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July 17, 2012
National Alliance to End Homelessness to Host National Conference on Family and Youth Homelessness in Los Angeles, CA
From February 9 to February 10, 2012, the Alliance will host the National Conference on Ending Family and Youth Homelessness in Los Angeles, CA.
Counting and Surveying Homeless Youth
Having an accurate count of homeless youth helps a community to understand the scope of the problem and to design solutions. The District of Columbia Alliance of Youth Advocates (DCAYA) is leading the effort to deepen understanding about the prevalence and needs of homeless youth in Washington, DC.
Alliance Online News: Alliance Releases "The State of Homelessness in America 2012"
Alliance Releases The State of Homelessness in America 2012
President's FY 2013 Budget Briefing
During this webinar, Alliance staff will review the key homelessness and low-income housing elements of the President's FY 2013 Budget Proposal, which is expected to be released on February 13.
2012 Advocacy Opportunities Calendar
This calendar provides a timeline and key dates in 2012 for advocates wishing to work on federal homelessness and housing policy.
Advocacy Update: Administration's Budget Briefing and ESG Comments
President's Budget Proposal Briefing Webinar
Primary Care and Behavioral Health Services in Permanent Supportive Housing
A video recording of the webinar entitled, "Putting the Pieces Together: Primary Care and Behavioral Health Services in Permanent Supportive Housing."
The State of Homelessness in America Report Suggests Risk of Homelessness Persists for Many American Families
On January 18, 2012, the Alliance released the second annual The State of Homelessness in America 2012 report.
Changes in the HUD Definition of “Homeless”
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued a final regulation to implement changes to the definition of homelessness contained in the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act. The new definition is outlined here.
SOH 2012: Chapter Three - The Demographics of Homelessness
Chapter Three of The State of Homelessness in America 2012 report shows changes in each of the demographic categories examined: doubled up households, people discharged from prison, youth aged out of foster care, and uninsured people.
SOH 2012: Chapter Two - The Economics of Homelessness
A review of the changes in the economic risk factors described in the first section of this chapter—severely cost burdened poor renter households, unemployed people, average income of working poor people, and housing units in foreclosure—provides insight into the impact of the recent recession on homelessness.
SOH 2012: Chapter One - Homelessness Counts
Chapter One of The State of Homelessness in America 2012 report on homelessness counts.
Alliance Online News: Alliance Publishes Draft Comments on ESG Regulation
Alliance Publishes Draft Comments on ESG Regulation
The State of Homelessness in America 2012
The State of Homelessness in America 2012 examines homelessness between 2009 and 2011, a period of economic downturn in the nation.
The State of Homelessness in America Report Suggests Risk of Homelessness Persists for Many American Families
This is the media advisory for the second annual The State of Homelessness in America 2012 report.
DRAFT Comments on Interim ESG Rule
The Alliance has prepared draft comments on HUD's interim rule for the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program as part of the HEARTH Act. The interim rule went into effect on January 4, and final comments are due to HUD by February 3.
Australia Case Study: Court to Home
Best Practice for justice system outreach from Micah Project (IAEH Partners) in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Webinar: Using State of Homelessness in America to Raise Media Awareness
On Thursday, January 12, the Alliance hosted a webinar to go over the major findings of and potential media/advocacy opportunities around the release of the State of Homelessness in America 2012 report.
2012 Donation Form
Please use this form if you would like to contribute to the National Alliance to End Homelessness via mail or fax.
Alliance Online News:Alliance Releases ESG Recommendations
Alliance Releases ESG Recommendations
The New ESG: Using the Lessons of HPRP and Other Initiatives to Inform ESG Implementation
This brief distills the Alliance's findings on how HPRP and other initiatives were implemented in numerous communities. It provides six recommendations for implementing the new ESG program.
News Alert: Primary Care and Behavioral Health Services in PSH
Register for Primary Care and Behavioral Health Services in PSH
Housing First Europe
Housing First Europe: Testing a Social Innovation in Tackling Homelessness in Different National and Local Contexts
Summary and Analysis of the Interim ESG Rule
This brief summarizes the interim rule for the Emergency Solutions Grant program.
Advocacy Update: Media Awareness Campaign
Media Campaign to Increase Awareness of Homelessness
Alliance Online News:Alliance Releases Brief on Successful Prevention Targeting
Alliance Releases New Brief on Successful Prevention Targeting
Advocacy Update: FY 2012 Funding and Quarterly Report
Quarterly Report: Announcements and Recap
National Homeless Numbers Decline from 2010 to 2011
Federal programs aimed at rapid re-housing, homelessness prevention stemmed homelessness despite struggling economy
Nan Roman Selected to Serve on the Bipartisan Policy Center Housing Commission
Nan Roman, President and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness has been selected as one of the 17 members serving on the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Housing Commission.
Alliance Online News: HUD Releases 2011 Point-in-Time Count
HUD Releases 2011 Point-in-Time Count
Prevention Targeting 101
This brief is a concise “how-to” guide on how communities can begin or improve efforts to identify and effectively assist the households who are most likely to become homeless and serve them appropriately.
Impact of Sequestration Could Mean More Homeless People, Families
Hundreds of thousands more people could experience homelessness as a result of next year’s cuts to the federal budget.
Impact of "Sequestration" on Federal Homelessness Assistance
Sequestration, an initial 9.1 percent across-the-board cut to discretionary federal funding, could mean significant reductions in resources serving homeless and at-risk people and a potential rise in homelessness across the country.
Alliance Online News: VA Announces SSVF Funding Availability
VA Announces SSVF Funding Availability
New Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Regulations: Overview and Implementation
On November 29, 2011, the Alliance hosted a webinar reviewing the recently released Emergency Solutions Grant regulations issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The recording, along with the PPT presentation, are available here.
House Mental Health Caucus Sign-On Letter
This letter, being circulated by the Congressional Mental Health Caucus Co-Chair Grace F. Napolitano, to be sent to House leaders, calls for reduced cuts to mental health and substance abuse programs within the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Super-Committee’s Inaction: Implications for Ending Homelessness
The Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction failed to come up with a plan to reduce the nation's deficit by the needed $1.2 trillion. This inaction will put sequestration into effect over the next nine years. This brief explains what this means for homelessness programs.
ESG Resources: Understanding and Implementing the Interim Rule
This page provides a summary of the interim Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) rule, as well as resources for implementing the rule and maximizing the impact of your community's ESG resources.
Advocacy Update: ESG Regs, FY 2012 HUD Funding Bill Released
Congress Releases Final FY 2012 HUD Funding Bill
Veterans Map and Look-up Table, 2010
The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development estimate that 76,329 veterans were homeless on a given night in 2010. This map shows how many veterans are estimated to be homeless in each state.
Alliance Online News: HUD Releases New ESG Regulations and Remaining 2011 ESG Funds
HUD Releases New ESG Regulations and Remaining 2011 ESG Funds
PPT: Family Intervention to Address and Prevent Homelessness Among LGBTQ Youth
This is the PPT presentation to the webinar held on November 8, 2011, Family Intervention to Address and Prevent Homelessness Among LGBTQ Youth.
Reconnecting At-Risk and Homeless LGBTQ Youth with Family
New York City is working to prevent and end homelessness for LGBTQ homeless youth. Recognizing that most runaway and homeless LGBTQ youth will return to their family, New York City is funding two community-based organizations to strengthen youth’s connections to families to prevent and rapidly end their homelessness.
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CESC) and Youth Homelessness
It is commonly estimated that 100,000 children are victims of commercial sexual exploitation each year. In this brief, the Alliance examines the relationship between commercial sexual exploitation of children and youth homelessness.
Advocacy Update: Urgent: McKinney Sign-On Letter - Help Needed!
House McKinney Sign-On Letter Circulating
Alliance Online News: Alliance Releases Brief on Veterans Homelessness
Alliance Releases Brief on Veterans Homelessness
Hastings/Moore/Johnson Congressional Sign On Letter
Sign On Letter circulated by Reps. Alcee Hastings, Gwen Moore, and Eddie Bernice Johnson to support increased McKinney-Vento funding for FY 2012.
Data Point: Veteran Homelessness in the United States
This one-page brief shows the number of veterans experiencing homelessness in the United States and the annual reductions in homelessness necessary in order to end veterans homelessness in five years.
FY 2012 McKinney Appropriations: Sample Congressional Talking Points
Use these talking points as a guide for contacting your senators and representatives to ask them to support as much funding as possible and include an increase to HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants programs in fiscal year (FY) 2012.
Advocacy Update: Senate Passes HUD Funding Bill; Negotiations with House to Start Right Away
Senate Passes HUD Funding Bill; Negotiations with House to Start Right Away
Alliance Online News: Alliance Comments on Medicaid Regulations
Alliance Comments on Medicaid Regulations
IAEH Communique
The mission of the International Alliance to End Homelessness is to assist and enhance the work of national governments, local communities, and nongovernmental organizations to end homelessness through a shared passion and commitment to high quality policy, practice and research.
IAEH Summary
This document offers a summary of the International Alliance to End Homelessness, including its founding, focus, and proposed activities.
IAEH Participants
List of IAEH participants, including their country and organization. Please be advised that this list may grow and change as the IAEH evolves.
Alliance Online News: Registration Now Open for 2012 National Conference
Online Registration Now Open for 2012 National Conference
Talking Points - Medicaid Can Help Finish the Job of Ending Chronic Homelessness
Please use the talking points to contact your Members of Congress who sit on key committees (Senate Finance, Senate HELP, and House Energy and Commerce) that will weigh in with the “Super-Committee” regarding whether and/or how to make changes to Medicaid in order to reduce the federal deficit.
Advocacy Update: Super-Committee Advocacy Needed
Ask the Congressional Super-Committee to Protect Resources for Ending Homelessness
Alliance Online News: Alliance Releases Youth Typology Paper
Alliance Releases Youth Typology Paper
Nan Roman Remarks - Domestic Violence Housing First Symposium
Keynote remarks by Nan Roman, president and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, at the Domestic Violence Housing First Symposium: Building on Our Past, Learning as We Go, sponsored by the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Advocacy Update: Quarterly Report
Updates and Announcements
The Heterogeneity of Homeless Youth in America: Examining Typologies
Annual prevalence estimates for homeless youth in the U.S. have ranged as high as 1.6 million among those aged 13-17 (Ringwalt et al., 1998). In this report, researchers present a history of typologies of homeless youth and also suggest recommendations for further research on this population.
Alliance Online News: Alliance Projects Increases in Homelessness
Alliance Releases Research Brief that Projects Increases in Homelessness
Additional Resources
This section includes additional resources that may be helpful to communities.
Coordinating Intake and Assessments through Housing Resource Centers
Coordinating Intake and Assessments through Housing Resource Centers, PowerPoint presentation given by Kathy Wahto of Serenity House of Clallam County.
Community Examples
This section includes materials that discuss specific communities’ models or were provided directly by communities that have implemented a coordinated intake process.
Consumer Paths Questionnaire
This survey can be used as an evaluation tool to determine if coordinated entry is creating a shorter path for consumers between intake and permanent housing. The questionnaire also ties into the Coordinated Entry Evaluation Tool, but can be used independently.
Coordinated Entry Evaluation Tool
Communities can use this tool as a quick way to assess how well their coordinated entry system is functioning.
Evaluation
Along with performance outcomes, these tools can help communities evaluate the success of their coordinated entry in creating a more efficient, HEARTH-friendly system.
Community Services Worksheet - Dropdown Menus
This Excel sheet provides a template in which important program information can be stored for the use of intake workers.
Community Services Worksheet – No Dropdown Menus
This Excel sheet provides a template in which important program information can be stored for the use of intake workers.
Implementation
Communities can use these additional tools to help them run their coordinated entry system.
Prevention/Diversion Assessment Tool
This assessment tool, based off of Minneapolis/Hennepin County, MN and Columbus, OH’s assessment forms, will be of use to communities attempting to determine if a household needs prevention or diversion assistance. This should be administered as soon as a family enters the intake center to determine if they will need shelter or other provisional help or if they can be assisted without having to enter the homeless assistance system.
Rapid Re-Housing Triage Tool
This tool may help determine which services a rapid re-housing eligible household needs. Communities would ideally use this tool only after prevention or diversion had been ruled out as options for a household and before or very shortly after admitting them to a shelter program if they have no place else to stay.
Assessment
These assessment tools can be used at the front door to help communities determine the best programmatic fit for each household. Before using these tools, communities should develop a screening process that gives them some idea of what kind of intervention, and what intensity of services, a household may need.
Advocacy Update: Congressional Call-In Week Happening Next Week
National Organizations Sponsor Congressional Call-In Week
FY 2012 McKinney Appropriations: Sample Action Alert
Use this sample action alert as a guide for asking your network to contact their senators and representatives to ask them to support as much funding as possible and include an increase to HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants programs in fiscal year (FY) 2012.
Increases in Homelessness on the Horizon
Based on new evidence about increased poverty and future economic trends, the Alliance estimates that in the next three years homelessness in the United States could increase by 5 percent, or 74,000 people.
Alliance Online News: How to Reallocate and Repurpose CoC Funds
Reallocating and Repurposing CoC Funds Webinar Now Available
Alliance Online News: New Webinar from the Alliance and USICH
New Webinar from the Alliance and USICH
Budget Control Act of 2011: Impact on Ending Homelessness
This short paper will provide recommendations for how the Select Committee can assist in the work to end homelessness and identify decisions that would make the work more difficult and that should be avoided. It will also cover the impact that sequestration would have on nearly all key federal programs to end homelessness, should the Select Committee fail to identify sufficient reductions in the deficit.
FY 2012 RHYA Appropriations: Sample Senate Talking Points
Use these talking points as a guide for contacting your senators to ask them to support a funding level of about $135 million in fiscal year (FY) 2012 for HHS' Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs.
Alliance Online News: Reallocating CoC Resources - New USICH, Alliance Webinar
Webinar on Re-Tooling Homeless Assistance Programs
FY 2012 Appropriations: Education for Homeless Children and Youth
Congress should provide at least $75 million for the EHCY program. This modest increase is necessary to assist school districts to identify and assist the increasing numbers of youth experiencing homelessness.
Why the Need for an Incidence and Prevalence Study of Homeless Youth
The National Alliance to End Homelessness recommends that Congress appropriate a small amount of funding to carry out Congress’s requirement of a study of homelessness among youth. This study would contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of bipartisan efforts to protect these uniquely vulnerable young people.
Advocacy Update: House Does Not Increase McKinney
House HUD Funding Bill Released
Alliance Online News: Alliance Hiring a Capacity Building Associate
Alliance Hiring a Capacity Building Associate
Advocacy Update: House to Release HUD, HHS Funding Bills
House Scheduled to Release HUD, HHS Funding Bills This Week
Rapid Re-Housing Clinic, Parts I and II
The week of August 29, 2011, the Alliance concluded a two-part series of webinars on rapid re-housing. Information from the two-part series is available here.
National RHYA Program Utilization
This document contains various charts showing Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) utilization, statistics, and efficiency.
2011 Policy Guide
This policy guide provides information about the most important federal programs, policies, and legislation affecting homelessness.
News Alert: HUD Releases COC NOFA
HUD Releases CoC NOFA
Form 990 (2010)
Form 990 submitted to the IRS by the National Alliance to End Homelessness in 2009. The 990 is submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by nonprofit organizations and provides information on the filing organization's mission, programs, and finances.
Annual Report 2010
This document outlines the Alliance's activities and accomplishments in 2010.
Alliance Online News: Alliance Releases Capitol Hill Day Report
Alliance Releases Capitol Hill Day Report
Capitol Hill Day 2011: Report and Summary
This report includes an overview of Capitol Hill Day 2011, a review of some of the key offices with which advocates met, and a summary of the impact that participants’ meetings have already had on federal policy.
IAEH - Resolution of Sydney Council
A City of Sydney, Australia resolution by the City Council and Lord Mayor to involve Sydney in the International Alliance to End Homelessness.
FY 2012 RHYA Appropriations: Sample Senate Letter
Use this sample letter as a guide for contacting your Senators to invite them to visit your program and to ask them to support a funding level of $135 million in fiscal year (FY) 2012 for Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) programs.
FY 2012 McKinney Appropriations: Sample Senate Letter
Use this sample letter as a guide for contacting your Senators to ask invite them to visit your program and to support a funding level of $2.4 billion in FY 2012 for McKinney-Vento programs.
FY 2012 RHYA Appropriations: Sample Action Alert
Use this sample action alert as a guide for asking your network to invite their Members of Congress to visit their program and meet with them over the current congressional recess.
Campaign: Increasing Funding for McKinney-Vento in FY 2012
Advocates will try to urge Congress to provide $2.4 billion in FY 2012 for McKinney-Vento programs.
FY 2012 RHYA Appropriations: Sample House Letter
Use this sample letter as a guide for contacting your Representatives to invite your Member to visit your program and to ask them to support a funding level of $135 million in FY 2012 for RHYA programs.
Campaign: Increasing Funding for RHYA in FY 2012
Advocates will try to urge Congress to provide $135 million in FY 2012 for RHYA programs.
FY 2012 McKinney Appropriations: Sample House Letter
Use this sample letter as a guide for contacting your Representatives to invite them to visit your program and to ask them to support a funding level of $2.4 billion in FY 2012 for McKinney-Vento programs.
Alliance Online News: Using Shelter Diversion to Reduce Homelessness
Learn More About Using Shelter Diversion to Reduce Homelessness
Closing the Front Door: Creating a Successful Diversion Program for Homeless Families
Diversion is a strategy that prevents homelessness for people seeking shelter by immediately identifying alternate housing arrangements. Diversion programs can reduce family homelessness, demand for shelter beds, and program wait lists.
Alliance Online News: New Permanent Supportive Housing Tool
Alliance Releases New Permanent Supportive Housing Tool
Helping Chronically Homeless People Avoid High-Cost Health Care
Policymakers seeking strategies to manage health care costs often look at ways to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital stays. Frequently overlooked in this approach are community-based solutions that offset health care costs associated with homelessness.
Advocacy Update: Impact of New Debt Law on Homelessness
Debt Agreement's Impact on Homelessness and What You Can Do!
1.10 New Research on Homelessness among Veterans
1.10 New Research on Homelessness among Veterans
2.7 Early Childhood Home Visiting: New Opportunities
2.7 Early Childhood Home Visiting: New Opportunities
Improving Our Response to Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth
Improving Our Response to Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth
4.10 Improving Employment Outcomes: The Role of TANF and WIA
4.10 Improving Employment Outcomes: The Role of TANF and WIA
Helping Chronically Homeless People Avoid High-Cost Health Care
Policymakers seeking strategies to manage health care costs often look at ways to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital stays. Frequently overlooked in this approach are community-based solutions that offset health care costs associated with homelessness.
Data Point: Homeless Assistance Program Funding: Federal Versus State and Local Assistance
Data Point: Homeless Assistance Program Funding: Federal Versus State and Local Assistance
Economy Bytes: Effect of State and Local Budget Cuts on Homelessness
In the third installment of the Homelessness Research Institute’s (HRI) Economy Bytes series, the intersection between state and local budget cuts and homelessness is examined. Many states and localities are cutting the budgets of their homeless assistance programs in fiscal year (FY) 2012, which is elevating vulnerability and putting more and more people at risk of experiencing homelessness.
Alliance Online News: HUD-VASH Funding Announced
HUD and VA Announce $46.2 Million in HUD-VASH Vouchers
MD - Howard County
Howard County's Plan to End Homelessness
OH - Tuscarawas County
Tuscarawas County Plan to End Homelessness
MI - State of Michigan
One Person, One Family at a Time: The Plan, Michigan's Campaign to End Homelessness
2.4 First Served: Prioritizing Tenants for Permanent Supportive Housing
2.4 First Served: Prioritizing Tenants for Permanent Supportive Housing
5.8 All About Benefits: Maximizing Income for Homeless Households
5.8 All About Benefits: Maximizing Income for Homeless Households
3.11 Lessons Learned: Transitional Employment for Families, Singles, and Youth
3.11 Lessons Learned: Transitional Employment for Families, Singles, and Youth
5.12 Funding Strategies for Programs Serving Homeless Youth
5.12 Funding Strategies for Programs Serving Homeless Youth
6.12 Creating a Local Housing Trust Fund
6.12 Creating a Local Housing Trust Fund
6.8 Improving the Response to Youth In and Out of the Juvenile Justice System
6.8 Improving the Response to Youth In and Out of the Juvenile Justice System
1.8 Closing in on Zero: Lessons from Worcester, MA
1.8 Closing in on Zero: Lessons from Worcester, MA
3.5 Prevention: Targeting the Imminently Homeless
3.5 Prevention: Targeting the Imminently Homeless
3.8 Meeting People Where They Are: Homeless Individuals with High Service Needs
3.8 Meeting People Where They Are: Homeless Individuals with High Service Needs
5.6 Performance Improvement: Strategies from Communities that Have Reduced Homelessness
5.6 Performance Improvement: Strategies from Communities that Have Reduced Homelessness
5.7 Collaborating with Law Enforcement – Promising Strategies for Working with the Police
5.7 Collaborating with Law Enforcement – Promising Strategies for Working with the Police
1.12 Innovative Housing Interventions for Survivors of Domestic Violence
1.12 Innovative Housing Interventions for Survivors of Domestic Violence
3.13 Collaborating with Schools to Serve Children and Youth
3.13 Collaborating with Schools to Serve Children and Youth
3.6 Learning Labs: Using Stakeholder Workgroups to Improve Community Interventions of Your Homeless Assistance System
3.6 Learning Labs: Using Stakeholder Workgroups to Improve Community Interventions of Your Homeless Assistance System
6.9 Working with Employers to Increase Job Opportunities
6.9 Working with Employers to Increase Job Opportunities
2.8 Designing Rent Subsidy Programs: Lessons Learned
2.8 Designing Rent Subsidy Programs: Lessons Learned
3.4 Voluntary Service Models: Serving Families in Their Own Homes
3.4 Voluntary Service Models: Serving Families in Their Own Homes
4.12 Strategies for Working with Undocumented Families and Individuals
4.12 Strategies for Working with Undocumented Families and Individuals
4.5 Serving Families Outside the Shelter System: Identification, Outreach, and Engagement Strategies
4.5 Serving Families Outside the Shelter System: Identification, Outreach, and Engagement Strategies
4.7 Transitional Living Programs for Youth: What Works
4.7 Transitional Living Programs for Youth: What Works
5.5 Accommodating All Families: Addressing Substance Abuse
5.5 Accommodating All Families: Addressing Substance Abuse
Alliance Online News: Conference Workshop Materials Available Online
Conference Workshop Materials Available Online
1.2 Engaging Local Political and Community Leaders
1.2 Engaging Local Political and Community Leaders
1.1 Strategies for Engaging Congress
1.1 Strategies for Engaging Congress
1.3 Basics of Rapid Re-Housing
1.3 Basics of Rapid Re-Housing
4.8 Preventing Recidivism and Homelessness: Housing Strategies for Ex-Offenders
4.8 Preventing Recidivism and Homelessness: Housing Strategies for Ex-Offenders
6.13 A Different Perspective: International Models for Ending Youth Homelessness
6.13 A Different Perspective: International Models for Ending Youth Homelessness
Medicaid: Tools and Information for the Fight Against Homelessness
Medicaid: Tools and Information for the Fight Against Homelessness
3.2 Retooling the Crisis Response System
3.2 Retooling the Crisis Response System
6.3 Preventing Homelessness among Veterans
6.3 Preventing Homelessness among Veterans
1.7 LGBTQ Youth: Improving our Response and Gaining Community Support
1.7 LGBTQ Youth: Improving our Response and Gaining Community Support
2.10 First Contact: Creating a Front Door to Your Homelessness System
2.10 First Contact: Creating a Front Door to Your Homelessness System
4.3 Child Welfare's Response to End Youth Homelessness
4.3 Child Welfare's Response to End Youth Homelessness
6.6 Working with Local Social Services to Meet the Needs of Families
6.6 Working with Local Social Services to Meet the Needs of Families
Pre-Conference: Evidence-Based Practices for Serving Runaway and Homeless Youth
Pre-Conference: Evidence-Based Practices for Serving Runaway and Homeless Youth
1.11 Data and Performance Simplified
1.11 Data and Performance Simplified
6.2 Making the Case: Effective Advocacy Strategies for Youth Providers
6.2 Making the Case: Effective Advocacy Strategies for Youth Providers
