IN THIS SPECIAL ISSUE of the e-news, we feature federal announcements of new permanent supportive housing and employment resources for homeless veterans, and new reentry resources for housing, employment, and services. The federal agency and interagency initiatives described here will support targeted populations that are especially at risk of chronic homelessness with new initiatives to support and stabilize these individuals in the community.

Featured in this Special Issue are this week's announcement of the award of 10,000 permanent supportive housing vouchers for homeless veterans in the HUD-VASH program, new reentry resources in housing, employment, and services under the newly signed Second Chance Act, new awards of employment reentry resources, and a new competition for employment resources for homeless veterans.

NEW YORK CITY. United States Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary and United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Chair James B. Peake and United States Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi yesterday announced $75 million to provide permanent supportive housing for an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide. Secretary Peake and Deputy Secretary Bernardi made the announcement with New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at a newly renovated housing program for homeless veterans in Queens, and the officials emphasized the Federal and local government's partnership to house and support America's homeless veteran population.

"Today, VA, HUD and New York City are strengthening our long-standing partnership on homelessness to achieve a simple vision - that no one who has served and fought for their country should have to live on the streets," said Secretary Peake. "We hope to build upon this effort soon with another step providing more case managers to support a marked increase in permanent housing units."

"We are deeply grateful for the service and sacrifice by our nation's veterans and we must make every effort to help them as they struggle to avoid a life on the streets," said Deputy Secretary Bernardi. "This program is one opportunity to say, 'Thank You' and to make certain that we serve them as they once served us."

"Ending veteran homelessness is an ambitious goal that is more in reach thanks to this historic federal commitment to provide housing for veterans," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Our partnership with the VA has already provided homes for hundreds of veterans over the past year and the housing slots being allocated to New York City today will bring new hope to more than 1,000 homeless veterans in our City. It sends a powerful message to the men and women currently fighting for our country overseas - that we do not take their service for granted."

"Housing solutions for veterans who have lived on the streets, languished in shelters, or waited expectantly in transitional programs are good news for those who have served their country and now want to come all the way home," indicated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. "The new interagency HUD-VASH initiative, supported by the Administration and Congress, offers more than temporary accommodation, it offers an end to their homelessness. And further good news is that the President has included HUD-VASH in his FY 2009 budget proposal."

HUD's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) will provide local public housing agencies with approximately 10,000 rental assistance vouchers specifically targeted to assist homeless veterans in their area. In addition, the VA and HUD will link local public housing agencies with VA Medical Centers to provide supportive services and case management to eligible homeless veterans. HUD will allocate the housing vouchers to local public housing agencies (PHAs) across the country that are specifically targeted to homeless veterans based on a variety of factors, including the number of reported homeless veterans and the proximity of a local VA Medical Center with the capacity to provide case management. New York City and the greater Los Angeles area received the greatest number of vouchers using this criterion.

HUD will provide housing assistance through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program which allows participants to rent privately owned housing. The VA will offer eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Last year, the VA provided health care to more than 100,000 homeless veterans and other services to over 60,000 veterans in its specialized homeless programs. The Bush Administration's proposed FY 2009 Budget seeks to double the amount of funding to provide an additional $75 million to support the housing and service needs of an additional 10,000 homeless veterans.

Local communities that receive HUD homeless assistance will work with local VA Medical Centers to identify eligible participants. The VA will then screen homeless veterans to determine their eligibility. Those eligible vets will receive treatment and regular case management to retain the voucher. VA Medical Center case managers will also work closely with local housing agencies to help participants find suitable housing. Participating PHAs will determine income eligibility in accordance to HUD regulations for the HCV program.

New York City's Department of Homeless Services will use the 1,000 vouchers, supplemental veterans treatment and case management services to help achieve permanent and sustained housing status for all homeless veterans. In December 2006, the VA and the City of New York reached an historic agreement to address ending veteran homelessness in New York City. Under the agreement, the City vowed to place 100 veterans into permanent housing in 100 days, surpassing the goal with 135 veterans moving during that period, and subsequently succeeded in placing more than 400 veterans into homes of their own in 2007. The VA and the City also convened a joint Task Force that created a strategic plan to end veteran homelessness in New York City. Among the Task Force recommendations were the creation of a jointly operated VA/NYC multi- service center to serve as a one-stop site to access services for homeless veterans, scheduled to open in the Summer of 2008; the creation of a veteran-only SAFE HAVEN as an alternative to the shelter system to open in the Summer/Fall 2008 and veteran-specific, short-term housing site for those working towards permanent housing.

To read more about initiatives in 10-Year Plans to end homelessness for veterans, visit the Council's web site.

WASHINGTON, DC. "This bill is going to support the caring men and women who help America's prisoners find renewal and hope," stated President Bush as he signed the "Second Chance Act" last week at the White House. Joined by members of his Cabinet and Administration officials, and Members of Congress who together reflected the broad bipartisan partnership that achieved passage of the new legislation, the President noted: "The country was built on the belief that each human being has limitless potential and worth. Everybody matters. We believe that even those who have struggled with a dark past can find brighter days ahead. One way we act on that belief is by helping former prisoners who've paid for their crimes - we help them build new lives as productive members of our society . . . The work of redemption reflects our values. It also reflects our national interests."

