U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta to tour New Horizons in Manchester

Rep. Frank Guinta to mark “Hunger Action Month” with tour of New Horizons for NH on Monday morning 9/26

September is “Hunger Action Month,” and Rep. Frank Guinta will observe it with a tour of New Horizons for New Hampshire in Manchester next Monday morning.  The group’s executive director and former WGIR radio host Charlie Sherman will escort the Congressman.  New Horizons is an adult homeless shelter, soup kitchen, and food pantry that services hundreds of Granite Staters each month.

WHO:                  U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta

WHAT:                Visit to New Horizons for New Hampshire, Inc.

WHEN:                8:00 a.m.   Monday, September 26

WHERE:             199 Manchester Street   Manchester, NH  03103

NH DHHS Releases Data Assessing State’s Homeless Population

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Bureau of Homeless and Housing Services (BHHS), is announcing the results of the one-day Statewide Point-in-Time (PIT) count of homeless individuals and families. This count took place on 1/26/11 from 12:00 midnight to 11:59 p.m. and targeted city/town welfare offices, homeless shelters, hospitals, police departments, soup kitchens, food pantries, outreach workers, and other providers serving homeless people in New Hampshire. The count is undertaken as a coordinated effort between the three local homeless Continuums of Care, Nashua, Manchester and the “Balance of State” which BHHS coordinates.

Results of this count revealed there were 2,520 homeless individuals across the state. This represents an 18% increase in the number of homeless persons identified in the 2010 PIT count. There was a 58% increase in the number of unsheltered homeless, and a 30% increase in the number of homeless families compared to the 2010 data. In addition, 132 persons were veterans, an increase of 5% from last year.

“It is disturbing and upsetting to see the rise in the number of people who do not have a place to live,” said DHHS Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas. “The data from this count underscores the need for collaboration to find solutions to help end homelessness in our State.”

The BHHS coordinates this Point-in-Time count in order to gather an accurate and unduplicated count of homeless individuals and families across the state. As part of the funding BHHS receives from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, this count is required to identify the needs created by the ongoing issue of homelessness, both sheltered and unsheltered, in New Hampshire.

“The annual PIT count provides us with a snapshot of data to identify both who is homeless in the State, where they are located, and identify trends over time,” said BHHS Administrator Maureen Ryan. “Of particular concern is the increase in the number of homeless families.”

Attachment: PIT county map

Franklin Center - Michigan Union ‘Outsources’ Protesters; Hires Homeless to Picket

The Mackinac Center discovered that the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters uses non-union labor to protest a Grand Rapids-area businessman. What's worse, the union has even recruited demonstrators who frequent local homeless shelters, including a shelter which gets help from the very same businessman targeted by the union. Read the full story.

Watch on YouTube

For more information, please visit FranklinCenterHQ.org



Homelessness Webinar and SAMHSA Job Announcement

SAMHSA ADS Center Training Teleconference

 Housing, Homelessness, and Social Inclusion:
Essential Elements of Healthy Communities

February 23, 2011

"Reconnecting to a viable sense of self and community is a crucial step in the recovery process for people who have experienced homelessness."  (National Health Care for the Homeless, 2005)

 

Homelessness has become a widespread public health issue with an estimated 671,859 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the United States. (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2010) Stable housing is an essential human need and is a key social determinant of both health and mental health. Many who become homeless have a history of either childhood or adult trauma, or both, that can lead to the development of mental health problems and/or substance use disorders which become worse when an individual lives on the streets or in shelters.

 

The SAMHSA ADS Center invites you to a free training teleconference titled "Housing, Homelessness, and Social Inclusion: Essential Elements of Healthy Communities."

 

This teleconference will educate participants about current trends and practices in the field, recent precedent-setting court rulings to address violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Olmstead, and the central role of social connectedness, social capital, and social inclusion as the foundation for developing programs that support people who have been homeless. Participants will also hear how one person moved from being homeless to being a homeowner and the lessons that can be learned from his recovery journey.

 

Register Today!

To learn more and register, please visit the following page:http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/teleconferences/default.aspx. 
We encourage you to share this invitation with interested friends and colleagues.

Please Note: Registration will close at 5:00 p.m., ET, on Sunday, February 20, 2011.

 

Date and Time

Wednesday, February 23, 2011
3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)

 

Presenters

o      Livia Davis, M.S.W., CSWM  

Center for Social Innovation

SAMHSA Supportive Services 

Housing Technical Assistance Center

o      Bonnie Milstein, J.D.

David L. Bazelon Center for Mental

Health Law

 o     Michael Kelly, CPS

Housing for New Hope 
 

Questions?

This training teleconference will include a question-and-answer session. We invite you to submit questions at any time before or during the teleconference. To submit questions before the teleconference, please e-mail promoteacceptance@samhsa.hhs.gov. Speakers will answer as many questions as possible during the Q&A session, but we cannot guarantee that your question will be addressed. We will provide the presenters' contact information so that you may contact them directly for a response or additional information. 

 

Please note: You may submit anonymous questions; however, if you provide your name and organization when submitting a question, we may use it during the call.
 

