National Coalition for Homeless Veterans

Board of Directors

Steve Benz - Chair
Arnold and Porter, Washington, D.C.
Steve Benz is an Air Force veteran, having served from 1985 to 1991. He is currently a Partner in the Law Firm of Arnold and Porter, in Washington D.C. Prior to that, he was an attorney at Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis for 18 years. Benz has served on the Board of the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation (HVAF) in Indianapolis for over 15 years, where he was the Board Chair for six years. HVAF houses over 200 formerly homeless veterans and administers grants and other programs to prevent hundreds of others from becoming homeless. He has been on the NCHV Board for five years. He is also a volunteer runner for Back on My Feet, an organization, that through running and mentorship, helps persons (many of whom are veterans) who have struggled with homelessness and other issues to get their lives back on track.

Pete Dougherty - Vice Chair
Jefferson County Government, Charles Town, WV
Pete Dougherty has been the Sheriff and Treasurer of Jefferson County, WV since 2013. In this role, he is responsible for law enforcement, tax collection, animal control, and courtroom and courthouse security for the county. He was previously the first National Director of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Homeless Programs, where he was an instrumental partner to NCHV, homeless veteran service providers across the country, and an advocate for the homeless veterans VA programs served. Prior to his career at VA, Dougherty served as a staff member to both the U.S. House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs. Dougherty is one of only three individuals to be a two-time recipient of the Jerald Washington Memorial Founders’ Award – the highest honor bestowed in the homeless veteran assistance community.

Cathrene "Cat" Nichols - Secretary
Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, Spokane, WA
Cathrene “Cat” Nichols, a U.S. Army veteran, currently serves as Strategic Operations Manager for Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, specializing in regional strategic and multijurisdictional partnerships. She serves as the Director of the Regional Veterans Service Center in Spokane, WA, and has been a member of the NCHV Board of Directors since 2018.

Mitchell Milner - Treasurer
Milner & Caringella, Inc., Highland Park, IL
Mitchell Milner, President, Milner & Caringella Inc., has developed over 3,500 housing units valued at over $450 million since 1985, serving the long term housing needs of low-income tenants including over 1,300 homeless veterans. Housing projects are located in Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, Indianapolis, Washington, D.C., Perry Point, MD, Canandaigua, NY; Battle Creek, MI; Marion, IN and other locations. Milner works as both a housing consultant in partnership with not-for-profit sponsors and as an owner/developer.

John Altenburg, Jr.
Greenberg Taurig, Washington, D.C.
John Altenburg, Jr. served for 28 years as a lawyer in the Army. From 1997 to 2001, he was the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Army. Altenburg retired at the rank of Major General. His service was marked by extensive experience in military justice, international law, and operations law. He was one of several key JAG Corps leaders who helped transform the practice of law in the Army by insisting that lawyers acquire soldier skills and immerse themselves in their clients’ business to become more effective advocates. Currently a principal with the Washington D.C. office of the international law firm Greenberg Traurig, Altenburg was a consultant on Ethics and Business Conduct to the President of the World Bank Group before joining Greenberg Traurig in November of 2002. His practice focuses on corporate governance, investigations, and contract litigation.

Tom Bowman
Retired, Deputy Secretary U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, St. Petersburg, FL

Brad Bridwell
Cloudbreak Communities, Phoenix. AZ
Brad Bridwell has over 21 years of experience working with homeless individuals. He has dedicated the past 17 years to specifically assisting homeless veterans to successfully reintegrate back into their communities. Bridwell is currently the Director of National Operations for Cloudbreak Communities, a special needs housing developer for homeless veterans that has developed over 3,000 units of housing for veterans. Previously, he was employed as Arizona’s first Homeless Veterans Services Coordinator at the Arizona Department of Veterans Services and was responsible for coalescing stakeholders to create, implement and evaluate the State’s effort to end homelessness among veterans. Bridwell served as a key leader in Project H3: Home, Health, Hope; a local implementation of the 100,000 Homes Campaign, uncovering critical innovations in “Housing First” models for people experiencing long-term homelessness and who are medically vulnerable, and has played a key leadership role in Project H3 VETS, Maricopa County’s initiative to end chronic homelessness among veterans. Bridwell holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor’s of Social Work from Arizona State University. In addition to the NCHV Board, he has also served as the Board Chair of the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness.

Debbie Burkart
National Equity Fund, Los Angeles, CA

Matthew Leslie
Virginia Department of Veterans Affairs, Richmond, VA
Matt Leslie is the Assistant Director of the Virginia Veteran and Family Support program for the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS). In this role, Leslie provides leadership and policy support to improve access for veterans in need of behavioral health, rehabilitative, and supportive services throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is responsible for statewide coordination in addressing housing instability for veterans. He assists communities to collaboratively develop and enhance systems for increasing access for veterans through partnerships with local, state, and federal entities, including coordinating with six Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Leslie chairs the Governor’s Coordinating Council on Homelessness Veterans Committee and was the lead when Virginia was the first state to effectively end veteran homelessness. Before joining VDVS, Leslie worked at the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) as both a Homeless and Special Needs Program Administrator and a Housing Policy Analyst. He has his Bachelor’s in Geography from James Madison University and a Masters of Social Work (Administration, Policy, and Planning) from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA.

Tori Lyon
The Jericho Project, New York, NY
Tori Lyon, joined the Jericho Project in 1996 as the Director of Development. In 1999, she was promoted to Associate Executive Director, in 2005 became Executive Director, and in 2016 CEO. Lyon’s experience includes over 20 years in the supportive housing industry, primarily responsible for strategic planning, fundraising, housing and program development, and executive management. Prior to joining the Jericho Project, Lyon was the Grants Manager at Bailey House, a supportive housing program for people living with HIV/AIDS. At Jericho, Lyon has overseen the development of more than 350 units of supportive housing, launched a nationally-recognized Veterans Initiative, and led the strategic growth of the agency, more than quadrupling the number of people served since 2010. She holds a B.S. degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Carlos Martinez
American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program, Inc.
San Antonia, TX
Since 1972, Carlos Martinez has guided the American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program organization into being one of the country’s most unique nonprofit groups – providing affordable housing, economic development, employment, support services, Veterans Residential Center, and disabled veterans Work Center. He has served on the VA’s Advisory Committees on Homeless Veterans, on Veterans Readjustment, on Women Veterans, on DOL’s Veterans Employment Committee, and on Texas’ Advisory Committee on state-owned Veterans’ Homes. He currently serves on President George W. Bush Institute’s Military Service Initiative Advisory Council. Martinez is a Vietnam Era veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and holds Management and MBA degrees.

