Big things are happening. New tools are in place. There are new ways of thinking about and addressing the problem.  And the need for effectiveness couldn’t be greater.  The National Alliance to End Homelessness invites everyone involved to come together in Seattle in February, to be part of the 2013 National Conference on Ending Family and Youth Homelessness, to learn, to share, and to encourage each other to take the next steps.

At the conference, participants can learn about the best solutions for the large and small problems we all face.  Among the topics:

• Implementing HEARTH – HUD and other federal agencies will be well represented, and participants will be able to delve into the details of the new regulations and the first NOFA that fully implements the HEARTH Act.
• Replacing HPRP – This highly successful one-time program has ended, but communities have found all kinds of ways to continue providing the rapid re-housing and prevention services that HPRP introduced or expanded, and that have proven to be exactly what most homeless or near-homeless families need.
• Using mainstream programs – While HUD funds have been cut in the past two years, large mainstream antipoverty programs have maintained their federal funding.  Some communities have found programs like TANF and Child Welfare to be an excellent fit for the rapid re-housing model, and have reduced family homelessness as a result.
• New initiatives from the federal government – With the election over, there will be new people in policymaking jobs in both the Administration and Congress, and new initiatives will be rolling out.
• A new vision for ending youth homelessness – the Alliance, along with partners at the national, state, and local levels, is pulling together the pieces of an effective, systemic approach to ending youth homelessness that can be put to work in community after community.
• The best work from leading communities – The importance of efficiency and cost-effectiveness has never been higher.  Communities across the country are finding ways to re-house the largest possible number of families and youth with the resources they have available.

Together we have the expertise and knowledge to end family and youth homelessness. If we are to reconnect families and youth to housing, we must mobilize and coordinate responses among agencies, communities, policymakers and advocates. We must stand with homeless families, youth and others to maximize opportunities to combat homelessness and build a country where everyone has a place to call home.

We hope you will join us in Seattle, to move this mission forward.

Click here to learn about registration and scholarship opportunities.

For more information, contact:

D’Arcy Klingle, CMP
Director of Meetings and Events
Conference Planning/Logistics Inquiries
dklingle@naeh.org
202.942.8287