Training Sponsor

This teleconference is sponsored by SAMHSA ADS Center, a project of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS). CMHS is a center within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 

Please explore the SAMHSA ADS Center Web site for more information:http://www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov

 

 SAMHSA Seeking Legislative Analyst

Job Title: Legislative Analyst

Department: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
 

Agency: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
 

Job Announcement Number: HHS-SAMHSA-DE-11-431101

Open Period: Monday, January 31, 2011, to Friday, February 11, 2011

JOB SUMMARY

Incumbent analyzes legislative processes in terms of their affect on policy development in relation to public health and health care delivery programs. Serves as a liaison and as the technical authority on legislative and regulatory issues to all SAMHSA Centers and Offices on all legislative and regulatory analysis assignments and issues of the utmost visibility, controversy, political sensitivity, and/or confidentiality.

Works with a variety of senior-level department executives, as well as policy staff from other HHS agencies. Oversees the development of recommendations and the preparation of explanatory and supporting materials which facilitate evaluation of SAMHSA, HHS, and administration policy goals and objectives. Analyzes and evaluates program requirements, agency needs, and/or administrative policy objectives that may involve the development, enactment, amendment, and extension of legislation or regulation with respect to SAMHSA health initiatives. Participates in briefings and prepares background information for meetings, briefings, and hearings in Congress.

This position is located in the Office of the Director, Office of Policy, Planning and Innovation, SAMHSA, in Rockville, Maryland.

Apply Now at USA Jobs



VETERANS FOR CHANGE'S NEWEST PROGRAM

THE HOMELESS HEROES PROGRAM IS HOLDING IT'S FIRST NATIONAL FUNDRAISER,

THE BACK PACK PROJECT

The Homeless Heroes Program of VFC is holding it's first national fundraiser, in hopes of educating communities throughout the United States and helping as many homeless Veterans or Veterans in need as possible.

Nationwide, United States, October 31, 2010-- There are over a hundred thousand Veterans on America's streets. The Homeless Heroes Program, Veterans For Change's newest program, run by National Director, Nissa LaPointe, of Atlanta, GA  and Fundraising Coordinator, Debbie McCormick of Stuart's Draft, VA are holding the Back Pack Project and are accepting donated items to fill the Back Packs with, that will be later passed out to homeless Veterans and Veterans in need.

Toiletries such as:

TRIAL SIZES: SHAMPOO, BODY WASH, BARS OF SOAP, TOOTH PASTE, TOOTH BRUSHES, POWDER, HAND LOTION, CLOTHING, T-SHIRTS- (SIZE LARGE-X-LARGE), SOCKS-( 8-12), UNDER WEAR ( MEDIUM THRU X-LARGE), THERMAL LONG SLEEVE SHIRTS (LARGE- X-LARGE), LONG JOHNS (MEDIUM THRU X-LARGE), HATS, GLOVES, FLASH LIGHTS, PLAYING CARDS, UNO, SCRABBLE (SMALL SIZE), CROSS WORD PUZZLES, WRITING MATERIAL, PAPER, PENS, ENVELOPES, STAMPS (FOREVER ONES), POST CARDS, BOXED CHRISTMAS CARDS, BOXED SNACKS, TRAIL MIX, NUTS, DRINK MIXES (THE ONES YOU PUT IN BOTTLE WATER) LIKE GATORADE, POWER AIDE, BOOKS, SMALL BIBLES, DAILY DEVOTIONS, BACK PACKS, GIFT CARDS- (WALMART, TARGET , KROGER, ,ETC), GAS CARDS, FAST FOOD CARDS (MCDONALDS, BURGER KING, SUBWAY,ETC).

"I was on the street for a while after Active Duty and have done Outreach in Atlanta, GA and Jacksonville, FL. I have talked to many homeless Veterans they don't expect anything from anyone and are very grateful to get the littlest thing like even a smile and warm greeting. This project will be quite a surprise that I am sure they will be grateful for. These are people who have at one time taken an oath to protect and defend our country, helping us keep and live in our Freedom and for whatever reason are homeless. Most of society has turned their back, but we can not.", Director Nissa LaPointe said with tears welling, as she recalls having almost dies in her vehicle in 2005.

The Back Pack Project is being held until it is able to generate at least 100 back packs. Donated items have been sparce. Nissa and Debbie say that in order for this Program and it's projects to be a success, much compassion is needed by everyone who care about our Veterans and want to help our returning Troops who face homelessness. If Everyone took a trip to the dollar stores or to any store selling inexpensive toiletries or donated a dollar for these folks to purchase the items it would be of great help.

Nissa and Debbie have several years of knowledge and experience between them, helping homeless Veterans and Troops in need. They ask that everyone please assist them with this project and future projects to come in hopes of making this Program a success.

Donated items can be mailed to:
DEBBIE McCORMICK
73 YARMOUTH RD
STUARTS DRAFT, VIRGINIA 24477-3310
crrfan@comcast.net

or

NISSA LAPOINTE
3335 RIVIERA DRIVE
CUMMING, GA. 30041
homelessveteranheroes@yahoo.com