6.7 Advanced Re-Housing Strategies
6.7 Advanced Re-Housing Strategies
1.13 Expanding Housing Options for Youth: HPRP Innovations
1.13 Expanding Housing Options for Youth: HPRP Innovations
2.1 Federal Strategic Plan Update
2.1 Federal Strategic Plan Update
2.11 Serving Homeless Veterans 101
2.11 Serving Homeless Veterans 101
4.2 How to Navigate Media Relations
4.2 How to Navigate Media Relations
4.4 Coming Together: Engaging Faith-Based Providers
4.4 Coming Together: Engaging Faith-Based Providers
6.4 Governance Strategies for Improving Community-Wide Outcomes
6.4 Governance Strategies for Improving Community-Wide Outcomes
2.5 Shifting Gears: Options for Transitional Housing
2.5 Shifting Gears: Options for Transitional Housing
5.4 Local Research on Homelessness
5.4 Local Research on Homelessness
1.4 A Beginner’s Guide to Affordable Housing Development
1.4 A Beginner’s Guide to Affordable Housing Development
4.9 What’s New in Homelessness Research
4.9 What’s New in Homelessness Research
6.5 Effective Strategies for Outreach to the Street and Abandoned Buildings
6.5 Effective Strategies for Outreach to the Street and Abandoned Buildings
1.6 Supported Employment: Strategies for Employing People with Disabilities
1.6 Supported Employment: Strategies for Employing People with Disabilities
5.3 Using Data to Spur Systems Change
5.3 Using Data to Spur Systems Change
2.13 Perfecting Rapid Re-Housing: How to Leverage Landlord Relationships
2.13 Perfecting Rapid Re-Housing: How to Leverage Landlord Relationships
3.10 Public Housing Authorities: Partners in Ending Homelessness
3.10 Public Housing Authorities: Partners in Ending Homelessness
5.9 Creating Successful Exits from Permanent Supportive Housing
5.9 Creating Successful Exits from Permanent Supportive Housing
4.11 Using Diversion to Reduce Homelessness
4.11 Using Diversion to Reduce Homelessness
5.10 Understanding Rural and Tribal Homelessness
5.10 Understanding Rural and Tribal Homelessness
2.12 Creating a Yardstick: Developing a Performance Measurement System
2.12 Creating a Yardstick: Developing a Performance Measurement System
2.2 How to Create a Communications Strategy
2.2 How to Create a Communications Strategy
3.7 What Do We Know About Aging and Vulnerability to Homelessness?
3.7 What Do We Know About Aging and Vulnerability to Homelessness?
3.9 Civil Rights and Housing for Homeless Individuals with Disabilities
3.9 Civil Rights and Housing for Homeless Individuals with Disabilities
6.1 How to Maximize the Impact of Social Media
6.1 How to Maximize the Impact of Social Media
6.10 Targeting for Success: Serving Homeless Families with the Highest Needs
6.10 Targeting for Success: Serving Homeless Families with the Highest Needs
6.11 Serving Older and Disabled Homeless People
6.11 Serving Older and Disabled Homeless People
4.6 Service Priorities for Homeless Veterans – How Does VASH Fit?
4.6 Service Priorities for Homeless Veterans – How Does VASH Fit?
2.9 Services in PSH: Medicaid Makes a Difference
2.9 Services in PSH: Medicaid Makes a Difference
FY 2012 McKinney Appropriations: Senate Sign-On Letter
This sign-on letter was circulated by Senators Reed (D-RI), Snowe (R-ME), and Schumer (D-NY) to their colleagues in the Senate. It requests that the Senate HUD Appropriations Subcommittee strongly support HUD's McKinney-Vento programs in its FY 2012 funding bill.
Alliance Online News: Follow the National Conference on Ending Homelessness Online
Follow the National Conference on Ending Homelessness Online
Capitol Hill Day: 2011 Policy Priorities Update
On July 7, 2011, the Alliance hosted a webinar to go over 2011 Policy Priorities in preparation for Capitol Hill Day visits.
Advocacy Update: House HUD Funding Bill Next Week
House HUD Appropriations Committee to Release Bill Next Week
Alliance Online News: Announcing Keynote Speakers for the National Conference
Sam Tsemberis and Derek Douglas to Keynote Alliance Conference
FY 2012 Appropriations: Housing Choice Vouchers
Approximately 2 million households receive rental assistance through Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance (Housing Choice Voucher program). Congress should fund all existing vouchers and provide $132 million for additional vouchers for VASH and the Demonstration.
FY 2012 Appropriations: HUD VA-Supportive Housing Vouchers
In order to continue the progress toward ending homelessness for America's veterans, Congress should continue to fund HUD-VASH vouchers to provide housing, coupled with services, to chronically homeless veterans.
FY 2012 Appropriations: SAMHSA Homeless Services
The President’s FY 2012 budget request included $89 million for SAMHSA Homeless Services. This increase includes funding for the HUD/HHS Housing and Services for Homeless Persons Demonstration Initiative.
FY 2012 Appropriations: Housing and Services for Homeless Persons Demonstration
The Demonstration requests $57 million from the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program within HUD to be coupled with services provided through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Medicaid, and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs within HHS, as well as with Department of Education resources.
FY 2012 Appropriations: HUD's Homeless Assistance Grants
The HEARTH Act expands investments in solutions to homelessness. Congress should fund those investments without shifting significant resources from existing homeless assistance programs. The Homeless Assistance Grants program will require an increase of 21% percent to approximately $2.4 billion in FY 2012.
FY 2012 Appropriations: RHYA Programs
Congress could offer necessary, crisis services for homeless youth by appropriating $135 million in fiscal year (FY) 2012 for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) programs.
Alliance Online News: Alliance Releases Federal Plan Progress Report
Alliance Releases Year One Progress Report on the Federal Strategic Plan to End Homelessness
Coordinated Entry Part II: Serving Singles and Families in Columbus, OH
This webinar entitled "Coordinated Entry Part II: Serving Singles and Families in Columbus, OH," was held on June 23 about coordinated entry. Lianna Barbu, Operations Director at Community Shelter Board discussed the Columbus coordinated intake system for singles and for families.
Advocacy Update: Quarterly Report
This Quarterly Report includes a preview of key upcoming activities and issues for advocates, as well as a review of major developments from the last quarter.
Federal Agencies Active in Implementing Plan to End Homelessness But Results Elusive
On the one-year anniversary of Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, the Alliance offers an evaluation of the progress made thus far.
A Progress Report on the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
| On the one-year anniversary of Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, the Alliance offers an evaluation of the progress made thus far.
Alliance Online News: Alliance Releases Best Practice Profile for Youth
Coordinated Entry Webinar on Thursday, June 23
Comparison of Section 8 Voucher Reform Proposals
The Alliance analyzed changes proposed by the Section 8 Savings Act of 2011 (SESA) and how they differ from the current law, and the previous attempt to reform Section 8, known as the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act.
First Place for Youth - Oakland, California
First Place for Youth is a nonprofit organization that serves youth who are preparing to age out of foster care or who have recently aged out of care and are experiencing a housing crisis.
No Increase in Homelessness Despite Recession
The Alliance responds to the Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress released by the Department of Housing and Urban Development on Tuesday, June 14.
Alliance Online News: HUD Releases 2010 AHAR
The Alliance is Pleased to Announce our 2011 Award Recipients
Moving Toward Coordinated Entry: Lessons from Dayton/Montgomery County, OH
These are resources from the webinar on coordinated entry that took place on Thursday, June 9, 2011. The PowerPoint presentation and a Q+A document are included.
Alliance Online News: Remembering Bob Hohler
The Alliance Remembers Bob Hohler
The Alliance Remembers Robert Hohler
| Bob Hohler, Executive Director of the Melville Charitable Trust, passed away suddenly while hiking with his family in England last Thursday, June 2. The Alliance remembers his life and work.
State Captain List
Find your State Captain for the 2011 Capitol Hill Day!
Alliance Online News: Alliance Releases New Paper on Coordinated Entry
Alliance Releases New Paper on Coordinated Entry
One Way In: The Advantages of Introducing System- Wide Coordinated Entry for Homeless Families
| By centralizing intake and program admissions decisions, a coordinated entry process makes it more likely that families will be served by the right intervention more quickly. This brief will go over coordinated entry principles and models.
Alliance Online News: Awards Ceremony Tickets Now on Sale
Awards Ceremony Tickets Now on Sale
2011 Conference Advocacy Agenda
This is a schedule of policy and advocacy-related workshops and activities at the annual conference.
State Captains’ Toolkit: Organizing Your State’s Capitol Hill Day Advocacy Activities
Capitol Hill Day is always held on the last afternoon of the Alliance's annual National Conference on Ending Homelessness in July in Washington, DC. This toolkit provides step-by-step information to help you maximize your effectiveness in organizing Capitol Hill Day.
Capitol Hill Day 2011 Policy Priorities
This list of policy issues are high priority items on which Congress is currently working and we can make significant progress during Capitol Hill Day at our Annual Conference, July 13-15, 2011. This is not a complete list of the policy initiatives that the Alliance supports.
FY 2012 McKinney Appropriations: House Sign-On Letter
Sign On Letter circulated by Rep. Gwen Moore to support about $2.4 billion for HUD's McKinney-Vento programs in FY 2012.
Advocacy Update: McKinney, RHYA Sign-On Letters Due THIS WEEK
House McKinney Sign-On Letter Deadline Approaching!
Alliance Online News: HUD Clarifies FY 2011 Plans
HUD Provides Clarification for FY 2011 Plans
FY 2012 RHYA Appropriations: House Congressional Sign-On Letter
This letter was circulated by Reps. Biggert (R-IL) and Davis (D-IL) in support of robust funding for RHYA and EHCY programs in FY 2012.
National Advisory Council on LGBTQ Homeless Youth
The National Advisory Council on LGBTQ Homeless Youth was created to address these concerns and improve the nation’s response to homelessness among LGBTQ youth.
Capitol Hill Day 2011
Advocates are gearing up for Capitol Hill Day, July 12-14, 2010. Advocates from across the country will meet with Members of Congress to urge them to make ending homelessness a federal priority. This contains all of the information you need to participate!
Advocacy Update: McKinney Sign-On Letter - Help Needed!
House McKinney Sign-On Letter Circulating
Alliance Online News: HUD to Host Webinar for HPRP Grantees
HUD to Host Webinar for HPRP Grantees
For More Information about the Affordable Care Act
For More Information about the Affordable Care Act, please use the following links.
Readers Guide to Sample Health Care Benefits Packages
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), starting on January 1, 2014, Medicaid eligibility will expand to include all individuals under 133% of the federal poverty. This brief is a guide to Sample Health Care Benefits Packages created under the health care reform bill.
Webinar: Talking Medicaid
Listen to a recording of Talking Medicaid, the May 4 webinar sponsored by the Alliance. The slide presentation is also available for downloading.
Alliance Online News: Conference Scholarship Applications Accepted until May 11
Conference Scholarship Applications Accepted until May 11
Increasing RHYA Funding: FY 2012 Appropriations Campaign
On Monday, May 2, the Alliance hosted a webinar to launch the fiscal year (FY) 2012 campaign to increase funding for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Programs.
April 28 - 29, 2011
2011-2012 State and Local Budget Cuts Media Map
This map serves as a database of media articles about state and local budgets that have proposed cuts to homeless programs in the most recent fiscal year (2011 or 2012).
RHYA Campaign: Letter Writing Contest Overview and Rules
To kick off our RHYA appropriations campaign, we are launching an RHYA letter writing campaign to send as many letters as possible to Members of Congress.
Contacting Your Congressional Office
This brief outlines who to contact in the office of your Member of Congress (Member) and how to get your message across by phone or email.
Advocacy Update: Upcoming Webinars for Advocates
Upcoming Webinars for Advocates: RHYA and Medicaid
Improving Your Prevention Targeting Efforts
The first of the HEARTH Academy webinars is called "Improving Your Prevention Targeting Efforts," and was held on April 20th. Cathy ten Broeke, Director of the Office to End Homelessness in Minneapolis/Hennepin County, MN, talked about that community's strategy for refining and evaluating their prevention targeting efforts.
Eligibility Criteria and Rating Tool for Hennepin County Family Homelessness Prevention
This document is a tool Hennepin County officials use to determine eligibility for family homelessness resources.
Hennepin County, MN: Promising Strategy for Assessment of the Targeting of Homelessness Prevention Resources
The Alliance and Cathy ten Broeke summarize, in a 4-page document, ways Hennepin County is working to best use homelessness prevention resources.
Communiqué: International Alliance to End Homelessness through Research, Policy and Practice
Communiqué: International Alliance to End Homelessness through Research, Policy and Practice
FY 2012 Appropriatons: Capitalize the National Housing Trust Fund
The Alliance strongly urges Congress to provide a $1 billion mandatory allocation for the National Housing Trust Fund and identify additional funding sources to reach its goal of creating 1.5 million affordable housing units over the next 10 years.
Alliance Online News: Improve Your Prevention Targeting Efforts
Tomorrow: Webinar on Improving Prevention Targeting Efforts
Living a Good Life: Bringing relationships, community and purpose to the lives of marginalised people
In November 2009, the Rockefeller Foundation sponsored a meeting at its Bellagio Center in Italy, bringing together 18 recognised social innovators working to ensure that marginalized and vulnerable people are not only decently housed, but can also feel welcome and lead a dignified life in the communities in which they live. This is not an Alliance-authored publication.
GA - Columbus-Muscogee County
The City of Columbus-Muscogee County ten year plan to end homelessness has envisioned that their community will "eradicate homelessness in Columbus, Georgia within ten years." Their mission is as follows: "To make homelessness ATYPICAL: To develop a prevention program that reorients Columbus’ service system from managing homelessness to one that prevents and eliminates homelessness. To make homelessness TEMPORARY: Develop a system that responds rapidly to homeless situations. To make homelessness NON-RECURRING: To provide housing and support services that allows individuals and families to return to self sufficiency with dignity." Their guiding principles are as follows: "Successful implementation of this plan will require the efforts of many organizations and individuals: local and state government, the business community, faith-based organizations, foundations, homeless service providers, volunteers, donors, landlords, employers, health care organizations and, of course, the people experiencing homelessness themselves. This plan will be: • Community Driven • A Service Provider Collaborative • A Care Approach • Measureable in Outcomes • Focused on Housing First"
Press Inquiries
For more information, interview requests, background or data, please contact the communications department.
About Our Spokespersons
Nan Roman, Steve Berg, and M William Sermons serve as the Alliance's main spokespersons.
Advocacy Update: FY 2011 Budget Released
Congress Releases Details of FY 2011 Budget Deal
April 12 - 13, 2011
Logo
The National Alliance to End Homelessness and Homelessness Research Institute logos are available here.
Toronto Housing, Support & Shelter Administration
Supplemental information from Phil Brown on the Toronto Housing, Support & Shelter Administration.
Alliance Online News: Learn How Fairfax-Falls Church is Ending Homelessness
Alliance Releases Fairfax-Falls Church Community Snapshot
Advocacy Update: FY 2011 Deal Near - Calls Needed
Congress Likely to Reach Deal on Final FY 2011 Funding
Community Snapshot: Fairfax-Falls Church, VA
| By focusing on permanent housing and creating a centralized intake system, the Fairfax-Falls Church community reduced family homelessness in their community.
Advocacy Update: Calls Needed - FY 2011 Bill Being Drafted
Congress Drafting Final FY 2011 Bill
Alliance Online News: Alliance President Nan Roman to Receive NLIHC Award
Alliance President Honored by National Low Income Housing Coalition
Advocacy Update: Quarterly Report
Announcements and Updates
Health Reform: An Action Plan for Housing Advocates
Clearly health care reform creates opportunities to improve assistance to chronically homeless people. Those concerned to combine housing and services should get involved early to ensure that the interests of people they care about are protected.
Alliance Online News: Alliance Releases Brief on Rapid Re-Housing for Survivors
Alliance Releases Brief on Rapid Re-Housing for Survivors
Alliance Online News: Alliance Releases New Eviction Prevention Series
Alliance Releases Eviction Prevention Series
Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing for Survivors of Domestic Violence
| Communities are increasingly using homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing to meet the needs of domestic violence survivors. These brief goes over some effective strategies to assist survivors.
Advocacy Update: Call for Congressional Meetings Next Week
Advocates Urged to Schedule Congressional Meetings and Site Visits
Advocacy Update: Reminder: House Sign-On Letter Deadline!
House Homelessness Funding Sign-On Letter Deadline Approaching!
FY 2012 Appropriations: PATH Recommendation
This one-pager provides background information on SAMHSA's Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program. It also explains the Alliance's recommendation that in FY2012 the PATH program receive at least $75 million in appropriations.
Alliance Online News: Alliance Unveils 2011 Counts Media Map
Alliance Unveils 2011 Counts Media Map
Promising Practices: Housing Families, Inc./Malden Housing Authority
his brief - one in a three-part series - explores the way Malden Housing Authority and Housing Families, Inc. curb evictions in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Promising Practices: Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority and EDEN, Inc.
This brief - one in a three-part series - explores the way Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority and EDEN, Inc. curb evictions in Cleveland, OH.
Promising Practices: King County Housing Authority Eviction Prevention Initiative
This brief - one in a three-part series - explores the way King County, WA implemented strategies to curb evictions from the King County Housing Authority.
Alliance Online News: What Does Medicaid Reform Mean for Homeless Populations?
New Issue Brief on Opportunities in Healthcare Reform
Advocacy Update: Take Action on FY 2011 Funding
Update: Action Needed to Protect FY 2011 Funding for Federal Homelessness Programs
"Pay for Success Bonds"
A grouping of interesting articles on a new funding initiative from the US and Australia.
Can Medicaid Reform Make a Difference for Homeless Individuals?
| As parts of the Affordable Care Act are phased in, state leaders are facing complex decisions on issues. This issues - as well as possible solutions - are discussed in this brief about applying the ACA to benefit at-risk and homelessness populations.
2011 Counts Media Map
This map serves as a database of January 2011 point-in-time counts that have been reported in media reports or on Continuum of Care/government websites. Red markers indicate reports of increases and green markers indicate reports of decreases. Stories of partial counts (e.g. unsheltered only or families only) are not included. Links to the report are included.
Davis - Green HUD VASH Sign On Letter
Sign On Letter circulated by Reps. Susan Davis and Al Green to support funding for HUD-VASH vouchers
Alliance Online News: New Toolkit on Key Strategies for Conducting Advocacy
New Toolkit on Key Strategies for Conducting Advocacy
Moving On: Facilitating Tenants’ Ability to Move from Permanent Supportive Housing to Other Housing Opportunities
This brief explores lessons learned from several pilot programs designed to aid PSH tenants who are ready to transition into other housing opportunities in Chicago, IL; Seattle, WA; and New York, NY.
Alliance Online News: HUD and VA Issue New Report on Veteran Homelessness
HUD and VA Issue New Report on Veteran Homelessness
Using Advocacy to End Homelessness: A Toolkit for Understanding and Conducting Advocacy
This comprehensive toolkit is designed to provide you with all of the tools that you might need to engage in advocacy around elevating solutions to homelessness as a federal policy priority.
Additional Advocacy Toolkit Resources
These additional resources supplement the resources found in the Advocacy Toolkit.
Mobilizing through Social Media
This toolkit reviews ways in which your organization might utilize social media platforms in order to mobilize advocates.
Engaging the Media
This toolkit examines some of the common ways and best times to engage the media for advocacy purposes.
Mobilizing Others
his toolkit suggests key strategies and tips for mobilizing your network, colleagues, and others to get involved in advocacy.
Conducting Successful Congressional Meetings
This toolkit provides the tools and strategies necessary to set up a meeting with your congressional offices.
Achieving Effective Site Visits
This toolkit will provide you with all of the strategies and tools you need to plan and host an effective site visit for your elected official.
Using Everyday Communications to Build Congressional Relationships
This toolkit is designed to help you make the most of the many quick calls, letters, emails, and faxes you might send to your congressional office each year.
Developing a Strategic Advocacy Plan
This toolkit offers some suggestions for mapping out a strategy for your advocacy efforts over time in order to establish a strong relationship with your elected officials.
Understanding the Policymaking Process
This toolkit covers some of the legislative basics, including key committees and staff positions, how an idea is turned into federal policy, the appropriations process, and common terminology.
Knowing the Rules for Nonprofit Lobbying
This toolkit is designed to help nonprofit organizations, designated as 501(c)(3) organizations by the IRS, understand what constitutes lobbying and how to measure and report on lobbying activities.
Advocacy Toolkit Introduction
This toolkit is designed to provide you with all of the tools that you need to advocate to make preventing and ending homelessness a federal priority.
Meeting Agenda
This page includes a copy of the draft agenda and other information you will need for planning content.
Alliance Online News: HUD Releases Worst Case Housing Needs Report
HUD Releases Worst Case Housing Needs Report
CA - Los Angeles County
Home For Good
FL - Palm Beach County
Ten-Year Plan To End Homelessness in Palm Beach County, Florida
Alliance to Host Webinar on President's FY 2012 Budget Proposal
Alliance to Host Webinar on President's FY 2012 Budget Proposal
Alliance Online News: HPRP Youth Programs
Call to Communities Successfully Implementing HPRP for Youth
News Alert: HUD Awards Over $1.4 Billion in Renewal Grants to CoCs Across the Country
HUD Announces Over $1.4 Billion for Continuum of Care Projects
Alliance Online News: New Tool Helps Communities Evaluate Their Homeless Assistance System
Center for Capacity Building Introduces New Evaluator Tool
Homeless System Evaluator Tool
The Center for Capacity Building developed a Homeless System Evaluator Tool. This tool is designed to help communities determine how well they are preventing and ending homelessness based on data from their system.
States Facing Multiple Risk Factors - State of Homelessness
The fourth chapter of The State of Homelessness in America report explores states that experienced multiple risk factors of increased homelessness between 2008 and 2009.
Advocacy Update: Protect Federal Homelessness Funding
Make Sure Congress Protects Homelessness Programs
Strategies for Educating Members of Congress about Homelessness
This brief provides some suggested strategies for educating new and returning Members of Congress about the importance of efforts to end homelessness.
State of Homelessness in America 2011
The State of Homelessness in America, the first report of its kind, investigates the changes in homelessness across the country. In addition, the Alliances examines economic indicators and demographic drivers of homelessness, examining how eight factors contribute to increased risk of homelessness among vulnerable populations.
Alliance Online News: Alliance's First State of Homelessness Report Out January 12
Alliance to Release The State of Homelessness in America Tomorrow
Average Real Income of Working Poor People by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Average Real Income of Working Poor People by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Discharges from Prison by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Discharges from Prison by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Doubled Up People by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Doubled Up People by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Family Homeless Population by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Family Homeless Population by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Severe Housing Cost Burden Among Poor Households by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Severe Housing Cost Burden Among Poor Households by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Unemployed People by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Unemployed People by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Uninsured People by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Uninsured People by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Unsheltered Homeless Population by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Unsheltered Homeless Population by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Youth Aged Out of Foster Care by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Youth Aged Out of Foster Care by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Total Homelessness by State - State of Homelessness 2011
Overall Homelessness by State, 2008 - 2009
Hennepin County, MN: Promising Strategy for Assessment of the Targeting of Homelessness Prevention Resources
This document profiles how Hennepin County, MN began to assess how it was targeting its homelessness prevention resources.
News Alert: HUD to Host Point-in-Time Count webinar Tuesday
HUD to Host Point-in-Time Count Webinar on Tuesday
Media Campaign Kickoff, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2011
On Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2011, the Alliance hosted a webinar to kick off this month's media campaign around an upcoming Alliance report. Alliance staff members Amanda Krusemark, Pete Witte, and Catherine An were panelists on the webinar to go over the report's findings, advocacy opportunities, and strategies to pitch the report to local, state, and national media.
Advocacy Update: Quarterly Report
Advocacy Update: Quarterly Report
Alliance Online News: New Information For Homeless Assistance Providers on Working with the VA
Promising Strategies for Building a Successful Relationship with a Local VA
Five Strategies for Building a Successful Relationship with Your Local VA
This brief identifies five promising strategies that homelessness assistance systems have used to create or strengthen their relationship with their local VA Medical Center.
Advocacy Update: Appropriations Update
Congress Expected to Pass Short-Term FY 2011 Funding Measure
Advocacy Update: Senate Appropriations Proposal Released
Senate Releases Draft FY 2011 Appropriations Bill - Action Needed!
Critical Time Intervention for Young Mothers

