined here) that include various possible benefits to your organization including: ad space in the 2017 NCHV Annual Conference program, signage at the event, social media spotlight of your organization during the Conference, an exhibit table, and Conference registrations (if you have already submitted registrations these can be refunded).
The deadline for sponsorships is May 5. Download the 2017 NCHV Annual Conference sponsorship form here. For more information, contact Randy Brown at rbrown@nchv.org.
Coordinating Your Way Home in Houston
How coordinated entry was implemented, from USICH
Coordinated entry allows a community to work together more efficiently and effectively across organizations and departments to identify and meet the needs of every individual or family experiencing homelessness.
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness recently featured an article by Ana Rausch, Senior Research Project Manager for the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County on how Houston implemented coordinated entry. 
Rausch provides detail on the key steps along the way including worries and challenges, choosing the best assessment tool, appropriate staffing, bringing in and convincing community partners, and choosing access points - providing insight and examples for other communities to utilize.
To read the full article, click here.
Homeless Court Program Training
July 21-22, 2017 in San Diego
Key players from San Diego’s Homeless Court Program will provide participants with a review of the history and the development of homeless court at Stand Down, answer questions from observers, and discuss what resources are needed to replicate the program in their communities. Participants will also tour the full Stand Down program which features Child Support Court, civil legal aid services, and dozens of non-legal services.
REGISTRATION: No registration fees. This training event is free, but participants must pre-register. Registration will be limited to the first 15 registrants. All registrations must be made in advance.
The deadline for registrations is July 5, 2017. Registration will be limited to the first 15 registrants, so please register as early as possible.
Participants are required to provide their own travel and hotel arrangements. Participants will not be reimbursed for travel.

For more information and to download the registration form, click here.
HOTEL INFORMATION: Hotel rooms have not been secured. Stand Down is held at San Diego High School’s athletic field located on the southeast corner of Park Boulevard and Interstate 5. The nearest hotels are located in downtown San Diego and Balboa Park.

QUESTIONS? Please contact Amy Horton-Newell at (202) 662-1693 or Amy.Hortonnewell@americanbar.org.
Funding Opportunities
AT&T is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities, and improving lives. Its funding priorities include programs that help students successfully complete high school, prepare students for college and help students successfully complete college, as well as  job training programs that prepare underserved populations for meaningful employment. Take on online survey to determine your organization’s eligibility here.
Roche seeks to fund innovative projects that promote sustainable involvement, engage Roche’s expertise, capabilities and employees, involve Roche at an early stage, and are managed by an accredited charity. Roche affiliates manage their own local donation and scholarship activities, their contact information can be found here.
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