WASHINGTON, DC. United States Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake, in his first formal testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee last week, told panel members that the VA has documented a significant decrease in homelessness among veterans: "Our most recent study looking at homeless vets in particular shows a downward trend of about 20 percent . . . still too many, but real evidence of progress," said the Secretary.

Secretary Peake also described to the subcommittee members some of VA's other targeted initiatives including the Grant and Per Diem program and the new HUD-VASH permanent housing vouchers: " . . . Under this budget, our grant and per diem program continues to grow. We will have 13,000 grant and per diem beds funded by 2009. Our work with HUD for permanent housing vouchers continues, which we will support with case managers. And it sustains the 11 domiciliary facilities that have been coming online over the last three years, such that by 2009 we will be up to about 10,000 domiciliary beds, with substance abuse treatment embedded with many serving otherwise homeless veterans." VA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development are currently planning the distribution of the $75 million in new targeted housing vouchers for veterans included in the FY 2008 budget. An additional $75 million for an estimated 9,800 more vouchers is also included in the President's FY 2009 budget.

Secretary Peake described his personal experience in participating in a recent Washington, DC, Stand Down event: " . . . when I was out at the homeless Stand Down at the V.A. medical center here in Washington, D.C., I spent some time talking to our outreach person who goes under the bridges here in Washington, D.C. to try to identify homeless veterans and encourage them, pull them into the system, into the shelters and into the health care system."

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the availability of $37 million in funds for the Capital Grant component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, and the Per Diem Only Program.

The transitional resources announced by the VA are in addition to the new permanent supportive housing resources represented by the HUD-VASH program in the FY 2008 budget. VA is currently working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development planning the distribution of the $75 million in new targeted housing vouchers for veterans included in the FY 2008 budget. An additional $75 million for an estimated 9,800 more vouchers is also included in the President's FY 2009 budget.

Grant and Per Diem Program. VA has issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. The Department expects to award approximately $25 million under the capital grant component. Funding available under this NOFA is being offered to help offset the capital expenses of existing state and local governments, Indian Tribal Governments, faith-based, and community-based organizations that are capable of creating and providing supported transitional housing for homeless veterans. Applications for VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program must be received in the Grant and Per Diem Field Office, by Wednesday, April 9, 2008. Read the full announcement for all details.

VA is offering to eligible applicants funding priorities for transitional housing and services to: (1) serve women, women with care of dependent children, (2) serve all veterans in the States of Vermont, Nebraska, and Alaska, (3) Indian Tribal Governments or non- profit agencies that will provide transitional housing and services on Indian Tribal Property. Finally, VA is encouraging interested state and local governments and faith based and community-based organizations to apply for funding under this NOFA. In this round of capital grant funding, VA expects to award funding to create approximately 1250 community-based supported housing beds.

VA is offering the opportunity for providers who are willing to create new projects specifically for women and women with care of dependent children only, which are 30 beds or less. Of those eligible entities in the first funding priority, that are legally fundable, the highest scoring applicants will be funded first until approximately $3 million is awarded. Applicants not funded in this priority will be considered in the fourth funding priority. Should not enough eligible projects be funded under the first funding priority, funds not expended in this priority will fall to the fourth funding priority. VA is offering the opportunity for providers who are willing to create new or expand existing projects for homeless veterans in the States of Vermont, Nebraska, and Alaska. Applicants whose projects are physically located in these states will be considered in the second funding priority.

Per Diem Only. The ''Per Diem Only'' component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program is part of the Department's effort to end chronic homelessness among our Nation's veterans. The Department expects to create approximately 1000 beds under this NOFA with up to $12 million.

This Notice contains information concerning the program, funding priorities, application process, and amount of funding available. Applications must be received by Wednesday, April 9, 2008. Funding will be in the form of per diem payments issued to eligible entities from the date of award and will continue subject to availability of funds and the recipients' compliance with federal requirements.

VA expects that it will take no longer than 90 days from the date of award for projects to be inspected and become operational. Failure to meet the 90 day milestone may result in the per diem award being terminated. Capital grant recipients who received capital grant funding under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program in years 1994 through 2007 for acquisition, renovation or new construction should not respond to this NOFA. Per diem payments for those portions of their programs that were created with capital grant funds is requested in the capital grant application and paid at the time of capital grant project completion and inspection. Previous ''Per Diem Only'' recipients that renewed their PDO grants in 2005 or 2007 need not reapply to continue these projects.