The Strengthening At-Risk and Homeless Young Mothers and Children Coordinating Center sponsored a webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. ET on Critical Time Intervention (CTI) for young mothers.

Dr. Judy Samuels will present on the CTI model that focuses on providing rapid re-housing assistance to young families while offering intensive, time-limited supportive services. One of the features of the model is the provision of clinical supervision to frontline providers which enriches the services offered to promote stronger family outcomes.

Alliance Online News: Conference News: New Rapid Re-Housing Clinic
New Rapid Re-Housing Clinic Offered At Alliance Conference
Heading Home Hennepin: Implementation of Youth Goals
This webinar offers an overview of Hennepin County's youth goals and implementation.
NHTF Sign-On Letter Deadline TODAY
NHTF Congressional Sign-On Letter Circulating - Deadline TODAY
Congress Considers FY 2011 Funding
Urge Your Senators to Fund Key Homelessness Programs
Alliance Online News: HRI Releases New Report on the Working Poor
Alliance Releases Second Economy Bytes Installment on the Working Poor
Advocacy Update: 65,000 More People Could Be Homeless - Act Now!
Congress Considering Cuts That Could Mean 65,000 More People Homeless
Working Poor Population by State
Working Poor Population by State
Economy Bytes: Working Poor People in the United States
| In the second of our Economy Bytes series, the Alliance examines the characteristics of the working poor population. The brief reflects on the how the recession and it's economic impacts affect this population and it's risk for experiencing homelessness.
Example Strategic Advocacy Plan Goals and Objectives Chart
This is an example of what a Goals and Objectives Chart within a strategic advocacy plan might look like.
Example Strategic Advocacy Plan Timeline
This is an example of what a "Timeline" within a strategic advocacy plan might look like.
Sample Site Visit Media Advisory
Encouraging representatives from the media to attend a site visit can give both your organization and the Member of Congress positive press attention. Send out a media advisory like the one below to let members of the media know the event is happening.
Sample Site Visit Thank You Letter
You can use this sample thank you letter as a template for the letter thanking your Member of Congress for visiting your program.
Sample Site Visit Agenda
You can work the agenda items into the conversation as the senator/representative tours a program facility, OR you can do a separate presentation before or after the tour is completed.
Sample Site Visit Briefing Memo
You should fax or email this after the Member agrees to participate in a site visit, and at least a week prior to the event.
Sample Site Visit Letter of Support

You can use this sample letter of support as a template to provide to other organizations and individuals in your community to send letters in support of your site visit request.

Sample Site Visit Invitation

To invite your Member of Congress to do a site visit, send a formal invitation. You can use the sample invitation below as a template.

Sample Site Visit Work Plan

To help plan your site visit, consider making a work plan like the one below. You can even print this work plan out and use it to guide your planning and implementation process.

Sample Mobilizing Others Action Alert

When creating your own action alerts, you can use this sample format to guide your efforts.

Sample Mobilizing Others Tracking Sheet

You can use this chart as a guide for creating your own mobilizing tracking sheet. Simply fill in the name, contact information, and notes fields for each member of your network who takes action.

Sample Congressional Meeting Thank You Note

You can use this letter as a template for drafting your note of thanks for the congressional meeting.

Sample Congressional Meeting Do-It-Yourself Agenda Worksheet
You can fill in this worksheet to plan out specific talking points for your congressional meeting.
Sample Congressional Meeting Agenda

The sample agenda below can be used to help you outline the planned agenda for your congressional meeting.

Sample Congressional Meeting Letter of Support

You can use this sample letter of support as a template to provide to other organizations and individuals in your community to send letters in support of your meeting request.

Sample Congressional Meeting Request

You can use this sample meeting request as a template for your formal request for a congressional meeting.

Sample Congressional Meeting Work Plan
To help plan your meeting, consider making a work plan like the one below. You can even print this work plan out and use it to guide your planning and implementation process.
Advocacy Update: Urge Congress to Approve McKinney Funding Soon
Urge Congress to Prevent Cuts to Homelessness Programs
Including Youth in Your Community's Point-in-Time Count, Part II
This webinar is the second in a series providing strategies and tips for including youth in your community's HUD-mandated January 2011 point-in-time count. This webinar is designed for both all Continuum of Care and youth-specific providers in communities who have either never made a targeted effort to count youth or who wish to improve the accuracy of their count in January 2011.
Alliance Online News: Alliance Announces Keynote Speaker for Families Conference
Alliance Conference News: Robert Reich to Be Keynote Speaker
Advocacy Update: NHTF Update + New Members of Congress
Urge Congress to Fund NHTF This Year
Performance Based Contracts
This is another part of the Columbus Model. These are examples of performance-based contracts for practitioners and providers.
Alliance Online News: Volunteer at the 2011 Families Conference!
2011 Families Conference Volunteer and Scholarship Opportunities
Performance Outcome Plan (POP) Overview
This document is part of the "Columbus Model" toolkit. This document is the Performance Outcome Plan (POP) Overview.
Performance Outcome Plan (POP) Sample
This document is part of the "Columbus Model" toolkit. This document is a sample Performance Outcome Plan (POP).
Sample System & Program Level Indicator Report
This document is part of the "Columbus Model" toolkit. This document is an example of a System and Program Level Indicator Report.
System Performance Measures Definitions and Measurement Methodology
This document is part of the "Columbus Model" toolkit. This document offers the definitions and methodology for measuring system performance.
Administrative and Program Standards
This document is part of the "Columbus Model" toolkit. This document goes over the administrative and program standards set by the Community Shelter Board (CSB).
Program Performance Measures Definitions and Measurement Methodology
This document is part of the "Columbus Model" toolkit. This document examines the methodology used by the Community Shelter Board in FY 2010 - FY 2011 to evaluate homeless assistance programs in Columbus, OH.
Program Performance & Evaluation Measures List
This document is part of the "Columbus Model" toolkit. This document goes over the program performance standards set by the Community Shelter Board.
Alliance Online News: Second Youth PIT Webinar Scheduled for November 17
Second Webinar on Including Youth in Point-in-Time Counts Announced
Advocacy Update: Urge Congress to Approve McKinney Funding Soon
Urge Congress to Approve $2.2 Billion McKinney Funding THIS Year
HRI Fall Research Newsletter
The Homelessness Research Institute released the Fall 2010 Research Newsletter with a focus on international research.
NE - State of Nebraska
Nebraska’s Action Plan for Increasing Access to Mainstream Services for People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness
CA - San Bernardino County
Ten Year Strategy to End Homelessness in San Bernardino County
Qualitative Assessment Tool: Survey Analysis
The Center for Capacity Building has developed and tested three survey tools to help your community assess the quality of homelessness assistance. This is a survey analysis tool outlining some of the answers you should be examining as you go over your survey results.
Qualitative Assessment Tool: Community Leaders and Executive Directors Survey
The Center for Capacity Building has developed and tested three survey tools to help your community assess the quality of homelessness assistance. This survey is intended for community leaders and executive directors.
Qualitative Assessment Tool: Direct Service Provider Survey
The Center for Capacity Building has developed and tested three survey tools to help your community assess the quality of homelessness assistance. This survey is intended for direct service providers.
Qualitative Assessment Tool
The Center for Capacity Building has developed and tested three survey tools to help your community assess the quality of homelessness assistance. The surveys are designed for consumers, providers, and community leaders.
Qualitative Assessment Tool: Consumer Survey
The Center for Capacity Building has developed and tested three survey tools to help your community assess the quality of homelessness assistance. This survey is intended for consumers.
The Columbus Model: Quality Improvement
One of the most remarkable approaches used in Columbus to help agencies strengthen their performance is CSB’s Quality Improvement Intervention Program (QII). The QII covers the following core areas: problem identification, collaborative goal setting and improvement planning, responsibility assignment, and progress updates.
The Columbus Model: System Overview
Columbus, OH has consistently performed well on outcomes in the HEARTH Act, including reducing length of homelessness, new, repeat, and overall homelessness.
Data Collection Tips and Strategies
The HEARTH Act requires communities to strengthen their capacity to collect data and information across programs and improve overall system performance. The following document outlines tips and strategies for communities to maximize the use of existing data-related tools and reports for these purposes.
System Assessment Tool
A system assessment tool from the Center for Capacity Building is coming soon! Please check the Alliance website regularly - or sign up for the Alliance newsletter to get regular updates!


Fact Sheet: Point-in-Time Counts
This resource describes the "point-in-time counts" - the regular count of people experiencing homelessness. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development requires communities to submit these counts as part of their application for federal homeless assistance funds.
Including Youth in Your Community's Point-in-Time Count, Part I
| This webinar, the first in a series from the Alliance and the National Network for Youth, will feature tips for including youth in your community's point-in-time count.
Ending Youth Homelessness: Strategies for Increasing Community Support and Improving Your Ten Year Plan
Ending Youth Homelessness - Strategies for Increasing Community Support and Improving Your Ten Year Plan.
HEARTH Academy Webinar III: System Assessment and Design
The third webinar in the HEARTH Academy series has two parts. The first provides tools for assessing the impact of your community’s homelessness assistance. The second part describes important concepts for designing your homelessness assistance to better prevent and end homelessness.
Take Five! Q & A with Rosanne Haggerty
name

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Alliance Online News: Latest Homelessness Pulse Report Released
HUD Releases Quarterly Report on Homelessness
Counting Homeless Youth
| The Alliance and the National Network for Youth recommend that communities fully include homeless youth in their local January 2011 Point in Time (PIT) counts by using the strategies in this brief.
Advocacy Update: Congress Working on McKinney Funding
Congress Continues Work on McKinney-Vento Funding
Alliance Online News: Registration Now Open for Alliance's 2011 Families Conference
National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness Registration Period Opens
HEARTH Academy Webinar II: Performance Improvement and Data Measurement
The second webinar in the HEARTH Academy Series focuses on performance measurement and performance improvement strategies that can reduce homelessness. This presentation featured a performance model used in Columbus, Ohio.
The Columbus Model: Performance Measurement & Evaluation
Columbus’ homeless assistance system is funded, managed, and evaluated by the community’s lead Continuum of Care (CoC) agency, the Community Shelter Board (CSB). CSB operates an outcomes-based funding model that uses measurable performance standards to monitor and evaluate agencies’ and system progress toward community goals. The performance standards reinforce an overall vision and strategy for improving the homeless services system and working toward the eventual elimination of homelessness.
Alliance Online News: HEARTH Performance Improvement Webinar Tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET
HEARTH Academy Performance Improvement Webinar TOMORROW
Alliance Online News: Photo Contest Winner Announced
Alliance Announces Winner of First Photo Contest
Set-Aside Funding Availability for Project-Basing HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Vouchers
The following is Notice PIH 2010-40(HA) issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to Directors of HUD Regional and Field Offices of Public Housing; Agencies that Administer the Housing Choice Voucher Program. Issued Wednesday, September 28, 2010.
Alliance Online News: New Resource Documents How Ten Year Plans Are Implemented Successfully
Center for Capacity Building Releases New Paper on Ten Year Plan Implementation
Beyond Planning: Minneapolis and Hennepin County
| Minneapolis and Hennepin County, MN began implementing their Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, Heading Home Hennepin, in January 2007. Using a few replicable practices, the community has made significant progress.
HEARTH Academy Webinar I: HEARTH Act Overview
On Wednesday, September 22, the Center for Capacity launched the HEARTH Academy with a webinar explaining the implications of the HEARTH Act. For more information about the HEARTH Academy, please visit the Training section.
Advocacy Update: Congressional Briefing; ECF to Expire Soon
TANF ECF to Expire Next Week Unless Congress Acts
Alliance Online News: HUD Releases 2010 CoC NOFA
2010 NOFA for CoC Competition Released
HPRP Youth Program Profiles: Overview
Homeless youth can directly benefit from greater investment in homelessness prevention and re-housing. This series of program profiles highlights those organizations that have emphasized these two techniques with the resources provided by the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP).
HPRP Youth Program Profiles: First Place
First Place for Youth, based in Oakland, CA, is considered a national model for providing permanent supportive housing for youth aged 18 to 24 who are at risk of homelessness. First Place targets youth aging out of the foster care system and provides them with housing, economic stability, and the life skills to live independently and successfully.
HPRP Youth Program Profiles: Larkin Street
Larkin Street Youth Services, of San Francisco, California, opened in 1984 as a Drop-In Center and since then has grown to provide a continuum of services for at-risk and homeless youth. From street outreach to permanent supportive housing, Larkin Street offers youth between the ages of 12 and 24 opportunities to stabilize, gain life skills, and move beyond the street into successful, independent adulthood.
HPRP Youth Program Profiles: LifeWorks
LifeWorks, located in Austin, TX, is the city’s only nonprofit organization offering youth and families a range of housing, counseling, and education services that address critical needs while helping homeless youth develop self-sufficiency and long term success.
HPRP Youth Program Profiles: Volunteers of America - Dakotas
Volunteers of America - Dakotas operates a variety of programs for at-risk and homeless youth throughout communities in South Dakota, including Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Aberdeen.
HPRP Youth Program Profiles: Hope Street
Hope Street for Runaway and Homeless Youth, located in Minneapolis, MN, works with at-risk and homeless youth between the ages of 12 and 21. Hope Street operates an emergency shelter, transitional living program, and conducts street outreach. All Hope Street clients are provided service referrals, crisis management, and case management. Hope Street also offers life skills training, education and employment assistance, family counseling, and after-care services. In 2009, the street outreach team made contact with over 2,000 youth.
HPRP Youth Program Profiles: Milwaukee Partnership
Walker's Point Youth and Family Center, St.Amelian's-Lakeside, Inc. and Pathfinders, all located in Milwaukee, WI, formed a strong partnership in the front line delivery of HPRP. They collaborated on the HPRP grant application and demonstrated comprehensive service provision to different subpopulations of homeless and at-risk youth. In 2009, the three organizations were awarded over $1 million in HPRP funds by the City of Milwaukee Community Development Grants Administration to be used over the next three years.
HPRP Youth Program Profiles: Valley Youth House
Valley Youth House operates more than 100 programs for at-risk and homeless youth throughout southeastern Pennsylvania that emphasize prevention, intervention and positive youth growth and development.
HPRP Youth Program Profiles: New Beginnings
New Beginnings has been serving troubled youth in and between Lewiston and Farmington, ME since 1980. The organization runs the area’s only youth shelter for youth ages 12 to 19, a transitional living program for youth 16 to 21, and offers a variety of community services including outreach, and service referrals for health care, housing, employment, and education assistance.
HPRP Youth Program Profiles: Urban Peak
Urban Peak of Colorado has programs for homeless and at-risk youth in Denver and Colorado Springs. Their services include emergency shelter, street outreach, a variety of housing programs, education and employment services, and health and human services support. Urban Peak’s mission is to support and empower young adults. They serve over 2,300 youth a year.
HPRP Youth Program Profiles: AIRS
AIRS, located in Baltimore, MD, has been serving low-income and homeless individuals and families since 1987. The organization provides connections to health care, job training, and supportive housing for youth, individuals, and families, many of whom have HIV/AIDS or disabilities. AIRS is also a licensed Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) and buys and develops distressed properties to expand Baltimore’s affordable housing inventory.
Advocacy Update: Urge Senators to Extend TANF ECF
Thank Your Senators for Joining the TANF ECF Sign-On Letter, Push for Extension ASAP
News Alert: 2010 CoC NOFA Out
HUD Releases 2010 CoC NOFA
Congressional Sign-On Letter: Extending the TANF ECF
This is a Congressional sign-on letter written by Senator John Kerry (D-MA) to urge senators to extend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Emergency Contingency Fund (TANF ECF), which expires on September 30. The deadline for senators to sign on to Senator Kerry's letter is September 15 at noon ET.
Homeless Youth Site Visit Campaign Kick-Off Webinar
On September 15, the Alliance and the National Network for Youth co-hosted a webinar to kick-off a Fall 2010 Homeless Youth Site Visit Campaign. This is the recording of the webinar.
Homeless Youth Site Visit Campaign
The Alliance and the National Network for Youth launched a Fall 2010 Campaign to encourage Members of Congress to visit local youth homelessness assistance programs across the country.
Alliance Online News: HUD Provides Additional Funding for NSP
$1 Billion in Additional Funding Available for NSP
Advocacy Update: TANF ECF Sign-On Letter - Deadline Approaching
Deadline Approaches for TANF ECF Senate Sign-On Letter
Alliance Online News: HRI Releases Latest HPRP Quarterly Report
HPRP Provides Housing Assistance and Placement for 92,000 in 13 Cities
Quarterly Leadership Council HPRP Report: April - June 2010
| The Alliance released the third Quarterly Leadership Council Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Report, which documents the progress of 13 cities implementing their HUD-funded prevention and rapid re-housing programs.
HPRP Per Household Spending Chart
This interactive chart shows per household prevention and rapid re-housing spending for the thirteen cities profiled in the Alliance's Quarterly Leadership Council HPRP Report: April - June 2010.
Urge Senate to Extend TANF Funds
Urge Senators to Extend Critical Support for Low-Income Families AND Create Jobs
FY 2011 HUD Homeless Assistance Funding Scenarios
This policy brief quantifies the changes to funding allocations made by the HEARTH Act and demonstrates the impact of a "Hold-Harmless" funding scenario for FY 2011.
Effective Storytelling to Improve Advocacy
In this video, Laura Webb, Community Engagement Manager at Walden Sierra in Maryland, discusses how to most effectively utilize storytelling in advocacy efforts. She describes how to tell compelling stories, including where to find stories, how to edit them to fit an organization’s needs, and how to incorporate policy issues into storytelling.
Advocacy Update: Quarterly Report
This Quarterly Report includes updates on several different policy and advocacy initiatives, as well as a preview of upcoming opportunities.
Alliance Online News: Alliance Introduces Brand New Photo Contest
Alliance Launches First Ever Photo Contest
Early Childhood Home Visiting Program
Paper on the Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, which will provide $1.5 billion over the next five years to support implementation of evidence based home visiting programs that improve the health and development of very young at-risk children and reduce child abuse and neglect.
TANF Emergency Contingency Fund Extension
The Recovery Act provided $5 billion to reimburse states for increased costs of meeting the needs of low-income families in the TANF Emergency Contingency Funds (ECF). Unfortunately, the funds expire on September 20, 2010, so the Alliance urges Congress to extend the ECF.
Legislative Priorities to End Homelessness Among Veterans
This two-pager provides four key legislative priorities for a comprehensive bill to address veterans homelessness. The Zero Tolerance for Homelessness Among Veterans Act of 2009 addresses all four priorities. This document was updated in August 2010.
Alliance Online News: New Web-Based Training Survey
Take the Online Training Survey!
Alliance Online News: Alliance Releases New Paper on Ending Family Homelessness
Alliance Releases Paper Focused on Family Homelessness
2010 Conference Presentations
| The Alliance is providing access to all presentations from the 2010 National Conference on Ending Homelessness as they become available.
Advocacy Update: House Approves McKinney, VASH Funding
House Approves $2.2 Billion for McKinney-Vento, $75 Million for VASH
Advocacy Update: VASH in Danger! Call NOW!
House May Cut VASH Program Today
Ending Family Homelessness: Lessons From Communities
This paper provides an overview of family homelessness in the United States. It examines the key strategies that communities are implementing to respond to increased family housing instability and homelessness. It also discusses the need for federal leadership.
Alliance Online News: HUD, VA Announce New Homelessness Prevention Demo Program for Veterans
HUD, VA Announce $15 Million for New Veterans Homelessness Prevention Demo Program
Advocacy Update: Big Day for McKinney Funding!!
House and Senate Committees Recommend Increases to McKinney Programs
News Alert: McKinney Funding Update
House and Senate Propose Increases to McKinney Funding
Alliance Online News: Assisting Homeless Families with HPRP and TANF Resources
HUD and HHS Urge Providers to Help Homeless Families with HPRP and TANF Resources
Advocacy Update: Calls Needed: Senate HUD Appropriations
Senate T-HUD Subcommittee to Mark Up FY 2011 Bill
Leadership Council: HPRP
Leadership Council: HPRP Report
HUD-HHS Joint TANF ECF, HPRP Guidance Letter
| This document is a "Dear Colleague" letter from Mercedes Marquez, Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development and Carmen Nazario, Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. The letter offers guidance to local communities on how best to use Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) and TANF Emergency Contingency Fund (ECF) resources to end family homelessness.
Virtual Discussion - July 22
On Thursday, July 22, the Alliance's Center for Capacity Building will host a virtual discussion about the federal Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program.
HRI Spring/Summer Research Newsletter
Focus On Homeless Prevention
Creating a High Performing Rural Continuum, Part II: Increasing Stakeholder Engagement, Strengthening Collaboration
On Thursday, June 24, the Alliance hosted "Creating a High Performing Rural Continuum, Part II: Increasing Stakeholder Engagement & Strengthening Collaboration," a webinar examining rural homelessness. Speakers provided an overview of their communities’ CoC infrastructures and services, as well as strategies to strengthen interagency coordination and collaboration to address key challenges in a rural CoC.
Federal Policy Update Call: Preparing for Capitol Hill Day
On Tuesday, July 6, the Alliance advocacy team hosted this webinar to prepare state captains for Capitol Hill Day.
Alliance Online News: House HUD Appropriations Numbers
Hill Update: House T-HUD Committee Marks Up FY 2011 Bill
Advocacy Update: House T-HUD Numbers Out!
House T-HUD Subcommittee Marks Up FY 2011 Bill
Doubled Up State by State Map
The Alliance research brief Economic Bytes: Doubled up in the United States estimates that there are 4.8 million people living in a housing unit with extended family, friends, and other non-relatives due to economic hardship, earning no more than 125 percent of the federal poverty level. This map shows how many of the 4.8 million reside in each state.
Advocacy Update: House McKinney Action Needed Now
House T-HUD Subcommittee Expected to Mark Up FY 2011 Bill on Thursday
Data on Homelessness Among African American Veterans
Presentation by Alliance staff member M William Sermons during the African American Homeless Veterans workshop at the 2010 Annual Conference of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV.
What is "sustainable" housing cost burden? Implications for HPRP
Increasingly, communities and programs are providing homeless and at-risk families with short term rental assistance. In assessing which families to help, one of their primary concerns is to help families that will be able to sustain their housing once the short subsidy ends. To inform their choices about whom to help, this Fact Sheet examines the level of housing cost burden that poor families typically carry.
C.A.T.C.H.: Ending Homelessness in Boise, ID
This short video profiles the C.A.T.C.H. program in Boise, ID and the public-private partnership that made it possible.
Annual Report 2009
This document outlines the Alliance's activities and accomplishments in 2009.
Alliance Online News: Federal Strategic Plan and AHAR Released
USICH Releases Federal Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
Federal Plan: 2010 - 2015 Count Projections
This interactive chart illustrates the Alliance's understanding of the necessary reductions in homelessness, as measured during January point-in-time counts, that correspond to the goals set forth in the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness' Opening Doors: The Federal Strategic Plan to End Homelessness.
Alliance Online News: U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness to Release Federal Strategic Plan to End Homelessness
U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness to Release Federal Strategic Plan to End Homelessness
Virtual Discussion - June 24, 2010
On Thursday, June 24, the Alliance's Center for Capacity Building will host a virtual discussion about the federal Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program.
Model State Act for Unaccompanied Runaway and Homeless Youth
| Youth experiencing homelessness require specialized care but few states offer the resources required to serve this vulnerable population. The Alliance provides two sample legislative texts for local advocates to propose to state legislators.
Alliance Online News: New HPRP Report
Alliance Releases Second HPRP Quarterly Report
Advocacy Update: Senate May Consider NHTF This Week
Urge Your Senators to Fund NHTF and TANF ECF
Adams County, WA
Homelessness: Break the Cycle; A Ten Year Plan for Adams County
Baton Rouge, LA
Restoring Hope, Happiness, and Healing
LInn County, OR
There's No Place Like Home: A Ten Year Plan to Address Issues Surrounding Housing and Homelessness
Virginia Beach, VA
The City of Virginia Beach's Ten Yar Plan to End Homelessness
Rensselaer County, NY
Rensselaer County Ten Year Plan to end Homelessness
Topeka, KS
Topeka/Shawnee County Homeless Task Force 10 Year Plan, Objectives, and Action Steps
Williston, ND
Williston Plan to End Homelessness
Stevens County, WA
Stevens County 10 Year Housing Plan
Tallahassee, FL
Caring for our Neighbors: A 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in Tallahassee
Turtle Mountain, ND
Ten Year Strategic Plan to end Homelessness
Grant County, WA
A 10 Year Plan to End Hoemlessness in Grant County
Lubbock, TX
10 Year Plan to end Chronic Homelessness
Lynn, MA
A Strategy to End Chronic Homelessness in Lynn, Massachusetts Ten Year Action Plan
South East Texas
Ending Homelessness: South East Texas 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness
Southeast Minnesota
Heading Home Southeast Minnesota
St. Clair County, IL
Ten Year Plan to end Chronic and Other Homelessness
Stamford/Greenwich, CT
Homelessness 2007 Stamford/Greenwich Connecticut: A Ten Year Plan. Different Time Different Place
Fayetteville and Cumberland County, NC
Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness
Harrisburg and Dauphin County, PA
Home Run: The Capital Area's 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness in the County of Dauphin and the City of Harrisburg
Lee County, FL
L.I.F.E. Lee's Investment For Everyone: Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in Our Community
Kittitas County, WA
The Kittitas County Homelessness Prevention and Reduction Plan
Laredo, TX
Identify, Assist and Congrol: A 10 Year Plan to Eliminate Chronic Homelessness 2006-2016
Tulsa, OK
Tulsa's Strategic Plan to end Chronic Homelessness by 2010
Washington County, OR
A Road Home: 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness
Alliance Online News: Tax Extenders Bill Passes the House!
Tax Extenders Bill Passes the House!
Comments on Definition of "Homeless" Rule
| The Alliance has prepared draft comments on HUD's proposed rule to change the definition of "homeless" as part of the HEARTH Act. The proposed rule was published in April and final comments are due to HUD by June 21.
Quarterly Leadership Council HPRP Report: January - March 2010
| The Alliance released the second Quarterly Leadership Council Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Report, which documents the progress of 13 cities implementing their HUD-funded prevention and rapid re-housing programs.
Alliance Online News: Structuring Prevention Efforts Online Training
New Online Training: Structuring Your Prevention Efforts
Structuring Your Prevention Efforts

