WASHINGTON, DC. Nearly $18.8 million will assist more than a thousand low-income individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS to find a permanent home and get access to the services they need as a result of awards announced on August 19 by United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson. HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program announced 19 awards in thirteen states. HUD Secretary Jackson is pictured here.

"HOPWA provides housing support to some of the most vulnerable Americans," said Secretary Jackson. "We know that a stable home environment helps persons living with HIV/AIDS to better care for themselves and when that happens, people live longer." The HUD Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the competitive awards was published March 21, 2005, and offered applicants the option of identifying program performance goals that addressed "the challenge of homelessness for persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families, including persons who are chronically homeless, by enabling them to move from transitional housing to permanent housing with appropriate supportive services assistance." HUD encouraged in the NOFA the creation of additional permanent housing models for persons experiencing chronic homelessness. Applicants were also asked to identify the number of persons experiencing chronic homelessness or homelessness and veterans who will be served by targeted assistance.

Programs in Alaska, Alabama, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, and Washington were awarded funds. In addition to the HUD funding, these projects are using $27 million in other public and private resources to carry out their projects. Later this year, HUD anticipates awarding an additional $18 million for other programs committed to finding supportive housing for persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Ninety percent of HOPWA funds are distributed by formula to cities and states based on the number of AIDS cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HUD's formula grants are managed by 121 local and state jurisdictions, which coordinate AIDS housing efforts with other HUD and community resources. This year, HUD is making available a total of $282 million in HOPWA funds to help communities provide housing for this special needs population.

WASHINGTON, DC. "Increasingly, policymakers and budget planners at all levels-Federal, state, local, and private-are basing funding decisions on outcome data," said SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie (pictured here). "Eventually, this Web-based tool- SAMHSA's National Outcome Measures (NOMs)-will provide the public and policymakers with the information to improve the management and performance of our programs and make the most of the limited dollars available to help people attain and sustain recovery."

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the states are collaborating on an effort to measure the outcomes for clients in all SAMHSA-funded programs with the goal of using the information to improve services for people with mental and addictive disorders. SAMHSA is realigning all of the agency's grant and contract data collection programs-both internal and external- with NOMs. SAMHSA is also expanding and focusing its technical assistance resources to help states and providers develop NOMs reporting capacity.

The NOMs information available online uses maps and charts to describe states' substance abuse and mental health prevalence, treatment, and funding data. This Web site also provides substance abuse prevention data. As new data are collected, the Web site will present cross-year data to help users examine program changes over time.

SAMHSA is using a series of "domains" to identify outcomes. The first domain is abstinence from drug use and alcohol abuse. Also in this area is the goal of decreasing symptoms of mental illness and improving functioning. Four domains focus on resilience and sustaining recovery. These areas include getting and keeping a job or enrolling and staying in school, decreasing involvement with the criminal justice system, finding safe and stable housing, and improving social connectedness to others in the community. One domain deals with increased access to services for both mental health and substance abuse. Another domain looks at retention in substance abuse treatment or decreased inpatient hospitalizations for mental health treatment. The final three domains examine the quality of services provided. These include client perception of care, cost-effectiveness, and use of evidence-based treatment practices.

SAMHSA and the states have agreed to the goal of bringing all states to full NOMs reporting by the end of Fiscal Year 2007. As part of this effort, SAMHSA is launching the new State Outcomes Measurement and Management System (SOMMS) Central Services Center, which will serve as a central data repository and support further technical work on standardized operational definitions and outcome measures for states. The Center also will offer technical assistance to states to support their development of the capacity to link records so that states and service providers can make pre-service and post-service comparisons to evaluate outcomes. In addition, SAMHSA and the states will work together to develop management reports that will guide technical assistance needs and promote the use of evidence- based interventions for improved client outcomes.

WASHINGTON, DC. The Corporation for National and Community Service has announced the availability of 2006 AmeriCorps Grant Guidelines and application instructions. There are multiple opportunities for faith- based and community organizations to apply. Faith- based and other organizations may apply as new applicants for the National Direct Program Grant if they are operating a national and community service program in two or more states. A total of $20 million will be awarded for these grants that support the operation of national and community service programs. Individual awards will vary according to project scope.

Faith-based and community organizations can also apply for AmeriCorps National Planning Grants specifically to assist such programs to organize, prepare, and increase their capacity for future competition for an AmeriCorps National Direct program grant in the next funding cycle. A total of $200,000 will be awarded. Individual award amounts for Planning Grants average $50,000.

The AmeriCorps National Professional Corps Grant Opportunity supports multi-state projects that utilize AmeriCorps members to address community needs where there is a shortage of professionals. AmeriCorps members could serve as teachers, nurses, doctors, emergency medical technicians, social workers, early childhood development staff, engineers, lawyers, paralegals, police officers, firefighters or other professionals. AmeriCorps members might be placed at schools, public health clinics, legal aid organizations, child care centers, community centers, public safety agencies or other community organizations. A total of $1 million will be awarded.

Applications for each of these AmeriCorps funding opportunities are due February 14, 2006.

HONOLULU, HAWAII. Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann has become the 67th Mayor to sign the Mayors Covenant of Partnership to End Chronic Homelessness. Mayor Hannemann, who took office in January, indicated that, as a new Mayor, his discussions with other mayors had made it clear to him that "we share a common concern for the dignity and well-being of persons who are homeless." Mayor Hannemann (pictured here) had an opportunity to discuss 10-Year Plans with United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano in January, when Director Mangano visited the Aloha State to join Governor Linda Lingle for the unveiling of Hawaii's Business Plan to End Chronic Homelessness and met with the state's four mayors.

