Alliance Online News: Alliance Releases Brief on Rapid Re-Housing for Survivors

Newsletters | 22 Mar 2011

March 22, 2011

POLICY | DATA + RESEARCH | TOOL + TRAINING | NEWS + MEDIA

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Editor: Anna Blasco

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Alliance Releases Brief on Rapid Re-Housing for Survivors

The Alliance released a new brief, Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing for Survivors, highlighting prevention and re-housing strategies used by domestic violence providers. Providers across the country are using both homelessness assistance funds and grants from the Office on Violence Against Women (VAWA) to help survivors avoid homelessness, quickly re-establish themselves and their children in the community, and minimize extended shelter stays. This brief provides an overview of the basic components of prevention and re-housing for survivors and provides examples of providers implementing these practices.

Download the Brief

Hill Update

Appropriations
The House and Senate both passed another three-week stopgap funding measure for fiscal year (FY) 2011 last week to fund the federal government until Friday, April 8. This measure includes an additional $6 billion in cuts but funds homelessness assistance and housing programs at largely level funding from FY 2010. Congressional leaders are hoping to reach a final compromise and pass legislation soon that will fund the government for the remainder of FY 2011.

House Financial Services Views & Estimates Letter
The House Financial Services Committee released its Views & Estimates letter to the Budget Committee for FY 2012. Views & Estimates letters are sent by every authorizing committee and contain an assessment of the programs it oversees and any funding needs. The Financial Services Committee's letter includes an amendment from Rep. Al Green (D-TX) that discusses the importance of the Housing and Urban Development - Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers. The amendment was added by the committee in mark up. The letter also mentions the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants.

SEVRA Legislation Reintroduced
On Thursday, March 17, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) introduced legislation to reform the Section 8 housing voucher program. The Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA) of 2011 (H.R. 1209) would stabilize voucher funding, encourage Section 8 residents to increase earned income, and improve the way rental units are inspected, among other provisions. The bill would also rename, expand, and modify HUD's Moving to Work program into a new Housing Innovation Program. Similar legislation was introduced but not passed in the 111th Congress.

Homeless Veterans Bill Introduced
On Wednesday, March 16, Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) introduced the Helping our Homeless Veterans Act (H.R. 1133), a companion bill to the one introduced by Sen. Klobuchar (D-MN) in the Senate (S. 441). The bill would allow collaboration between VA, states, and nonprofits on case management services for veterans supported housing programs. The bill would also increase case management services for veterans living in areas far from VA medical centers.

Correction: Federal Housing Administration
There was an error in an article titled, "House Passes Bill to End Foreclosure Assistance Programs" in last week's Hill Update. The bill passed by the House on March 10 would not terminate the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), but would instead terminate the FHA Refinance Program, which helped homeowners refinance home loans. We apologize for any confusion this inadvertent error may have caused.

Transitional Jobs Funding Available

The Department of Labor will be issuing six to twelve grants of $3 to $6 million to programs offering enhanced transitional jobs for non-custodial parents and ex-offenders. Nonprofit and faith-based organizations with experience offering transitional jobs or that partner with an experienced transitional job provider are eligible to apply. Participant outcomes that will be evaluated include: access to unsubsidized employment upon completion of the program, work retention, high wages, career advancement, reduced recidivism, and improved family relationships.

More Information

Webinar: State of the State Budget: Outlook for Housing Programs in 2011 and Beyond

The National Housing Conference's Center for Housing Policy will host a webinar this Thursday, March 24 at 1:00 p.m. EST on the impact of state budget shortfalls on housing and other social programs. Speakers from California, Illinois, and Maryland will describe budget trends affecting their state and possible approaches for supporting housing programs in difficult economic times.

Examining Families' Exits from Emergency Shelter

A study published in The Social Service Review entitled Exiting Shelter: An Epidemiological Analysis of Barriers and Facilitators for Families, examines the characteristics of families exiting emergency shelter. The study concludes that, with the exception of substance abuse which requires further investigation, families with long shelter stays do not have distinct needs from those with shorter stay. Instead, the length of shelter stays may have more to do with available resources than individual factors such as demographic factors, education, employment, health, and mental health.

Exiting Shelter: An Epidemiological Analysis of Barriers and Facilitators for Families

ABOUT US
	The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan, non profit organization dedicated to solving the problem of homelessness and preventing its continued growth. www.endhomelessness.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
	National Conference on Ending Homelessness July 13 - 15, 2011 Annual Awards Ceremony July 14, 2011 More Information
BECOME A FAN!
	The Alliance is online: on Facebook, on Twitter, on our blog, and on our website! Be sure to join the Alliance's online community and stay up-to-date with homelessness and housing information.
NEED HELP?
	Visit the Center for Capacity Building to learn more about the ways the Center can help your community end homelessness.

Alliance Online News: Alliance Releases Brief on Rapid Re-Housing for Survivors

Newsletters | 22 Mar 2011

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