WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Labor has announced the availability of over $27 million in workforce investments for the reentry and veterans populations and faith-based and community organizations. Summary details of the four funding competitions are provided in this week's first two e-articles. Announcing the largest of the competitions, the $20 million Prisoner Reentry Initiative, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary and U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Vice-chair Elaine Chao stated, "The President is an advocate of the Prisoner Reentry Initiative because he believes that people who have made mistakes in the past should have a second chance to succeed and be given the opportunity to become contributing members of society. Successful reentry programs that provide job training and other transitional services, can turn around lives as well as help local communities." Secretary Chao is pictured here.

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT DEMONSTRATION GRANTS: PRISONER RE-ENTRY INITIATIVE. The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA), has announced the availability up to $19.8 million for grants to eligible faith based community organizations for prisoner re- entry services. The services for returning prisoners will be through an employment-centered program that incorporates mentoring, job training, and other comprehensive transitional services. The solicitation was developed in collaboration with key leaders from the Departments of Labor, Justice, Housing and Urban Development and Health and Human Services and is designed to reduce recidivism by helping inmates find work when they return to their communities, as part of an effort to build a life in the community for everyone. The application deadline is July 13, 2005.

DOL hopes to serve 6,250 released prisoners during the first year of this initiative with projects operating in 30 communities across the country. The recipients of the DOL grants will be faith-based and community organizations that are located in or have a staff presence in the urban community being served, and that have the capacity to serve as the lead agency under this initiative, which in some cases will mean providing technical assistance and oversight to other FBCOs. FBCOs applying for these grants will identify as part of their application the need for this Federal support in the community that they plan to serve; their FBCO sub-grantees; and their plan for providing services to released prisoners. They must also demonstrate that they have established partnerships with the criminal justice system, local Workforce Investment Board, and the local housing authority. They must also identify their plan to leverage other Federal, State, or local funding, as well as private funding sources, to provide other wraparound support services that are not directly funded through this initiative such as substance abuse and mental health treatment.

Generally, grantees should plan to serve individuals 18 years old and older who have been convicted as an adult and imprisoned pursuant to an Act of Congress or a State law, and who have never been convicted of a violent or sexrelated offense.

Four outcome measures will be used to measure success in these grants: entered employment rate, employment retention rate, earnings change, and recidivism rate. In addition, grantees will report on a number of leading indicators that will serve as predictorsof success. Leading indicators will include: enrollment rate; participation in education/training, workforce preparation, mentoring, and community service; attainment of degrees and certificates; reduced substance abuse; proportion of enrollees in stable housing; and proportion of enrollees complying with parole conditions. In applying for these grants, FBCOs and their sub-grantees agree to submit updated Management Information System (MIS) data on enrollee characteristics, services provided, placements, outcomes, and follow-up status.

WASHINGTON, DC. The United States Department of Labor will concentrate $2 million in just announced resources for employment of homeless veterans in the nation's 75 largest urban areas. The Urban Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP) grants are intended to address two objectives: (1) to provide services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force, and (2) to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans. Applications are due April 28, 2005. Approximately seven awards of up to $300,000 each will be made.

Applications for funds will be accepted from State and local Workforce Investment Boards, local public agencies, for-profit/ commercial entities, and nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community organizations. For this Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 grant solicitation, VETS seeks applicants that will provide direct services through a case management approach that networks with Federal, State, and local resources for veteran support programs. Successful applicants will have clear strategies for employment and retention of employment for homeless veterans. Successful applicants will design programs that assist eligible veterans by providing job placement services, job training, counseling, mentoring, supportive services, and other assistance to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force.

Applicants are expected to design programs that are flexible in addressing the universal as well as the local or regional problems that have had a negative impact on homeless veterans reentering the workforce. The HVRP in PY 2005 will seek to continue to strengthen development of effective service delivery systems, to provide comprehensive services through a case management approach that address complex problems facing eligible veterans trying to transition into gainful employment, and to improve strategies for employment and employment retention.

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT - GRANTS FOR WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARDS. The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA), has announced the availability up to $5 million for grants to eligible Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) that have demonstrated successfully the ability to form working partnerships with grassroots faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs). Grassroots FBCOs may include faith-based and community organizations, minority-led or immigrant-led non- profit or community development organizations and/or other small non-profit organizations. The application deadline is May 4, 2005.