This online training is designed to introduce some basic concepts necessary to design a prevention program. The training covers outreach strategies, explains the importance of targeting services, offers ideas for assessment and financial assistance plans, and examines program evaluation.

Advocacy Update: House Vote TOMORROW on NHTF, TANF ECF
Urge Congress to Fund NHTF and TANF ECF
Letter to Chairman McDermott on Passage of TANF Emergency Contingency Fund
On Friday, May 21, 2010, the Alliance sent this letter to Chairman McDermott of the House Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee. It urges him to
Advocacy Update: NHTF, TANF ECF May Pass
Urge Congress to Fund NHTF and TANF ECF
Alliance Online News: Working with Landlords Training
New Online Training: Working with Landlords
Economy Bytes: Doubled Up in the United States
| In the first of our Economy Bytes series, the Alliance presents the state of doubled-up families. The brief examines the implications of the increase in doubled-up families and reflects on the how the situation speaks to the recession’s impact of homelessness.
Strategies for Working with Landlords and Finding Housing for Clients
This interactive, web-based training provides participants with an overview of how to find landlords and track and document the success of your landlord outreach strategies, as well as tools for maintaining your partnership with landlords for the long-term.
Alliance Online News: New Website Launches
Alliance Launches New Website
Take Five! Q & A with Adolfo Carrion, Jr.
name

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Advocacy Update: Quarterly Report
Gearing up for the July Conference and Capitol Hill Day; McKinney-Vento Appropriations Update; Veterans Homelessness Legislation; Sign onto National Letter from NHTF Campaign
Targeting, Outcomes, and Evaluation in a Family Rapid Re-Housing System: Strategies from Cincinnati, OH
In May 2010, the Alliance hosted a webinar discussing how Cincinnati developed its family rapid re-housing system goals and outcomes, its approach to stakeholder engagement, and its approach to targeting, accountability, and evaluation.
Ten Year Plan Database
This interactive spreadsheet serves as a database of the 243 Plans that have been collected by the Alliance.
Alliance Online News: Alameda County Reduces Homelessness
Alameda County Reduces Family Homelessness by 37 Percent
Community Snapshot: Alameda County, CA
Family homelessness declined by 37 percent in Alameda County, CA between 2003 and 2009. This "Community Snapshot" examines the key initiatives that led to this and other outcomes.
Ten Year Plan Locator Map
This map serves as a geographic database of the 243 state, regional, and local ten year plans to end homelessness that have been collected by the Alliance.
The Decennial Census and Homelessness
This short brief provides a description of the official methods of including people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. decennial census and, when available, the results of those efforts. Additionally, the fact sheet includes a brief look into the enumeration of populations similar to those we consider homeless today.
Advocacy Update: McKinney Thanks and Congressional Briefing
Thank Your Senators; Briefing to Launch New Congressional Caucus on Homelessness
Alliance Online News: Webinar on Cincinnati's Rapid Re-Housing System
Alliance Hosts Webinar on Targeting, Outcomes, and Evaluation in a Family Rapid Re-Housing System
Reapproaching HUD as a Funder for Homeless Youth Housing and Services: Reauthorized McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Program
This issue brief outlines changes in appropriations and authorization language for HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance program and focuses on how these changes may benefit homeless youth. Changes in program eligibility will allow agencies to offer housing, rapid re-housing, and services designed to facilitate family reunification and prevent youth from running away.
April 22, 2010
Alliance Online News: Awards Ceremony
Awardee Spotlight for Annual Awards Ceremony: Virgin Mobile
Webinar: Creating a High Performing Rural CoC, Part 1: Building Political Will
In April 2010, the Alliance presented a webinar on building political will in a rural CoC. Speakers discussed their experiences raising awareness about homelessness in the state’s rural areas.
Summary: S. 1547, the Zero Tolerance for Veterans Homelessness Act of 2009
This one-pager provides a brief overview of S. 1547, the Zero Tolerance for Homeless Veterans Act of 2009. S. 1547 was incorporated into another veterans' bill in January 2010 and passed by the Senate VA Committee.
Advocacy Update: Senate McKinney Letter Deadline
REMINDER: Senate McKinney Appropriations Letter Dealine, April 22
Alliance Online News: News Alert - HEARTH Regulations on Definition of Homelessness
HUD Releases Draft HEARTH Act Regulations on Definition of Homelessness
Testimony to the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
Written testimony to the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Concerning Programs in the United States Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
Take Five! Q & A with Dan Schulman
name

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Take Five! Q & A with Martha Kegel
name

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Advocacy Update: Senate McKinney Sign-On Letter
Seeking Signatures on Senate McKinney-Vento Appropriations Letter; Sign National Letter from NHTF Campaign
Alliance Online News: New Domestic Violence Best Practice
Alliance Publishes New Best Practice on Rapid Re-Housing for Survivors of Domestic Violence
The Keys: Spring 2010
The Center for Capacity Building puts out quarterly newsletter outlining the activities, developments, and tools offered by the Center. This is The Keys: Rapid Re-Housing Clinic Series, the spring 2010 edition of the newsletter.
DASH's Empowerment Project: Rapid Re-Housing for Survivors of Domestic Violence
This best practice document profiles the Empowerment Project of the District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH), a domestic violence survivor housing and service agency in Washington, DC that provided a transition-in-place program that provided families with time-limited rental assistance and case management.
Beyond Planning: Denver, CO
| Denver, CO has experienced tremendous success in implementing its Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, much of which can be attributed to a few core practices. A slate of those practices are examined here.
Alliance Online News: Increase in Elderly Homelessness Predicted
Alliance's New Aging Report Predicts Increase in Elderly Homelessness
M William Sermons Radio Interview about Elderly Homelessness
M Williams Sermons, director of the Homelessness Research Institute at the Alliance to End Homelessness, on why the aging baby boomer generation may make up a large amount of a new population of seniors living in poverty. KCBS Radio, San Francisco.
Demographics of Homelessness Series: The Rising Elderly Population

There is some troubling evidence that homelessness is increasing among elderly adults. In this report, the Homelessness Research Institute presents this evidence and projects that homelessness among the elderly population will increase by 33 percent by 2020, and more than double by 2050.
Rapid Re-Housing Online Training Series, Part 2: Rapid Re-Housing Program Design and Planning
This online training, which includes both an audio and visual component, is the second in a series on rapid re-housing. It covers the program design and planning aspects of rapid re-housing, including assessment, design, and evaluation.
Rapid Re-Housing Online Training Series, Part 1: Introduction to Rapid Re-Housing
This online training, which includes both an audio and visual component, is the first in a series on rapid re-housing. It covers the basics of rapid re-housing, including defining rapid re-housing, doing rapid re-housing, and common questions on the topic.
Alliance Online News: DC Conference Registration Opens
Alliance Opens Conference Registration for Annual DC Conference
Using TANF to Support and Improve Efforts to End Family Homelessness
The TANF program is an important resource for homeless advocates and planners to be using to help homeless and low-income families. States use TANF resources for a host of supports for low-income families.
Congressional Briefing: Policy Solutions to Chronic Homelessness
On March 23, 2010, the Alliance and the Corporation for Supportive Housing co-hosted a Congressional Briefing entitled, "Policy Solutions to Chronic Homelessness." This resource includes information on the speakers and materials from the briefing.
Alliance Online News: New Chronic Homelessness Policy Brief
Alliance Publishes New Policy Brief on Chronic Homelessness
Chronic Homelessness: Policy Solutions

This brief examines chronic homelessness and provides an overview of key strategies used to reduce chronic homelessness, including permanent supportive housing, prevention, and targeting.

FY 2011 McKinney Appropriations House Congressional Sign-On Letter
On March 2, Representatives Gwen Moore (D-WI) and Geoff Davis (R-KY) began circulating a McKinney-Vento appropriations Congressional Sign-On Letter in the House. The letter requests that McKinney-Vento programs receive a funding level of $2.4 billion in FY 2011.
Building a Rapid Re-Housing System: Strategies from Trenton/Mercer County, NJ
This March 2010 webinar included an overview of Trenton/Mercer County's vision for ending homelessness, the strategies they developed to reduce homelessness, and how they are using both Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funds and other funding streams to create a comprehensive Housing First system.
FY 2011 RHYA House Congressional Sign-On Letter
Congressional Sign-On Letter for FY 2011 RHYA and EHCY Appropriations
Alliance Online News: Rural CoC Critical Success Factors
New Paper Examines Success Factors for Rural CoCs
Critical Success Factors in High Performing Rural Continuums of Care
The Alliance conducted in-depth interviews with representatives from four rural CoCs. Based on these interviews, the Alliance has identified five critical success factors for making progress toward ending homelessness, implementing Ten Year Plans, and meeting the housing and service needs of homeless families and individuals in rural areas.
Volunteers of America's Home Free: Rapid Re-Housing for Survivors of Domestic Violence
This best practice document profiles Home Free, a domestic violence survivor service agency in Portland, OR that provides an array of services for families impacted by violence. Currently, the program provides rapid re-housing assistance to 80 to 100 households annually.
Plug and Play Test 3-19-10
Plug and Play Test
Alliance Online News: Final Geography of Homeless
Alliance Publishes Geography of Homelessness Brief
Geography of Homelessness
nameEach community has been classified into one of five categories, ranging from completely urban to completely rural. This report analyzes various aspects of the homeless population in each category.
Take Five! Q & A with SF Mayor Gavin Newsom
name

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Alliance Online News: New HPRP Report
Alliance Releases First Quarterly Leadership Council HPRP Report
Quarterly Leadership Council HPRP Report: October - December 2009
In conjunction with a group of 11 cities from across the country, the Alliance has created a quarterly report on the status of HPRP. It examines how the 11 communities are spending their HPRP funds, as well as the results of their January 2009 point-in-time counts.
Cost Savings with Permanent Supportive Housing
This interactive stacked bar chart illustrates the relative costs of permanent supportive housing and homelessness (prior to supportive housing) in five different communities: Portland, ME; New York, NY; Rhode Island; Portland, OR, and Denver, CO.
Winter 2010 Research Newsletter
Focus On Homeless Youth
The Road Home: Questions and Answers from February 2010 Webinar on Using HPRP and TANF to Re-House Families
This document contains answers to questions asked during the February 2010 webinar, "Adopting a Housing First Approach: Using HPRP and TANF to Re-House Families in Salt Lake City, UT."
Alliance Online News: New Homelessness Pulse Report
HUD Releases Third Homelessness Pulse Report
Webinar: Adopting a Housing First Approach - Using HPRP and TANF to Re-House Families in Salt Lake City
On February 18, 2010, the Alliance hosted a webinar that explored how TANF Emergency Contingency Funds and Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funds are being used by The Road Home in Salt Lake City to re-house families experiencing homelessness.
Alliance Online News: Virtual Discussion in HPRP Implementation
Alliance to Host Virtual Discussion on HPRP Implementation
Alliance Online News: Using HPRP and TANF Webinar
Alliance to Host Webinar on Using HPRP and TANF to Re-House Families
Alliance Recommendations for the Federal Plan to End Homelessness

This is the Alliance's guidance to the US Interagency Council on Homelessness on what should be included in the Federal Plan to End Homelessness.

Alliance Online News: President Releases FY 2011 Budget Request
President Releases FY 2011 Budget Proposal
President's FY 2011 Budget Chart
This chart highlights numerous homelessness and housing federal programs. For each program, it shows how much funding was appropriated in FY 2009 and FY 2010, as well as how much President Obama requested in his FY 2011 budget proposal. The chart also notes whether the President's Proposal represents an increase or decrease and by how much.
FY 2011 McKinney Campaign: Sample Letter
Advocates are welcome to use this sample letter as a model for letters sent to their Members of Congress. The letter encourages Congress to provide $2.4 billion for McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Grants in FY 2011.
Alliance Online News: USICH Announces Deputies
USICH Announces New Deputies
Webinar: Increasing McKinney-Vento Funding in FY 2011
On January 26, the Alliance and the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) hosted a call to kick off the McKinney-Vento appropriations campaign for FY 2011.
FY2011 Hearth Funding Scenarios
This interactive chart quantifies the changes to funding allocations made by the HEARTH Act and demonstrates the impact of several FY2011 funding scenarios, including two different "Hold-Harmless" scenarios. The table shows funding activity under 4 different scenarios.
Multi-Year Homeless Count Map
This Interactive Map presents the results of all point-in-time counts that have been conducted by local communities across the country from 2005 to 2008 and reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Leadership Council Prevention Questions
For Members of the Leadership Council
Fact Sheet: Chronic Homelessness
Although chronic homelessness represents a small share of the overall homeless population, chronically homeless people use up more than 50 percent of the services. The most successful model for housing people who experience chronic homelessness is permanent supportive housing using a Housing First approach.
Developing a Housing First Approach Sytstem-Wide: Alameda County, CA
On January 21, 2010, the Alliance hosted a Webinar highlighting the efforts of Alameda County, CA to adopt a Housing First approach across its entire homelessness assistance system. Key strategies and lessons were discussed.
Alliance Online News: Webinar on President's FY 2011 Budget
Alliance to Host Webinar on President's FY 2011 Budget Request
Fact Sheet: Youth Homelessness
The issue of youth homelessness has gained some traction lately, in both the news and among community activists. This fact sheets goes over what is and isn't known about youth homelessness, including data, relevant issues, and possible solutions.
Fact Sheet: Rural Homelessness
The number of people who experience rural homelessness is unknown, but the last national count of homeless people found that 9 percent live in rural areas. The same structural factors that contribute to urban homelessness—lack of affordable housing and inadequate income—also lead to rural homelessness. One of the most important strategies in ending rural homelessness is prevention.
Ten Year Plan Timeline

This timeline, released in conjunction with A Shifting Focus: What's In Ten Year Plans to End Homelessness, documents the evolution of 10-year plans from the development of the first plan in 1998 to the present.