PORTLAND, MAINE. Maine Governor John Baldacci and Kresge Foundation CEO Elaine Rosen joined Preble Street Executive Director Mark Swann and federal, state, local and private sector partners yesterday to announce a unique $1 million award for the Kresge Foundation to Portland's Preble Street. One of the first grants of its kind awarded by The Kresge Foundation, the new resources focus on operating and growth capital for organizations considered to be leaders in their field who are doing groundbreaking work. Kresge has pledged $1 million over five years as a challenge grant to advance Preble Street's strategic capacity building plan to strengthen and expand programs and services.

"At Kresge we feel an enormous responsibility to lead," said Ms. Rosen (pictured here). "That view has led us to re- assess our perspective and to expand what we do to have a greater impact. Our guide in doing so is a set of what we call 'value lenses.' These include how does an organization impact its community, how well is an organization run, and how much does it address an underserved population?" Ms. Rosen concluded: "And so you see how we come to award $1 million to Preble Street."

"Preble Street has long been recognized for providing a critical safety net to those in need in the community," said Governor Baldacci. "Its leadership in addressing homelessness is making a difference, and benefits individuals and families. The 'Home for Good' initiative holds the promise to make great strides to end chronic homelessness for in the Portland area."

The Governor noted that Preble Street has successfully built broad support for its efforts from many different partners, a critical step in addressing the often complex issues surrounding homelessness. "We need to continue to coordinate the response to homelessness across government, nonprofit and private sectors," said Governor Baldacci. "I'm proud of the work that's been done and I'm committed to working together to reduce and eliminate the symptoms and underlying causes of homelessness."

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, invited to participate in the investment announcement, noted that "the return on the Kresge grant to capitalize Preble Street's capacity and expansion will offer a return on the streets of Portland in the lives of homeless people, and in the coffers of the public purse, and the pockets of the city's taxpayers - a public policy trifecta that redefines an investment return. But that's exactly what this challenge grant will induce - solutions that are cost-effective, solution-focused, and results- oriented."

Called "Home for Good," this initiative is "part of Preble Street's commitment to end the tragedy of chronic homelessness in Maine," according to Mark Swann, Executive Director of Preble Street. "Home for Good helps people move off the streets and out of shelters as quickly, as efficiently, and as humanely as possible to their own homes. For good."

Prior to the press event, Director Mangano met with Governor Baldacci and Nancy Fritz, Director of Homeless Initiatives, State of Maine to affirm the state's initiatives and commitment to ending homelessness. Director Mangano congratulated the Governor and Ms. Fritz on their initiative to re-calibrate the state's 10-Year Plan and discussed federal and state housing initiatives. Governor Baldacci re- affirmed his commitment to launching a targeted housing initiative for homeless women. John O'Brien, Council Regional Coordinator, also participated in the events.

The Director also met with Elaine Rosen, Preble Street Director Swann, and Leon and Lisa Gorman of L.L. Bean. With the Gormans who are involved in Preble Street volunteer activities and City Health and Human Services official Doug Gardner, Director Mangano and other partners discussed the importance of moving ahead a 10-Year Plan commitment for Portland.

Portland recently announced its third consecutive annual decrease in chronic homelessness. With a general population of just under 65,000, Portland has reported a 49% decrease in chronic homelessness since 2004. Also released this year was new cost benefit data identifying savings achieved by the Greater Portland area by moving individuals from chronic homelessness to stability in housing. Service costs in ambulance and emergency room use, jail nights, and police contacts were cut in half after housing placement, dropping from an average of over $28,000 per person annually to $14,000, as shown in research supported by MaineHousing, Maine Department of Health and Human Services, and the Corporation for Supportive Housing.

