Metro Denver Homeless Initiative

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Volunteers Needed for Denver Metro Vulnerability Index

Volunteer Registration is Now Open:  Metro Denver Vulnerability Index Volunteer Registration

Background: The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) and the Governor’s Office have partnered to identify and house homeless families, individuals, and unaccompanied youth in the seven county Denver Metro region.  We will be using the Vulnerability Index, a research tool developed through the efforts of Community Solutions and the 100,000 Homes Campaign to obtain information on medical vulnerability and other risk factors and to prioritize these individuals and families for housing and services. By prioritizing housing and services to those most in need, this survey saves lives.

Starting June 3, 2013 and continuing through June 14, 2013, The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, in coordination with homeless providers in the seven county Denver Metro region, will be conducting a Vulnerability Index Survey with single individuals, families and unaccompanied youth who are experiencing homelessness.

Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are needed to administer surveys.  Volunteers will attend a two hour training before going to identified “touch points” to survey the homeless.

Volunteers are also needed to help with data entry.

Please go to the registration page to view available dates and times–Metro Denver Vulnerability Index Volunteer Registration

When:  June 3, 2013 through June 14, 2013

Where:  Various locations in Denver Metro region

Volunteer Registration: Metro Denver Vulnerability Index Volunteer Registration

We are most pleased with the level of participation and contributions at the March 11th regional forum regarding veteran homelessness.  Over 60 individuals were in attendance to hear about the vulnerability index results (see VI overview attached), recent housing successes as well as areas for additional efforts to meet the goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2015.

As you may recall, objectives for the forum included:

• Sharing vulnerability index survey results;
• Highlight recent housing successes;
• Hear from veterans about their experiences;
• Promote networking and information sharing; and
• Identify regional priorities to effectively end veteran homelessness.

Please find the PowerPoint presentation from the forum as well as list of priorities and topics discussed in each of the small groups.

Our next steps will be to place the priorities and other recommendations into a spread sheet which can identify next steps, time frame, and key partners.  This spread sheet will then be used in local conversations as well as a guide for MDHI and committees in our efforts.

Please let me know if you are interested in working with stakeholders in further developing our regional strategies specific to veteran homelessness.

Thank you for contributing to local and regional efforts to prevent and end homelessness among the men and women who have served our country.

We are sincerely appreciative of those who participated in the panel presentations and as small group facilitators – Thanks!!!

Gary Sanford
Executive Director | Metro Denver Homeless Initiative
2505 18th Street Denver, Colorado 80211 |(303) 561-2193
gary.sanford@unitedwaydenver.org

Please follow the link to review the full report for the 2012 Point in Time.  Below the report are county reports for each of the seven counties in the MDHI Continuum of Care: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson. 

Click here to view the 2012 Point in Time.  

 Please direct any questions about the Point in Time to Rebecca Mayer at rebecca.mayer@unitedwaydenver.org.

MDHI leads the process for the annual HUD CoC NOFA application.  We are pleased to announce that HUD has announced funding of $14,305,706 to grantees in the MDHI Continuum of Care.

FY2011 CONTINUUM OF CARE COMPETITION AWARDS

$1.47 BILLION IN HOMELESS GRANTS

FOR RENEWAL PROJECTS

 U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded $1.47 billion to renew funding to more than 7,100 local homeless programs operating across the country.  The funding announced today will ensure these housing and service programs remain operating in 2012 and are a critical part of the Obama Administration’s strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness.

HUD is renewing funding through its Continuum of Care programs to existing local programs as quickly as possible to prevent any interruption in federal assistance and will award funds to new projects in early 2012.

 For a local summary of the grants announced today, visit HUD’s Homelessness Resource Exchange at http://www.hudhre.info/ (What’s New section) or HUD’s website at www.hud.gov (Featured News)

Colorado awards:

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=11_colorado_renewals.pdf