Homelessness Update

spotlight on... STANDING WITH HOUSTON Like the rest of the nation, The Alliance has been watching the events in Houston with deep concern for the most vulnerable members of the community – not only those who have lost their homes, but also those who were without housing before Hurricane Harvey. For the next several months, service providers in Texas, Louisiana, and points beyond will be working overtime to house and shelter those who have been displaced. The Alliance is committed to supporting their efforts. As we learned following Hurricane Katrina, it will be critical for communities to secure federal resources to aid their recovery efforts. It will also be essential that those resources target those who are most vulnerable. As we hope for the rains to end, the waters to subside, and the recovery to begin, The Alliance is determined to advocate for these resources. In the meantime, we encourage all concerned parties to consult the Houston Coalition for the Homeless’ Hurricane Harvey resource page, for important information on shelter locations, agency closures, and how to help. Learn More » NEW TOOLKIT SUPPORTS Preparedness for Homeless Service Providers In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, service providers are reminded of the unique disaster needs and obstacles faced by of individuals experiencing homelessness. A new resource from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development helps communities plan for these needs. This toolkit provides a practical overview of challenges that may occur during disaster-caused disruptions and the impact these challenges pose for individuals experiencing homelessness. It provides guidance for identifying and collaborating with partners to address disaster response and recovery needs, and it outlines strategies to prepare and minimize service disruption. It also specifies how to enhance healthcare capacity with providers experienced in serving people who are homeless, and expand care following an emergency. Access the toolkit » Which Rules are the Right Rules for Low-Barrier Emergency Shelters? WEBINAR: Thursday, September 7, 1:00 pm This webinar, the most recent in the Emergency Shelter Webinar Learning Series, will focus on shelters that serve families and survivors of domestic violence, and will discuss how to re-tool your shelter's rules, expectations, policies, and procedures in a low-barrier environment that prioritizes safety for participants and staff. We will be joined by Alliance staff and two experts from the field to learn about their experiences in shifting philosophy and operations to incorporate a low-barrier model for families and survivors of domestic violence. You can register here. This is the fourth installment in the Alliance’s Emergency Shelter Webinar Learning Series. Please visit our Resources Page for more tools and information on this topic. Register here >> Pay-for-Success Financing to End Family Homelessness Can public systems lower costs by providing rental assistance and support services to families experiencing homelessness or housing instability? A new report issued by the Urban Institute explores the Pay-for-Success funding model to provide interventions to help families escape homelessness. The report provides an overview of housing interventions, including permanent supportive housing, permanent rental assistance, and rapid re-housing, that can end homelessness for families, while reducing child welfare placements, increasing school attendance, and improving health outcomes. Read the report » from the blog Ending Homelessness Today the official blog of the national alliance to end homelessness Housing is the Common Ground by NAEH Written by Guest blogger, Joshua Bamberger, MD, MPH, University of California, San Francisco; Chief Medical Consultant at Mercy Housing In recent months, the intense healthcare debate has often centered around our individual values: how much autonomy should we have to control our healthcare finances? How do we meet our responsibility to care for people who live […] The post Housing is the Common Ground appeared first on National Alliance to End Homelessness. Read more » comments » | New HUD Joint Component Option Could Help Domestic Violence Survivors by Sharon McDonald Every day vulnerable people fleeing domestic violence are denied shelter.  It's not because they don't need it or because they are ineligible. It is simply because there is no room. Domestic violence programs are designed to provide safe refuge and support to people escaping violence.  Some require the safety of a crisis housing program for […] The post New HUD Joint Component Option Could Help Domestic Violence Survivors appeared first on National Alliance to End Homelessness. Read more » comments » | The Joint Component Is for Homeless Youth, Too! by Mindy Mitchell The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the 2017 Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) in July. The Alliance has a lot of resources which you can see here. Sign up for our newsletter to get more of our observations about the Competition. New HUD CoC TH-RRH Joint Component […] The post The Joint Component Is for Homeless Youth, Too! appeared first on National Alliance to End Homelessness. Read more » comments » | About Us The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to solving the problem of homelessness and preventing its continued growth. Join Us The Alliance is online: on Facebook, on Twitter, on our blog, and on our website! Join the Alliance's online community, and stay up-to-date with homelessness and housing information. www.endhomelessness.org Forward to a Friend Need Technical Assistance? Visit the Center for Capacity Building to learn more about the ways the Center can help your community end homelessness.