For the first time ever, the Council has published a comprehensive annual report on our accomplishments from the program year July 1, 2014, through July 30, 2015. The document features beautifully organized and impressive data on our training and technical assistance achievements, in addition to summaries of our focus areas and anecdotes demonstrating our impact. Please read this report online.

Congress Takes Up Housing

As part of its yearlong examination of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Financial Services Committee held two hearings this past week. “The Future of Housing in America: Federal Reforms that Create Housing Opportunity” concentrated on H.R. 3700: Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2015. The bill, which has received bipartisan support, aims to alter rules related to Section 8 Vouchers and other federal housing programs. Later in the week, The Future of Housing in America: 50 Years of HUD and its impact on Federal Housing Policy examined the work of HUD and ways to improve service delivery. Both of these hearings contained important conversations that could potentially change the shape of federal housing policy in the future.

New Publications: Healing Hands, In Focus, and More

The Council has released three new publications illuminating different facets of health and wellbeing for individuals experiencing homelessness. A new edition of Healing Hands explores the importance of oral and vision care for patients experiencing homelessness who often face significant barriers to access. Our latest research review, In Focus, examines recent literature on behavioral health issues among youths experiencing homelessness. Finally, the Council's new Crime Victim’s Compensation fact sheet provides critical information about such programs, how to apply to them, and strategies for overcoming potential barriers to use for individuals experiencing homelessness.

The Council is pleased to welcome Cindy Phillips, BS, as our new TennCare Shelter Enrollmenhttps://www.nhchc.org/staff/t Project Coordinator. She will begin on November 9th. Additionally, the Council has welcomed the following new staff since September: Alyssa Curtis, MS, as Training Coordinator; Caroline Gumpenberger, MPH, as Technical Assistance Coordinator; and Rick Brown, MA, as Communications Coordinator. The Council is currently seeking applications for the position of Senior Director of Development. The deadline for submissions is November 20th.

Midtown Community Health Center, operating with 330 funding since 1994, received federal funds to open a new homeless health center in August 2015. The new site, the Hope Clinic, is located in Ogden, Utah, and is the only Health Care for the Homeless center in all of Northern Utah. The Hope Clinic is located in the Lantern House Homeless Shelter. Staffing includes a fulltime PA, a part-time psychiatrist, and a part-time dentist. 65 patients were served during 95 encounters during the first month of operations. Midtown expects to serve 1300 people experiencing homelessness annually. A new member of the Council, Midtown is pleased to have expanded its services and to become part of the HCH family.