Over the next five years Preble Street will raise $6 million in private funding to secure its Kresge grant and realize its "Home for Good" goals, which include the opening of Florence House, Maine's first comprehensive center for homeless women, which will provide permanent housing, a safe haven, and short-term shelter. Preble Street's initiatives in the community include Housing First units, mixed income housing, a day shelter, a teen center and shelter, and employment services. In 2005, Preble Street opened Logan Place, a new 30-unit efficiency Housing First development. The first such development in Maine, the new project targeted to persons experiencing chronic homelessness was owned, built, and managed by Avesta Housing with Preble Street social services agency providing 24-hour support services to ensure that people who are making the transition to permanent independent housing will succeed.

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has announced the availability of $5 million dollars (subject to the availability of Fiscal Year 2008 funds) to State agencies, public health or educational entities, or private nonprofit entities such as community-based or faith-based organizations, food banks, or other emergency feeding organizations, for projects aimed at simplifying the food stamp application and eligibility determination systems or improving access to food stamp benefits by eligible households. The USDA solicitation offers funding for FY 2008 dependent upon extension or reauthorization of an earlier 2002 provision.

The purpose of this grant competition is to support efforts by State agencies and their community-based and faith-based partners to develop and implement simple food stamp application and eligibility determination systems; or measures to improve access to food stamp benefits by eligible applicants. The solicitation seeks diverse proposals that would make the entire process, from certification to recertification, easier and more efficient for applicants and participants. The proposals should include innovative development of new or revised State or County food stamp systems that do not rely solely on outreach. While this innovation does not have to be a completely new idea or concept, the proposal needs to demonstrate that the idea is new and innovative to that specific State or County office. The proposed process can incorporate outreach activities as long as they do not exceed 25% of the project cost. The proposal needs to demonstrate direct evidence that the proposed procedural or systemic changes would make the food stamp application and certification process easier for the participant.

One of two priority areas for these awards is partnership. The Department is interested in encouraging and supporting partnerships between State agencies administering the FSP and private non- profit organizations, including faith-based and community-based organizations. Toward that end, FNS intends to make at least one award of up to $1 million to an otherwise acceptable proposal that involves a partnership between a State agency and one or more private non-profit organizations. The intent is to encourage relationships with private non- profit organizations with strong community ties and thereby enhance the State agencies' communication with the communities they serve. Improvements in public agency practices should be more effective if they are coordinated with community-based initiatives. FNS intends to award grants to applicants, who would then award sub-grants to their partners as applicable. Either a State agency or a private, non-profit group can be an applicant.

Awards are expected in September 2008 for a duration of three years. The new grants are in contrast with those of the Food and Nutrition Service's (FNS) Outreach Grants Program, which strives to increase food stamp participation by marketing the program, helping applicants complete the application forms, and expanding the range and number of places people can go to get information and assistance with their food stamp applications. Outreach Grants are primarily concerned with getting applicants into the food stamp office, while the Program Participation Grants are primarily concerned with improving the quality and efficiency of operations within the food stamp office, such as streamlining office procedures or using technology (e.g. telephones) to improve the application process. For this reason, Program Participation Grants do not support projects that devote more than 25% of the requested grant funds to outreach activities--such as advertising, application assistance, screening or pre-qualifying applicants, or out-stationing eligibility workers--whose purpose is to attract or recruit food stamp applicants.

Among other considerations, applications will be rated on Soundness or Merit of Project Design as to whether the proposal clearly describes the access or participation problems to be solved and provides evidence that they are worth solving. Impact should reflect that the proposal demonstrates a direct effect on the application, certification, case maintenance or recertification processes and provides evidence that the changes would make the food stamp process easier for the applicant/recipient. It should also show a clear progression from idea to practice in a State agency or County office.

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. Fragmented service delivery for families, no support after exit from shelter, a gap in prevention initiatives, and a need for stronger collaborations. These were just some of the local conditions that led the 10-Year Plan leaders of Norfolk, Virginia to re-engineer their family homelessness resources into a centralized, single- point-of-entry model called the Homeless Action Response Team (HART), which has reduced the number of homeless families being placed in hotels to zero, decreased the number of families turned away from homeless family shelters, and ensured that homeless families in Norfolk are rapidly re-housed or maintained in permanent housing, thus improving child well-being.