Wendy McClinton
Black Veterans for Social Justice, Brooklyn, NY
Wendy Charece McClinton is a native daughter of New York City, which is where she was reared and received her formal education. She is a decorated 10-year U.S. Army veteran who served during the Desert Storm Persian Gulf Era. As an administrator, her leadership and management skills gave way to her prolific role as President/CEO of Black Veterans for Social Justice, Inc., a community based organization that has served ALL veterans, their families, and the community in New York City for the past 39 years.

Robert Norris
FORA, Inglewood, CA
Robert Norris joined the Marine Corps in 1966, going through boot camp at Camp Pendleton followed by training in electronics and communications at the Marine Corps Communications-Electronics Center in San Diego. He also underwent NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) warfare training at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station and later studied Indonesian language at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. In Vietnam he served as Communications Center Man, stationed respectively at Danang, Quang Tri and Dong Hoa. Norris’ awards for valor include the Navy Achievement-Combat V medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Combat Action Ribbon (CAR), and the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Cross of Gallantry. After discharge, he attended UC Santa Barbara, graduating with a Political Science/ Black Studies degree in 1974 and later completed his MBA at the University of Phoenix in 2004. Norris continued his career of service with roles including Director of University of San Francisco’s Upward Bound Program, an appointee to the CA Department of Housing and Community Development, and Deputy Director for Housing at the San Diego Housing Commission. Norris served on the Board and as Executive Vice President for Century Housing Corporation from 2001 to 2010, and is most proud of serving on the board of NCHV. President Barack Obama presented him with the Community Drum Major Award In 2012.

Vincent Perrone
Veterans Inc., Worcester, MA
More than two decades ago, Vincent Perrone became involved in a grassroots effort to build the largest supportive services agency for veterans and their families in New England and was subsequently named Chairman, President & CEO of Veterans Inc. A 501(c)3, CARF accredited nonprofit headquartered in Massachusetts, Veterans Inc. has helped more than 75,000 veterans and their families in need and today operates a national referral service and offices and programs in all six New England states. Born in Worcester, MA, Perrone is a graduate of Norwich University, the oldest private military college in the nation and the birthplace of ROTC, where he was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force. He served in the military for 20 years, retiring as a Lt Colonel. He has a Master of Science Degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University and holds Level III certification from the Department of Defense in Program Management and Acquisition Logistics disciplines. Following his retirement from the Air Force and before taking his current position at Veterans Inc., Perrone was Director of Global Government Marketing for EMC Corporation, a Fortune 500 company. Perrone and his wife, Debra, have four children, Francesca, Vincent III, Samuel, and Ricky.

Patrick E. Ryan
Pat Ryan Consulting LLC., Silver Spring, MD
Patrick E. Ryan has a unique blend of experience in the Executive and Legislative branch and for the last 14 years as a trusted consultant on a wide array of issues affecting the delivery of services to veterans. Prior to becoming a consultant, he served for 21 years as the counsel to the Chair and Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Veterans Affairs, including serving as the Committee Staff Director and Chief Counsel from 2001 to 2004. Before going to work on Capitol Hill, Ryan worked at VA as a staff attorney in the Office of General Counsel, as a budget analyst in the Office of Management, and as a benefits counselor for the Veterans Benefits Administration's Washington Regional Office. He has a broad knowledge of VA laws and the budget process, and has worked extensively with stakeholders to gain acceptance of a number of important changes to the laws and processes governing the delivery of benefits and services to our nation's veterans. Ryan earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, and his undergraduate degree in government and politics was awarded by the University of Maryland.

Andre Simpson
Veterans Village of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Andre Simpson served 10 years in the U.S. Air Force where he deployed to Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War. Simpson currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Veterans Village of San Diego and has been associated with VVSD since 1996 when he was hired in the capacity of Counselor and Employment Case Manager. He has developed many new and exciting initiatives for VVSD, including the development of the monthly Homeless Court Program, a Medication Assisted Treatment protocol in partnership with the local VAMC, and a Non-Custodial Parent Program in collaboration with San Diego County Department of Child Support Services. He serves on the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Board of Directors in addition to serving on the Regional Task Force on the Homeless Governance Board. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services, and Master of Science in Organizational Leadership.

Janet Stringfellow
Volunteers of America - Florida, St. Petersburg, FL
Janet M. Stringfellow received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Communication from the University of Puerto Rico in 1992 and a Master of Rehabilitation Counseling in 1996. She is one of the two authors of the thesis “Knowledge that the law students of the University of Puerto Rico demonstrate about the Americans with Disabilities Act and their attitudes toward individuals with disabilities.” Also, in 1997, she received her license as a rehabilitation counselor. In 2002, she was recognized as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) in the United States. In 2008, she completed the Volunteers of America of Florida executive development track, and the Volunteers of America’s Executive Development Program in 2011. In June of 2012, she became an ordained minister for Volunteers of America. Stringfellow is currently serving as a board member for Leading Age Florida as a Leading Age Education Comittee Board Chair, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, and Volunteers of America Inc. Church Governing and National Board. Stringfellow has served with Volunteers of America of Florida since 1998, and is extremely honored to build on VOA’s 122 years of service, and she proudly upholds the distinction of being the first Hispanic President/CEO of a Volunteers of America affiliate.

Staff

Kathryn Monet
Chief Executive Officer
kmonet@nchv.org

Kathryn Monet is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. In this role, she focuses on the execution of NCHV’s strategic policy and technical assistance agenda, and on expanding NCHV’s strategic partnerships to more effectively end veteran homelessness. Kathryn has spent over eight years in the public and nonprofit sector working to address housing instability and homelessness among veterans. Prior to joining NCHV, she was with the National Alliance to End Homelessness focusing on the promotion of data-driven, evidence-based interventions to end homelessness, particularly among veterans. Kathryn also was involved in veteran homelessness in a legislative capacity during her time at the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.She earned a Masters of Public Administration from
Villanova University and a Bachelor of Science in Diplomacy and
International Relations from Seton Hall University.

Cindy Borden
Director of Training and Technical Assistance
cborden@nchv.org

Cindy Sturtevant Borden is the Director of Training and Technical Assistance for the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV). In this role, she leads NCHV’s Technical Assistance Center with a focus on the DOL-VETS Homeless Veteran’s Reintegration Program (HVRP). Borden provides intensive coaching in program design and implementation to grantee service providers and works closely with federal staff. She oversees the development of TA Center products including webinars, research briefs and best practice guides. Prior to joining NCHV, Borden provided training and technical assistance to a variety of community service organizations. Her work included product development, management coaching and capacity building. Borden earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish Language and Literature both from the University of
Maryland, College Park.

