Library of Documents

Category: Housing/Homelessness

» 2013 Housing Inventory Count and Point-in-Time Count of Homeless Persons/Data Collection Guidance: This is the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) annual guidance for communities to conduct the January 2013 point-in-time count of homeless persons in the U.S. January 2013 is the first year HUD, in accordance with newly written guidance, officially counted women veterans experiencing homelessness. This is significant as the VA with the White House, in 2009, announced its intent to launch a 5-year campaign beginning in 2011 to end veteran homelessness by the end of 2015. To achieve this, the GAO reported that the women veteran cohort must be counted. Only when counted can VA request funds for programs appropriate for women veterans.
» Community Guides: Identifying Veterans Experiencing Homelessness & Connecting With Services: The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Department of Veterans affairs created these two short, quick-reference guides to assist communities to better identify veterans experiencing homelessness and link the to services.
» Fisher House Foundation for Military Families with Hospitalized Loved Ones: A Fisher House is "a home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers.
» GAO Report 12-182: Homeless Women Veterans: Actions Needed to Ensure Safe and Appropriate Housing (December 2011): The Department of Housing and Urban Development collects data on homeless women and on homeless veterans, but does not collect detailed information on homeless women veterans. This report emphasizes that without this data, funding for needed resources is not likely to be forthcoming and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will not be able to track progress towards its goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2015.
» Homelessness Issues Brief on Women Veterans (May 2012): The Business and Professional Women's Foundation published this brief as part of their "Women Veterans in Transition Research Project" in light of President Obama's goal of eradicating veteran homelessness by 2015. To date, there is a limited inventory of temporary housing that is safe and secure for women veterans and their children.
» Homelessness: Targeted Federal Programs (Congressional Service Report RL30442/October 26, 2016): This report provides a brief history of the U.S. government's involvement with assisting homeless persons. Prior to the mid-1980s, federal assistance to targeted homeless persons was nonexistent. A review of federal agency programs is provided.
» Library: Homelessness Resources/Tools for Action: The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness offers a comprehensive online homelessness resource center.
» Map: State Homelessness Resources: This United States Interagency Council on Homelessness map provides current national and state homelessness information and contacts.
» Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan To Prevent And End Homelessness (2015 Update of Initial 2010 Plan): "Opening Doors," the nation’s first comprehensive federal strategy to prevent and end homelessness, was presented to the Office of the President and Congress on June 22, 2010. It was updated and amended in 2015 to reflect lessons learned in the past five years and new goals.
» Toolkit: Homeless Veteran Outreach (Department of Veterans Affairs): Eliminating veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness is a top priority for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). To achieve this, the VA posted an outreach toolkit of posters, brochures, wallet card, public service announcements, and videos for community partners to use.
» Trauma-informed Care for Women Veterans Experiencing Homelessness: A Guide for Service Providers (July 2011): Trauma-Informed Care for Women Veterans Experiencing Homelessness: A Guide for Service Providers, also known as the “Trauma Guide,” was created by the Department of Labor to address the psychological and mental health needs of women veterans. The guide is also a compilation of best practices aimed at improving effectiveness in engaging female veterans. Written for service providers, the guide offers observational knowledge and concrete guidelines for modifying practices with the goal of increasing re-entry outcomes.