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT - SMALL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS CONNECTING WITH THE ONE-STOP DELIVERY SYSTEM. The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announces the availability of $1,000,000 to award grants to eligible "grassroots" organizations with the ability to connect to the local One-Stop delivery system. The term "grassroots" is defined under the Eligibility Criteria. The application deadline is April 28, 2005.

WASHINGTON, DC. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the availability of $15 million in funds for applications for assistance under the Capital Grant component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. Applications are due by June 8, 2005. VA also announced the availability of $1 million for applications for assistance under the Life Safety Code grant component of VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. Applications are due June 22, 2005. Secretary of Veterans Affairs and United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Chair R. James Nicholson is pictured here.

The Department expects to award approximately $15 million under the Capital Grant component. Funding available under this NOFA is being offered to help offset the capital expenses of existing state and local governments, Indian Tribal governments, faith-based, and community-based organizations that are capable of creating and providing supported housing and/or supportive service center services for homeless veterans.

Funding applied for under the Capital Grant component may be used for: (1) Remodeling or alteration of existing buildings; (2) acquisition of buildings, acquisition and rehabilitationof buildings; (3) new construction; and (4) acquisition of vans (in connection with a new or existing Grant and Per Diem Grant project) for outreach to and/ or transportation for homeless veterans.

VA establishes priority for funding to underserved and low utilization populations and areas. VA encourages applications from applicants that serve the identified population or are in the identified underserved areas listed in the priorities. In this round of Capital Grant funding, VA expects to award funding to create 1,000 community-based supported housing beds.

Funding priority 1. Applicants whose projects are exclusively for homeless Native American veterans will be considered in the first funding priority. Provision of services must occur on Indian Tribal property. Of those eligible entities in the first funding priority that are legally fundable, the highest scoring applicants will be funded first until approximately $1.8 million is awarded. Applicants not funded in this priority will be placed in the fourth funding priority.

Funding priority 2. Applicants whose projects are physically located in Alaska, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Virginia, Vermont, Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States are the second funding priority. Eligible entities whose projects are located in these states will be considered in the second funding priority. Of those eligible entities in the second funding priority, that are legally fundable, the highest scoring applicant from each state will be funded first followed by the second highest scoring applicant from each state until approximately $6 million is awarded. Applicants not funded in this priority will be placed in the fourth funding priority.

Funding priority 3. Applicants whose projects are physically located in cities within the Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) as defined in the tables in the NOFA and that are eligible entities will be considered in the third funding priority. Of those eligible entities in the third funding priority, that are legally fundable, the highest scoring applicant from each MSA will be funded first followed by the second highest scoring applicant in each MSA until approximately $3.2 million is awarded. Applicants not funded in this priority will be placed in the fourth funding priority.

Funding priority 4. VA is encouraging interested, state and local governments, faith-based, and community-based organizations to apply for funding under this NOFA. Eligible entities that are state and local governments, Indian Tribal governments, faith-based, and community-based organizations, along with those applicants not selected in the other funding priorities will be considered in the fourth funding priority. Of those eligible entities that are legally fundable, the highest- ranked applications for which funding is available, will be conditionally selected for eligibility to receive a Capital Grant in accordance with their ranked order until funding is expended (approximately $4 million).

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA. "By focusing on the target, I feel we can really make some progress in dealing with this particular issue," stated Augusta Mayor Bob Young this week as unveiled his city's completed 10-Year Plan. The Plan takes as its mission "to do everything we can to responsibly, collaboratively, and compassionately end chronic homelessness and reduce all homelessness in Augusta and Richmond County." The Plan found that detox treatment and supportive housing options for persons experiencing chronic homelessness are severely inadequate.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who joined the Mayor for the Plan's launch in August 2004, was invited to keynote the unveiling. Director Mangano told the partners, "You have every level of government here today in partnership with every stakeholder from the private sector, all committed to the same message on chronic homelessness: the status quo of homelessness just isn't good enough for our community. We can do better." Director Mangano and Mayor Young are pictured here.

The Augusta Plan stresses the need for the new document to be a 'living' plan that will be reviewed, revised, updated on a 2, 5, and 10-year schedule. For example, the Plan has set a goal to involve more business sector partners in addition to the participation of the Chamber of Commerce and Proctor and Gable in the planning process. Principals of the Augusta Plan included seeking innovative solutions that challenge the status quo, simplifying communication, cooperation, and collaboration, building a system that establishes attainable short and long term goals, and setting aside organizational issues to meet the community's greater good. Council Region IV Coordinator Michael German, whose region currently has the largest number of 10-Year Planning processes underway, also took part in the unveiling.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA. Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan and Alachua County Commissioner Rodney Long last week convened a regional Summit to kick off their 10-Year Planning partnership. A recent count found 900 people homeless in the County. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, invited to keynote the Summit, told Summit partners their work is key: "Why is Gainesville and Alachua County's work so important? Because there are far more Gainesville's and Alachua County's in our country than New York's and LA's. Your plan will be a model for scores of cities and counties that have yet to begin." The Gainesville/Alachua County planning partnership is pictured here.

