March 2018 NCHV Newsletter

NCHV eNewsletter
March 2018
2018 NCHV Annual Conference: Register Now to Secure Your Spot at the Top Training Event of the Year
May 30 - June 1 in Washington, D.C.
The 2018 NCHV Annual Conference, Progress. Practice. Perseverance., is right around the corner, and this year's event will deliver the same intensive, applicable training, networking, and program updates you expect mixed with new offerings to make the experience even more powerful in helping you serve the homeless veterans in your community.
Don't wait to register, as space is limited and the event is expected to sell out early for the sixth straight year. Stay tuned for announcements providing more information on special guests, session tracks, and more starting next week.
We've reserved a discounted room block at the Grand Hyatt for Conference attendees, but this room block sells out quickly every year. Be sure to make your reservations ASAP!
For more information, and all of the latest updates, visit the NCHV Annual Conference page.
Hill Watch: Omnibus Spending Bill for FY2018 Becomes Law
Contains good news for homeless veteran programs
Last week, the president signed a full funding bill for Fiscal Year 2018, which runs from Oct. 1, 2017 until Sept. 30, 2018.
Contained within the text of this omnibus funding package (H.R. 1625) is an array of good news for veteran homeless programs – not just at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), but also at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The omnibus proposes the following funding levels for our current fiscal year:
  • $340 million for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program (an increase of $20 million over last year),
  • $257 million for the Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program (flat funding from last year),
  • $50 million for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) at DOL (an increase of $5 million over last year, and the first time the program has received a full appropriation of its current authorized spending limit), and
  • $40 million for new HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers (good for roughly ~5,500 new vouchers).
But the good news is not contained only to budgetary numbers. Contained within the accompanying explanatory reports are instructions to VA on two deeply important issues relating to the HUD-VASH program.
The first is a direction that VA supply case management funding for the new HUD-VASH vouchers created in this bill. Since the President did not request new HUD-VASH vouchers, VA did not request case management funding for new vouchers. However, Congress has acted to create the aforementioned $40 million worth of new vouchers. This direction ensures that these new vouchers will be case managed – and directs VA to supply a new budgetary projection for case management of all new vouchers. This effectively ends the unfortunate one-year delay between the creation of vouchers and the provision of case management funding we have experienced since 2016.
The second is a direction from Congress that will protect HUD-VASH case management funding from diversion to other purposes in FY2019. Following the confusion of the proposed conversion of HUD-VASH case management funding from “Special Purpose funds” to “General Purpose funds” within VA last year, Secretary Shulkin promised no conversion would be carried out during this fiscal year. He made no such promises for FY 2019, however. This language from Congress directs VA to propose any changes of this type in an annual budget submission; as that submission for FY 2019 has already been made, this should protect HUD-VASH funding at least through the upcoming Fiscal Year.
NCHV thanks those of you who have advocated for these programs over the past year. Even in a difficult budgetary environment, your hard work has paid off.
Call for Nominations: 2018 Annual NCHV Awards
Nominations must be submitted by April 17
Each year, NCHV honors the commitment and service of a few of the many deserving organizations and individuals helping homeless veterans across the nation. We are now accepting nominations for the following awards:
  • Outstanding Member - to an NCHV member organization whose programs, partnerships, and people combine to create extraordinary results
  • Partnership Award - to an organization or individual whose work building effective partnerships exemplifies creativity and collaboration
  • Public Policy Award - to an elected official whose record shows strong commitment and action in measures to help homeless veterans
  • Unsung Hero Award - to an individual whose efforts go above and beyond expectations, who expects nothing in return and demonstrates a hero's heart for homeless veterans
  • Federal Agency Staff Award - to a Department of Veterans Affairs, Labor, or Housing and Urban Development staff member on the local, state, regional, or national level who exhibits extraordinary commitment to homeless veterans and service providers
Please submit a one- to two-page letter of nomination including the nominee's name, title, and which award you are nominating for by email to rbrown@nchv.org no later than April 17, 2018.
Exhibitor and Sponsor Opportunities at the 2018 NCHV Annual Conference
Support efforts to end veteran homelessness while putting your organization or products in the spotlight!
The 2018 NCHV Annual Conference will feature new and expanded opportunities for exhibitors and sponsors. Support the premier training conference for homeless veteran service providers and other stakeholders, AND get your organization's name in front of 700 attendees and 14,000 social media followers. The event also garners local and national traditional media coverage. This is the best opportunity for those looking to interact with homeless veteran service providers from across the country.

Click here to view the Exhibitor and Sponsor application with more details.
Housing First Implementation Resources Now Available
From the Department of Housing and Urban Development
In a continued effort to encourage Continuums of Care (CoCs) and providers to implement and strengthen Housing First approaches, HUD has recently published Housing First Implementation Resources. As communities are implementing the Housing First Approach in their homeless crisis response systems, they sometimes struggle with transitioning the approach from a set of guiding principles to policy and procedures in their projects. This set of resources can assist communities and agencies in implementing Housing First in their projects. Regardless of project type, the Housing First approach can be utilized to reduce barriers to access for project participants and to maintain project participation.
The resources are separated into the following categories:
  • Housing First Implementation
  • Working with Project Participants in a Housing First Approach
  • Housing First in Specific Project Types
  • Trauma-Informed Care
View the CoC Responsibilities and Duties toolkit to access the Housing First Implementation Resources and other resources related to CoC governance and structure, including the Housing First Assessment Tool which was recently released to assist providers and CoCs in documenting how closely their projects align to the Housing First model.
Funding Opportunities
The Anthony Robbins Foundation is committed to make a difference in the quality of life for children, the homeless, the prison population and the elderly through its various programs. Only 501(c)(3) organizations that have been active as a nonprofit for at least one fiscal year are eligible to apply. Letters of intent are accepted online throughout the year. For more information, click here.

The May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust supports organizations across the United States that offer opportunities to foster youth, elders, veterans, and the disabled and critically ill. Within these populations the Trust seeks to enrich the quality of life, promote self-sufficiency, and assist individuals in achieving their highest potential. Letters of inquiry are accepted throughout the year.  For more information, click here. 
Labels: