VA Announces 15% Decrease in Homelessness Among Veterans

The number of veterans homeless on a typical night has declined 15 percent in the past year, thanks to the services offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and its partners in community- and faith-based organizations, plus changing demographics and improvements in survey techniques.

The reduction of homeless veterans from more than 154,000 to about 131,000 was revealed in the 15^th annual Community Homeless Assessment, Local Education and Networking Group (CHALENG) report on homeless veterans.

The decline in veterans' homelessness was attributed, in part, to improved methodology, VA program interventions, changing demographics, and recent events such as the recovery from Hurricane Katrina in the south.

The report also showed a 24 percent increase in the number of homeless veterans with families over the number of homeless veterans with families in 2007, from 1,038 to 1,282. While still only a fraction of the approximately 70,000 veterans seen by VA specialized homeless programs over the course of a year, this increase may reflect the impact of the HUD-VASH expansion which allows VA staff to work with veterans and their families in Section 8 housing placement.

Research suggests long-term housing, dental, medical, and mental health care are central to the rehabilitation of the homeless. Homeless veterans' responses in the CHALENG survey indicate that many of these critical needs are either well "met" or, as in the case of housing are becoming increasingly met. The VA's highly integrated health care model has made medical, dental and mental health treatment readily available to Veterans. Homeless veterans in this year's CHALENG report identified nine of their top ten unmet needs as a legal, financial or family issue. To view the 2008 CHALENG report in its entirety, click here.

NAEH Creates New Interactive Tools Section on Website

The National Alliance to End Homelessness' Homelessness Research Institute is developing a series of interactive maps, calculators, and charts intended to provide quick access to data on homelessness and improve understanding of important concepts related to ending homelessness. These tools have been aggregated on a new Interactive Tools page, designed to make it easier for users to find all of the tools in one place. The most recent tools are a Shelter Need Calculator and an Urban/Rural Cost Analysis Chart. The Shelter Need Calculator illustrates the relationship between shelter demand, length of stay, and minimum required shelter bed inventory. The Urban/Rural Cost Analysis Chart is an interactive bar chart that illustrates how costs in eight service categories (e.g. emergency shelter, health care) change when urban and rural homeless individuals are placed in permanent supportive housing. Other tools include interactive maps of total homelessness counts from 2007, as well as a map of local reports of 2009 point-in-time count results, which is updated frequently. To access these new tools, click here. 

California Launches Veterans Benefits Website

Veterans and servicemembers across California who struggle to locate mental health programs, benefits information and other resources now have a one-stop website. Sponsored by California's county mental health agencies, the new website aims to aid veterans and servicemembers who do not know where to turn for information. The website operates in 10 languages and allows them to search through a jobs database for veterans, join in social networking and create personal health records. To view the website, click here.

2009 NCHV Annual Conference Presentations Available Online

A schedule of sessions from the 2009 NCHV Annual Conference held May 20-22 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, VA is now available online, with descriptions of each session, speaker names, and presentation materials. To view this information, click here. The conference program is available for download by clicking here.

Funding Opportunities

The 786 Foundation, established in 1990 and administered by the Marshall & Ilsley Trust Company, focuses its grantmaking on the following areas: education, the environment, natural resource development, housing and shelter for the poor, human and social service programs, and YMCAs. Giving is focused on programs and projects located in Wisconsin. Grants are generally awarded for curriculum development, general operating support, matching funds, and scholarship endowments. There are no specific application forms or deadlines. Potential applicants should be either based in or serve residents of Wisconsin. Applicants should begin by contacting the Foundation in writing at 786 Foundation, PO Box 2977, Milwaukee, WI, 53201, or by phone at 414-815-3813.

The Citizens Bank Foundation Charitable Grants Program supports nonprofit organizations in the communities served by the bank in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The focus is on nonprofit organizations that develop innovative responses to basic human needs, promote affordable housing, encourage community-based services targeted to low- and moderate-income families, support community development initiatives that are catalysts for economically distressed areas, or target new ways to address issues of economic self-sufficiency. Requests are reviewed throughout the year. For more information, click here.