Commissioner Long, who in March undertook what he called "A Pilgrimage of Understanding" by spending two days on local streets, pointed to the Summit's work groups focused on topics such as housing and public safety that he hopes will help to reduce homelessness in the county. Summit particpants wil re-convene in six months to measure their progress.

Summit organizers reached out to neighborhing 10-Year Plan comunities to start the work of replication in their plan. Summit participants heard from nearby Jacksonville about their 10-Year Planning progress, as well as from Tallahassee Mayor John Marks, who in December 2004 launched the Big Bend Area Task Force to End Chronic Homelessness and described his reasons for joining the national partnership. "Our agenda is part of a national movement to target issues that contribute to chronic homelessness," stated Mayor Marks.

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA. Mayor Bob Coble this week became the 185th jurisdictional CEO to commit to a 10-Year Planning process for his community this week. Meeting in City Hall with United States Interagency Council Executive Director Philip Mangano and Council Region IV Coordinator Michael German, Mayor Coble pledged to move forward with a plan for the state's capital city. Mayor Coble's assurance makes his city the 29th state capital to commit to 10-Year Planning.

Following the meeting, Director Mangano congratulated Mayor Coble on his pledge, stating, "Welcome to this national partnership to end chronic homelessness. You are going to the roots, the roots of the problem to strike at those roots with the intelligent action of a plan informed by data and research, driven by political will, based in performance, and committed to results." United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Field Office Director Dudley Gregoire also joined in the Mayor's announcement.

MOBILE, ALABAMA. Mobile Mayor Michael Dow became the 56th signatory to the Mayors Covenant of Partnership to End Chronic Homelessness this week, when, during a visit by Director Mangano, joined the national partnership of mayors who are deepening their commitment to ending chronic homelessness.

In January 2005, 35 mayors representing cities from Anchorage to Key West signed a Covenant of Partnership with each other and with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness agreeing to collaborate with one another to exchange data, share best practices, and to welcome other cities to join the collaboration. The signing of the Covenant took place at a meeting of the Hunger and Homelessness Task Force during the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting in Washington.

WITH THIS ISSUE, the e-news notes the reflections on homelessness expressed by the late Pope John Paul II, as delivered in his 1997 message, Developing Special Concern for the Homeless.

. . . How many people there are, unfortunately, who have been uprooted from the atmosphere of human warmth and welcome typical of the home! I think of refugees, victims of wars and natural disasters, and those forced to migrate for economic reasons. I also think of families evicted from their homes, those unable to find housing and the many elderly people whose pensions do not enable them to find a decent and affordable place to live. At times these hardships lead to other tragedies such as alcoholism, violence, prostitution and drug addiction . . .

. . . The family, as the basic cell of society, has a full right to housing adequate to its needs so that it can develop a genuine domestic communion. The church recognizes this fundamental right and is aware of her obligation to work together with others in order to ensure that it is recognized in practice.

WASHINGTON, DC. Webcasts over the next two weeks will provide resources information for potential applicants for this year's Department of Housing and Urban Development McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants competition now underway, as well as the new competition for Housing for People who are Homeless and Addicted to Alcohol. Of interest are Webcasts on How to Apply for Federal Grants (April 20, 11 am - 4 pm EST) and Logic Model Training (April 13, 1:30 pm - 4 pm EST). To access a list and archive of the Webcasts and information on viewing, visit http://www.hud.gov/webcasts/index.cfm

Application changes make it essential to stay up to date on 2005 developments. The individual Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs) and the Questions and Answers document should be thoroughly reviewed for details. These documents are posted on-line for downloading. The Questions and Answers document is located at http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa05/grpcoc.cfm

In the 2005 SuperNOFA announced on March 21, there are a total of 53 HUD programs totaling $2.26 billion. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants of approximately $1 billion are available, with applications due June 10, 2005. $10 million is available under the Housing for People who are homeless and Addicted to Alcohol competition for 10 2-year grants of approximately $1 million each. Applications are due May 19, 2005.