HUD, VA Secretaries to Speak at NCHV Annual Conference
Registration still open: June 6-8 in Washington, D.C.

Shortly after they were sworn into office in early 2009, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki met with the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) Board of Directors to express their support of President Barack Obama’s commitment to end veteran homelessness.

Two years later, with the administration’s Five-Year Plan to End Veteran Homelessness underway, they will meet again to address the nation’s veteran service providers at the 2011 NCHV Annual Conference, June 6-8, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Keeping with the theme of this year’s conference, “Leadership: Implementing the Plan to End Veteran Homelessness,” Secretaries Donovan and Shinseki will assess the progress toward ending veteran homelessness by 2015, and highlight the important work that lies ahead. Over the course of three days, conference attendees will learn firsthand how the plan will impact their organizations and federally funded programs.

The NCHV Policy Forum, which will be held on the afternoon of June 6, will dispel rumors and answer questions about the impact of the Five-Year Plan on grant-funded homeless veteran assistance programs. Top officials from the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs and Labor will participate in Q-and-A sessions, directly responding to service providers’ concerns. USICH Deputy Director Anthony Love will co-facilitate the forum with NCHV President and CEO John Driscoll.

In addition to policy briefings and networking opportunities at this year’s annual conference, attendees will be able to engage in 34 critical workshops, including sessions on: changes in the Grant and Per Diem Program, the future of the HUD-VASH Program, increasing veteran employment opportunities, ensuring veteran access to homelessness prevention services, expanding legal aid for homeless veterans, and the impact of data integration on local programs and funding.

Registration for the 2011 NCHV Annual Conference is still open. A registration form can be downloaded here (PDF). Although NCHV’s discount room-block at the Grand Hyatt has sold out, general reservations may still be made by calling 202-582-1234. You may also search for other accommodations at www.travelocity.com/hotels.

For more information on the 2011 NCHV Annual Conference, click here.

USICH Unveils New Website
Includes new features

After many months of designing and building, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) has unveiled its new website at http://www.usich.gov/. The new site bolsters one of the objectives of Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, which is to increase knowledge about the nature and causes of homelessness as well as promising interventions.

The updated site includes a number of new features:

• A searchable research and evaluation section that includes over 125 abstracts of some of the most important studies from the last decade.
• A comprehensive list and descriptions of targeted and mainstream federal programs that prevent and end homelessness.
• An Opening Doors section that provides updates on the Plan's implementation.
• A media center that contains feature stories about work on the ground and specific population-related issues.
• A calendar that shows upcoming grant deadlines, training opportunities, and national conferences.

During the next few months, the Interagency Council will launch additional tools including a “solutions” database, an interactive map with local stakeholder information and data, and guidance on accessing technical assistance from USICH member agencies.

Visit the new website at http://www.usich.gov/.

Nationwide 2K Event Will Support Homeless Veterans
At more than 130 VA facilities on June 2

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will host a nationwide 2K Walk and Roll event at more than 130 VA facilities on June 2 in support of employee wellness month. The event will also encourage employee and local community support of homeless veterans. While there is no registration fee, employees and volunteers participating in the event are asked to donate to support homeless veterans. Participation is open to the community; donations are optional.

Email AskVHAEmployeewellness@va.gov to find out if your VA facility is hosting a 2K event. VA facilities can be located by clicking here.

VA Hosts Veteran Small Business Conference in New Orleans
Largest event of its kind, Aug. 15-18

WASHINGTON – VA will host the upcoming National Veterans Small Business Conference and Expo, Aug. 15-18 in New Orleans. It will be the largest nationwide conference of its kind focused on helping veteran-owned businesses succeed in winning federal contracts.

The conference, scheduled for the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, will provide veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses of all sizes the opportunity to learn, network and market their businesses.

A variety of new training sessions on navigating the federal acquisition process will be offered, covering topics such as finance, compliance, business development, marketing, strategy, contract management, human resources, technology and program management. The conference track sessions will be targeted for a variety of businesses from new business owners just back from theater to well-established veteran-owned businesses looking to expand opportunities or increase market share.

An open house has been added to the event to give veterans from both the conference and local region the opportunity to experience the wide range of resources available to the veteran community.

For more information and to register for the conference, click here.

Funding Opportunities

The Walmart Foundation, through its Local Community Contribution program, supports the needs of local communities by working to improve the lives of its associates, customers and neighbors. Focus areas for potential grantees include education, workforce development/economic opportunity, health and wellness, and hunger relief. For more information and to apply, click here.

Additionally, the Foundation’s National Giving Program's current focus is hunger relief, with a particular interest in the following groups: veterans and military families, traditionally underserved groups, the disability community, and people impacted by natural disasters. Letters of inquiry are accepted at all times. For more information, click here.

The W.H.O. (Women Helping Others) Foundation supports community-focused charities that serve the overlooked needs of women, children and families. Funding is considered for charities with the following:

• Total organization budget of $3 million or less
• Government funding total of less than 30 percent of income
• United Way funding of less than 30 percent of income
• Salaries/wages and benefits not more than 50 percent of budget
• A 501(c)(3) rating for a minimum of three years prior to applying

Applications must be received no later than Sept. 6 by 5 p.m. Central time. For more information and to apply, click here.