NAEH Publishes Data Update to Homelessness Report

The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) has published a data update to its 2006 report, "A New Vision: What is in Community Plans to End Homelessness." The original report, which NAEH considers the first nationwide examination of local plans to end homelessness, breaks down communities' plans by plan type, primary strategies, implementation and funding resources, and implications for homelessness and future planning efforts. It can be viewed here.

NAEH's data update, titled "A Shifting Focus: What's New in Community Plans to End Homelessness," expresses concern over whether communities' plans are being actuated. "While we know that a considerable number of communities have created 10-year plans, there has not been a comprehensive evaluation of the extent to which plans are being implemented," it states.

The update includes an analysis of the 234 completed community plans to end homelessness, as well as an overview of factors that are most likely to lead to implementation.

To view the data update, click here.

To view an interactive timeline of 10-year plans, click here.

2009 Homeless Census and Survey Project Reports Released

Applied Survey Research (ASR), a nonprofit social research firm, has released reports from its homeless census and survey projects conducted in January 2009. The reports comprise data from seven California counties (Madera, Orange, Riverside, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Sonoma) and Clark County, Nevada. Interactive graphing tools allow users to view survey results by location or sheltered/unsheltered status. Subcategories include age, ethnicity, veteran status, reason turned away from shelters, causes of homelessness, medical care, respondents with children, nights in jail and health issues. To view the reports and survey results, or to learn about ASR's survey methodology, click here.

NCHV Resource Library Launched

NCHV's Resource Library is a collection of valuable reports, fact sheets and other related materials for your reference and research needs. These are the same resources that have informed the development and expansion of programs to help veterans in crisis over the last five years. Service providers, veteran advocates and government officials use these resources to shape policy and establish funding requests. Consider that over that period of time, homelessness among veterans has decreased more than 40 percent.

In the grant writing process, citing information from reliable, well-respected sources is critical. There are many government-funded reports here that can help define your position and strengthen your cause. The same goes for advocacy: championing homeless veterans' issues in a rapidly changing service provider community requires fresh data and up-to-date research findings.

Addressing and preventing veteran homelessness can largely be divided into three primary focus areas: Health Issues, Economic Issues and Access to Housing. Most homeless veterans face challenges in all three. Additional sections on this site are dedicated to the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (Department of Labor-Veterans' Employment and Training Service), the VA Grant and Per Diem Program, Veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF), Women Veterans and Re-entry from Incarceration. 

This library will be updated frequently, and we welcome submissions from all stakeholders in the campagin to end and prevent veteran homelessness. Send submissions to rbrown@nchv.org.

To view the NCHV Resource Library, click here.

Upcoming Philanthropy Journal Webinar Dissects the Grant Proposal

Philanthropy Journal is teaming up with Mark Goldstein – CEO of Communication Mark, a consulting firm that specializes in grant-writing, strategic planning and organizational development – to conduct a webinar on successful grant proposals. The webinar, which will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 8, will aim to teach the following:

• How to state your need for funding in a clear, fresh and compelling way
• Systematic methods that solidify and spotlight organizational strategies
• Key differences between strategies, goals, objectives, outcomes and tasks

Participants will be able to access the webinar either via phone or internet. Cost is $20 for Philanthropy Journal members and $30 for non-members.

For more information, click here.

HAC Holds Free Conference to Preserve Rural Rental Housing

The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is holding a conference on policy and practice regarding the preservation of rural rental housing. The conference will be held on Thursday, September 24, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. Members of Congress, leaders in Section 515 preservation legislation, expert congressional and USDA staff, and local practitioners will be on hand to help answer questions, including the following: 

• How are the administration and Congress changing the landscape for preservation of affordable rental housing in rural America?
• Will legislation be enacted in the 111^th Congress?
• What's in H.R. 2987?
• How are rural preservation deals being financed in 2009?
• What funding will be available in 2010?
• What do successful preservation projects look like?

There is no fee to attend the conference. Space, however, is limited, and advance reservations are required. For more information and to register, click here.

Funding Opportunities

Bank of America's national philanthropic strategy is neighborhood excellence. The company's local grant making activities can – and do – vary, depending on what your local community needs. Bank of America's local market presidents and their teams develop relationships with other community leaders to determine the best use of philanthropic dollars in each community. The majority of local grant making programs have no deadlines. Applications are reviewed throughout the year. To find if your organization is located in an eligible market, and for more information, click here.

The M. J. Murdock Trust's mission is to enrich the quality of life in the Pacific Northwest, specifically Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. The Trust makes grants in three general areas: education, arts and culture, and health and human services. Organizations that adopt preventative efforts to address physical, spiritual, social and psychological needs are given preference. A letter of inquiry, which can be submitted at any time, must be approved in order to pursue funding. For more information, click here.