WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT. Speaking to 50 partners convened to launch a new Ten Year Plan with all sectors of the local community, including government, business, faith-based organizations, non- profit providers, and more, Waterbury, Connecticut Mayor Michael Jarjura this week told the stakeholders, "Every face I see out there, I see a warrior in the crusade." At a kickoff event at the Timex Museum, Waterbury became the 12th Connecticut city to commit to a Ten Year Plan. The event was delayed from its original March schedule when a major snowstorm hit New England.

Joining Mayor Jarjura, who will co-chair the Plan to be developed in the next six months, were Congressman Chris Murphy; Kristine Bulkovitch, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Waterbury and Plan Co-Chair; Dean Andrews of the Bank of America; Kathy Luria of Webster Bank; and Lynn Ward, President, Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce. Bank of America and Webster Bank will help fund the Plan with the City.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, originally scheduled to participate in the snowed-out March event, applauded the launch of the Plan, noting: "Mayor Jarjura and the business, civic, and community stakeholders have now joined a national partnership to end the disgrace of homelessness. And they join a growing movement across the state of Connecticut, fueled by political will from Governor Rell and partnered to improve the quality of life for everyone - housed and homeless alike." Pictured above are (left to right): Mayor Jarjura, Congressman Chris Murphy, Regional Coordinator John O'Brien, and Kristine Bulkovitch, United Way.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Regional Coordinator John O'Brien represented the Council at the kickoff event. Other members of the leadership Council include business and civic leaders, Waterbury Police Department, Waterbury Library, healthcare, Regional Council of Governments, UCONN Waterbury, and community and faith based organizations. Pictured here is Congressman Murphy addressing the partners.

Congressman Murphy also convened a roundtable on homeless veterans issues with Mayor Jarjura, Torrington Mayor Ryan Bingham, Waterbury partners and federal and state officials. Representing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, whose Secretary Eric Shinseki is the current Chair of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, was Pete Dougherty, Director of the VA's Homeless Programs. Council Regional Coordinator John O'Brien, who serves as the Council's representative to the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, also attended.

Key issues and topics in the roundtable included the need for VA resources in all communities, not just those proximate to VA Medical Centers, as well as the complex needs of currently homeless veterans and returning veterans, including mental health, substance abuse, PTSD and traumatic brain injury and the expansion of VA resources to meet these needs. The importance of expanding availability of permanent and transitional housing was also a focus, with new VA resources, including HUD-VASH. Employment opportunities for currently homeless and returning veterans are needed so they can achieve financial stability and independence, as is transportation needed for veterans to go to VA medical facilities. Also discussed was the importance of eligible vets applying for VA benefits, those with both service connected and non-service connected disabilities.

Commissioner Schwartz discussed the changing role of the CT Veterans Home at Rocky Hill, including its new medical facilities. There are about 400 homeless veterans housed at the Veterans Home in domiciliary and substance abuse treatment beds.

Pictured here are (left to right): Waterbury Mayor Jarjura, Pete Dougherty, Director, VA Homeless Programs, Congressman Murphy, Mark Ritacco, Washington Office of Congressman Murphy. Also in attendance were Linda Schwartz, Commissioner for Veterans Affairs, State of Connecticut, Torrington, CT Mayor Ryan Bingham, representatives from the city of Danbury, including Community Champion and Chair of the Danbury Housing Partnership, Mark Nolan, representatives from the Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars, and representatives from VA Connecticut.

WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT. Meriden Mayor Michael Rohde and Wallingford Mayor William Dickinson this week saw the new Ten year Plan they partnered to develop last fall released to the public in a press event at the Wallingford Senior Center. Federal, state, and local government partners, along with private sector leaders, convened for the event. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Regional Coordinator John O'Brien, who worked with the partners to forward the plan, represented the Council. Pictured here is Mayor Rohde.

"We will make a change," stated United Way of Meriden and Wallingford President and CEO Jim Ieronimo, who was appointed by the mayors to chair the 10 Year Plan, "not because of any individual or organization, but because when it comes to improving quality of life, the community has decided to come together and make a change."

"Meriden and Wallingford are blessed by public officials who are ready to partner to enhance your Ten Year Plan to end homelessness," noted United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. "They have put their political will behind the effort, and I applaud their partnership and commitment."

Furthering the employment goals included in other Connecticut plans, including New Britain and Danbury, the new plan will develop a Champion Employers Engagement Project to develop job opportunities, with a full-time employment and housing liaison position and a family economic stability project.

Other key elements of the plan include a goal to develop 135 units of housing through new construction of 60 units and including 50 scattered site units as well as 25 units in collaboration with the Meriden Housing Authority. Rapid re-housing for families will also be a key strategy. Prevention strategies will include foreclosure and eviction prevention, as well as collaborations with emergency rooms, police, public health, municipalities, faith and community based organizations, and cultural organizations.