Addressing the more than 700 attendees at the fourth annual National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness recently in Seattle, Norfolk Department of Human Services' Jill Baker described the HART initiative and its achievements. HART was established in 2004 as an initiative of the Norfolk Department of Human Services and functions as a team drawing from Food Stamps, Medicaid, and child welfare to develop processes, collaborations, and strategies consistent with the City's plan to end homelessness. For the past year, the team has served as a single point of contact for all homeless families seeking services in Norfolk.

Norfolk, which developed a 10-Year Plan under the leadership of Mayor Paul Fraim and which is now in implementation through the City's Office of Ending Homelessness headed by Katie Kitchin, has a population of about 240,000 and a poverty rate of 18% but has been able to report an overall decrease of 25% in its homeless census since 10-Year Plan implementation began. Commented Ms. Kitchin on the family initiative: "HART is a results-oriented initiative to align existing resources with strategies that will produce better results for families and children in our communities. Our successes in reducing chronic homelessness have demonstrated the importance of partnership and collaboration between our city agencies and our community partners, and the importance of innovating in our structure and practice."

"Norfolk is following a strategy that has worked for the last 20 years in creating 'real estate agents' for homeless families," indicated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. "Focusing strategic resources to create landlord relationships offers homeless families the same assistance that most of us look for in finding a new place to live."

Referrals are accepted from all internal program areas within Norfolk's Child and Family Services (CPS, Foster Care, Adoptions, and Family Preservation) and a Memorandum of Understanding was developed by the City with community partners/shelters. A recent Memorandum of Agreement was created between NDHS and several community partners including three shelters, to provide shelter as well as intensive in-home services to families (Human Services Grant) and to establish centralized intake (known as the Norfolk Family Hotline) for homeless families that coordinates services among all providers and moves families from homelessness into permanent housing.

Community-based providers have benefited from the new system - which required no new staffing - which has shortened the length of shelter stays for homeless families served; targeted the appropriate families served by the agency; improved performance outcomes as more families exit to permanent housing; and decreased the administrative burden of the intake process while improving the information available on the housing and service needs of families served.

HART utilizes a standardized tool known as Structured Decision-Making (Pilot) which identifies and structures critical decision points; increases consistency in decision making; increases accuracy of decision making; targets resources to families most at risk with a risk assessment tool combines structure, research and clinical judgment.

HART's newest development is the Housing Broker Team, a housing search resource supported by the City and the Norfolk Foundation which expands the capacity of the existing supply of affordable housing to accommodate families and individuals leaving the service system or being diverted from the service system. HART's long-term goal is to merge all city- wide housing resources with all landlord contacts to be managed by the Housing Broker Team. Launched last summer and co-located at DHS with HART, the team consists of 2 Housing Specialists with backgrounds in Property Management, Community/Social Services, and Resource building working in direct support of the HART Team.

Housing Brokers initiate contact with existing Landlords(L/L) and Property Managers(PM) and outline the HART program - including mission and program limitations, recruit new landlords, conduct site visits of properties and assist in move-in inspections, review all leases prior to signing, continue contact with landlords after move-ins, and negotiate security deposits and late fees for HART clients. Since August 2007 the Housing Broker Team has contacted over 100 new Landlords and/or Property Managers, identified over 2200 affordable rental units in Norfolk, placed over 100 families into affordable housing, handled over 235 Housing-Related Referrals, and saved the City of Norfolk over $20,000 in reduced security deposits and waived or reduced late fees.

Approximately 700 homeless advocates from across the country gathered in Seattle, Washington to participate in the National Alliance to End Homelessness' fourth annual National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness. Bill Gates, Sr., co- chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Nan Roman, President of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, keynoted the conference.

WITH this issue, the e-news continues its coverage of the momentum building among Mayors and County officials who are Signatories to the unprecedented 12- point America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions to end chronic homelessness, bringing the signers to a total of more than 165.

Elected officials in New York State who have been moving forward with 10-Year Plan initiatives are now the newest signatories to America's Road Home.

Mayor James Brown of Rome, NY, Mayor David Roefaro of Utica, NY, and County Executive Anthony Picente, Oneida County, NY became signatories. In September 2007, elected officials from Rome, Utica, and Oneida County welcomed Director Mangano to discuss federal homeless initiatives and announced a joint commitment to the creation of a 10-Year Plan in upstate New York.