Katherine Klassa
Program Assistant
kklassa@nchv.org

Katherine Klassa is the Program Assistant for the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. In this role, she assists in the development of TA Center products, including research briefs and best practice guides. Prior to joining NCHV, Klassa provided communications assistance for several community service organizations, where she assisted in efforts to boost the organizations’ community visibility through social media and online communications. Klassa earned a B.A. in International Studies from North Carolina State University.

Karen Christian
Operations Manager
kchristian@nchv.org

Karen Christian is currently the Operations Manager for the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) A highly experienced administration, operations, and office management professional, she has worked to streamline labor-intensive processes and operations and improve the quality of financial reporting & membership and donor recruitment and stewardship at NCHV. An Army veteran who has experienced homelessness, Karen’s passion for helping others has translated into work spearheading the responses to NCHV’s toll-free referral line for veterans experiencing and at-risk of homelessness. In this role, she has referred dozens of veterans to organizations for assistance with finding shelter, permanent housing, employment, and other resources to address the issues contributing to their housing stability. Karen has turned her experiences into positive change for others by utilizing them to dispel stereotypes and inform policy proposals NCHV puts forth to Congress and the Administration. Majoring in Business Administration at Morgan State University, she plans on completing her degree next year. She enjoys making a meaningful contribution to NCHV and the veterans we serve.

David O. O. Higgins Jr.
Communications Associate
dhiggins@nchv.org

Past Conferences

2018 NCHV Annual Conference | May 30 - June 1, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Washington, D.C.

Download the 2018 Conference program, including full schedule, session descriptions, and presenters.

2018 NCHV Annual Conference Sessions

On the Cutting Edge: Innovations in Practice

A1 Improving Care and Access to Treatment for Veterans Through an Innovative Clinical Partnership (Lena Asmar, MSW, LICSW)
A2 Using VASH for Ineligible Veterans: Lessons Learned from a Pilot Program (Jason Loughran)
A3 Harnessing the Power of Peers (Ellen Bruder-Moore Abramowitz)
A4 Creative Solutions for Staff Retention (Anyah Hoang, Adam Wawrynek, and Adriana Rodriguez, LCSW)
A5 Active Shooter: Threat Awareness and Planning (Luis A. Ramirez)
A6 Improving Resiliency and Hope with HUD-VASH Veterans (Tanya Tabon, LCSW)
A7 Progressive Engagement and Stages of Change (Chelsea Maillet)
A8 Empowering Homeless Veterans (Dr. Alonzo Peterson, Arlene Hackbarth)
A9 Incubator: Grow the Organization, Not the Budget (Maria Mola)

Stability and Security: Housing One

B1 Effective Emergency Shelter (Kristi Schulenberg)
B2 Diversion and Rapid Exit (John Kuhn, Doug Tetrault, Luke Drotar, Joyce MacAlpline)
B3 Transitional Housing (Janis Ikeda)
B4 Progressive Landlord Engagement: A Multi-Phased Strategy to Accelerating Housing Placements (Elisha Harig-Blaine)
B5 Transitioning Homeless Veterans Into Permanent Housing ( Glory Udoh, M.Ed.)
B6 By-Name List: A Powerful Tool for Communities (Garen Nigon, K.O. Campbell)
B7 A Holistic Approach to Addressing Housing Barriers (Sara Sommarstrom, Nina Davis, Amanda Johnson, Nili Soni)
B8 GPD models (Jeff Quarrels, Amanda Barry)
B9 Incubator: Making Master Leasing Work for Veterans and Programs (Nathaniel Saltz)

Efficient and Effective: Systems Coordination

C1 Community Planning: Leadership and Impact (TAC) (Panel) (Jim Yates, Joyce MacAlpline, Christine Pietryga, Dr. Nonie Brennan, Rob Hamilton, Kimberly Schmitt)
C2 Federal Benchmarks and Criteria (Beverly Ebersold, Anthony Love)
C3 State Dept of Veterans Affairs: Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships (Cathrene Nichols, Shane Groen)
C4 Working With the CoC (Brendan Haley, Norm Suchar, Carole Benedict)
C5 VA's Path Forward: Open Q and A Session (John Kuhn, Jesse Vazzano, Jeff Quarles, Anthony Love)
C6 Achieving and Maintaining Functional Zero (Henry Busby)
C7 VAMC Integration in Coordinated Entry: System Approaches and Strategy (Phil Allen, Adrienne Nash Melendez, Kimberly Schmitt, Shannon Parker, Melissa Russell)
C8 HUD-VASH 101 (Jesse Vazzano)
C9 Incubator: Leveraging Federal Initiatives at Local/State Level (Ben Wilson, MPA, Mark Walker)

Informed and Aware: Working with Special Populations

D1 Serving LGBTQ Veterans (Deb Burkhart, Heidi Marston, Kiera Pollock, Jean-Michel Giraud)
D2 Aging Veterans: The Intersection of Homelessness, Mental Health Need and Physical Frailty (Michael Blecker)
D3 Serving Veterans with Disabilities and ADA Compliance (Heather Ansley, Esq., MSW)
D4 Legal Services at Stand Downs: Administrative, Civil, and Criminal (Sara Sommarstrom, Steve Binder)
D5 Combat to Community®: Cultural Competency for Veteran Providers (Shannon Kissinger)
D6 Meeting the Housing and Employment Needs of Chronically Homeless Veterans (John Rio, Sean Terry, John Briggs)
D7 Discharge Status Upgrades: Identifying Opportunities, Resources, and Assistance (Coco Culhane, Erin McBurney)
D8 Incubator: Serving Rural Homeless Veterans (HAC)
D9 Incubator on Criminal Backgrounds and Sex Offenders (Sara Sommarstrom, John Robertson, Jean-Michel Giraud)

Providing Purpose: Employment and Income

E1 Integrating Housing and Employment: SSVF and HVRP (Ian Lisman, Tammy Bellofatto, Becca Bettis)
E2 DOL Listening Session (Ken Fenner, Maria Temiquel)
E3 Making Employment a Reality for Homeless Veterans (Anne Greenlee, Bridget Komine, Jackie Nguyen, Erin Rutherford)
E4 Leveraging Partnerships to Maximize Employment (John Briggs, Toscha Wilkins)
E5 Utilizing SOAR to Advance Minnesota’s Mission to Prevent and End Veteran Homelessness (Ben Wilson, MPA)
E6 Safely Connecting Homeless Veterans to Technology (Dee Albritton)
E7 Federal Grant Management (Wendy Harrison)
E8 Financial Management (Ray Pennie)
E9 Connecting Homeless Veterans to Income and Other Benefits (Jen Elder, Alex Ashbrook)