Joining Mayor Rohde were CT Coalition to End Homelessness Executive Director Carol Walter; Dean Andrews of the Bank of America of CT which provided funding for the plan; Hilda Santiago, representing Congressman Chris Murphy; Kimberly Junior representing Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro; Wallingford resident and consumer Kim Nguyen; Eric Fyildal, Pastor, Yalesville United Methodist Church and member of the Steering Committee; and Jeff Walter, President and CEO, Rushford, Inc. The steering committee also included representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and other local business, the state legislature, the Wallingford Public Library, and faith and community based organizations.

WASHINGTON, DC. $100 million in recovery resources for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Food and Shelter Program have been announced as part of President Obama's recovery package. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds at a United Way 2-1-1 Call Center, which helps connect individuals and families to social services, including organizations that benefit from EFSP funds.

"These ARRA funds will provide immediate relief to communities impacted by unemployment and poverty," said Secretary Napolitano. "The community organizations receiving this money not only support Americans in need, but also play a crucial role in helping to get our economy back on track and families back on their feet."

"EFSP is the historic first response of federal government targeted to homeless people and those at risk," noted United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. "FEMA with the National and Local Boards is the kind of public/private partnership that ensures our reach from Washington to the streets of communities, with an intent of fast response, local decision-making, and accountability."

The ARRA funds come in addition to FEMA's $200 million annual FY 2009 appropriation for EFSP announced in December. A National Board comprised of voluntary agencies oversees the program, while United Way of America, which serves as EFSP Executive Secretariat, administers the distribution of EFSP funds to social service agencies in more than 2,500 cities and counties.

EFSP was created in 1983 with a $50 million federal appropriation to help meet the needs of hungry and homeless people throughout the United States and its territories by allocating federal funds for the provision of food and shelter. Appropriated annually by Congress under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, EFSP provides supplemental funds to more than 12,000 agencies.

EFSP funds can be used for a broad range of services, including: mass shelter; mass feeding; food distribution through food pantries and food banks; one-month assistance with rent; mortgage and utility payments to prevent evictions; and transition assistance from shelters to stable living conditions. ESFP's objectives are to allocate funds to the neediest areas; to ensure fast response; to foster public-private sector partnerships; to ensure local decision-making; and to maintain minimal but accountable reporting.

WASHINGTON, DC. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided an additional $70 million to the Department of Education to supplement the regular FY 2009 funding for activities authorized under the McKinney Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth program. On April 13, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that state allocations totaling $69.2 million had been made.

The McKinney-Vento recovery funds are a one-time source of funds that supplement the McKinney-Vento funds made available under the regular FY 2009 appropriation. These additional resources will assist states and local educational agencies (LEAs) in addressing the educational and related needs of homeless children and youth during a time of economic crisis in the United States.

"These new recovery resources targeted to the youngest of our neighbors will help ensure that access to education is protected during this time of economic crisis," indicated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano.

As directed in the recovery legislation, the Department has made allocations based on the number of homeless students identified by each State during the 2007-2008 school year relative to the number of such children identified nationally during that school year. ARRA requires that states must award these special funds to local educational agencies (LEAs) within 120 days, which is now August 8. Each state may choose whether to award ARRA funds to LEAs by formula based on the number of homeless students identified by LEAs in the state, or by competition, or by a combination of both.

An LEA may use McKinney-Vento ARRA funds to assist homeless children and youth in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. In particular, the funds may support any of the activities authorized under the McKinney-Vento Act education provisions, including supplemental educational services, such as tutoring and other academic enrichment programs; expedited evaluations for various educational services; professional development activities for educators and pupil services personnel working with homeless students; health referral services; defraying the excess cost of transportation in order to enable students to attend the school of origin; early childhood education programs for pre-school-aged homeless children; services and assistance to attract, engage, and retain homeless children and youth and unaccompanied youth in public school programs; before- and after-school, mentoring, and summer programs with educational activities; payment of fees and costs associated with tracking, obtaining, and transferring records of homeless children and youth; education and training for parents of homeless children and youth about rights and resources; development of coordination between schools and agencies providing services; provision of pupil services (including violence prevention counseling) and referrals for such services; activities to address needs that may arise from domestic violence; adaptation of space and purchase of supplies for non- school facilities to provide services listed above; provision of school supplies, including those to be distributed at shelters or other appropriate locations; and other extraordinary or emergency assistance needed to enable homeless students to attend school.