Fact Sheet: What is a Continuum of Care?
This resource explains what a Continuum of Care is, as well as details the necessary parts of a Continuum of Care (CoC) and how to plan a CoC. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development began to require communities to submit a single application for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants in 1995. In 2009, there were 461 CoCs.
Convince Congress to Provide Additional HPRP Funding
Use these tools to help convince your Member of Congress to take action to ensure that Congress includes an additional $1 billion for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) in any jobs package.
Alliance Online News: New HPRP Media Stories Map
Alliance Publishes Interactive Tool on HPRP Media Stories
2009 National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness Program Journal
This program journal was for the 2009 National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness, which was held February 12-13, 2009 in San Diego, CA.
2009 Annual Conference Program Journal
This program journal was for the 2009 National Conference on Ending Homelessness, which was held in Washington DC on July 29-31, 2009.
Fact Sheet: Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is an immediate cause of homelessness for many women and children. In November 2006, over 22,000 victims of domestic violence—12,000 children and 10,000 adults—received housing services from 1,243 domestic violence service providers.
Fact Sheet: What Can We Do About Homelessness?
This document goes over why homelessness is an important issue and what we can do about homelessness as a community. The document goes over the major issues around homelessness, including the number of homeless people in the United States as well as local and national efforts to address homelessness.
Webinar PowerPoint and Recording: Homelessness Services Initiatives
In preparation for Capitol Hill Day at the Alliance’s Annual Conference, the Alliance is hosted two webinars to provide participants with information about the 2009 Capitol Hill Day Policy Agenda.
Implementing HPRP in Rural Areas II
This November 13, 2009 webinar explored issues with HPRP implementation that are particular to rural areas. Specifically, program design and data collection challenges were discussed. It was the second Alliance webinar to focus on HPRP implementation issues in rural areas.
Understanding the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act
Steve Berg, vice President of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, explains the history of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance programs and what we can expect in the future.
Fact Sheet: What is a Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness?
In 2000, the National Alliance to End Homelessness released A Plan, Not a Dream: How to End Homelessness in Ten Years. Drawing on research and innovative programs from around the country, the plan outlined key strategies in addressing the issue locally, which cumulatively can address the issue nationally. Since the release of this blueprint, over 300 communities have undertaken efforts to end homelessness and over 180 communities have completed plans to end homelessness.
Charles King's Remarks at White House HIV/AIDS Summit
These opening remarks were given by Charles King, President and CEO of Housing Works, Inc. at a White House Summit on Housing and HIV/AIDS in December 2009.
HPRP Community Profile: Alameda County, CA
Each community receiving HPRP funds is responsible for designing its program based on its distinct needs, and many are taking this unique opportunity to transform their homelessness assistance systems. This community profile examines Alameda County, CA's efforts to use HPRP to transform its homelessness assistance system.
Testimony of Nan Roman at Congressional Briefing on Ending Family Homelessness December 2009
These are the remarks made by Nan Roman, Alliance President and CEO, at the Alliance's Congressional Briefing entitled "Ending Family Homelessness" on December 4, 2009.
Letter to OMB Regarding FY 2011 RHYA Appropriations
The Alliance recently signed a letter to the Director of the Office on Management and Budget (OMB) urging a $35 million increase in funding to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Transitional Living Program (TLP) for the President’s proposed FY 2011 budget. This increased federal appropriation would expand housing options to 3,000 new youth annually.
Jobs Bill Recommendation: $1 Billion to Expand HPRP
Any new jobs bill should expand funding for HUD’s Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) by $1 billion, to create 2,500 additional jobs in community agencies, provide temporary rent payments that will fund additional jobs in the housing industry, and stabilize housing for 200,000 additional homeless or near-homeless families, giving them a fighting chance to become or remain employed.
Testimony of Kay Moshier McDivitt, County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Remarks at the National Alliance to End Homelessness Congressional Briefing on Friday, December 4, 2009.
Testimony of Bob Pulster, Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development
Remarks at the National Alliance to End Homelessness Congressional Briefing on Friday, December 4, 2009.
Community Snapshot: Wichita, KS
Between 2005 and 2008, chronic homelessness in Wichita/Sedgwick County decreased by 61 percent. Learn how they accomplished their success.
Congressional Briefing: Speaker Bios
Congressional Briefing: Speaker Bios
Congressional Briefing: Ending Family Homelessness
On December 4, 2009, the Alliance hosted a Congressional Briefing. Staff representing nearly 30 Congressional offices heard speakers provide information about the success that they have had in using solution-focused strategies, like prevention and rapid re-housing, to reduce homelessness among families. Speakers asked Congress to support their efforts by acting on specific federal policy priorities.
Increase Access to Affordable Housing for Extremely Low Income Families
Congress should increase access to affordable housing for extremely low income families by providing a $1 billion mandatory allocation for the National Housing Trust Fund this year and funding 200,000 new Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in FY 2011.
TANF Reauthorization Should Prevent and End Family Homelessness
TANF reauthorization is an ideal opportunity to make TANF an effective tool that more communities can use to end family homelessness. This paper outlines the Alliance's policy priorities for TANF reauthorization.
Extending the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP)
The Alliance urges Congress to include $1 billion in any upcoming job-creation bill to extend the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP).
Federal Policy Priorities to End Family Homelessness
This is a list of federal policies to prevent and end homelessness that the Alliance urges Congress to move forward as quickly as possible.
The Keys: Fall 2009 Edition
This is the Fall 2009 and inaugural edition of The Keys. This quarterly newsletter is put out by the Center for Capacity Building at the Alliance.
Homelessness In Major Cities, 2005 to 2007
The bar charts illustrate how homelessness increased overall and among families in Major Cities at the same time that homelessness decreased overall and among the chronic and family subpopulations in other Urban CoCs.
Geography of Homelessness, Part 4: Examining Urban Homelessness
This is the fourth in a series of briefs examining the geographic distribution of the population experiencing homelessness and the homeless assistance system in the United States. It examines the homeless population in urban areas, and further categorizes urban areas into five subcategories.
Virtual Discussion Questions: November 12, 2009
This document provides a summary to the November 12, 2009 Virtual Discussion on HPRP Implementation. It contains 26 questions asked during the Virtual Discussion, along with the responses given by Alliance staff.
Back on Track: Supporting Youth Reentry from Out-of-Home Placement to the Community
This issue brief is jointly published by members of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Coalition to raise awareness around reentry services nationally. It outlines the concept of reentry services in theory and practice, offers a review of federal policy previously enacted to support reentry, suggests opportunities for improvements in public policy, and reviews promising initiatives.
Implementing HPRP in Rural Areas II
This November 13, 2009 webinar explored issues with HPRP implementation that are particular to rural areas. Specifically, program design and data collection challenges were discussed. It was the second Alliance webinar to focus on HPRP implementation issues in rural areas.
Housing First Partnership and Accountability Matrix
This tool is designed to help communities identify possible partners and accountable agencies within their Housing First system based on the three main outcomes of a Housing First system: prevention of homelessness, reduction in the length of time of homelessness, and decreased recidivism.
Testimony to the Housing, Transportation, and Community Development Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Written testimony to the Senate Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Concerning ending veterans' homelessness.
Veterans Data Update 2008

In association with Veterans Day 2009, the Alliance released an update to the veterans report: Vital Mission: Ending Homelessness Among Veterans. New data from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shows that while the number of homeless veterans seems to have decreased, the need for more proactive intervention and action grows.

The HEARTH Act: Changes to HUD's Homeless Assistance Programs
This presentation provides an easy-to-follow overview of the impact of the HEARTH Act on the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance programs. The presentation lays out how things are under the current McKinney-Vento programs and how they will be once HEARTH Act implementation is complete.
Veterans Map and Lookup Table, 2008
The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 131,230 veterans were homeless on a given night in 2008. This map shows how many veterans are estimated to be homeless in each state.
Perspectives on Youth Housing and Advocacy Efforts
This presentation by Rich Hooks Wayman of the Alliance at the 2009 National Homeless Youth Month Summit provides an overview of how many youth are homeless, youth housing models, the cost of youth housing, federal funding for youth housing, and other information.
Veterans Campaign Media Tips & Tools
This document provides information to help advocates answer questions from reporters regarding veterans homelessness and includes tips for local media outreach.
Veterans Campaign Editorial Memo
This is the Alliance's memo to media assignment editors regarding the Data Update to Vital Mission: Ending Homelessness Among Veterans.
Veterans Media Campaign Power Point Presentation
This is the presentation of the Veterans Media Campaign webinar on November 2. It contains information regarding the Data Update to Vital Missions: Ending Homelessness Among Veterans, as well as information to assist advocates with local media outreach.
Veterans Federal Policy Priorities
This brief lists the Alliance's legislative priorities to end homelessness among veterans.
Neighborhood Stabilization Fund Resources
Click here for more information about the Neighborhood Stabilization program, which provides funds to communities that have high rates of foreclosure and vacant properties. At least 25 percent of the funding must be used to provide housing, including permanent supportive housing, to people below 50 percent of area median income. This resource includes a fact sheet on how communities can use the funding, as well as links to additional resources.
Homeless Youth and Sexual Exploitation: Research Findings and Practice Implications
Homeless youth surviving day-to-day on the streets are at constant risk of solicitation and sexual exploitation. Homeless youth are far more likely to be physically and sexually victimized than their peers who are housed, and they are more likely to experience repeated episodes of sexual assaults. This publication reviews the research and practice implications for community-based services.
Annual Report 2008
The National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual Report, 2008.
Summary of S. 1781, the REDUCE Act
The REDUCE Act, S. 1781, would create a demonstration program that would allow service providers to reimburse Medicaid for coordinated care management and community support services. The program targets Medicaid beneficiaries with complex medical and behavior health conditions who frequently rely on emergency health care services.
Legislative Text of REDUCE Act, S. 1781
This is a copy of the legislative text of S. 1781, the Reduce Emergency Department Utilization through Coordination and Empowerment (REDUCE) Act.
Testimony to the House Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support for the Committee of Ways and Means
Written testimony to the House Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support of the Committee of Ways and Means Concerning the response of the "safety net" to the recession.
The Services for Ending Long Term Homelessness Act (SELHA)
SELHA would authorize funding for a flexible array of services in permanent supportive housing, focused on helping people move toward recovery and self sufficiency.
Geography of Homelessness, Part 3: Subpopulations by Geographic Type
This is the third in a series of briefs examining the geographic distribution of the population experiencing homelessness and the homeless assistance system in the United States. It examines the geographic distributions of homeless subpopulations and subgroups.

Letter to Senator Baucus on Inclusion of Home Visiting Language in Health Care Reform Legislation
This September 24, 2009 letter from the Alliance and the National Center on Family Homelessness was sent to Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. The letter thanks Senator Baucus for including a provision that provides states with funds to support the creation or expansion of home visiting programs in the Chairman’s Mark of the Senate Finance Committee’s health care reform proposal.
Excerpts from Community Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in Dane County, WI
This document provides a status update as of 2008 on Dane County, WI's efforts to meet the goals of its plan to prevent and end homelessness.
Overview of Dane County, WI's Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
This document provides a brief overview of Dane County, WI's plan to prevent and end homelessness.
Progress Report on Grant Funded Housing First Program for Families in Dane County, WI
This document provides an overview of the progress being made by Dane County, WI on a Housing First program funded by a grant from the Henry J. Predolin Foundation.
Dane County, WI Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration Summary
This document provides a summary of the plan by Dane County, WI to use its Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration grant.
Kalamazoo County, MI Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration Summary
This document provides a summary of the plan by Kalamazoo County, MI to use its Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration grant.
Community Snapshot: Quincy, MA
Between 2005 and 2008, chronic homelessness in Quincy, MA decreased by 50 percent. Learn how they accomplished their success.
Clallam and Whatcom County, WA Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration Presentation
This presentation provides an overview of Clallum and Whatcom County, WA's plans to use its Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration Grant.
Clallam and Whatcom County, WA Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration Summary
This document provides a summary of the plan by Clallam and Whatcom County, WA to use its Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration grant.
Greater New Orleans, LA Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration Summary
This document provides a summary of the plan by Greater New Orleans, LA to use its Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration grant.
Mercer County, NJ Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration Presentation
This presentation provides an overview of Mercer County, NJ's plans to use its Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration Grant.
Trenton/Mercer County, NJ Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration Summary
This document provides a summary of the plan by Trenton/Mercer County, NJ to use its Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration grant.
Allegheny County, PA Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration Summary
This document provides a summary of the plan by Allegheny County, PA to use its Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration grant.
Lancaster City and County, PA Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration Summary
This document provides a summary of the plan by Lancaster City and County, PA to use its Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration grant.
Austin/Travis County, TX Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration Summary
This document provides a summary of the plan by Austin/Travis County, TX to use its Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration grant.
Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration Program
Congress allocated $25 million for a Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration to serve homeless families. The experience of the 23 communities that received grants awards under the Demonstration can be an important resource for communities developing Rapid Re-Housing programs to serve families using HPRP or other funding resources. This resource collects information about what the Demonstration grantees are doing.
CCD Letter to Secretary Sebelius
This September 15, 2009 letter from the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) TANF Task Force was sent to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. It outlines the Task Force’s principles for TANF reauthorization.
National Foster Care Coalition Housing Policy Platform
In this policy platform, the National Foster Care Coalition makes numerous recommendations about housing supports that should be made available to youth transitioning from foster care.
Medicaid Reform: Organizational Sign-On Letter
The Alliance and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare sent a letter, which was endorsed by over 200 local, state, and national organizations, to U.S. House and Senate members of leadership to ensure final health reform legislation includes provisions to improve access and quality of health care for people experiencing homelessness.
Annual Conference on Ending Family Homelessness 2009 - Congressman Al Green

This video includes a series of remarks made in July 2009, at the Annual Conference on Ending Homelessness in Washington, D.C. Congressman Al Green of Texas appears in this clip.

Annual Conference on Ending Family Homelessness 2009 - Secretary Shaun Donovan

This video includes a series of remarks made in July 2009, at the Annual Conference on Ending Homelessness in Washington, D.C. Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan is featured in this clip.

Annual Conference on Ending Family Homelessness 2009 - Adolfo Carrion, Dennis Culhane

This video includes a series of remarks made in July 2009, at the Annual Conference on Ending Homelessness in Washington, D.C. Speakers in this clip include White House Director of Urban Affairs Adolfo Carrion, acclaimed scholar Dennis Culhane, and Alliance president Nan Roman.

Annual Conference on Ending Family Homelessness 2009 - Barb Poppe, Jim Ryczek, Sen. Jack Reed

This video includes a series of remarks made in July 2009, at the Annual Conference on Ending Homelessness in Washington, D.C. Speakers in this clip include Barb Poppe, Jim Ryczek, Sen. Jack Reed, and Alliance board member Irene Mabry-Moses.

A Shifting Focus: What's New in Community Plans to End Homelessness
This Data Update provides an updated content analysis of the 234 completed community plans to end homelessness. In addition to illustrating of the growth of 10-year plans, this update will compare the content of earlier (first 90 plans) and later plans (144).
Federal Policy Agenda: Housing for Homeless Street Youth
This policy brief outlines the Alliance's policy recommendations for ending homelessness for 50,000 street youth through the provision of supportive housing, rental assistance, and services for specific sub-populations of street youth.
Geography of Homelessness, Introduction
The Alliance launched a multi-part series called the "Geography of Homelessness", which examines rates of homelessness in rural, urban, and mixed areas. The first part of this ongoing series explains the goals and parameters of the project.
Ending Homelessness with HPRP
Norm Suchar, senior policy analyst for the National Alliance to End Homelessness, explains the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing program and the nation's changing approach to addressing homelessness in the country.
Health Care and the Homeless
Peggy Bailey, program and policy analyst at the National Alliance to End Homelessness, explains how health care fits into discussions about homelessness, and outlines the Alliance's priorities in the health care reform debate.
What is HPRP?
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Norm Suchar, senior policy analyst at the National Alliance to End Homelessness, explains the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing program and it's potential to transform the homeless systems in the country.
Highest CoC Homeless Population and Rates
This interactive tool shows the communities with the largest homeless populations and highest rates of homelessness.
Geography of Homelessness, Part 2: Prevalence of Homelessness
This is the second in a series of briefs examining the geographic distribution of the population experiencing homelessness and the homeless assistance system in the United States. It evaluates how rates of homelessness in rural areas compare to rates in urban areas.

Organizational Change: Adopting a Housing First Approach

nameThis document outlines the key strategies of a Housing First approach - it can help organizations that are planning to use HPRP resources to shift their organization's approach toward a Housing First model.




Medicaid Improvements In Health Reform: Sign-on Letter
The National Alliance to End Homelessness and National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare are circulating an organizational sign-on letter urging House and Senate leadership to consider two critical Medicaid provisions in health care reform.
Capitol Hill Day 2009: Summary and Report
Capitol Hill Day provides people who attend the Alliance’s Annual Conference with an opportunity to take part in federal advocacy by meeting with their U.S. Senators and Representatives. This Summary and Report includes a list of the 2009 Capitol Hill Day Federal Policy Priorities, a report of the Hill Day activities, and a summary of the impact advocates had on each of the policy priorities before and during the conference.
Defining the Spectrum of Youth Housing
This short brief provides information on the spectrum of structural variations of youth housing models, including host homes, community-based group homes, shared housing, supervised apartments, scattered-site housing, and dormitories. It also defines programmatic service delivery variations, including foyer employment-focused housing, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and host homes.
Federal Funding for Homelessness Assistance Programs, Including for Youth
This brief fact sheet provides information on how much the federal government appropriated in fiscal year 2009 for general homeless assistance programs and for dedicated youth homeless assistance programs.
Federal Funding for Affordable Housing, Including for Youth
This short fact provides information on how much the federal government appropriated on fiscal year 2009 on special population affordable housing, rental assistance programs, public housing, and youth housing.
Strategies of State Mental Health Agencies to Prevent and End Homelessness
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This is an issue brief presenting the ways state mental health agencies can work cooperatively with community members and lawmakers to prevent and end homelessness for those afflicted with severe mental illness. Key strategies are examined in this brief, as well as case studies of states that have successfully implemented some of these strategies.
Housing Resources and a National Housing Agenda for Homeless Youth
Access a variety of resources regarding a national youth housing policy agenda, including information on federal funding, youth housing proposals, and other documents. This resource also includes a number of youth housing resources, including information on the spectrum of youth housing and other topics. Also included are a external links to useful resources.
Presentation on 2008 AHAR
HUD Released the 2008 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress on July 9, 2009. The AHAR research team (Alvaro Cortes, Abt Associates; Jill Khadduri, Abt Associates; Dennis Culhane, University of Pennsylvania) presented the results at the 2009 National Conference on Ending Homelessness. These are the slides from that Presentation.
TANF Recipients Living with a Disability: Policy Framework, Prevalence, and Service Strategies
This presentation by LaDonna Pavetti with Mathematica Policy Research was made for the July 16 webinar, "Serving Parents and Children with Disabilities in the TANF Program."
Serving Parents and Children with Disabilities in the TANF Program
The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities TANF Task Force hosted a webinar that offered an overview on how the TANF program is serving families that include a person with a disability on July 16, 2009. Featured speakers included LaDonna Pavetti, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. and Elizabeth Lower-Basch, Center on Law and Social Policy (CLASP). How the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund and TANF reauthorization in 2010 can improve services to parents and children with disabilities was also discussed.
TANF in the "Great Recession" and Beyond
This presentation by Elizabeth Lower-Basch of the Center on Law and Social Policy (CLASP) was made for the July 16 webinar, "Serving Parents and Children with Disabilities in the TANF Program."
Ending Youth Homelessness Before It Begins: Prevention and Early Intervention Services for Older Adolescents
This issue brief identifies proven interventions from the fields of child welfare, community mental health, and juvenile justice, and it promotes their use as a model for youth homelessness prevention and early intervention. It is directed at community planners and youth advocates, who should view these services as critical components of a service and housing spectrum that can end youth homelessness.
Take Five! Q & A with Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
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Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Creating a Continuum of Youth Housing
This presentation by Mark Kroner, Director of the Lighthouse Training Institute at Lighthouse Youth Services Inc., provides an overview of how to create a spectrum of youth housing and a comprehensive transition system.
Framing New Policy for Youth Housing: Going to Scale to Meet National Demand
This presentation by the Alliance provides information on how to respond to the national youth housing demand through focusing limited appropriations and recognizing varying demand for housing services by youth subpopulations. It makes policy recommendations for HUD and HHS regarding the provision of housing and services.
Funding for Youth Housing Programs
This presentation by Roxana Torrico, Senior Consultant at the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare, provides an overview of how to tap into federal housing resources, including FUP, HPRP, CDBG, and child welfare funding.
Homelessness Prevention: Creating Programs that Work
The National Alliance to End Homelessness has published this guide and companion to help organizations create a homelessness prevention program or improve an existing prevention program.
Rapid Re-Housing: Creating Programs that Work
The Alliance has published this guide to help organizations develop Rapid Re-Housing programs.
HPRP Guide for Homeless Youth
This presentation by the Alliance provides information on how to use the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) to provide housing for homeless and at-risk youth.
Perspectives from Australia on Youth Housing
This presentation by Michael Coffey of YAA in Australia was presented at the National Conference on Ending Homelessness in July 2009. It provides an Australian perspective on the issue of housing for homeless youth.
Can HUD-VASH Help End Veterans' Homelessness?
As VA’s only permanent supportive housing intervention, HUD-VASH must be an integral part of ending homelessness for veterans. This document provides advocates and policymakers with a number of specific areas for improvement and recommendations to improve targeting and administration of HUD-VASH in the service of homeless veterans.
Ending Homelessness for Families: The Evidence for Affordable Housing
This joint paper by the Alliance and Enterprise Community Partners demonstrates the importance of affordable housing in ending homelessness for families.
Soloist Watch Party Toolkit!
Join the social action campaign to challenge false serotypes about people who have a mental illness and live on the street. Participate in the August 4 DVD release of the movie the Soloist—the story of Nathaniel Ayers, a gifted Juilliard-trained string player whose mental illness led him to become homeless. His story illustrates strength in community connections and relationships. It is not acceptable, regardless of a person's mental health, for anyone to experience homelessness—with proper supports, housing stability can be achieved. We can all take action to solve homelessness and de-stigmatize mental illness.
Webinar PowerPoint: Housing and Veterans Initiatives
On July 23, the Alliance hosted the Housing and Veterans Initiatives Webinar to provide Capitol Hill Day participants with the latest updates on the Hill Day policy priorities. Presenters discussed the status of and key talking points for each issue, as well as what action is needed to make as much progress as possible on these issues over the summer. This is the PowerPoint presentations. Unfortunately, the webinar did not record successfully.
Federal Policy Update Webinar: Services Appropriations PowerPoint Presentation
Federal Policy Update Webinar: Services Appropriations PowerPoint Presentation.
POLICY UPDATE AND TARGETED REQUESTS
There are several important issues moving forward in Congress. In order to make as much progress as possible on these things, it will be important to PRIORITIZE. It is advantageous to only ask your Members of Congress to do one (or maybe two) things. In order to help you decide which issue to choose, this document provides Congressional targets for each issues and the specific policy request.
Ending Homelessness Among Veterans
President Obama and Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki have made ending veterans homelessness a top priority, and Congress has been exploring legislative solutions to the problem. While there is great interest in Congress and the Administration, it is unclear how veterans legislation will move forward. The Alliance believes that any bill should bolster the capacity of the VA to provide assistance to all veterans who are homeless or are at risk, including through rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, short-term emergency assistance, and outreach services.
Section Eight Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA)
The Section Eight Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA), H.R. 3045, would streamline and make improvements to the Housing Choice Voucher program and authorize 150,000 new vouchers.
Congressional Visit: Sample Agenda
This is a sample agenda and worksheet to help you think through the framework of your meeting with your Senator(s) or Representative(s). Think about who will chair the meeting and who will cover each agenda item.
Geography of Homelessness, Part 1: Defining the Spectrum
This serves as the first in a series of briefs examining the geographic distribution of the homeless population in the United States and provides some insight into the extent to which homelessness exists in rural and urban areas.