Data and Trends: Latest Research

F1 Homelessness and Suicide (Dennis Culhane, Jack Tsai, Grant Metcalf, Woodburne Levy)
F2 Pathways Into Homelessness Among Post-9/11 Era Veterans: Continuing the Conversation (Part 2) (Steve Metraux, Nikkole Weiss)
F3 Homelessness Among Rural Veterans (Part 2) (Steve Metraux, Ann Elizabeth Montgomery)
F4 Housing Permanency (Part 2) (Dennis Culhane, Ann Elizabeth Montgomery)
F5 Connecting Research and Practice: Listening Session (Roger Casey, Nora Hunt-Johnson, researchers)

I1 Advocacy 101 (Joshua Stewart, Elisha Harig-Blaine, Burt McChesney, Steve Peck)
I2 Housing Development (Deb Burkhart, Jesse K. Vazzano, Paul C. Macpherson, David Cleghorn, Elizabeth Lunde, Brad Bridwell)
I3 Employment and Rapid Re-housing (Cindy Borden, Doug Tetrault, Phil Allen)
I4 DV and IPV: A Veteran Perspective (Ann Elizabeth Montgomery, C. Brian Clubb, Julia Caplan)
I5 Fundraising Success According to Funders (Tamera Toogood, Hala Farid, Amanda Andere, Tom Ralser)
I6 Issues and Trends: Race and Veteran Homelessness (Amanda Andere, Mike Neely, Muriel Frazier, Chandra Crawford, Harold Raymond, Carmen Wilson II, Ron E. Armstead, Mark Walker, Ralph Cooper)
I7 HVRP Only Session: Employment Retention as a Remedy to Stubborn Veteran Homelessness (Bret Anderson)

2017 NCHV Annual Conference | Yes, In My Back Yard: Putting Veterans First

Download the 2017 NCHV Annual Conference program, featuring the full Conference schedule, session tracks and descriptions, presenters, and all related information for this year's event.

Dive Into Research: Hot Topics

• A1 Predicting Evictions from HUD-VASH (Dennis Culhane, PhD).
• A2 Connections between Healthcare and Expedited Housing Placement.
• A3 Interventions that Impact Hospital Use.
• A4 Shelter Status and Mortality (Dennis Culhane, PhD).
• A5 The Mission Model: Integrating Peer Support and Case Management.
• A6 Opioid Use and Homelessness.
• A7 Food Insecurity.
• A8 New Findings from Ongoing Research: VA Homelessness Screening Clinical Reminder.
• A9 Legal Needs of Homeless Veterans: The Role of Medico-legal Clinics

Creative Solutions: Community Spotslights

• B1 Washington State: Leveraging Public and Private Partnerships in Rural Areas (Part 2) (Cat Nichols).
• B2 Detroit: Women Veterans in Transitional Housing Programs (Mena Poole).
• B3 San Francisco: Using Roommate Matching to House Chronically Homeless Veterans (Tramecia Garner).
• B4 New Mexico: Transitional Housing and Jail Diversion (Elinor Reiners).
• B5 Houston: Life Skills and the Path to Permanent Housing (Glory Udoh, M. Ed.).
• B6 Madison, TN: Creating Permanent Supportive Housing (Deborah A Hillin).
• B7 Virginia: Developing a Communitywide Coordinated System (Matt Leslie, MSW).
• B8 New York City: Rapid Re-Housing (Jahmila Vincent).
• B9 Decatur, IL: Assessing the Effectiveness of Day Centers (Dr. Diane Pleasant, PshD, LCPC, CADC).
• B10 Wisconsin: Integrated Behavioral Health Treatment (Lori Kirchgatter).
• B11 Western New York: Stand Down Success through VA/Community Partnerships (Sean Lindstrom).
• B12 New York City: Coordinating Aftercare Resources (Adam Wawrynek).
• B13 Minnesota: Speeding Up Rapid Re-Housing Placements through Community Partnerships (Nathaniel Saltz).
• B14 Niagara, NY: Creating Housing Solutions in Small Communities (Jennifer D’Andrea-Terreri).
• B15 Philadelphia: Lessons Learned from “Ending” Veteran Homelessness (Toneh Williams, M.H.S., and Steven Culbertson).
• B16 Los Angeles: SSVF and the Entry Point (Craig Joyce).

Efficient and Effective: Coordinating Programs

• C1 VA’s Roadmap (Keith Harris, John Kuhn, Jeff Quarles)
• C2 SSVF and GPD Coordination (John Kuhn)
• C3 SSVF and HUD – VASH Coordination (John Kuhn).
• C4 Effective GPD Models (Jeff Quarles).
• C5 Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) (Eileen Devine).
• C6 Low Demand Model Development Initiatives in VA Homeless Programs (M. Scot Young, PhD).

Return to Work and Income Growth

• D1 Employment Services and Rapid Re-Housing: Eligibility Coordination (Maria Temiquel).
• D2 Assessing VA Benefits through local VSO Partners (Mark Walker, LeRoy Acosta).
• D3 Tickets to Work for America’s Veterans (Mike Greenburg).
• D4 Veteran – Centered Employment Programs (Henry McAllister, Demarcus Rogers, John Briggs).
• D5 Creating a Geographically Focused Employment Strategy (Dee Albritton).
• D6 Integrating SOAR with VA programs: Success from the Field (Jen Elder).
• D7 Integrated Financial Service Delivery (Michael Palumbo, Ray Pennie).
• D8 IPS Supported Employment and Homelessness (Stacey Teegardin).

Breaking Through Legal Barriers to Housing Stability

• E1 How to Find Legal Assistance and Build Effective Partnerships (Sara Sommarstrom).
• E2 Removing Criminal History Barriers for Homeless and At-Risk Veterans: The Success of State Level Criminal Justice Reform (Holly Harris, Brock Hunter, Sarah Catherine Walker).
• E3 Bankruptcy, Bad Credit, and Consumer Debt Defense (Tony Camilli, Renato Izquieta).
• E4 Legal Services and Stand Down: Courts and Civil Legal Assistance (Steve Binder, Sara Sommarstrom).
• E5 Child Support (James Murray, Sara Sommarstrom).
• E6 Embedding Lawyers in Veteran Service Provider Organizations (Lara Eihardt, Rose Carmen Goldberg, James Heaton, Keith Hoffman).