It was also announced that the regular FY 2009 funding for the McKinney Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth program will be allocated to the states on July 1. States may conduct a single competition to award both McKinney-Vento ARRA funds and the regular FY 2009 McKinney-Vento funds. However, it should be noted that under existing statute SEA must only use McKinney-Vento funds from the regular FY 2009 appropriation to award subgrants to LEAs competitively or to make continuation awards to LEAs that previously received competitive subgrants. An SEA may not award the regular FY 2009 McKinney-Vento funds to LEAs on a formula basis. 42 U.S.C. 11422(c). There are also special accountability and reporting requirements that apply specifically to the McKinney-Vento ARRA funds.

WASHINGTON, DC. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced $1 billion in state allocations for new recovery resources in the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program. The new investment, including a 1% setaside for benefits screening and enrollment, come as part of President Obama's recovery package and will be distributed to states for community action agencies. The $1 billion in new funds under the Recovery Act is in addition to CSBG's regular annual operating budget of approximately $700 million.

"The CSBG recovery resources will be important to the work of states in this crisis," indicated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. "With one percent of the funds to be used for benefits enrollment coordination activities relating to the identification and enrollment of eligible individuals and families in federal, state, and local benefit programs, this resource present a new opportunity for states, especially through State Interagency Councils, to incentivize the one-stop model and increase the often minimal participation of people who are homeless in mainstream benefit programs."

The Recovery Act allows states and the eligible entities that administer the CSBG program at the local level to increase individual eligibility for services furnished by the program during fiscal years 2009 and 2010 up to 200% of the official poverty guidelines as set by HHS.

According to HHS, states and local entities that provide services with CSBG funds including migrant and seasonal farm worker organizations are encouraged to focus their efforts on creating sustainable economic resources in communities. States should help to ensure that eligible entities: 1) provide a wide range of innovative employment- related services and activities tailored to the specific needs of their community; 2) use funds in a manner that meets the short-term and long-term economic and employment needs of individuals, families and communities; and 3) make meaningful and measurable progress toward the reform goals of the Recovery Act with special attention to creating and sustaining economic growth and employment opportunities.

Under the CSBG program, eligible entities use funds to provide services and activities addressing employment, education, better use of available income, housing, nutrition, emergency services and/or health to combat the central causes of poverty. Unlike the regularly-funded CSBG program, the new resources are not targeted to state administrative expenditures and statewide discretionary activities. States are to reserve 1% of funds for benefits enrollment coordination activities relating to the identification and enrollment of eligible individuals and families in federal, state, and local benefit programs.

Funds must be used to reduce poverty, revitalize low- income communities, and assist low-income families become self-sufficient. Eligible entities use funds to provide services and activities addressing employment, education, housing, nutrition, and emergency services to combat the central causes of poverty.

Services currently provided by community organizations that receive CSBG funds include job training and placement assistance; financial literacy programs such as credit counseling; housing assistance programs that help keep Americans in their homes; and nutrition programs that provide meals for vulnerable families.

WASHINGTON, DC. As state and local jurisdictional applicants prepare to forward plans to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the utilization of $1.5 billion in Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) resources under President Obama's recovery package, HUD staff last week briefed partners in the field on key details of HPRP. Several highlights of the briefing are included here, and interested applicants and partners should read HUD's extensive on-line briefing materials for full details.

HUD has a dedicated HPRP web site with numerous materials available, including a resource library and Q and A database. HUD will shortly announce a schedule of regional HPRP training events on the site. All webcast materials are available on the site.

Funding allocations to the eligible awardees of states, metropolitan cities, urban counties, and territories are based on a formula, with a $500,000 grant minimum set by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. 540 grantees have been identified using this approach, and specific allocations are posted on line.

State grantees must award funds to local units of government (including those receiving direct HPRP allocations) and/or private non-profit organizations, share a reasonable amount of administrative funds with subgrantees, and cannot subgrant to state agencies.

Metropolitan cities, urban counties, and U.S. territories may carry out eligible activities themselves, subgrant to private non-profit organizations, and subgrant to another local government (new for HPRP).

HPRP is not a mortgage assistance program, or intended to serve persons who need long-term and/or intensive supports. It is different than the historic Emergency Shelter Grants program (ESG), in that it has different eligibility requirements and different eligible activities. It is also distinct from the recently announced HUD Rapid Re-housing (RRH) Demonstration, as HPRP also has different requirements and activities.

There are two populations of persons facing housing instability that are eligible to receive funding under the HPRP: 1) individuals and families who are currently in housing but are at risk of becoming homeless and need temporary rent or utility assistance to prevent them from becoming homeless or assistance to move to another unit (prevention), and 2) individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness (residing in emergency or transitional shelters or on the street) and need temporary assistance in order to obtain housing and retain it (rapid re-housing).