Mayor Matthew Driscoll of Syracuse, NY became a signatory. Meeting with Director Mangano in September 2007 at Syracuse City Hall, Mayor Driscoll recognized the importance of moving forward with strategies to address homelessness in a more effective and solution-oriented approach.

The America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions was first signed at the November 2007 Summit convened by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, and Melville Charitable Trust President Robert Hohler. The Summit was supported by Fannie Mae.

At the November Denver press conference announcing the signing of the Statement, participating Mayors declared their intent to promote America's Road Home with their fellow Mayors and County officials. The Statement has been made available to other Mayors and County officials to sign. Mayors and County officials who are interested in becoming partners to the agreement can download the Principles and guidelines for signing at the Council's web site at www.usich.gov. A current list of the Charter Signatories is also posted.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. Counseling, treatment, housing, re-entry, job training services, and employment for people recovering from chemical dependencies, ex-offenders; persons who are homeless. This is the work of the social enterprise Pioneer Human Services in Seattle, which last week visited Billings, Montana for the Mayor's Committee on Homelessness 2-day "Social Enterprise Conference" at the Montana State University - Billings College of Technology (see prior story). The conference brought together business and social service providers to stimulate discussion of the role of social entrepreneurs in solutions to homelessness.

In Billings, Pioneer's CEO Steve Schwalb and Senior Vice President Marla Gese, leaders in the development of social enterprise, utilizing business strategies to secure contracts and develop new businesses to train, employ, house, and support workers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, acted as expert faculty for the business leaders, community partners, and providers. PHS began 40 years ago with a focus on the reentry population.

Recognized for the last two years by Fast Company magazine as one of the leading social entrepreneurial organizations, Pioneer has, since its founding in 1963, served over 100,000 people through an integrated array of services including housing, employment, training, treatment, counseling, and re- entry services. PHS was also recognized as a "Point of Light" by President George H.W. Bush and its business sense noted by outlets including The Wall Street Journal and Forbes.

"In a quiet way for more than forty years, Pioneer Human Services has been preventing homelessness for those who are returning from prisons and jails, for those who are homeless and at risk," indicated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. "Rather than being content with an old system of servicing, managing, and maintenancing, and ultimately accommodating, Pioneer puts into practice social enterprise to disturb the status quo of the past with a whole-person approach of support, employment, and self-esteem - business principles put to work for homeless people. "

Pioneer supports these programs through earned income and does not rely on fundraising or development activities. Enterprises include retail cafés, institutional food, sheet metal fabrication, aerospace precision machining, wholesale food distribution and contract packaging and fulfillment. Fast Company noted that Pioneer combines "creativity and ingenuity with business-solutions to address the most challenging social problems today, ranging from poor healthcare in developing nations to unequal education access, homelessness, unemployment and substance abuse in the United States.'"

Pioneer owns or operates more than 525 units of housing, including transitional and permanent residences, clean and sober communities and affordable apartments. According to Pioneer, on a daily basis, its counseling and treatment program support 155 adults receive residential treatment for chemical dependency. Eleven corrections and reentry faculties reach 389 former inmates from the federal and state correctional systems in residential reentry centers, where they participate in programs and secure employment. More than 500 Puget Sound employers hire Pioneer referrals, and Pioneer manufactures products/performs services for over 50 companies. Pioneer Consulting Services also specializes in consulting with other nonprofit organizations in exploration, creation and development of social enterprises.

February 12 of this year commences the bicentennial celebration of the life and legacy of President Abraham Lincoln. In the struggle to end slavery, President Lincoln and the abolitionists demonstrated that what seems an intractable part of the social landscape - in our history, in our American Experience, seemingly institutionalized - can be overcome. Following are some excerpts from the words of President Lincoln. His words are applicable to the work of ending homelessness, the wrong we seek to end, to the consumers with whom we partner".

"If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong."

"Passion has helped us, but we can do so no more. It will in the future be our enemy. Reason, cold, calculating, unpassioned reason, must furnish all the materials for our future support and defense."

"The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise -- with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country."

email: ichnews@setechnology.com

web: http://www.usich.gov