Health and Wellness: The Whole Veteran

• F1 Trends in Veteran Suicide: Causation and Prevention (Robert Stohr, Paul Freese, Paula Clamurro, Dr. Kathleen West).
• F2 Harnessing the Power of Peers (Natalie Siva, Matthew Havniear).
• F3 Creative Treatment Models (Carl P. McKnight, PsyD, Lena Asmar, Carston Warner).
• F4 Serving Minority Veterans (Ron E. Armstead).
• F5 Women Veterans: Ongoing Barriers and Challenges Faces Post-Military (LaShondra Jones).
• F6 Seven Dirty Words You Can Never Say in Person Centered Practice (Ben Cattell Noll).
• F7 Treating Post Traumatic Stress with Yoga & Meditation (Ian Chon).
• F8 HIV and Hep C Testing and Treatment (Lorenzo Mcfarland, Dr. Reggie Dunbar II)

Get Results: Using Data in Community Planning

• G1 Rapid Re-Housing Standards (Samantha Batko).
• G2 Funding Veteran Housing and Programming through Collaboration (Chapman Todd, C. Andrew McCawley, Robert Stohr).
• G3 Federal Veteran Housing and Programming through Collaboration (Bev Ebersold, Emily Gargiulo).
• G4 Federal Benchmarks: Insight into the Review Process (Bev Ebersold, Emily Garguilo, Anthony Love).
• G5 Building a Quality By-Name List (KO Campbell).
• G6 The Mayor’s Challenge to End Homelessness 2.0 (Elisha Harig-Blaine).
• G7 Community-wide System Assessment and Improvement (Doug Tetrault).
• G8 Accreditation: Is it Right for Your Program? (Shannon Green, Pete Hathaway).

2016 NCHV Annual Conference

Download the 2016 NCHV Annual Conference program | Amendments to the program

The 2016 NCHV Annual Conference took place June 1-3 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C.

2016's Conference was an important turning point as we took the momentum and energy of the Five-Year Plan and leveraged it into a new era for homeless veteran services, where functional zero was the minimum accepted level of services available that will be reached by communities, cities, and states across the country.

The 2016 speaker list and available presentations materials can be found below.

Track A - Research and Trends

A1 – Five Year Projections of Emerging Homeless Veteran Populations
A2 – Super Utilizers of Acute Heathcare Services and Breaking the Cycle (Tom O'Toole)
A3 – Effective Eviction Prevention Interventions for HUD-VASH
A4 – Connecting Data Points: HMIS and Veteran Status
A5 – Sub – Population Deeper Dive: Aging Projections
A6 – Sub-population Deeper Dive: Female Veterans
A7 – Sub-population Deeper Dive: Post 9/11 Cohort
A8 – Social Determinants of Health (Tom O'Toole)
A9 – Increased Mortality/Death Rates
A10 – Return on Investment (Tom O'Toole)
A11 – Screening for Homelessness (Ann Elizabeth Montgomery)
A12 – Migration Patterns (Stephen Metraux, Tom O'Toole, Dan Treglia)

Track B - Community Profiles

B2 – Daytona/Volusia & Flagler Counties; Community Capacity Building and Continuous Quality Improvement or Intensive Case Management (Toni Deobil)
B3 – Washington, DC: Integrating GPD Into Your Coordinated Entry System ( Ben Cattell Noll and David Tweedie)
B4 - Virginia: By-Name List as a Tool to End Veteran Homelessness ( Matt Leslie and Thomas Bednar)
B5 – Minnesota: Building Community Buy In (Eric Grumdahl, Cassie Streeter, and Nathaniel Saltz)
B6 - Boston: Ending Chronic Homelessness in Greater Boston through Local Coordination (Sean Terry and Brittany Golden)
B7 - Ohio: Creating Tracks and Other Innovations in GPD ( Michael Salois and Brad Hutchinson)
B8 – Phoenix Housing Navigators (Shane Groen)
B9 – Erie HMIS and Data Integration (Michael Tomilson)
B10 - Las Vegas: Using Stand Down as an Outreach and Engagement Tool ( Shalimar Cabrera)
B11 - Philadelphia: Maintaining a Functional Zero System (Steve Culbertson and Roberta Cancellier)
B12 - Montgomery County: Reaching both definitions of zero (Amy Horton-Newell, Uma Ahluwalia, and Kevin Morton
B13 – Austin Landlord Engagement (Bree Williams, Megan Podowski, and Greg McCormack)

Track C - Connecting the Dots: Interventions through Coordination

C1 - A Deeper Dive: Digging into the Future of VA Homeless Programs
C2 – The Bridge out of Homelessness: Changes to the GPD Program
C3 – Rapid Re-Housing: Co-Enrollment and Coordination between GPD and SSVF
C4 – Understanding Prevention: Lessons Learned from SSVF
C5 – Connecting Locally to Build Safety Nets (Jessica Cruz and Randy Hade)
C6 – Built to Last: 4 Keys to Building a System to (Continually) End Veterans Homelessness (Tom Albanese)
C7 – Thinking Outside of the Box: Connecting to Local Veteran Serving and Homeless Groups
C8 - Serving Minority Veterans (Ralph Cooper)

Track D - Income Maximization: Promoting Housing Stability

D1 – Co-Enrollment at an American Job Center: Working Toward Employment Together (Maria Temiquel, Kris Evans, Ken Fenner, Cindy Borden, and John Rio)
D2 – Creative Employment Service Providers and Programs
D3 – IPS Supported Employment
D4 – Modernizing Homeless: Techno-Socially Connected Homeless Veterans
D5 - Benefits Assistance: Partnering with local VSOs
D6 - Creating Better Job-Driven Employment Programs (Dave Lopez and Jim Beamesderfer)
D7 - Using SOAR to Expedite Benefits Processing
D8 - Benefits to Hiring Veterans: Strategies and Resources for a Successful Transition
D9 - Money Management and Budgeting Tools

Track E - Legal Barriers to Housing Stability

E1 - Engaging Attorneys, Deveoloping Programs to Utilize Local Legal Resources
E2 - Innovations for Justice Involved Veterans: Diversion, Early Release, and Reentry
E3 - Innovative Partnerships to Embed Lawyers: Identifying and Addressing Legal Needs (Samuel Strike)
E4 - Family Law and Child Support: Preparing Your Clients for Court
E5 - Credit Reports and Consumer Debt Defense

Track F - Data Integrity and Getting to Goal

F1 - Lessons from the Federal Criteria and Benchmarks Review Process (Tom Albanese, Anthony Love, Joe Savage, Emily Gargiulo, Beverley Ebersold)
F2 - Tools from the Federal Benchmarks
F3 - Lessons Learned from Zero: 2016 Communities (Linda Kaufman, Aras Jizan, K.O. Campbell)
F4 - Making Data Systems Talk
F5 - Trauma Informed Care
F6 - VOA Study: Assessing Improvements in the Quality of Life of SSVF Clients