Homeless individuals and families, and individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless, must meet the following three criteria in order to receive HPRP financial assistance or services: 1) Household must be at or below 50 percent of Area Median Income (AMI); 2) Household must meet both of the following circumstances: (a) no appropriate subsequent housing options have been identified; AND (b) the household lacks the financial resources and support networks needed to obtain immediate housing or remain in its existing housing; 3) Any individual or family receiving rental assistance must have at least an initial consultation with a case manager to determine need.

WASHINGTON, DC. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced $4.8 million for new business ventures, business expansion, and self-employment/ micro-enterprise projects for low-income families, and TANF recipients. HHS' Administration for Children and Families is accepting applications for up to 11 projected awards for the Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) program.

Grantees may provide technical and financial assistance to private employers in low-income communities in order to create sustainable employment and business opportunities. A minimum of 20% of the JOLI funds must be allotted to direct financial assistance to program participants for creating or expanding a business. Applications are due May 8, 2009, and interested non-profit and faith- based applicants should read the full announcement for complete details.

The program must help TANF recipients and other low-income individuals overcome personal or community barriers, and ensure that the businesses and jobs remain viable for at least six months after the end of the grant. For JOLI grants, low-income individuals are defined as those living in households with incomes at or below poverty, as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Guidelines on Poverty

Ten Year Planning partners working closely with the businesses community will be particularly interested in elements of JOLI that require that all businesses and positions created must be located within a service area with unemployment and poverty rates that are at or above the state or national levels. Further, the program will give priority to projects that serve areas with the highest percentage individuals receiving TANF assistance.

JOLI projects are required to actively recruit and work with appropriate businesses, entrepreneurs, and TANF recipients and other low-income individuals. Grantees must effectively identify those individuals, recruit them, and offer the assistance those businesses and individuals need in order to succeed under the project. Recruitment and retention may be addressed through activities that help address personal barriers such as illiteracy, substance abuse, inadequate transportation, lack of affordable child care, insufficient life skills, past criminal history, health problems, and other barriers that could inhibit an individual's ability to achieve self-sufficiency.

PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND. Project Homeless Connect, the one-day, one-stop engagement event encouraged by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness from the example of San Francisco's Connect innovation, veterans Stand Downs, and community response to Katrina, continues to be adopted in new communities across the country and expand its sense of welcome and resources across the nation.

Pawtucket, Rhode Island this week opened the doors of St. Joseph's Church Function Hall for the community's first Connect event. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Regional Coordinator John O'Brien represented the Council at the event, shown here. Pictured here are Pawtucket Mayor James Doyle (right) with Jim Ryzcek, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless.

100 people took advantage of the community and targeted homeless resources provided that included the Social Security Administration, VA RI and the RI National Guard, the University of Rhode Island Food Stamp Outreach Project, and Rhode Island 211, all of which were focused on helping people access critical benefits; applications for state ID's; permanent housing applications and foreclosure prevention; legal aid; health care and mental health triage and health insurance eligibility; employment and training; vouchers for haircuts, bus passes, well as breakfast and lunch.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS. Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief, whose city in partnership with Tarrant County is implementing Directions Home, the city- county Ten Year Plan, this week welcomed Texas Senator John Cornyn as they joined more than 700 volunteers and 500 homeless neighbors for the city's second Project Homeless Connect event. Connect convened at Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth and was sponsored by the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition and the city.

Noting the importance of the resources and services available and accessible at the event to intervene in homelessness and create a trajectory to self- sufficiency, Mayor Moncrief said "We are not about building bigger shelters; we are about getting people out of shelters." Senator Cornyn noted the important collaboration present that shows that partnership is effective.

Over 100 guests - including 10 children - received ID cards , and over 80 applied for health care coverage, according to Otis Thornton, the city's homelessness coordinator. Medical tests and screenings, as well as childhood immunizations, were offered by the University of Texas Health Science Center.

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. More than 700 homeless neighbors were welcomed by over 1,000 volunteers volunteers at Birmingham's recent Project Homeless Connect, convened in recognition of the legacy of service of Dr. Martin Luther King. More than seventy community agencies joined the city's second Connect event at Boutwell Auditorium, according to Don Lupo of the City of Birmingham and Michelle Farley, Executive Director, Metropolitan Birmingham Services for the Homeless.

The VA in Rhode Island the Rhode Island National Guard represented by LTC Jeannine Vachon, Director of the National Guard's State Family Progrms (in fatigues on left) provided resources to veterans at the Pawtucket PHC shown here.

In next week's e-news, we'll update you on the more than 50 opinion leader screenings of the new feature film, "The Soloist," taking place around the country. The Council was pleased to partner with Paramount Pictures and Participant Media in this public education initiative for community opinion leaders on the issue of homelessness.

email: usich@usich.gov

web: http://www.usich.gov