In January 2005, 35 mayors representing cities from Anchorage to Key West signed the Covenant of Partnership with one another and with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, agreeing to deepen their commitment to ending chronic homelessness by collaborating to exchange data, share best practices, and 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. The Task Force is co- chaired by Mayors Bill Purcell of Nashville and Paul Pate of Cedar Rapids.

WITH THIS ISSUE, the e-news continues its series of reports on veterans' Stand Down events around the country. Stand Downs are community- based events targeted to homeless veterans and designed to offer a welcoming atmosphere, a safe gathering place, and easy access to a broad range of services for homeless veterans. Stand Downs are derived from the military practice of 'standing down" from customary activity or the front line. This Stand Down report comes from Interagency Council Region V Coordinator Daryl Hernandez.

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. Over 125 homeless veterans benefited from services and supports offered at the recent "Veterans Stand Down 2005" sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs- Health Care for Homeless Veterans Office in Grand Rapids. Eighteen of the veterans served were new to the system and were enrolled in appropriate services and benefits ranging from enrollment into the VA system to general physicals to haircuts. Over 45 community volunteers took part in assessing, assisting, and referring homeless veterans and others needing supportive services during the day.

According to VA Stand Down Homeless Coordinator Marian Beardsley -Gibbs the event was a huge success: " Our Grand Rapids community of service volunteers and the Grand Rapids 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness leadership have worked side-by-side in local efforts to serve homeless veterans here today. " Ms. Beardsley -Gibbs is pictured here with her staff: Dick McDonald, Homeless Outreach Worker, Brian Gripentrog, Program Assistant, and Jerry Petrovich, Clinical Social Worker.

Services included assessment and referral to appropriate housing, assessment and referral to appropriate VA Benefits registration, sharing of clothing/Ditty Bags, referral for employment, referral to legal services, referral to VA claims, referral and enrollment in Social Security benefits, haircuts, additional health screenings, and Hepatitis C screenings.

A vacant parking lot in downtown Grand Rapids behind the Homeless Veterans Office was used as the event site; actual offices and desks inside were transformed to conduct assessment and referral of clients. Service agency participation came from U. S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Michigan Office, Michigan Works WIA Program, Social Security Administration Michigan Office, Family Independence Agency, Dwelling Place Properties, Friends of the Court, Inc., Family Legal Services, Mercy Medical Staffers, Soldier And Sailors Relief Agency, Service Officer Relief- Catholic War Veterans, Joe's Barber Shop, and The Clothing Bank of Grand Rapids.

. . . that the percentage of mental health and substance abuse services paid for by public sources is increasing, with a smaller percentage provided by private sources, including private health insurance. According to a recent report by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), public sources paid for 63 percent of mental health spending in 2001, up from 57 percent in 1991. Public sources paid for 76 percent of substance abuse treatment in 2001, up from 62 percent in 1991. Public spending includes spending by all levels of government, and includes Medicaid and Medicare.

. . . that spending on mental health services totaled $85.4 billion in 2001, and substance abuse treatment costs amounted to $18.3 billion. Mental health spending on psychiatric hospitals has decreased, while expenditures for other types of care, particularly prescription drugs, have increased. One in every five dollars spent on mental health treatment is now spent for retail psychotropic prescription drugs (21 percent), up from 7 percent in 1991.

. . . that Medicaid is now the largest single payer of mental health services, exceeding private insurance, Medicare, or other state and local spending. Medicaid paid 27 percent of mental health expenditures in 2001; Medicare paid 7 percent; other federal spending accounted for 5 percent; other state and local spending 23 percent; private insurance 22 percent; and other private 16 percent.

WITH THIS ISSUE, the e-news continues its focus on opportunities to secure resources for homeless programs under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.

WASHINGTON, DC. A key deadline is rapidly approaching for the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission. By September 8, the Commission must transmit to the President "a report containing its findings and conclusions based on a review and analysis of the Secretary's recommendations for closure and realignment," and Commisisoners began voiting this week on specific sites. By September 23, the President shall transmit to the Commission and to the Congress, "a report containing the President's approval or disapproval of the Commission's recommendations." Commission Chairman Anthony J. Principi, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Commission members have conducted a series of site visits and hearings over the last few weeks.

Local homeless planning partners will be interested in the opportunities presented by the closure and reuse process. The Base Closure Community Redevelopment and Homeless Assistance Act (1994 Base Closure Act) addresses the use of military base property as surplus federal property on military bases. The Act requires consideration of the needs of persons experiencing homelessness during the redevelopment process.

Once the closures are announced, several early steps occur in the reuse process. Federal agencies can use the federal screening process to be the first to express interest in property over a 60 day period. During this period, a Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) must be formed in the community to address conversion of the property to other uses. As the LRA advances and conducts outreach, it will advertise to state and local governments and homeless services providers that the former base property is availability and that "notices of interest" will be received during a specified time period.

DOD maintains a web site of resources that can assist a variety of community partners in understanding and participating in the upcoming process, including accommodations to the needs of homeless people in the community. DOD's Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) is the primary source for assisting communities that are adversely impacted by such changes, including base closures or realignments, base expansions, and contract or program cancellations. To assist affected communities, OEA manages and directs the Defense Economic Adjustment Program, and coordinates the involvement of other Federal agencies. Under the 1994 Base Closure Community Redevelopment and Homeless Assistance Act, DOD, in a joint process with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), also plays a role in the community's base reuse planning process and future homeless assistance.