Track G - Access to Housing Stability

G1 - One Stop Shop, No Wrong Door (Milo Peinemann, Kirk Johnson, Alison Korte, Emily Andrade, Jamie Cannon)
G2 - Repurposing Federal Land to House Homeless Veterans
G3 - Housing Development and Access in Rural Areas (Joe Belden)
G4 - The Benefits of Long-Term Case Management (Matthew Slater)
G4 - Services for Disengaged Veterans in New York City (Daniel Farrell, Bobby Bell)
G5 - Bridge Housing in GPD, A Provider Perspective
G6 - Improving Landlord Engagement, Engaging PHAs, and Developing Housing Plans (Jonathan Chi)
G6 - How to Better Partner with Landlords and PHAs (Dr. Alonzo Peterson)
G7 - Building Permanent Supportive Housing for Homeless Veterans (Mitch Milner, Joe Caringella)
G7 - Financing Veterans Permanent Supportive Housing (Deb Burkhart)
G7 - Veteran Housing: Structuring for Success (Brad Bridwell)
G8 - Implementing the National Housing Trust Fund

The 2016 Annual NCHV Awards

Every year, NCHV awards individuals and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding service to homeless veterans. This year’s awardees have demonstrated an outstanding commitment helping America’s heroes.

Jerald Washington Memorial Founders' Award - Matthew Doherty, Executive Director, USICH
The Jerald Washington Memorial Founders’ Award is the highest honor bestowed in the homeless veteran assistance community. The award honors the memory of Jerald Washington, former organizer of veteran assistance programs in Florida and Tennessee, and a co-founder of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. The award is presented to an individual who embodies the spirit of service and sacrifice displayed by Washington throughout his career, and acknowledges that person’s special place in the history of the homeless veteran assistance movement.

Thomas Wynn Sr. Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement - Senator Patty Murray, U.S. Senate
The Thomas Wynn Sr. Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement To a person whose career reflects a strong devotion to bringing attention and services to homeless veterans.

Outstanding Member Award - American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program Inc.
The outstanding Member Award to the NCHV member that has demonstrated leadership in coalition building.

Meritorious Service Award - Gwen Muse-Evans, NCHV Board of Directors; Bob Simpson, Easter Seals; John Briggs, Ohio Valley Goodwill; Bill Darnell, Ohio Valley Goodwill
The Meritorious Service Award To persons who exemplifies service to NCHV, its members, and homeless veterans in general.

Unsung Hero Award - Nathaniel Saltz, MACV; Travis Pearson, Family Endeavors; Megan Owens Fraught, Swords to Plowshares; Jennifer D'Andrea, S.E.R.V. Niagara
The Unsung Hero Award To a person who has contributed to the recognition of the homeless veteran issue in a supporting or unrecognized leadership role.

Federal Agency Staff Award -Teresa Gerton, U.S. Department of Labor
Federal Agency Staff Award to a Federal Agency staff member who has exhibited a strong commitment to the service of homeless veterans.

Outstanding Corporate Partner Award - The Home Depot Foundation, Citi Community Development, Harbor Freight Tools, Others First
The Outstanding Corporate Partner Award to one or more corporations whose contributions have helped increase the effectiveness of the homeless veterans movement.

Public Policy Award - Michael Michaud, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training Service
The Public Policy Award to a public policy partner who has displayed a strong commitment to advancing legislation that serves homeless veterans.

AnchorPublic Policy Award - Sen. Mazie Hirono, U.S. Senator for the State of Hawaii
The Public Policy Award to a public policy partner who has displayed a strong commitment to advancing legislation that serves homeless veterans.

2015 NCHV Annual Conference

Download the 2015 NCHV Annual Conference program here!

25 Years: Thank You for Your Service – This was our message to you, and the theme for the 2015 NCHV Annual Conference, which was held May 27-29, 2015, at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. Last year was NCHV’s 25th anniversary and we still thank you, the NCHV members and partner agencies, for your work over the last 25 years.

Last year was significant for all of us, and the Annual Conference was an opportunity to connect to the expertise of past experience and the planning for the future. As the sun set on the Five-Year Plan to End Veteran Homelessness, we built upon a quarter century of knowledge that propelled us into a new realm. At last year’s Conference, we focused on how our past set a foundation for the future of services for veterans experiencing and at-risk of homelessness. We shared successes and planned for the future.

Sharing Success: The Conference focused on the momentum found in local communities that is ending veteran homelessness. We shared our energy and experiences in driving down veteran homelessness in every community. We learned from experts across the service continuum who made it happen.

Planning for the Future: We built a plan beyond 2015 to ensure that no veteran sleeps on our nation’s streets. This new sphere of services is defined by prevention, rapid rehousing, increased efficiency, and creative adaptation to meet the emerging needs of homeless veterans in our communities. Join us at the 2016 Conference to continue the progress.

The 2015 Conference speaker list and available presentation materials can be found below:

Track A – Supporting Stability: Income and Employment

A1 – Expediting SOAR

Dazara Ware (SAMSHA SOAR TA Center)
Jen Elder (SAMSHA SOAR TA Center)
Mary Clark (United Way of Greater Atlanta)

A2 –Ticket to Work

Melissa Stipa (Ticket to Work)
David Jones (Ticket to Work)
Amy Wallish (Full Circle Employment Solutions)

A3 – Keeping the Connection: Serving Aging and Young Veterans

Carol A. Salter (Easter Seals, Inc.)
Brenna Bernardin (Fast Forward)
Dee Albritton (Fast Forward)

A4 – The Role of HVRP in Ending Homelessness

A5 – VA Employment Tools and Programs

Rosye Cloud (Veterans Benefits Administration)

A6 – HVRP Only: Retention Bootcamps

Bret Anderson (H2 Communications)

A7 – Money Management and Employment Tools

Ray Pennie (ClearPoint Credit Couseling Services)

Track B – Improving Health Care Outcomes

B1 – State of Care for Homeless Veterans with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C

Dr. Lorenzo McFarland (VHA)
Dr. David Ross (VA)

B2 – Traumatic Brain Injury: Addressing Co-Occurring Challenges

B3 – Trauma-Informed Care

Kathleen Guarino (The National Center on Family Homelessness)
Karen Guthrie (National Center on PTSD, VA)

B4 – Emerging Clinical Needs: The National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans

Dennis Culhane (National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans)

B5 – Deploying Creative Community Interventions

Shalimar T. Cabrera (U.S.VETS Las Vegas)
Daniel Farrell (HELP USA)
Carlos Gonzalez (PATH)
Jonathan Castillo (PATH)

B6 – Serving Minority Veterans

Ralph Cooper (Cloudbreak Houston)
Ron E. Armstead (Congressional Black Caucus Veterans Braintrust)