Homelessness by Geographic Type
This interactive map identifies the geographic distribution of the homeless population for each of the 50 states.
Nan Roman on National Public Radio
"Some Stimulus Money Preventing Homelessness" Homeless programs are about to get a big push in a new direction. They used to focus on providing food and shelter. Now, the economic stimulus package is providing $1.5 billion to prevent people from becoming homeless and to quickly re-house those who do.
Implementing Harm Reduction Strategies in Your Health Center Presentatino - Miriam Komaromy
This presentation was used by Miriam Komaromy on the June 3, 2009 webinar, "Implementing Harm Reduction Strategies in Your Health Center."
Implementing Harm Reduction Strategies in Your Health Center Presentation - Ed Stellon
This presentation was used by Ed Stellon in the June 3, 2009 webinar, "Implementing Harm Reduction Strategies in Your Health Center."
Implementing Harm Reduction Strategies in Your Health Center Presentation - Jan Caughlan
This presentation was used by Jan Caughlan on the June 3, 2009 webinar, "Implementing Harm Reduction Strategies in Your Health Center."
Take Five! Q & A with Steve Hilton
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Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Health Care Reform Recommendations
Given the debate in Congress over health care reform, the Alliance has prepared two recommendations for inclusion in health care reform. First, that at least every American living below the federal poverty level must be eligible for Medicaid; second, that Medicaid eligible populations must have access to integrated health services that include mental health and substance use treatment.
Foreclosure to Homelessness: The Forgotten Victims of the Subprime Crisis
In June 2009, the Alliance, along with several other national organizations released this report, which provides insight into the contribution that foreclosures had on 2008 homeless populations.
Appropriations Priorities and Specific FY 2010 “Asks”
This document includes information about the specific policy request related to the FY 2010 appropriations priorities.
A Place at the Table - Identifying Partners for Planning
This one-pager discusses key partners worth identifying when planning a Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). It was used during a June 23, 2009 webinar entitled "Implementing HPRP in Rural Areas."
Ohio's HPRP Application
This document shows the application being used by the State of Ohio for nonprofit organizations and local governments interested in receiving HPRP funds.
Who to Serve - Targeting Those with Highest Risk Factors
This one-pager discusses how to target assistance toward those with the greatest risk of becoming homeless. It was used during a June 23, 2009 webinar entitled "Implementing HPRP in Rural Areas."
Presentation for "Implementing HPRP in Rural Areas" Webinar - COHHIO
This is the PowerPoint presentation used by the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) on the June 23, 2009 webinar entitled "Implementing HPRP in Rural Areas."
Presentation for "Implementing HPRP in Rural Areas" Webinar - Jamey Burden
This is the PowerPoint presentation used by Jamey Burden on the June 23, 2009 webinar entitled "Implementing HPRP in Rural Areas."
Implementing HPRP in Rural Areas
In June 2009, the Alliance and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) co-hosted a webinar entitled "Implementing HPRP in Rural Areas." Speakers explored the unique challenges that rural communities face as they implement their Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) plans. They also delved into new and significant opportunities to address these challenges through effective program design and collaborative strategies.
Conference Advocacy Agenda
This is a schedule of policy and advocacy-related workshops and activities at the annual conference.
FY 2010 Appropriations: Second Chance Act Programs
This document provides information about the Second Chance Act programs, which were passed into law in April 2008, and recommendations for funding in FY 2010.
HEARTH Act Section-by-Section Analysis
This document provides a section-by-section analysis of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act signed into law in May 2009.
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act: FAQs
This report by the National Foster Care Coalition is entitled "Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act: Frequently Asked Questions on the Provisions Designed to Impact Youth and Young Adults." It reviews numerous common questions, including those around the extension of foster care to age 21, which was included in the Act.
Annual Report 2007
The National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual Report, 2007.
Urban/Rural Cost Analysis Chart
This interactive stacked bar chart illustrates the relative costs of permanent supportive housing and homelessness (prior to supportive housing) for both urban and rural areas in the state of Maine.
Highlights of HEARTH Act, S. 896
This two-page brief provides highlights of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act that was signed into law by President Obama on May 20, 2009.
Summary of HEARTH Act
This brief provides a detailed overview of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act that was included in the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, which was signed into law on May 20, 2009 by President Obama. The document explains the legislation's background, provides details on its provisions, and discusses the ramifications of the bill's language for implementation and application procedures.
Implementing Harm Reduction Strategies in Your Health Center
On June 3, the Alliance and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council co-hosted a webinar on harm reduction strategies within Health Care for the Homeless clinics. Adopting a harm reduction approach can be controversial, but communities across the country have found it to be an effective strategy to engage vulnerable persons into primary care, behavioral health, and other stabilizing services, including housing.
Testimony to the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
Testimony to the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity Concerning the Proposed Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA) on.
Fairfax County, VA's HPRP Substantial Amendment
This is Fairfax County, VA's Substantial Amendment to its Consolidated Plan, which describes its plan to use the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funds.
Take Five! Q & A with Secretary Shaun Donovan
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Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Shelter Calculator
This calculator illustrates the relationship between shelter demand, length of stay, and minimum required shelter bed inventory.
HEARTH Act: Homeless Families Benefit
This one-pager explains how homeless families will benefit from the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, which reauthorizes McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance programs and was signed into law on May 20, 2009.
Written Testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
Written Testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Concerning Programs in the United States Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education by the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
Legislative Text of Final HEARTH Act
This document provides the legislative text of S. 896, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, which was signed into law by President Obama on May 20, 2009. Contained within S. 896 was the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act. The text of the HEARTH Act begins on page 32 of the bill.
HPRP Call with NAEH and NCDA
The National Community Development Association and the National Alliance to End Homelessness hosted an audio conference presentation on the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) on April 30. The presentation included a brief review of program requirements and strategies from two communities to implement the program locally. Time was reserved for questions and answers. Featured speakers included Steve Berg and Norm Suchar of the National Alliance to End Homelessness; Bob Gehret from the City of Boston and Keith Theriot from the City of Orlando.
Clark County, NV's Draft HPRP Substantial Amendment
This is a draft version of Clark County, NV's Substantial Amendment to its Consolidated Plan, which describes its plan to use the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funds.
City of Sacramento, CA's HPRP Substantial Amendment
This is the City of Sacramento, CA's Substantial Amendment to its Consolidated Plan, which describes its plan to use the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funds.
County of Sacramento, CA's HPRP Substantial Amendment
This is the County of Sacramento, CA's Substantial Amendment to its Consolidated Plan, which describes its plan to use the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funds.
PowerPoint Presentation: FY 2010 Budget Brefing
FY 2010 Federal Budget Brefing, PowerPoint Presentation
State of Minnesota's Draft HPRP Substantial Amendment
This is a draft version of the State of Minnesota's Substantial Amendment to its Consolidated Plan, which describes its plan to use the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funds.
Sample Community Substantial Amendments
A number of communities have posted their plans or draft plans online for how they intend to use HPRP funding locally. This resource includes links to sample substantial amendments that communities are planning to submit to HUD.
CA - Kern County
Home First! Kern County's Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
TX - Fort Worth
Directions Home: Making Homelessness Rare, Short-term and non-recurring in Fort Worth, Texas Within Ten Years
OH - Allen County
Blueprint to End Homelessness in Allen County Ohio
CA - Arcata
City of Arcata Homeless Services Plan: 2007-2016
NM - Albuquerque
A Community Response to Homelessness in Albuquerque
OR - State of Oregon
A Home for Hope: A 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Oregon
VA - Arlington County
A Passageway Home
LA - State of Louisiana
State of Louisiana Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness: The Road to Supportive Housing
NM - Santa Fe
Plan to End HOmelessness in Santa Fe in 5 Years
MS - Jackson
Destination Home: Jackson's Ten Year Strategic Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
VA - Fairfax-Falls Church
Blueprint for Succe3ss: Strategic Directions for the Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in the Fairfax-Falls Church Community
ID - Boise
Boise's 10 Year Plan to Reduce and Prevent Chronic Homelessness
MA - Lowell
City of Lowell Partnership for Change: Action Plan to End Homelessness
MA - North Shore
The Plan to End Homelessness on the North Shore
MI - Grand Traverse Region
Vision to End Homelessness in the Greater Grand Traverse Region
MA - Pioneer Valley
All roads lead home: The Pioneer Valley's Plan to End Homelessness
TX - Houston/Harris County
Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness in Houston/Harris County
NE - Omaha/Council Bluffs
Homes for All 2008 - 2018
OR - Washington County
A Road Home: 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness
VA - Chesapeake
Chesapeake Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness
WA - Cowlitz County
Cowlitz County Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness
Related Substance Use and Mental Health Links
Click here to access links to our partner organizations that serve as strong resources on the intersection of substance use, mental health, and homelessness.
Related Health Care Links
Click here to access links to our partner organizations that serve as strong resources on the intersection of health care and homelessness.
Written Testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
Written Testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Concerning Programs in the United States Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education by the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
New Targeted Case Management Rule and Homelessness
Many health care agencies assisting those experiencing homelessness are able to receive Medicaid reimbursement for by providing targeted case management services. The Alliance outlines three main reason for the Administration not to limit case management activities.
Protecting Health Care for the Homeless Programs
In May 2008, the Alliance provided comments to the Department of Health and Human Services explaining the importance of protecting health care for the homeless clinics and consolidated community health centers across the country. These clinics and centers provide an important safety net for people without health insurance or with insufficient access to health care services.
Mental Health and Substance Use Resources
Click here for additional resources on how mental health and substance use issues affect homelessness. Materials include "Chronic Homelessness," "Christian Community Health Center in Chicago, Illinois: Providing Supportive Housing and Health Care," and "Amethyst Inc. in Columbus, Ohio: Helping Addicted Women to Gain and Maintain Sobriety."
Health Care and Medicaid Resources
Click here to access additional resources related to health care and Medicaid. Materials include "New Targeted Case Management Rule and Homelessness," "Medicaid Coverage for Rehabilitation Services," "Medicaid Proof of Citizenship," and "Protecting Health Care for the Homeless Programs."
FY 2010 McKinney Appropriations "Dear Colleague" Letter
Senators Reed (D-RI) and Martinez (R-FL) are seeking signatures on an FY 2010 McKinney appropriations letter.
Copy of FY 2010 McKinney Appropriations Letter
This is a copy of a letter being circulated by Senators Reed (D-RI) and Martinez (R-FL) urging Congress to provide $2.2 billion for HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program in FY 2010.
Using the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program in Child Welfare Agencies
This April 23, 2009 audio conference included a discussion of how HPRP can be used for child welfare involved families and youth aging out of care to promote better program housing and perhaps reduce foster care placements.
Child Welfare Agencies: Using HPRP Resources
This presentation was used for an audio conference on April 23, 2009 entitled "Using the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program in Child Welfare Agencies."
Using HPRP to Transform Your Homelessness System
Speakers on this audio conference provided concrete steps for using HPRP to create a more effective and efficient homelessness assistance system centered on housing stability and addressed strategies for sustaining programs beyond the three years of HPRP funding.
Participant Agenda
This agenda highlights the content of the April 16, 2009 audio conference entitled "Using HPRP to Transform Your Homeless Assistance System."
HPRP: Opportunities for Systems Transformation and Sustainability
This paper provides basic steps for using HPRP to facilitate the transformation of homeless assistance from a system organized around emergency shelter to one centered on housing stability. Although no community has perfected homeless assistance, the steps in this paper have been used in communities to spark the process of transformation.
A National Approach to Meeting the Needs of LGBTQ Homeless Youth
This two-page brief provides an overview of the prevalence and experience of LGBTQ youth, causal factors, and risks to LGBTQ youth while homeless.
National Recommended Best Practices for Serving LGBT Homeless Youth
This policy brief provides a brief overview of homelessness among LBGT youth and makes recommendations about improving practice, organizational culture, and residential services.
The Soloist - Wallet Card
On April 24, 2009, the film "The Soloist" will premier in theaters. This downloadable document folds up and fits into your pocket. Users can easily download this PDF of Myths, Facts, and Tips to carry with them and make change everyday.
House Section 8 Appropriations Sign-On Letter
Representatives Nadler (D-NY) and Velazquez (D-NY) and 41 other Representatives, sent a letter to Chairman Olver (D-MA) and Ranking Member Latham (R-IA) of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (T-HUD) urging them to fully fund the Section 8 Tenant-Based and Project-Based Rental Assistance Programs and 200,000 additional tenant-based vouchers in fiscal year 2010.
Homelessness Prevention and Re-Housing: Key Partnerships
This paper explores key partnerships that communities should consider for both the planning and program design stage and the implementation, oversight, and evaluation stage of their HPRP program.
April 2, 2009
2009 Counts Media Map
This map serves as a database of January 2009 point-in-time counts that have been reported in the media or on Continuum of Care websites. Red markers indicate reports of increases and green markers indicate reports of decreases. Links to news story's or CoC websites are included.
Housing Location
Housing location is a core function of a good prevention and re-housing program. Many programs have staff whose sole function is housing location. Other programs have staff who split time between housing location and case management. This brief includes tips on how to locate and then acquire affordable housing units for your homeless or at-risk clients.
New York City's Homelessness Prevention Program: HomeBase
This video describes New York City's HomeBase program, one of the most effective homelessness prevention programs in the United States.
House Section 8 “Dear Colleague”
DRAFT House Section 8 “Dear Colleague”
Overview of HUD HPRP Notice
This short brief provides an overview of many of the important provisions that were contained in HUD's Notice for the HPRP funds.
Q&A with SAMHSA
On March 24, 2009, the Alliance and CSH co-hosted a conference call on the recent SAMHSA RFA. SAMHSA staff made a brief presentation and were available to answer questions.
Sample Housing Resource Coordinator Job Description
This document is an example of a Housing Resource Coordinator job description used by one city.
New Funding for Homeless Youth Services and Housing
This brief includes information on new funding benefiting homeless youth in ARRA and the HPRP program. It offers local organizations serving homeless youth action steps, ideas, and model programs on re-housing and prevention for homeless youth, information on establishing a framework for youth homelessness prevention and re-housing, and details regarding other federal appropriations benefiting homeless youth.
Program Models: Homelessness Prevention and Re-Housing
Many communities have in place best practices which can be funded through HUD’s new Homelessness Prevention and Re-Housing Fund. Highlighted below are model community-based and statewide programs, which are preventing homelessness, diverting people from shelter, and rapidly re-housing those who become homeless. Provided are the programs’ focus (noted under its name) and websites, and Alliance Audio Conferences, Best Practice write-ups, and National Conference presentations pertaining to the program.
Massachusetts Dudley Diversion Project
The Dudley Diversion Project was a collaboration between several service-providing organizations and the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). The purpose of this two-month pilot was to test the use of a diversion intervention for families seeking shelter at DTA’s Dudley Square office.
Housing for Homeless Youth
When runaways and homeless youth cannot be reunited with their families, the creation of housing models that also address the service needs of youth is one solution to ending youth homelessness. The goal of this brief is to outline a spectrum of youth housing models that connect affordable housing, self-sufficiency services, and positive youth development approaches. This brief examines youth housing combined with positive youth development services and highlights four housing models and programs that demonstrate promise in housing for older adolescents and young adults.
Coordinating New Prevention and Re-Housing and TANF Emergency Contingency Funds
On March 12, the Alliance co-hosted an audio conference with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities focusing on how the Homeless Prevention Fund and TANF Emergency Contingency Funds can be coordinated and used to prevent homelessness and re-house families. The audio conference was intended for state and local poverty and homeless advocates and providers.
Using HPRP and TANF Funds to Help Homeless and At-Risk Families
This presentation provides information on the HPRP and TANF Emergency Contingency Fund programs from the economic recovery act. The presentation includes an overview of each fund, information on opportunities for collaboration, steps to take, and suggestions on how to be part of the solution to homelessness.
Preparing for $1.5 Billion in New Prevention and Re-Housing Resources
This audio conference included basic information about the program, recommendations on how to think about structuring the program locally, and next steps that advocates, public officials, and providers should begin taking immediately. Speakers included Steve Berg, Vice President for Programs and Policy at the Alliance, and Norm Suchar, Senior Policy Analyst at the Alliance. The call was moderated by Sarah Kahn, Director of Field Mobilization at the Alliance.
Homeless Youth Letter to Obama Administration
The National Alliance to End Homelessness joined nearly 200 other organizations in sending a letter to the Obama Administration requesting its support in ending youth homelessness. The letter makes numerous recommendations about how to achieve that goal.
Coordinating Prevention and Re-Housing Initiatives: TANF Programs
Local planners can improve the effectiveness of their local HPRP efforts by coordinating with TANF agencies. This one-pager provides an overview of ways in which communities can coordinate HPRP and TANF resources.
TANF Emergency Contingency Fund
Up to $5 billion is available to states under the economic recovery act for the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund. This brief explores how improving TANF agencies' capacity to work in concert with local efforts to prevent homelessness and re-house families can be used effectively to improve outcomes and end homelessness.
Steps in Planning: Checklist
This document provides a checklist of steps to guide state and local coalitions, CoCs, provider organizations, advocates, and others interested in ending homelessness through the planning process for the HPRP funds.
Alliance Congressional Briefing on Solutions to Homelessness
On February 23, the Alliance hosted a Congressional Briefing, "Homelessness and the Economic Crisis.” This link provides materials which were included in the Congressional Briefing packet, including information about high-priority policy issues on which the Alliance urges Congress to act in 2009.
Housing Homeless Youth
Increase funding to $2.2 billion for HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants Program and continue the rapid re-housing for families program. Homeless youth require housing programs tailored to meet the demands of transition from adolescence to adulthood on an individual basis. This paper explores housing options for young people experiencing homelessness.
Long-Term Federal Policy Priorities
A movement to end homelessness is underway in our nation. Nearly 300 communities have adopted concrete plans to end homelessness, utilizing focused, outcome-driven strategies. As a result, leading communities have substantially reduced the number of people who are homeless. However, almost 3.5 million Americans will still experience homelessness this year and the recession could put many more low income families and individuals at risk. Federal investments in proven interventions should be taken to scale to ensure those who are most at risk do not become homeless, and that we address the housing and service needs of those who are or who become homeless.
Testimony of Michael Kelly: February 23, 2009
Testimony of Michael Kelly: February 23, 2009
Policy Update: Section Eight Voucher Reform
Congress should pass Section Eight Voucher Reform legislation to increase the number of vouchers available to prevent and end homelessness by streamlining the program and making it more effective and efficient.
Federal Policy Priorities
Communities have significantly increased their ability to confront homelessness using efficient, solution-focused interventions. This is a set of issues focused on preventing and ending homelessness on which the Alliance, along with our national, state, and local partners, urge Congress to act in 2009.
FY 2010 Appropriations: McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants
HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants fund thousands of homeless assistance programs in nearly every community. Congress should include $2.2 billion for the program and continue the rapid re-housing for families program in the FY 2010 Appropriations Bill.
Creating a Plan for the Homelessness Prevention Fund
The Alliance has created this guide to help communities prepare a HPRP plan to submit to HUD. This guide can be used by public agencies responsible for submitting the plan, as well as the public and private partners who will be involved in developing the plan. The Guide was prepared before HUD issued its guidelines for the HPRP.
Alliance Recommendations: Using the New Prevention and Re-Housing Funds
Although HPRP provides a tremendous opportunity to prevent or end homelessness, there are not enough resources to adequately serve everybody who is homeless or at risk. This one-pager provides an overview of the Alliance’s principles for achieving the maximum benefit from these funds.
Christian Community Health Center in Chicago, Illinois: Providing Supportive Housing and Health Care
Christian Community Health Center (CCHC) is based in Chicago and provides permanent supportive housing for families and individuals. CCHC started as a Community Health Center in 1991 and has expanded to include housing placement and support services. CCHC is able to maintain housing for 100 percent of clients 6 months after housing placement.
UPDATED: Additional ARRA Homelessness Resources
The economic recovery act also included funding for several other programs that aid homeless individuals and families. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of some of these programs. It also highlights resources that provide more information on each program.
Legislative Text of Homelessness Prevention Fund
This document contains the legislative text from HR 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, relating to the creation of a homelessness prevention fund. The economic recovery bill included $1.5 billion for this fund.
UPDATED: Homelessness Prevention and Re-Housing: Overview of Funds
This document provides a brief overview of the HPRP funding, how communities should begin preparing for it, and what opportunities it presents.
Economic Recovery Includes Addressing Increased Homelessness
Both the House and Senate economic recovery bills include $1.5 billion for one-time grants to state and local government, to prevent people from becoming homeless or quickly rehouse those who become homeless. The funding, combined with know-how that has improved dramatically over the past ten years, will give communities a fighting chance to avoid the kind of massive increases in homelessness that took place during the recession of the early 1980s.
Take Five! Q & A with Richard LeMieux

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Shifting Gears - Final Evaluation Summary
In June 2004, the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation launched the Shifting Gears Initiative: Fast Track to Housing for Bay Area Families. The grants supported a shift away from “managing” homelessness toward programs and strategies aimed at ending homelessness. As a result, providers increasingly based their service delivery on rapid re-housing principles, families had shorter stays in shelter, and many families avoided entering the homeless service system altogether.
Moore Economic Recovery Letter
Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI) began circulating a Congressional sign-on letter to teh House Appropriations Committee. The letter calls on Congress to include in final economic recovery legislation: $2 billion in the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) Program for preventing and ending homelessness, $10 billion for the National Housing Trust Fund, and $3.6 billion for 400,000 Section 8 vouchers.
Homelessness Looms as Potential Outcome of Recession
Recessions mean more homelessness. Increasing numbers of unemployed people are unable to afford rent, and charities and local governments are unable to keep up. Based on estimates of the depth likely to be reached by the current recession, 1.5 million additional Americans are likely to experience homelessness over the next two years, over and above the number who usually become homeless. However, the worst increases in homelessness can be prevented by providing emergency assistance to help stabilize or rehouse people experiencing a housing crisis.
Changes in Homelessness 05 - 07 Map
Created in conjuction with Homelessness Counts: Changes in Homelessness from 2005 to 2007, this interactive map provides homeless counts and other demographic data for all 50 states for the years 2005 and 2007.
Homelessness Counts: Changes in Homelessness from 2005 to 2007
In 2007, the National Alliance to End Homelessness released Homelessness Counts, establishing a 2005 baseline for measuring progress in the fight to end homelessness. This report is a follow up to that report. Here, we analyze the changes from 2005 to 2007, looking more closely at changes at the state level and among subpopulations.



