Why Supporting Advocacy Makes Sense for Foundations

Published by Atlantic Philanthropies
This report describes various forms of advocacy that a foundation can support, including commissioning research, policy development, community organising, coalition work, legislative lobbying, litigation, mass campaigns and more.

Policy Experts Call for Broad New Agenda for Mental Health Care: Research, Relationships, and Resources Needed to Bridge Costly Gaps

Published by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Legislators, policy makers and funders must acknowledge the critical role of mainstream institutions in providing mental health services in America’s informal mental health system according to a diverse group of mental health and other policy experts meeting in Washington for the Fundamental Policy: Spotlight on Mental Health conference.

US Interagency Council on Homeless Releases Comprehensive List of Programs that Assist Homeless Children

Published by US Interagency Council on Homelessness
This inventory of federal programs that have the capacity to serve homeless families with children has been developed by the member agencies of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). The inventory consists of both targeted homeless programs, which are designed specifically to serve persons experiencing homelessness, as well as mainstream programs, whose mission may be to serve a far broader population, but for which persons experiencing homelessness may be eligible by virtue of the program’s eligibility criteria.

HUD Budget Contains Major Funding Shortfalls : Congress Needs to Add $6.5 Billion to Administration’s Request to Avoid Cuts In Assistance for Low-Income Families

Published by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Last year, Congress rejected deep cuts the Administration proposed in affordable housing and community development programs and funded the Department of Housing and Urban Development at $2.1 billion above the Administration’s budget request for 2008. For 2009, Congress will have to provide a substantially larger increase — totaling $6.5 billion above the Administration’s request — to avoid cuts in core programs that help millions of low-income families secure decent housing at affordable rents.

VA Taps $37 Million for Homeless Grants

Published by KALB News Center 5
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is designating $37 million to fund at least 2,250 new transitional housing beds by giving grants to local providers. “This is the largest one-time designation of funds for homeless program in VA’s history,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.

HousingPolicy.org Launched

Published by Center for Housing Policy
HousingPolicy.org is an online guide to state and local housing policy developed and maintained by the Center for Housing Policy, the research affiliate of the National Housing Conference. The purpose of HousingPolicy.org is to collect and provide examples of proven solutions for expanding the availability of homes for working families and others in your community. The site includes easily accessible information on a broad range of state and local policy tools, as well as guidance on how to put them together to form a comprehensive and effective housing strategy.

Housing2008

Published by Housing2008
Housing2008.org is a non-partisan forum for discussing housing issues in the 2008 Presidential election debate. Housing2008.org is a special project of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC). NLIHC is dedicated solely to ending the affordable housing crisis in the United States. NLIHC does not represent any sector of the housing industry. Rather, NLIHC works only on behalf of and with low income people who need safe, decent, and affordable housing, especially those with the most serious housing problems.

Rundown of the Administration's FY 2009 Budget

Published by National Alliance to End Homelessness
The Administration's budget for fiscal year 2009 was released on February 4. It proposes increased funding for the Department of Defense, cuts to health care programs, and about $2.4 billion less for domestic discretionary programs other than Homeland Security. These programs include most of the housing, human service, veterans, education, and infrastructure programs that help low-income people.

Hilton Gives National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse $1.6 Million

Published by Join Together
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has awarded $1.6 million over four years to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) for a study on a potential model program providing housing and treatment services to homeless individuals with alcohol and other drug problems.

CSH Executive Director Testifies to Congress Regarding Housing Needs for Veterans

Published by Corporation for Supportive Housing
CSH has unique experience as a national organization that, for the last 17 years, has helped communities build permanent supportive housing to prevent and end homelessness, with particular success in serving people struggling with multiple challenges. Many homeless veterans, who so often wrestle with substance use, mental illness and co-occurring disorders, clearly fall into this group.