Track C – Transforming Systems

C1 – Working within Levels of Government

Stacy Studebaker (VA Palo Alto Health Care System)
Jennifer Knapp (VA Palo Alto Health Care System)
Allison Ulrich (VA Palo Alto Health Care System)
Eric I. Grumdahl (MN Dept. of Veterans' Affairs)
Kathleen Schwartz (MN Dept. of Veterans' Affairs)
Jonelle Glubke (Homeless Programs and VA Community Resource Refferal Center)
Patricia Wolschon (John D. Dingell VA Hosptial)
Lynn Hendges (Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency)

C2 – Case Studies of Internal Change

Kate Severin (VA Palo Alto Health Care System)
Mona Bazzi (VA Palo Alto Health Care System)
Shannon Healer (VA Palo Alto Health Care System)
William Dubose (Veteras Resource Center of America)
Bridget Kennedy (Middlesex County Office of Human Services)

C3 – Using a Peer-Driven Model to Deliver Integrated Care

Jim Zenner (VOALA)
Caroline Meehan (VOA)
Brad Bridwell (Cloudbreak Communities)
Shane Groen (AZ Coalition to End Homelessness)
Bill Boyer (Community Bridges)
John Sherin (VOA)

C4 – The Mayor’s Challenge

C5 – Creating Local Partnerships to Fill the Gaps

John Briggs (Ohio Valley Goodwill)
Linda Twomey (VA Nebraska - Western Iowa Health Care System)
LeaAnne Peterson

C6 – Making a Change in Rural Areas

Rachael Dietkus Miller (VA Illiana)
David A. Pennington (Longview Housing Authority)
Joe Belden (Housing Assistance Counsel)
Elizabeth Morgan (Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center)
Jeff Willgale (Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center)
Lillie Prince (Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center)

C7 – Integrating SSVF and GPD

John Kuhn (VA)
Jeff Quarles (VA)

C8 – Zero: 2016

Jessica Venegas (Community Solutions)
Adam Gibbs (Community Solutions)

Track D – Rethinking Data, Improving Targeting

D1 – U.S. Census Bureau Statistic for Veterans Use

Nesreen Khashan (U.S. Census Bureau)

D2 – Centralized Planning and Coordinated Assessment

D3 – Using Gaps Analysis and CHALENG

D4 – Intersecting Grants and Data: Federal Grant User Form

Nathaniel Saltz (Minnesota Assistant Counsel for Veterans)
Kathleen Vitalis (Minnesota Assistant Counsel for Veterans)
Bryan Dysert (HVAF of Indiana, Inc.

D5 – Making Systems Talk: HMIS and Data Tracking

Track E – Building the Housing Continuum

E1 – Set Foundations: National Housing Trust

Jim Yates (Technical Assistance Collaborative)

E2 – Creating New Permanent Supportive Housing

C. Andrew McCawley (New England Center for Homeless Veterans)
Kevin Ward (New England Center for Homeless Veterans)
Rose White (New England Center for Homeless Veterans)

E3 – Transforming Transitional Housing

Tramecia Garner (Swords to Plowshares)
Darryl Vincent (U.S. Vets)
Kim Cook (U.S. Vets)
Kristine DiNardo (New England Center for Homeless Veterans)
Marta Budu-Arthur (New England Center for Homeless Veterans)
Bernard Coleman (New England Center for Homeless Veterans)
Kevin Ward (New England Center for Homeless Veterans)

E4 – Housing First

Tanya Tabon (VA Palo Alto Health Care System)
Matthew O'Leary (VA)
Alana Howard (VA)
Calista Nabors (VA)
Miguel Mares (VA)
Pamela Wilson (VA)
Russell Goodman (The Road Home)
Elizabeth Oliver (The Road Home)
Linda Twomey (VA Nebraska - Western Iowa Health Care System)
LeaAnne Peterson
Desiree Kochen

Track F – Bridging Legal Barriers

F1 – Bridging the Divide between Social Services and Legal Services

Sara Sommarstrom (MAC-V)
Jessica Blue-Howells (VA - VJO)
Bryan Dysert (HVAF)
Coco Culhane (Urban Justice Center)

F2 – Connected Communities: SSVF and Legal Services

Rob Liscord (PTLA)
John Holler (NLS - MI)

F3 – Opening Access through Discharge Updates

Jim Richardson (HPRP)
Coco Culhane (Urban Justice Center)
Brad Adams (Swords to Plowshares)

F4 – Criminal Law: Successes from Veterans Treatment and Homeless Court Systems

Scott R. Swain (Justice for Vets)
Steve Binder (Office of the Primary Public Defender)
Brock Hunter (Veteran Defense Project)

F5 – Child Support Issues

Sara Sommarstrom (MAC-V)
Mike Ginns (OSCE)

F6 – Managing Veteran Consumer Debt

Katie McGovern (PTLA)
Renato Izquieta (Legal Aid Society of Orange County)

2019 NCHV Awards

Call for Nominations

Each year, NCHV honors the commitment and service of a few of the many deserving organizations and individuals helping homeless veterans across the nation. The 2019 Annual NCHV Awards will be presented at the NCHV Annual Conference. We are now accepting nominations for the following awards:

• Outstanding Member - to an NCHV member organization whose programs, partnerships, and people combine to create extraordinary results
• Partnership Award - to an organization or individual whose work building effective partnerships exemplifies creativity and collaboration
• Public Policy Award - to an elected official whose record shows strong commitment and action in measures to help homeless veterans
• Unsung Hero Award - to an individual whose efforts go above and beyond expectations, who expects nothing in return and demonstrates a hero's heart for homeless veterans
• Federal Agency Staff Award - to a Department of Veterans Affairs, Labor, or Housing and Urban Development staff member on the local, state, regional, or national level who exhibits extraordinary commitment to homeless veterans and service providers

Please submit a one- to two-page letter of nomination including the nominee's name, title, and which award you are nominating for by email to cborden@nchv.org no later than April 17, 2019.

NCHV Job Openings

Organization:
The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) is the resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state and federal agencies that provide emergency and supportive services to homeless and at-risk veterans. As the only national organization dedicated exclusively to ending homelessness among veterans, NCHV is recognized as a major authority on policies and programs with far-reaching impacts on the veteran community.

Positions

There are no open positions at this time.

Housing Summit

HUD Secretary Julián Castro to Deliver Remarks at 2015 NCHV Housing Summit, Download Wrap-Up Report Now
"The Drive to December" | Oct. 5-6, 2015 in Washington, D.C.

Download The Drive to December: NCHV Veterans Access to Housing Summit Wrap-Up Report (Dec. 10, 2015)

Download the 2015 NCHV Veterans Access to Housing Summit program (Updated Oct. 1).