The new law assists states and local government entities, in partnership with nonprofit organizations, to establish prisoner reentry demonstration projects. Demonstration projects include: education, vocational training, and job placement services; coordinated supervision for offenders upon release, including housing and mental and physical health care; and programs that encourage offenders to develop safe, healthy, and responsible family and parent-child relationships.

"Those of us who supported and worked on this during its decade-long birthing process owe a debt of gratitude to Representative Danny Davis for his unflagging commitment to offer reentry resources to ex-prisoners," indicated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who worked with Rep. Davis' staff a decade ago in refining the bill. "The Second Chance Act demonstrates that bipartisan approaches to solving social problems offer an avenue to resolve seemingly intractable obstacles."

Representative Danny Davis of Illinois, likened by Director Mangano to a modern-day William Wilberforce for his championing of the proposal, was the lead House sponsor of the legislation which he shepherded forward through the development of its bipartisan support and passage.

The Second Chance Act formally authorizes key elements of the successful Prisoner Reentry Initiative (PRI), announced by the President in 2004, to help prisoners effectively reintegrate into the community. Additionally, the Second Chance Act enhances drug treatment, mentoring, and transitional services for ex-offenders through partnerships with local corrections agencies and faith-based and community organizations.

In his 2004 State of the Union address, President Bush announced the PRI to help released inmates find work and make a fresh start in life after prison. Expanding upon the successful Department of Labor Ready4Work pilot program, PRI links returning adult nonviolent offenders with faith-based and community organizations that help them find work, connect with mentors, and avoid relapse into criminal activity. PRI is a signature program of the President's Faith- Based and Community Initiative.

According to the White House, PRI is yielding results for America's ex-offenders. In the first two years of the program, more than 12,800 offenders have enrolled in the prisoner reentry program. More than 7,900 offenders have been placed in jobs. Only 18 percent of those enrolled in the program have been arrested again within one year - less than half the estimated national average.

PRI is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Labor (DOL) to help reduce recidivism in urban centers and other areas with the greatest need. DOJ grants are awarded to State agencies for pre- release services to partner anti-recidivism efforts with those of faith-based and community organizations. DOL funds are awarded to faith-based and community organizations that provide a variety of assistance to returning prisoners, including workforce development services, job training, counseling, and other reentry services.

President Bush has championed prisoner reentry and other initiatives to transform lives and cut crime through programs like DOJ's Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) and Anti-Gang Initiative, DOL's Ready4Work program, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Mentoring Children of Prisoners program. Along with delivering vital services, these programs advance innovation in reducing crime and breaking cycles of recidivism. By funding social entrepreneurs to expand prisoner reentry programs that couple efforts of corrections agencies and nonprofit organizations, the Administration is providing venture capital to build effective reentry models that can be replicated at the State and local level.

The U.S. Department of Labor last week announced grants totaling almost $3 million to advance the President's Prisoner Re-entry Initiative. Through a partnership operated with the U.S. Department of Justice, grants of $130,434 each will go to 23 criminal justice agencies across the country. They, in turn, will fund faith-based and community organizations to deliver employment services to prisoners returning to civilian life.

"These grants will advance state partnerships with local faith-based and community organizations to equip ex-prisoners with basic job skills, counseling and opportunities to earn an honest living in our communities," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

Over the next two years, funds will be used to offer services such as basic skills remediation, soft- skills training, counseling and on-the-job training. Job placement efforts will be coordinated with local One- Stop Career Centers, businesses, educational institutions and other employment providers.

In addition to the District of Columbia, 22 states will receive these post-release services grants: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Credit: White House photo

WASHINGTON, DC. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) has announced $3.5 million in a grant competition for the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP). HVRP grants are intended to provide services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force, and to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans. Successful applicants will design programs that assist eligible veterans by providing job placement services, job training, counseling, supportive services, and other assistance to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force. Successful programs will also be designed to be 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.

Eligible applicants should read the entire announcement. Applications are due by May 14 for awards of up to $300,000 in urban areas and $200,000 for non-urban areas. Both Urban and Non- Urban areas serving homeless veterans will be considered for funding under this HVRP solicitation. Urban areas are those that serve a high concentration of homeless veterans in the metropolitan areas of the 75 U.S. cities largest in population and the metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Applications for funds will be accepted from State and local Workforce Investment Boards, local public agencies, for-profit/commercial entities, and non-profit organizations, including faith-based and community organizations. Eligible applicants will generally fall into one of the following categories: state and local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs), public agencies, for- profit/commercial entities; and non-profit organizations (including faith-based and community organizations).

HVRP was initially authorized under Section 738 of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act in July 1987. It is currently authorized under the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001.

According to DOL, HVRP features an outreach component using veterans who themselves have experienced homelessness. In recent years, this successful technique was modified to allow the programs to utilize formerly homeless veterans in various other positions where there is direct client contact such as counseling, peer coaching, intake, and follow-up services.

HVRP uses partnerships with various veterans' services programs and organizations such as the Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program and Local Veterans' Employment Representatives stationed in the local employment service offices of the State Workforce Agencies, Workforce Investment Boards, One-Stop Centers, Veterans' Workforce Investment Program, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and Health and Human Services.

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