Joint Letter to President-Elect Obama
Joint Letter to President-Elect Obama
Obama Administration Homeless Youth Letter
Obama Administration Homeless Youth Letter
2009 Awards Ceremony Donation Form
Please use this form if you would like to contribute to the National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual Awards Ceremony.
Strategic Use of Transitional Housing
The expansion of rapid re-housing and permanent supportive housing models for families experiencing homelessness has prompted communities to explore how to use their transitional housing resources. This has resulted in narrower targeting of transitional housing programs and, in some cases, shifting missions. Speakers for this audio conference included Kay Moshier McDivitt, Community Homeless Advisor for Lancaster County, PA, and Sharon McDonald, Senior Policy Analyst at the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
Audio Conference Supplemental Material: Maximizing Transitional Housing Resources
This presentation, made my Kay Moshier McDivitt, examines the use of transitional housing as a whole, and more specifically within Lancaster County, PA.
Alliance's Letter to President-elect Obama
On December 16, the Alliance sent a letter to President-elect Obama urging him to adopt specific goals for ending homelessness. In January, the new Administration and Congress will take office, providing advocates with a great opportunity to help shape a national agenda that prioritizes ending homelessness.
Homelessness Counts Report: Media Campaign
On January 13th, the Homelessness Research Institute of the National Alliance to End Homelessness will release its second Homelessness Counts report. We are pleased to be working with our state and local partners to strengthen media efforts.
Economic Recovery Talking Points
Ask your Senators and Representatives to invest in programs that prevent and end homelessness in the economic recovery package. Call or email the staff who work on housing issues or copy the staff on a letter and fax it to your Members of Congress’ office. Personalize the following talking points to make your case.
Youth Housing: It's More than Bricks and Mortar
Many homeless youth do not receive the consistent developmental support from their families, leaving youth housing programs to assume the role of guardian and life skills coach for homeless youth. This audio conference call focused on the age-appropriate service delivery component of youth housing models. Speakers discussed the strengths and challenges presented by scattered-site and single-site housing models; the case management services necessary to ensure a successful transition from youth housing programs to independent housing; and how a variety of housing models can support homeless youth through services that address their entire well-being.
Audio Conference Supplemental Material: Teen Living Programs
This document is the supplemental material for "Youth Hosing: It's More than Bricks and Mortar."
Incidence and Vulnerability of LGBTQ Homeless Youth
This report highlights the incidence of homelessness among LGBTQ youth and the vulnerability of LGBTQ youth to becoming homeless. As compared to their heterosexual peers, LGBTQ youth face a greater risk of exploitation. This brief explores pathways into homelessness for LGBTQ youth and ways to end homelessness for this group. It also includes a chart on the systems components for addressing homelessness among all youth, including LGBTQ youth.
Congressional Letter of Support for SAMHSA funding
Congressional letter of support for SAMHSA funding
SAMHSA Letter of Support for SOAR
SAMHSA letter of support for the SOAR initiative.
Homeless Youth Research Bibliography
This document is a review of research focused on unaccompanied homeless youth.
Using the Continuum of Care Process to End Homelessness
This edition of the Leadership to End Homelessness Audio Conference Series focused on using the Continuum of Care process to help end homelessness.
Supporting the Employment Success of Veterans with TBI and PTSD
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has recently launched the "America's Heroes at Work" initiative. This one-pager explains the initiative and provides an overview of resources that can be found on the initiative's website.
Nan Roman at NASDAQ
On Veterans' Day 2008, Nan Roman rang the closing bell of the NASDAQ Stock Exchange in New York City. The ceremony was broadcast live in Times Square on the jumbotron screen. This video shows a recording of the ceremony, as seen from Times square.
Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA): An Overview
This document, provided by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, provides information about key provisions in the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act.
Take Five! Q & A with Ben Israel

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Homeless Assistance and the Neighborhood Stabilization Program
HUD is providing $3.9 billion to communities that have been hit hard by the foreclosure crisis through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). This fact sheet explores how communities can use this opportunity to create permanent housing and permanent supportive housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Rural Homelessness Counts
This document includes a discussion addressing: point-in-time count methods, challenges, and best practices; an outline of South Carolina’s approach; a sampling/extrapolation strategy from Georgia; and a tool to help communities choose the best approach based on local considerations.
Vital Mission: 2007 Data Update
This brief report provides an update to the Alliance's report, Vital Mission: Ending Homelessness among Veterans. This update utilizes data collected during 2007 about homelessness among veterans.
SAMHSA Reauthorization Recommendation
This April 2007 document describes the Alliance’s priorities for reauthorizing SAMHSA. The Alliance supports creating a system of care for homeless individuals, families, and youth, as well as authorizing S. 593, the Services to End Long-Term Homelessness Act (SELHA).
Services Funding among Federal Agencies
This one-pager describes how the funding for homeless services is distributed across various federal agencies.
The Homelessness Budget
This handout describes The Homelessness Budget, an index that combines the funding levels of eleven major federal programs dedicated to homelessness. It provides a quick look at the Federal commitment to homelessness and how it is changing. It also includes a broader indicator of federal housing spending and need.
Section 8 Resources
Click here to access resources on Section 8 programs, including information on how to answer difficult questions about Section 8 from the media and Congressional staff. Also available is an overview of Section 8.
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
This section provides resources on the HOPWA program, as well as additional resources relating to homelessness and HIV/AIDS.
Supporting Young Mothers: Hilton Initiative Overview
This document provides an overview of the "Strengthening At Risk and Homeless Young Mothers and Children" initiative. This initiative is sponsored by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, in partnership with the National Center on Family Homelessness, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and the Child Welfare League of America. The project is aimed at improving the housing, health, and development of homeless and at-risk young mothers and children.
Supporting Young Mothers: Working with Landlords
This technical assistance session focused on strategies that programs have developed to cultivate landlords to provide housing to families experiencing homelessness.
Family Unification Program
This brief discusses the Family Unification Program (FUP) and its impact on homeless families with children. Specifically, it focuses on the intersection between homelessness and child welfare as it relates to FUP and the ways in which FUP can help promote successful partnerships to help families and youth.
From NIMBY to YIMBY: Overcoming Community Resistance
This audio conference addressed these particular NIMBY issues, with a special focus on the right messaging and communication strategy.
Snapshot: Community Plans to End Homelessness
Hundreds of communities have committed to ending homelessness by dramatically transforming their homeless assistance systems. This document provides a summary of strategies and subpopulations included in those plans.
Overcoming the Challenges of NIMBYism
North Carolina Housing Coalition
Amethyst Inc. in Columbus, Ohio: Helping Addicted Women to Gain and Maintain Sobriety
Amethyst, Inc., in Columbus, Ohio, is a substance use treatment program that seeks to create a safe, supportive, nurturing, and woman-centered environment that encourages trust, bonding, and connection.
Rural Homelessness Counts
This audio conference offered practical strategies for conducting homelessness counts in rural areas and lessons learned from both local and national perspectives.
Rural Homelessness Counts Audio Conference Agenda
This document outlines what will be discussed on the Rural Counts audio conference held on September 17, 2008 at 3 pm ET.
Take Five! Q & A with Ralph F. Boyd, Jr.

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Family Unification Program (FUP) Vouchers... They're Back!
This audio conference reviewed changes regarding the new FUP vouchers and will feature a program that has used FUP vouchers in the past. This call also explored the latest housing resource available for families and youth involved with the foster care system.
Housing Credit Modernization Becomes Law
This document was prepared by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). It summarizes changes to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit that were included in the recently enacted Housing and Economic Recovery Act. The changes make it much easier to use the tax credit to develop permanent supportive housing.
Statutory Language Establishing a Capital Magnet Fund (from Public Law 110-289)
This document contains the text of the Capital Magnet Fund section of the recently enacted Housing and Economic Recovery Act. The Fund provides resources for Community Development Financial Institutions and nonprofit housing developers for housing and economic development.
Statutory Language Establishing a National Housing Trust Fund (from Public Law 110-289)
This document contains the text of the National Housing Trust Fund section of the recently enacted Housing and Economic Recovery Act. The Trust Fund provides resources that will primarily develop rental housing affordable to extremely low income households.
Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008: National Policy Update
This update describes three major parts of the Housing Bill recently passed by Congress and signed by the President.
Focusing the Media on Ending Homelessness: A how-to guide for aspiring communications pros, concerned advocates, and anyone with a story to tell
Engaging the media is an invaluable tool when advocating for change. That’s why the National Alliance to End Homelessness has provided recommendations to nonprofits and advocacy groups on specific steps they can take to increase coverage of homelessness and poverty issues. Even with little to no funding available for communications efforts, these valuable tools can be utilized to encourage print, broadcast, and online media to cover the issues that are important to you. Press coverage can help you get your message out to millions in one broad stroke, educate the general public about your goals of ending homelessness, and direct information to influential policymakers, community leaders, and funders who have the power to move your goals ahead. Learn how to write a press release or opinion piece, pitch reporters, conduct an interview, effectively monitor the media, and more in this easy to read how-to guide.
Take Five! Q & A with Laurence Belinsky

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Vote for Homes Media Coverage
Vote for Home, a voter education coalition in Philadelphia including Project HOME, received media coverage on their activities in 2004.
Felony Disenfranchisement Laws in the United States
The Sentencing Project has information on the status of felon and ex-felon disenfranchisement laws in your state.
A Voice and a Vote: Protecting the Constitutional Right to Vote for Homeless Persons
A voting rights fact sheet published by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.
Permissible Election Activities Checklist
Published by the Alliance for Justice, this checklist provides information on the nonpartisan voter education activities in which 501(c)(3) non profit organizations can be engaged.
Election 2008 Resources
A list of resources to help you get involved in nonpartisan electoral activities.
Community Snapshot: Norfolk

Between 2006 and 2008 homelessness in Norfolk, VA decreased by 25 percent, from 665 to 502. Additionally, chronic homelessness decreased by almost 40 percent, from 126 to 78, in the same time period. Norfolk’s count of unsheltered homeless people revealed a significant decrease from 196 in 2006 to only 61 in 2008, representing a 69 percent decline.

The 2007 Annual Homeless Assessment Report: A Summary of Findings
In its Third Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that last year the country has experienced about an 11 percent decrease in homelessness, including a 30 percent drop in chronic homelessness since 2005.
Targeting the Most Vulnerable: New Assessment Tools
Who is the most vulnerable to illness, mortality, and continued homelessness? Many communities are taking steps to identify people who experience chronic homelessness. Some are going further, developing tools to prioritize homeless people who are most at risk. Workshop speakers described a new Vulnerability Index for assessiong who is most at-risk of mortality and other tools to identify vulnerability and help target permanent supportive housing.
Analyzing HMIS Data: What Can it Tell you?
A Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is a powerful tool for program administrators. HMIS can help you evaluate and understand the effectiveness of your program, ultimately leading to improved service delivery. Workshop speakers described how to use HMIS to answer important questions about the characteristics of homeless people, patterns of homelessness, and ways to allocate resources more effectively within a community.
Property Management and Permanent Supportive Housing
The movement to end chronic homelessness using permanent supportive housing has required many homeless assistance providers to also become property managers. This workshop covered the basics of sound property management for permanent supportive housing. Workshop speakers discussed how to overcome some of the biggest challenges, such as screening tenants for supportive housing, addressing disruptive behaviors, effectively coordinating with supportive services staff, and preventing evictions.
Nan Roman’s Keynote Address—Annual Conference 2008
National Alliance to End Homelessness President Nan Roman's keynote address from the National Conference on Ending Homelessness 2008 on July 28, 2008.
Targeting Interventions for Homeless Families and Individuals
Matching families and individuals with interventions that meet their needs and represent the most efficient use of scarce resources is challenging many communities. This interactive workshop included speakers with program and system level expertise in targeting and designing interventions. The workshop explored the data needed to improve targeting and the assessment tools and strategies communities are currently using to maximize their resources to end homelessness.
What Gets Measured, Gets Done: A Toolkit on Performance Measurement for Ending Homelessness
This toolkit provides an overview of performance measurement 101, including how to design a system and build it from scratch, using data to manage or change a homeless system, and understanding and implementing system-level performance measurement.
Definition of Homelessness in the Manager's Amendment
The Manager’s Amendment is a compromise.
Housing Strategies for Sex Offenders
On this call, Dr. Jill Levenson, a national expert on residence restrictions and professor at Lynn University discussed the impact of these laws and what they mean for homelessness and public safety.
Jill Levenson -- Audio Conference Presentation
The Impact of Residence Restrictions for Sex Offenders
Jill Levenson -- Audio Conference Supplemental Materials
The Impact of Residence Restrictions for Sex Offenders
Rapid Re-Housing
Communities will be invited to compete for funds to provide short-term rental assistance, housing placement and short-term rental assistance as part of the Continuum of Care application process. This brief provides currently available details on how the funds will be awarded and how they can be used.
MI - Saginaw
A Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in Saginaw County
MI - Oakland
Misson Possible: Oakland County's Community Plan to End Homelessness
GA - Savannah
Building A Bridge to the Future: Savannah's Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
MI - Van Buren
The Plan to End Homelessness
NH - Manchester
A Home for Everyone: A 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in the City of Manchester
KS - Wichita-Sedgwick County
Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
TN - Murfreesboro
The Strategic Framework for Ending Chronic Homelessness in Murfreesboro
MD - Baltimore
The Journey Home: Baltimore City's 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness
OR - Lincoln County
At Home in Lincoln County: A Ten-Year Housing Plan for Lincoln County With a Special Focus on Chronic Homelessness
CT - Middlesex County
Middlesex County Ten Yar Plan to End Homelessness
ND - Bismarck-Mandan
A Comprehensive 10-Year Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness in the Bismarck-Mandan Area
CT - Windham
The Greater Windham Region Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness
CT - New Britain
Building Hope Together: New Britain's Work Plan to End Homelessness
NC - Guilford County
Partnering to End Chronic Homelessness in Guilford County, High Point, and Greensboro
NC - Orange County
Welcome Home: A Bold Proposal to End Homelessness
CA - Long Beach
Within Our Reach: A Community Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness
VA - Richmond
Ten Year Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in the Richmond Region
FL - Jacksonville
Ending Homelessness in Jacksonville: A Blueprint for the Future
NC - Cape Fear
The Street is No Place to Live: Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness and Reduce HOmelessness in the Cape Fear Region
MI - Lapeer County
A Plan to End Homelessness in Lapeer COunty
MI - Branch County
Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness
CA - Riverside
10-Year Strategy to End Homelessness
WA - Skagit County
10-Year Homeless Housing Plan
KY - Commonwealth of Kentucky
Kentucky's Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
MI - Macomb County
Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in Macomb County
FL - Monroe County
10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness: KEYS for Housing the Homeless
Take Five! Q & A with Brenda Combs

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Take Five! Q & A with Senator Kit Bond

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Toolkit: Organizing a Reception for Your Congressional Delegation
A Congressional Delegation Reception is a reception for the Members of Congress who represent your State. Many have found it successful to organize a reception in conjunction with the Annual Conference of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. This toolkit provides concrete steps for organizing a Reception for your Congressional Delegation.
KY - Kentucky State Plan
Kentucky's Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
CA - Riverside County
County of Riverside 10-Year Strategy to End Homelessness
WA - Skagit County
10-Year Homeless Housing Plan
Take Five! Q & A with Brenda Karyl Lee-Wilson
 

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Emergency Prevention Programs
This audio conference highlighted strategies to prevent evictions from public housing.
Written Testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
Written Testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Concerning Programs in the United States Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. April 28, 2008.
Chicago Housing for Health Partnership
Materials for "HIV/AIDS Housing Strategies," an installment of the Leadership to End Homelessness Audio Conference Series.
HIV/AIDS Housing Strategies
This audio conference presented highlights from the National AIDS Housing Coalition (NAHC) HIV/AIDS Research Summit and discussed the opportunities for increasing access to housing for people living with HIV/AIDS.
SAMHSA Homeless Programs FAQ
SAMHSA homeless programs award grants across the U.S. to improve the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders for those experiencing homelessness. These grants go to community-based public and private nonprofit organizations that provide substance abuse services and mental health treatment for homeless individuals.
Streets to Homes, Housing First in Toronto, Ontario: Getting Chronically Homeless People Back Into Housing
Streets to Homes is a Housing First program in Toronto that targets unsheltered homeless people and provides them with government subsidized permanent housing with follow-up supports. To date, approximately 1,500 people have moved directly from living on the street into permanent housing units, and 87 percent have remained housed.
“Dear Colleague” Letter Seeking Senate Signatures
A letter urging the Transportation and HUD Appropriations Subcommittee to help prevent and reduce homelessness by funding the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program at $2 billion in FY 2009.
Copy of FY 2009 Senate McKinney Appropriations Letter
A copy of a letter urging the Transportation and HUD Appropriations Subcommittee to help prevent and reduce homelessness by funding the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program at $2 billion in FY 2009.
Rural Homeless Initiative of Southeast and Central Ohio: A National Model for Planning to End Rural Homelessness
This report provides an extensive discussion of the RHISCO Project, the issue of rural homelessness, and the nature of the participating counties, and also highlights the cross cutting findings, promising practices, and challenges and opportunities that emerged from the RHISCO Project. This report is a useful tool for all rural communities looking to develop ten year plans to end homelessness and working to advance better approaches to address the issue.
Written Testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health andces, and Education Human Services, and Education
Written testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Concerning Programs in the United States Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. March 31, 2008
National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act and Section Eight Voucher Reform Act: Information for Advocates
Advocates are urged to ask their Senators to co-sponsor the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007, S. 2523, and the Section Eight Voucher Reform Act of 2008 (SEVRA), S. 2684, recently introduced in the U.S. Senate. This link provides advocacy-related tools and information on both bills.
Take Five! Q & A with Mayor Greg Nickels

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Designing a Local Housing Subsidy Program
Housing subsidies are a key ingredient in ending family homelessness. Unfortunately, federal subsidies are scarce and difficult to obtain. Programs are responding by developing their own subsidy programs, including short-term, shallow, and declining subsidies. This audio conference will feature Beth Stokes, executive director of Hamilton Family Services. She will discuss First Avenues: Housing Solutions for Families, a shallow subsidy program in San Francisco, CA.
Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
The Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program allocates funds by formula to states to serve homeless people with serious mental illness. Eligible services include outreach, screening and diagnosis, habilitation and rehabilitation, community mental health services, substance abuse treatment, case management, residential supervision, and housing.
Services Appropriations Request: Sample Letter
Make ending homelessness a priority in Congress by calling on your Senators and Representatives to support an increase in funding for services in homeless programs administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Services in Supportive Housing: National Call Summary
This document provides information which was presented on a national call, Services in Supportive Housing: Efforts to Garner New Federal Resources on February 12. The focus of the discussion was on the status of, and efforts to increase, federal resources for supportive services.
House McKinney-Vento Appropriations Sign-On Letter
This letter urges Chairman Olver and Ranking Member Knollenberg of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee to provide $2.0 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants in the FY 2009 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Act.
HELP USA
This case study describes organizational changes at HELP USA, one of the largest shelter and transitional housing providers in New York City.
Senators Dodd and Schumer: Support the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2008
February 20, 2008 - Letter inviting other senators to co-sponsor the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2008 (SEVRA).
Michigan Campaign to End Homelessness
A tribute to Governor Jennifer M. Granholm for the statwide effort Michigan made to create ten year plans to end homelessness.
Keys: Ending Family Homelessness