The 2015 NCHV Veterans Access to Housing Summit, "The Drive to December", was held Oct. 5-6 at the Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street NW, Washington, D.C.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julian Castro and Executive Director of Joining Forces Colonel Nicole Malachowski were on hand to help us kick off two days of intense working sessions with updates on national policy and progress on preventing and ending veteran homelessness.

This year's Summit gathered Federal agencies involved in ending veteran homelessness, technical assistance partners for the major homeless veteran service programs, and experts from around the country to help attendees set a high-speed plan for the final 100 days of the Five-Year Plan to End Veteran Homelessness.

No matter a community's target date for ending veteran homelessness, it must be treated as an emergency situation. This event equipped attendees with tools and strategies to increase the urgency and efficiency in their area to effectively identify each individual homeless veteran and guide them to the most effective solution available to get them stably housed.

Click here to learn more about joining NCHV!

2014 NCHV Housing Summit November 13-14, 2014

Hyatt Regency

New Orleans, LA

On November 13-14, 2014, NCHV and our community partners gathered in New Orleans at the 2014 NCHV Veterans Access to Housing Summit. Expert panelists shared engagement strategies and outcomes from 25 Cities, Zero: 2016, the Mayor’s Initiative, and other coordinated local efforts to end veteran homelessness. The NCHV Housing Summit included several interactive workshops which allowed participants to:

Give local perspective on changing Federal programs,
Develop concrete action items for approaching local stakeholders
Learn about new funding mechanisms to increase your community’s housing stock.

New Orleans is nationally recognized for their extraordinary progress in alleviating homelessness. The city's efforts to end veteran homelessness show ingenuity, creativity and dedication. Over the past two years, veteran homelessness dropped 66 percent, a fact made all the more impressive given the city's spike in homelessness after Hurricane Katrina.

In summer 2014, Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced the City of New Orleans' drive to be the first city in the country to end all veteran homelessness by 2014. "The President sent out a clarion call that this is not who we are as a nation and that we need to come together as one people to make sure that all the veterans have what they need, from housing to health care to jobs," Mayor Landrieu said at a ceremony on the 4th of July. New Orleans has already shown this dedication as an active member of the VA's 25 Cities Initiative. This effort is an example of the success possible when a community merges ending veteran homelessness into its overall homelessness plan.

New Orleans provided the NCHV Housing Summit with fitting surroundings to discuss what is possible as we strive to ensure affordable housing access for all veterans experiencing homelessness. Representatives from New Orleans have been invited to share their strategies, victories and challenges with Summit attendees.

Session Descriptions

Homeownership "Speed Training"

Speakers:

Hala Farid

Ray Pennie

Download the presentation

Philanthropy in Affordable Housing

Speakers:

Heather Pritchard

Section 1 - Transitions in Transitional Housing: GPD, Next Steps, and SSVF

GPD Myth-Busting and Scope Changes Part One

GPD Myth-Busting and Scope Changes Part Two

Speakers:

Jeff Quarles

Anthony Love

Download the presentation

SSVF-GPD Integration

Speakers:

Jeff Quarles

Anthony Love

John Kuhn

Download the presentation

Download the SSVF NOFA

Section 2 - Building Blocks: Creating New Affordable Housing Options for Veterans

Developing Permanent Supportive Housing: Tools and Best Practices

Speakers:

Katrina Van Valkenburg, Managing Director, Central Region for the Corporation for Supportive Housing

Download the presentation

Innovative Financing Tools and Stability Strategies

Speakers:

Katrina Van Valkenburg, Managing Director, Central Region for the Corporation for Supportive Housing

Milo Peinemann, Senior Director of Housing and Public Policy; New Directions for Veterans

Download the presentation

Proposition 41: A Case Study from California

Speakers:

Burt McChesney, Former NCHV Board Member, thirty year Board member of Veteran Resource Centers of America and Executive Director of the Veteran Housing Development Corporation

Integrated Housing Opportunities

Speakers:

Jim Yates

Katrina Van Valkenburg, Managing Director, Central Region for the Corporation for Supportive Housing

Download the presentation

Olmstead Planning for Housing

Speakers:

Jim Yates

Download the presentation

Section 3 - Overlapping National Initiatives

Filling the Gaps: Working through the Mayor's Challenge

Speakers:

Jessica Venegas, Community Solutions

Elisha Harig-Blaine, National League of Cities

Intersections of Major Initiatives: What Comes Next?

Speakers:

Jessica Venegas, Community Solutions

Elisha Harig-Blaine, National League of Cities

Who is NCHV?

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a 23-member board of directors – is the resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state and federal agencies that provide emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job training and placement assistance, legal aid and case management support for hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans each year.

NCHV also serves as the primary liaison between the nation’s care providers, Congress and the Executive Branch agencies charged with helping them succeed in their work. NCHV's advocacy has strengthened and increased funding for virtually every federal homeless veteran assistance program in existence today.

Under a technical assistance grant awarded by the Department of Labor-Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL-VETS), NCHV provides guidance and information about program development, administration, governance and funding to all of the nation’s homeless veteran service providers. This is achieved through conferences, webinars, personal consultations, publications, and this website – the nation’s most comprehensive information resource about homeless veterans and the programs that serve them.

The NCHV Central Office staff offers service providers assistance with administrative organization and program development; information about government, foundation and corporate grants; and guidance to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations. We operate a toll-free homeless veterans assistance phone line and a comprehensive website to direct those who need help to the people who can provide it.

NCHV was organized in 1990 by a small group of community-based service providers who were troubled by the disproportionately large percentage of homeless people who were veterans, and the lack of veteran-specific programs to help them. We opened our Washington, D.C., office in 1993 in order to work more closely with Congress and Executive Branch agencies to ensure the inclusion of veterans in federal assistance programs.

According to its own estimates, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs will reach slightly more than 40 percent of America’s homeless veterans. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans is the only national organization specifically dedicated to improving the opportunities for these deserving Americans to regain control of their lives and once again enjoy the freedoms they helped preserve. Our community-based service providers represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam, and we offer assistance to any homeless service provider that contacts our office.

NCHV is recognized as the nation’s leading authority on homeless veterans issues by several agencies and departments of the U.S. government, and has worked in partnership on projects with VA, DOL, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. NCHV has helped develop and increase funding for homeless veteran-specific programs such as the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program and the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, both of which are currently funded at their highest levels ever. We helped write and worked to ensure passage of the hallmark Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001, which had the potential to provide $1 billion for homeless veteran service providers and programs. In the current Congress, in addition to various other measures, NCHV was instrumental in crafting and passing the Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016 – the most significant piece of legislation for homeless veterans in more than two years.