MCoC 1st Quarter Accomplishments
1269 Elm Street Cafe Spotlight
Details of Federal Budget Cuts for Homeless Assistance Programs

Click on any one of the following housing projects to receive more information:

85/87 Laurel Street
335 Somerville Street
Lowell Street Housing
Valley and Belmont
Porter Street Apartments

If your agency is developing or has recently developed housing for the homeless, please email info@mcocnh.org to have it listed on our website!

With so many new, unique, and successful changes and initiatives that have developed for the MCoC in the beginning of 2011, and in light of the more somber budget concerns, this article highlights  the achievements the MCoC has made during the first 3 months of 2011. The following are successes that were made possible by every one of you:

• Successful completion of annual Point-in-Time Count with the help of 41 volunteers (including 11 VISTAs) for 242.7 hours for an in-kind donation total of $4,902.54;
• Launched MCoC’s first website, which is a leading resource in New Hampshire on Manchester service provider information;
• Reconvened the Community Awareness Committee for 2011, which will be taking on the management of the website, newsletter, media publications, Project Homeless Connect (in collaboration with the Resource Development Committee), and will be looking to conduct a forum to educate the public on homelessness issues; and,
• Maintained the support of 50 individuals (including 2 AmeriCorps*VISTAs), 29 agencies, at all MCoC meetings for 145.5 hours for an in-kind donation total of $3,026.40.

What has all of the above actually done to assist in the MCoC’s mission to unify community efforts to prevent and end homelessness? It has helped MCoC agencies serve their clients better by:

• Increasing the number of clients staying in permanent supportive housing over 6 months to 86.7%, which is 9.7% higher than MCoC’s goal;
• Increasing the number of clients moving from transitional housing to permanent supportive housing to 76.9%, which is 6.9% higher than MCoC’s goal; and,
• Increasing the number of clients who are employed at program exist to 24.1%, which is 4.1% higher than HUD’s goal (under MCoC’s goal by 14.9%).

These numbers illustrate that our efforts, at each agency and within the Continuum, are producing successful results. To continue to enhance MCoC’s efforts and improve outcomes, the MCoC must continue to build its membership base, increase participation on committees, maintain open communications on Continuum-wide successes and feedback for improvement, and improve current initiatives and projects through creating measurable outcomes and regularly monitoring those outcomes. Service providers, the City, the public, local businesses, and each reader of this newsletter are essential to MCoC’s mission, goals, and successes.

Thank you for your continued support and participation in the Manchester Continuum of Care!

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1269 Elm Street Café is an outreach ministry for the homeless and other vulnerable populations in Manchester.  Its purpose is to remove suffering in our neighborhood by showing God’s love in action, by loving people as they are, and by leading them to a better way of living. 1269 Café meets both practical and spiritual needs in the community through food, fellowship, and some bible teachings.

Last November, 1269 Café hosted a free Thanksgiving dinner at Steve’s House Restaurant for low-income individuals in downtown Manchester. They provided meals to 305 individuals between 4:30PM-8:00PM. They also provided winter warmth and personal care items to more than 600 people.

Each year, the 1269 Café team makes countless visits to homeless camps, hospitals, prisons, parks and other places where homeless or other vulnerable populations can be found. They serve many who desperately need food, shelter and other material needs; but more than anything, they see people as needing to be loved, accepted and protected.

Whether it has been volunteering for the annual Manchester Point-in-Time Count and Project Homeless Connect or attending General Assembly and committee meetings, 1269 Elm Street Café continues to collaborate within the MCoC in order to work with the community in assisting the most vulnerable population in downtown Manchester.  Their vision is to have more “Café” outposts located throughout Manchester’s neighborhoods in the coming years.

Thank you, 1269 Elm Street Café, for your continued support and participation in the Manchester Continuum of Care!

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FY2011 Budget Details for Affordable Housing and Homelessness Programs

• $1.905 billion for HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program, a $40 million increase over FY 2010;
• $50 million for new HUD – VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program vouchers to house an estimated 7,690 additional homeless veterans;
• No funding for Housing and Services for Homeless Persons Demonstration vouchers;
• $116 million for Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) programs, equal to the FY 2010 level;
• $18.4 billion for Section 8 Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, enough to fund all existing vouchers; and
• $3.3 billion for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), a $650 million decrease from FY 2010.

The following is the status of each of the relevant programs related to affordable housing and homelessness, and the National Alliance to End Homelessness’ recommendations for FY2012 funding:

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants

Current Status
In its fiscal year (FY) 2012 Budget Proposal, the Administration requested $2.372 billion for HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants. The Administration’s request includes $286 million for the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program and $50 million for a new initiative to incentivize Public Housing Authorities and owners of HUD-assisted housing to serve additional homeless households.

NAE Recommendation
The HEARTH Act expands investments in solutions to homelessness. Congress should fund those investments without shifting significant resources from existing homeless assistance programs. A funding level of approximately $2.4 billion in FY 2012 for the Homeless Assistance Grants program would help communities to make substantial progress toward implementing the HEARTH Act and addressing the effects of the recession.

Housing and Services for Homeless Persons Demonstration

Current Status
In its fiscal year (FY) 2012 budget request, the Administration included $57 million for this Demonstration for the Housing Choice Voucher component and $12 million for the SAMHSA portion.

NAE Recommendation
Congress should fund this Demonstration by providing $57 million in FY 2012 under the Housing Choice Voucher program and $12 million for SAMHSA mental health and substance use services

SAMHSA Homeless Services

Current Status
The current FY 2010 funding level of SAMHSA homeless programs is $77 million. This is divided between two accounts: $34 million within the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and $43 within the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). The President’s proposal would increase CMHS by $7.446 million and CSAT by $4.610 million.

NAE Recommendation
Provide $100 million in SAMHSA homeless programs for essential mental health and substance use treatment services. These grants help chronically homeless families and individuals acquire and maintain permanent supportive housing. In addition, SAMHSA also funds other housing programs targeted to homeless and at-risk families, youth, and individuals.

HUD VA-Supportive Housing Vouchers

Current Status
The Administration’s FY 2012 budget requests $75 million for new HUD-VASH vouchers in fiscal year (FY) 2012 to provide assistance to an estimated 11,538 additional veterans. Congress has funded approximately 10,000 new HUD-VASH vouchers in FY 2008 through 2011, helping to make substantial progress on the goal providing about 65,000 HUD-VASH vouchers to finally end chronic veteran homelessness.

NAE Recommendation
Congress should continue to make ending homelessness among veterans a top priority by providing $75 million for new HUD-VASH vouchers in fiscal year 2012 to house an estimated 11,538 additional veterans.

Housing Choice Vouchers

Current Status
In its February FY 2012 Budget Proposal, the Administration requested both $57 million for the Housing and Services for Homeless Persons Demonstration and $75 million for new HUD-VASH vouchers.

NAE Recommendation
Congress should work to address the shortage of affordable rental housing for low-income households. Congress should renew all existing Housing Choice Vouchers in FY 2012 and also provide additional funding for incremental vouchers targeted toward strategies that advance local efforts to end homelessness by targeting those households least likely to escape homelessness without a permanent, deep subsidy coupled with services, including:

• $57 million for 7,500 Housing and Services for Homeless Persons Demonstration vouchers; and
• $75 million for new HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program vouchers to serve an estimated 11,538 additional homeless veterans.

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