The position is best served by an individual with a Bachelor’s degree and no less than 4 years demonstrated experience providing services to homeless or extremely low income individuals and families in a program setting. A strong familiarity with emergency shelter and transitional housing systems is a plus. Excellent oral and written communications skills are required, as are highly developed organizational skills.  Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with service providers, government officials, and community leaders. Masters Degree in related field plus no less than one year direct service experience as above also acceptable.

Competitive Salary and Benefits
Reports to Executive Director

Interested Candidates should submit resume and cover letter by February 28, 2012  via email to:

Sorimar Vazquez
Executive Assistant
svazquez@cceh.org

No calls please

The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness seeks to prevent and end homelessness in Connecticut.  For more information, contact Lisa P. Sementilli, Deputy Director.

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3653&emailView=1

Findings:

• The number of women veterans identified as homeless more than doubled, from 1,380 in fiscal year 2006 to 3,328 in fiscal year 2010. Although these data are not generalizable to all homeless women veterans, the General Accounting Office identified that almost two-thirds were between 40 and 59 years old;  more than one-third had disabilities; and many resided with their minor children.
• Homeless women veterans were not always aware of veteran housing services, which posed a significant barrier to access. Women veterans waited an average of 4 months before securing HUD-VASH housing. Without referrals for shelter or temporary housing during these waits, homeless women veterans may be at risk of physical harm and further trauma on the streets or in other unsafe places.
• Lack of housing for women with children is a significant barrier to accessing veteran housing.
• Homeless women veterans also cited safety concerns about housing, and some programs indicated incidents of sexual harassment or assault on women residents in the past 5 years.  To ensure that women veterans are safely housed, the Secretary of VA should determine what gender-specific safety and security standards are needed, especially for those serving both women and men.

For more information, contact Daniel Bertoni at (202) 512-7215 or bertonid@gao.gov.

http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-182

• Elderly or disabled households make up nearly half (49 percent) of all voucher households, a significant increase over the past decade. 
• Three-fourths of the voucher households that are not elderly or disabled either work or participate in other programs that have work requirements.

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3634&emailView=1

During the early December Project Homeless Connect event in Bridgeport, the first applications were taken from clients and a screening team has been established to direct them appropriately.

Other communities are close to implementing their versions of the universal application and more are getting involved. This effort will serve multiple purposes in the near and distant future, including:

• Meeting HEARTH guidelines, eventually resulting in community-wide coordinated intake systems.

• Lining up with Opening Doors recommendations.

• Most importantly, providing the quickest possible housing solutions for people who are experiencing homelessness.

Connecticut grantees will receive a combined additional allotment of more than $1 million dollars during the current federal fiscal year to be used for Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing activities. Prevention funds can only be used for those who are at extremely high risk of homelessness, a far more targeted eligibility than the HPRP program.

CCEH has begun working with DSS and municipalities on preparing implementation of new HEARTH/ESG regulations and will provide further training and information once HUD publishes the final regulations

New Funding for Rapid Re-Housing and Prevention. In Connecticut, six ESG grantees will soon begin implementation of the new regulations including the Department of Social Services and the cities of Hartford, New Britain, New Haven, Waterbury and Bridgeport. As of this date both Hartford and Bridgeport have issued RFP’s for ESG services. Shelters and others in these communities should note that they will need to apply for funds.

Changes for Shelters and Outreach Programs. 
Notable features of the new regulations include a 60% cap on the allowable allocation for homeless outreach and emergency shelter, limitations for outreach to street homeless only, the implementation of minimum standards for homeless shelters, street outreach, prevention and rapid re-housing services and required HMIS reporting.

Perhaps most significant for CoCs, the draft provision includes references to a future requirement of a centralized or coordinated intake system in each Continuum of Care for people seeking ESG funded homeless prevention services. HUD will provide guidance on minimum requirements for this system when they issue draft HEARTH/CoC regulations later this year.

Helpful links for more information on the new Emergency Solutions Grant:

• Definition of Homelessness HUD Final Rule

• Draft ESG regulations
   
• NEAH recommendations

For any questions regarding this program, please contact Laurie Ann Wagner, laurieann.wagner@ct.gov or 860-424-5259