Keys: Ending Family Homelessness

This video highlights how communities across the country are decreasing homelessness among families. Thanks to the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, it’s yours to use for free.
Ten Year Plan Planning Worksheet
RHISCO County partners used this worksheet to guide their planning process. This tool would be useful for any community looking to create a ten year plan to end homelessness.
Planning Recommendations
This document provides recommendations for how to create a ten year plan to end homelessness and identifies different communities that have successfully incorporated particular elements of a ten year plan.
Regional Themes and Strategies
This extensive document outlines the major regional themes of the RHISCO Project – emergency prevention, systems prevention, outreach, shorten homelessness, rapid re-housing, services, permanent housing, income, and implementing the plan – and identifies particular strategies that relate to each theme. It then assesses the extent to which each County’s plan includes those strategies.
Homeless Survey Instructions
This document outlines the various options for administering a homeless survey.
RHISCO Funding Opportunities
This document highlights the different funding opportunities – including from foundations, corporations, and the federal government – that were available to the RHISCO Counties and to other rural communities working to end homelessness.
Survey of RHISCO Counties
This document provides a survey of the seventeen different counties participating in the RHISCO Project. It also provides a summary of the Project.
Stakeholder Survey Report
This document is a summary of a stakeholder survey, which was emailed at the beginning of the RHISCO Project to approximately 150 community stakeholders of the seventeen participating counties. The survey was designed to capture the residents’ opinions of homelessness in their region.
Ten Year Plan Template
This document served as a template as RHISCO Counties created their ten year plans to end homelessness. Other communities can look to this document for suggestions on creating their own local ten year plans.
Strategies for Ending Rural Homelessness
Rapidly re-housing homeless families is critical to ending homelessness. In communities where there is a lack of affordable housing and no infrastructure to triage and assess housing needs, rapid re-housing is challenging. Is rapid re-housing in rural areas possible? Hear from one service provider about how to create a rapid re-housing program in a rural community, why it’s important to engage partners, and where to find affordable housing resources.
Improving State and Local Policy Through Advocacy
States and localities have been successful at developing, modifying, and implementing policies that assist families experiencing homelessness. This has resulted in improved programs and more resources for affordable housing and homeless assistance programs, including state and local trust funds and new homelessness prevention resources. Workshop speakers discussed successful advocacy strategies for improving state and local policy and how to replicate them in your community.
Predicting Homelessness and Targeting Dollars
Homelessness prevention is a challenging but potentially powerful tool for ending homelessness. Those interested or involved in planning, designing, or advocating for prevention strategies or resources will be interested in this discussion of the merits of different new approaches to targeting prevention. Instead of highlighting specific models, workshop speakers addressed questions on how much assistance should be provided, when, and to whom.
Domestic Violence: Key Services and Outcomes
Survivors of domestic violence face unique challenges that require unique solutions. These presentations from a conference workshop focused on increasing family safety and financial and housing security while helping families cope with and overcome the effects of trauma and violence.
Measuring Success Using Performance Measurement
What does your organization do well? What could it improve? Program measurement is an important element in moving programs forward. Understanding what is effective helps program managers monitor their programs, deliver services, and secure funding. Topics included program and system-wide performance measures.
Improving Children's Outcomes
A healthy home environment and comprehensive early education are critical components of a child’s success later in life. Homeless children are at high risk for disruptions in development and education. Workshop speakers focused on strategies to link children with school (preschool through elementary school) and appropriate interventions that promote healthy physical and mental development. This workshop addressed the importance of engaging parents in meeting the child’s developmental needs both directly and through advocacy on the child’s behalf.
Addressing Mental Health Needs in Families with Children
Mental illness and trauma are familiar issues for homeless service providers. Workshop speakers discussed basic elements of common mental disabilities and what you as a service provider need to know to identify these issues and serve families effectively. In addition, speakers in this workshop addressed how to assist the children of parents living with mental illness.
Ending Family Homelessness in Rural America
Rural communities face a unique set of challenges and opportunities in responding to the problem of family homelessness. Workshop speakers examined how rural communities can use their existing service systems to respond to family homelessness. Workshop speakers discussed promising models and effective strategies.
Linking Families to Support Services
Families who experience homelessness are often eligible for important sources of public financial and social supports ranging from TANF cash assistance to Head Start services for children. Unfortunately, many families do not utilize these services and programs. This workshop examined how homeless programs can improve families’ access to critical supports by building relationships with the key public systems that serve low income families and children.
Working Towards Employment
Families need a steady source of income in order to maintain or re-access housing. Increasing employment skills and opportunities also helps families achieve greater stability and family well-being. This workshop focused on employment promotion strategies and explored lessons culled from research on promoting employment among welfare recipients.
Permanent Supportive Housing for Families
For families with significant barriers to maintaining housing, permanent supportive housing is an effective solution. This workshop offered examples of effective permanent supportive housing strategies. Workshop speakers provided examples of how permanent supportive housing is targeted to families with the greatest barriers to maintaining housing and how these efforts fit into their communities' overall homelessness strategies.
Assessment Tools Roundtable
Assessment tools that can accurately identify the service and housing supports required to help families quickly escape homelessness are in great demand. This interactive discussion explored the limitations and potential of assessment tools to target the appropriate housing and service packages to families. The Arizona Self-Sufficiency Scale was examined and its appropriate use and potential explored.
Healthcare Matters: Providing Health Services to Diverse Populations
Homeless families with children suffer from high rates of mental and physical health problems, including HIV/AIDS, which are often exacerbated by living on the streets and in shelters. In addition, there are serious health disparities that also play a role in the health of homeless families. This workshop highlighted recent research in health disparities, best practices in public health, and what they mean for families experiencing homelessness.
Supporting and Retaining Staff: Promoting Consistency in the Lives of Families
Experts in responding to high-need homeless families report that it is the families’ relationship with their caseworker that promotes stability and improved outcomes. This workshop examined the service strategies that benefit high-need families and how organizations can support and retain the frontline workers who offer a stable relationship and consistency in the lives of vulnerable families.
Ending Family Homelessness: The Basics
This workshop provided an overview of the promising strategies that communities are using to end family homelessness. This introductory workshop covered Housing First approaches, explored how communities are targeting prevention resources, and recommended when to use more intensive service models such as transitional housing and permanent supportive housing.
Building the Will in the Nonprofit Sector
Many communities have developed plans to end homelessness but full implementation requires the infusion of new resources and broad commitment, from political leaders to nonprofit providers, to reshape the response to family homelessness. This workshop, designed for public sector officials and other community leaders, examined strategies to transform the service system from a shelter-based approach to a focus on permanent housing. Speakers explored funding mechanisms, such as performance based contracting, as well as strategies that can be used when community leaders have no financial resources to facilitate service shifts.
Emergency Assistance: Preventing Homelessness
This workshop examined promising emergency assistance strategies to prevent family homelessness as well as approaches that are responsive to the housing needs of families residing in precarious housing situations. Workshop speakers explored a range of interventions that both help families retain their current housing and re-house families living in doubled up situations or in motels who are at imminent risk of homelessness.
Shifting Resources, Maintaining Emergency Responses
Maintaining shelter capacity to meet the pressing needs of families while embracing and funding new strategies to end homelessness is challenging. This workshop, designed for systems level leaders, examined how communities are balancing existing shelter needs and investments in new permanent housing strategies. Workshop speakers also discussed strategies for targeting more intensive resources to higher need families.
Cross-Cultural Situations: From Sensitivity to Competency
Making decisions about housing and serving clients is often viewed from a lens that is culturally biased. Organizations must continuously promote the skills, practices, and interactions necessary to ensure that social services are delivered in a culturally responsive and competent manner. This workshop addressed cultural competency among your staff and board and how to build it into a program design that will lead to respectful interactions, efficient operations, and improved client outcomes.
Foundations: Agents of Systems Change
Foundations are making investments to reshape the provision of services to families within communities. Examples range from introducing new housing and service models to facilitating the integration of early education activities in homeless programs. In this workshop, speakers provided examples from their own communities and discussed strategies to fully engage foundations (and win support) in the effort to end family homelessness.
Online Communication and Engaging the Media as a Strategic Tool
Effective public education and communication can help an organization raise visibility within the community, increase funding, and improve awareness and knowledge of the solutions to homelessness. This beginner workshop taught how to effectively engage the print and broadcast media as well as utilize new online tools, like blogs and electronic newsletters, to disseminate a comprehensive, effective message.
Effective Federal Advocacy and Policy Updates
Advocacy is the best strategy for convincing Congress to make ending family homelessness a top priority. This beginner to intermediate workshop provided participants with a brief update on current policies targeted to ending family homelessness. Workshop speakers discussed effective advocacy strategies for moving these initiatives forward and encourage participants to share their own advocacy experiences.
Financing It: Innovatice Public Funding Strategies
Ending homelessness requires new resources including funding to support housing and services. This workshop explored policy strategies that communities have utilized to generate new resources. This workshop also provided an overview of how communities are using state and local resources, such as TANF and HOME funds, to support ending family homelessness and developing partnerships that leverage services for families.
Nan Roman’s Keynote Address—National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness 2008
National Alliance to End Homelessness President Nan Roman's keynote address from the National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness 2008 on February 7, 2008.
Partnering with Housing Agencies
Partnering with local public housing authorities (PHAs), housing finance agencies, and community development corporations can be a valuable tool for acquiring housing subsidies to serve homeless families. This entry-level workshop, which was intended for homeless service providers and public officials, focused on effective strategies and models for engaging PHAs and other housing agencies.
Youth Development and Youth as Parents
Adolescence is a stage in human development that includes important physical, psychosocial, and cognitive development. This workshop reviewed youth development concepts for providers who are serving adolescents, pregnant and parenting youth, and young adults. Workshop speakers focused on how to help youth and young parents prepare for a successful transition to adulthood.
Promoting Recovery: Substance Use Treatment Services
This workshop explored the merits and challenges of various substance use treatment models for assisting families struggling with substance use disorders. Workshop speakers from the treatment community focused on how to place clients in a treatment model that will work best for them.
Systems Planning: New Research and Implications for Targeting Resources
New research examining patterns of family shelter use is raising questions about how communities should allocate homeless assistance resources. This advanced workshop for public and community leaders examined new research on shelter utilization and highlight strategies communities are using to target resources more efficiently and achieve better system-wide outcomes.
Working with Landlords to Find Housing
With the increasing focus on helping homeless people obtain permanent housing, providers have come up with creative ways to locate affordable housing and entice landlords to become partners. This workshop is for anyone involved in helping homeless families move into private market housing. Workshop speakers described the strategies they use when working with landlords and provide suggestions on how to find affordable housing in your community.
Rapid Re-housing
Helping families experiencing homelessness to quickly re-access permanent housing and offering them home-based case management services following a housing placement has contributed to declines in family homelessness. This workshop examined the key elements of rapid re-housing programs, including how they operate, how to fund them, and how to know if they are successful.
Faith in Housing: Moving from Social Justice to Housing Planning and Development
This workshop explored involvement of faith-based communities in delivering permanent housing to homeless families. In particular, the workshop highlighted case examples of faith-based organizations that have become housing developers or have assisted communities in converting buildings into affordable housing for homeless families. In addition, workshop speakers highlighted how smaller faith-based organizations can contribute to ending homelessness among families.
The President's FY 2009 Budget Proposal: Analysis and Policy Implications
Annual Federal Budget Briefing held on February 5, 2008.
The President's FY 2009 Budget Proposal: Analysis and Policy Implications
Annual Federal Budget Briefing held on February 5, 2008.
Take Five! Q & A with Martha Burt

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Community Snapshot: Chicago
Homelessness in Chicago decreased 12 percent from 6,715 in 2005 to 5,922 in 2007. Learn how they accomplished their success.
Housing Vouchers Are Critical for Ending Family Homelessness
Housing vouchers are successful in helping families exit homelessness and can protect poor families from becoming homeless. This paper summarizes those research findings and draws out their implications for housing policymakers.
Alliance Online News
January 22, 2008
Alliance Online News
January 15, 2008
Engagement Center at Maryhaven Admission Criteria
This document was supplemental material for the "Substance Abuse Treatment Models for Homeless People" audio conference held on January 10, 2008.
Families with Substance Use Disorders – Housing Options
This presentation was given during the "Substance Abuse Treatment Models for Homeless People" audio conference on January 10, 2008.
Substance Abuse Treatment Models for Homeless People
This audio conference call highlighted two substance use treatment programs.
Supporting Young Mothers: Housing Series
This technical assistance session focused on strategies that have been utilized by local providers and communities to build partnerships with local public housing authorities (PHA’s), state Housing Finance Agencies and Community Development Corporations (CDC’s) that have expanded the housing opportunities for families experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.
Alliance Online News
January 8, 2008
Take Five! Q & A with Bob Erlenbusch

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Research on Youth Homelessness
This audio conference featured a review of existing data and demographics on homeless youth and covered reports released earlier this year from the Congressional Research Service, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Government Accountability Office.
Deficiencies of Housing Policies for Veterans by Florence Roisman
This Article examines the nature and extent of housing assistance provided by the United States government to veterans of its military service. It finds that assistance remarkably limited and inconsistent with our nation’s history and rhetoric, providing a sobering corrective for those who wish to believe that public policy in the United States progressively becomes more humane or that national declarations are matched by national performance. The Article also considers the reasons and potential cures for these inadequacies and inconsistencies.
AL - Birmingham
Birmingham's Plan to Prevent and End Chronic Homelessness
MA - Springfield
Homes Within Reach: Springfield's 10-Year Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness
NJ - Camden City/County
Endings Have Beginnings: A 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Camden County/Camden City
OH - Mahoning County
Mahoning County Continuum of Care 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness 2008
Supporting Young Mothers: Paying for Housing
This technical assistance session provided an overview of housing subsidies that local providers or communities have developed to help families experiencing homelessness transition back into housing. The session reviewed the sources of funding that communities have used and how support for using funds for housing assistance was built.
Housing Trust Funds
Learn how Housing Trust Funds work, what they typically fund, who gets the money, how to tap the Trust Fund in your state, and how to ensure that the Trust Fund targets funds to the lowest income individuals and those that are currently homeless.
Vital Mission: Ending Homelessness Among Veterans
Homeless veterans can be found in every state across the country and live in rural, suburban, and urban communities. In 2006, approximately 195,827 veterans were homeless on a given night—an increase of 0.8 percent from 194,254 in 2005. More veterans experience homeless over the course of the year. We estimate that 336,627 were homeless in 2006. This report analyzes data from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Census Bureau to examine homelessness and severe housing cost burden among veterans.
Vital Mission: Ending Homelessness Among Veterans
Homeless veterans can be found in every state across the country and live in rural, suburban, and urban communities. This report analyzes data from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Census Bureau to examine homelessness and severe housing cost burden among veterans.
OH - Fairfield County
Fairfield County Housing Coalition's Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness
OH - Licking County
Ten Year Plan for Licking County, OH
KY - State of Kentucky
Kentucky's Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
The Second Chance Act of 2007 (H.R. 1593 / S. 1060)
The Second Chance Act will help ensure the transition people make from prison or jail to the community is safe and successful.
Take Five! Q & A with Senator Richard Burr

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Alliance Comments on Medicaid Coverage for Rehabilitative Services Proposed Rule, File Code CMS-2261-P
On August 13, 2007, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new proposed rules to make several definition and rule clarifications to the rehabilitation option that Medicaid agencies use to provide services for people with mental health disorders, physical disabilities, developmental delays, and other disabilities or chronic illnesses. In addition, the rehabilitation option package of services has been used for youth in therapeutic foster care. The National Alliance to End Homelessness has concerns that, if this proposed rule were implemented in its current form, people experiencing homelessness would have less access to health related services.
Homelessness Encampments
This edition of the Leadership to End Homelessness Audio Conference focused on outreach to and elimination of homelessness encampments.
Testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Aging
Testimony of Steve Berg for the U.S. Senate Committee on Aging about Health Issues Affecting Aging Veterans on October 3, 2007.
Take Five! Q & A with Tim Marx

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

Data Snapshot: Doubled Up in the United States
There have been recent proposals to expand the US Department of Housing and Urban Development's definition of homeless to include households that are doubled up for economic reasons. To assess the impact of this proposal, a new data snapshot from the Homelessness Research Institute at the Alliance looks at how many people would be added to the homelessness population if the proposal were adopted. The data snapshot shows that expanding the definition would increase the current homeless population (744,313 on any given night) by 3.8 million. The amount that would have to be appropriated so that the amount of funding per homeless or doubled up person matched the actual amount of funding per homeless person in 2005 is $7.725 billion.
Community Snapshot: Denver
Homelessness in Denver decreased 13 percent from 4,444 in 2005 to 3,954 in 2007. Chronic homelessness decreased 36 percent from 942 in 2005 to 602 in 2007. Learn how they made this progress.
Community Snapshot: Denver
Homelessness in Denver decreased 13 percent from 4,444 in 2005 to 3,954 in 2007. Chronic homelessness decreased 36 percent from 942 in 2005 to 602 in 2007.
Rapid Rehousing Strategies for Families
The focus of this audio conference was rehousing strategies for families.
PA - State of Pennsylvania
Agenda for Ending Homelessness in Pennsylvania
AL - State of Alabama
Blueprint Towards a Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in Alabama
CA - Santa Barbara
Bringing Our Community Home: Santa Barbara County-wide 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
WA - Benton and Franklin Counties
10 Year Homeless Housing Plan
WA - Thurston County
Ten Year Homeless Housing Plan
NC - Winston-Salem
Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
NH - State of New Hampshire
A Home for Everyone: New Hampshire's Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness
WI - Dane County
Community Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in Dane County
Ask House Members to Co-sponsor the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund, H.R. 2895
The National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act would establish a dedicated source of revenue to build, rehabilitate and preserve housing for the lowest income households with a goal of creating 1.5 million affordable homes over the next 10 years. The bill passed the House Financial Services Committee on July 31 and Chairman Frank expects that the House of Representatives will vote on the bill in September. Representatives must submit their names to the committee by September 4 to be added to the bill.
Republican Targets
House Republicans who voted in support of one or both of the dedicated funding sources for H.R. 2895 (GSE bill, H.R. 1472/FHO bill, H.R. 1852)
OH - Delaware County
Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness
OH - Gallia-Jackson-Meigs Counties
10-Year Plan to Address Homelessness
OH - Hocking County
10-Year Plan to End Homelessness
OH - Pickaway County
Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness
OH - Washington County
A Place to Call Home
OH - Knox County
Our Plan to End Homelessness, 2007 - 2017
OH - Madison County
Promoting Stable Homes and Stable Families
OH - Morgan County
A Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness
OH - Perry County
Ten-year Plan to End Homelessness
OH - Union County
Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness
OH - Athens County
The Athens County Plan to End Homelessness
OH - Ross County
Ten Year Plan to Eradicate Homelessness
OH - Fayette County
Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness
The Total Package: Housing and Serving Homeless Children
Homelessness can be particularly hard on children. This workshop will examine service strategies designed to minimize the detrimental effects of homelessness on children and promote child well-being. Strategies to enhance stability and consistency in the lives of children and a program to identify developmental delays in homeless children will be explored. This workshop examined how providers can ensure children are receiving appropriate supportive services through coordination with school liaisons, Head Start programs, and partnerships with other public systems.
Take Five! Q & A with Sister Mary Scullion

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.

A Research Agenda for Ending Homelessness

This Research Agenda was developed in order to better inform government agencies, philanthropic organizations, and other funders about research questions that will help move policy and practice forward.
Evaluating the Cost of Homelessness
This audio conference featured experts on examining the costs of homelessness.
Rural Homelessness Counts
Reliable data is critical to inform policy and program development and attract the federal and local resources necessary to end homelessness. In sparsely populated geographic areas with fewer homeless specific service providers, however, counting the number of people that are homeless poses significant challenges. This workshop highlighted how some rural communities have overcome the challenges to capturing reliable data and offer guidance to how rural areas can improve their point-in-time counts.
Follow the Dollar: Conducting your Own Case Studies
The effects homelessness has on a community can sometimes be quantified with a dollar amount. Cost analysis is a powerful tool for program administrators who make decisions on how to allocate scarce funding for housing and services and for advocates who are seeking to demonstrate a case for ending homelessness. This workshop explored how to perform a cost study with different levels of sophistication from back of the envelope estimates to rigorous research studies.
Whose Backyard Is It Anyway? Overcoming NIMBY
Fear and prejudice about affordable housing, particularly for people with special needs, can quickly erupt into strong community opposition and lead to major road blocks in developing housing for homeless people. This workshop presented successful programmatic and community-based strategies to overcome NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) and how to turn concerned neighbors into supportive partners.
Win, Win: Working with Your PHA
After a period of declining resources, many Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) have more resources to serve all populations of homeless people, including families, youth, veterans, and people with disabilities. This workshop was intended for homeless assistance providers, who learned not only how to acquire more housing resources for their clients, but also how they as providers can help PHAs be more effective, creating a mutually beneficial partnership.
Stable Source of Income: Benefits and Employment
Having a stable source of income is necessary to secure and maintain housing. The challenges are in connecting people who are able to work with employment or training that will help them to move into careers that sustain them in permanent housing, and connecting those who cannot work with the benefits that will support them. This workshop examined promising strategies for long-term income stability for those who are likely facing multiple obstacles.
Dedicated Revenue: State and Local Housing Trust Funds
Housing Trust Funds exist in all but a few states across the country and can be an important resource for developing affordable housing. Learn how Housing Trust Funds work, what they typically fund, who gets the money, how to tap the Trust Fund in your state, and how to ensure that the Trust Fund targets funds to the lowest income individuals and those that are currently homeless.
Who’s the Boss? Overseeing Plan Implementation
As communities are implementing their plans to end homelessness, one of the biggest lessons they are learning is that oversight of plan implementation is critical. Who should be in charge of making sure that strategies are implemented, funding is secured, and outcomes are measured? How many staff does it take? What qualifications should they hold? What authority should they have? Workshop speakers will address these questions and more.
Hot Off the Press: New Research on Homelessness
This workshop provided the opportunity to hear about research on homelessness that is paving the way towards policies and programs that are more effective. Workshop participants had the opportunity to interact with the leading researchers in the field and hear from policy experts about implications of research findings.
Maximizing Consumer Decision Making
Consumer choice is often a critical ingredient for success in achieving housing stability and treatment. This workshop was designed for caseworkers and program directors who serve people with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders and who are trying to maximize consumer or tenant participation.
Obtaining and Leveraging Rural Resources
Rural homeless providers know that, with scarce funding for housing and services, they must leverage dollars and become adept collaborators. This session examined how creative local partnerships can help bring needed services and housing dollars to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in rural and small town America.
Generations: Stable Housing for Seniors
Communities across the country are seeing an increasing number of frail, elderly individuals in their homeless programs. This workshop featured new research on the aging chronic homeless population and highlight housing and service models that can help older people age with dignity, regardless of special medical, mental health, or social needs.
Creative Change: How One State Re-Shaped the Status Quo
Moving from meeting about ending homelessness to implementing an action plan is always difficult, but communities are overcoming obstacles and finding new ways to solve old problems. This workshop highlighted how Connecticut reshaped complex social systems, such as TANF, health, mental health, and local provider networks, to provide housing and services to clients.
Financing Affordable Housing: An Introduction
This workshop provided participants with a general overview of how to finance affordable housing. The course covered how to read real estate pro forma and general information regarding different financing sources for affordable housing, including CDBG, HOME funds, grants, low-income housing tax credits, and bond financing. Workshop participants will learn the basics of how to put together financing to house formerly homeless individuals—whether you are developing five units or 105.
Making Headlines: Getting Attention in the Media
The media plays a critical role in promoting your organization as well as its greater advocacy agenda. One well-placed newspaper article or op-ed can give a tremendous boost to your organization’s goals of ending homelessness. Learn how to craft a compelling message, create a news hook, and set the stage for groundbreaking coverage. Workshop speakers presented tips on how to write press releases, op-eds, and letters to the editor.
Cultural Competence
It is critical that homeless service providers—who must address a wide array of cultural differences—offer culturally competent services which value individual uniqueness and demonstrate the capacity to deliver services in line with the beliefs, values, and practices of those served. In this interactive workshop, participants learned about the importance of cultural competence and acquire the skills necessary to apply that understanding to their work.
Building Blocks: Youth Housing Models with Services
Housing is a key ingredient in the effort to end youth homelessness. There are a number of housing and service models that show promise in helping homeless youth attain and maintain stable housing. This interactive workshop explored housing models and supportive services, their design and scope, and funding options.
The Key to Ending Chronic Homelessness: Scattered Site Approaches
Put together a few tenant based vouchers, a consumer oriented service team, a Housing First philosophy, and what do you have? A powerful strategy for ending homelessness for people with serious mental illness and substance use disorders. Pioneered by the Pathways to Housing Program in New York, this Housing First strategy has been successfully replicated in dozens of cities. Workshop speakers described some of the challenges they encountered and how they implemented a successful Housing First program targeting chronically homeless individuals.
All Politics Is Local (and State)
States and municipalities have been successful in developing innovative ways to create affordable housing and fund local homeless assistance programs. In addition, they have raised homelessness on the local and state agendas. Workshop speakers shared how they implemented local and state strategies for ending homelessness and offer guidance on how to develop relationships with state and local policymakers.
Designing a Local Housing Subsidy Program
Almost all of the communities showing progress in ending homelessness have initiated some type of rental assistance program that subsidizes housing for people who are homeless. These programs vary in size and scope with some offering one-time cash infusion, some offering ongoing shallow support, and others offering deeper subsidies. This workshop examined key considerations in designing a local housing subsidy program and where to find the funding to make it a reality.
Responding to Domestic Violence
Like other families experiencing homelessness, victims of domestic violence require immediate shelter assistance and linkages to appropriate transitional or permanent housing and support. Within this context, providers must be attentive to safety issues and the effects of recent violence on the lives of women and children. This workshop examined how homeless shelter and Housing First providers are improving their services to families fleeing domestic violence.
Second Chances: Housing and Services for Those Reentering from Prison
Far too many individuals who leave prison become homeless, either immediately after discharge or after intermediate, temporary housing placements. This presentation reviews housing models and services that are effective in preventing homelessness and reducing recidivism among individuals leaving prisons.
Taking Stock: Managing the Supply of Shelter and Transitional Housing
One ongoing challenge in the movement to end homelessness is managing the supply of shelters and transitional housing during a shift to a Housing First system. This workshop highlighte how to plan ahead to efficiently increase or decrease the supply of shelter to reflect fluctuating demand, and how to assure that transitional housing is being put to the most effective use.
One Stop Homeless Centers: Avoiding Pitfalls
Some cities are developing centralized intake and service centers for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Some of these sites provide controversial services and the sheer number of homeless people frequenting these sites can lead to NIMBYism. What are the benefits and risks of developing such facilities, and if a community is going to build a “one stop” center, what elements need to be in place to make it a successful strategy for ending homelessness?