Corporation for Supportive Housing– CSH presents a series of four (4) Continuum of Care Forums for 2008. All Forums revolve around the theme of Transformation in the new year.

June 10, 2008--Transforming our Planning: Better Utilization of Data

This Forum will explore the information and resources available to help Continuums effectively engage in homeless planning. PIT and Financial Modeling will be highlighted along with utilizing HMIS data in innovated ways for planning. The Forum will also look at data collection and coordination between State Divisions and the final recommendation for the State Housing Plan.

September 16, 2008--Transforming our System: Accountability

This Forum will focus on Performance Outcomes and the utilization of such outcomes to hold ourselves accountable in our efforts to end homelessness. This session will also explore consumer/tenant involvement in aspects of homeless planning and program implementation

November 18, 2008--Transforming the Landscape: Policy Issues

This Forum will educate and prepare Continuums to advocate on crucial policy issues that effective homeless-ness. The Forum will also look at the intersection of State policy and highlight new Housing First Pilots in New Jersey.

All Forums will held at:

The Conference Center at Mercer
1200 Old Trenton Road
West Windsor, NJ 08550
9:00 AM– 4:00 PM

For More Information Contact:

About the Conference:
The AWARDS Users Conference 2008 is a one-day conference aimed at providing AWARDS users from around the country with a forum to network and learn from users at organizations with similar missions. The conference will be a mix of presentations from AWARDS gurus, in-depth product sessions, subject matter expert panels and customer testimonials.

At the AWARDS Users Conference 2008 attendees will:
- Learn about the best practices for managing client information
- Discover how AWARDS can help your agency run more efficiently
- Learn about new AWARDS features and enhancements

Who Should Attend:
This conference is geared towards Executive Directors, program directors and anyone interested in learning more about AWARDS.

Monday, June 23rd in New York City
9AM to 5PM
New York University
Kimmel Center
60 Washington Square South (corner of LaGuardia)
New York City, NY 10012

REGISTRATION IS LIMITED. If you are ready to register, please go to:
http://www.acteva.com/go/awardsconference2008

If you have any questions, please Email:
conference2008@footholdtechnology.com

The New Jersey Statewide Homeless Management Information (HMIS) Collaborative is a unique technology partnership between state agencies and local communities.  It includes the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA), the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and 20 Continuum of Care (CoC) local homeless planning communities.  Participating CoC’s in New Jersey include:  Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Camden, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties.

The NJ HMIS Collaborative was established in 2003 to collect data on homelessness throughout the participating counties to guide local and state planning efforts to reduce and end homelessness.  Further, the New Jersey HMIS Statewide Collaborative assists participating CoC’s and their provider agencies to meet U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HMIS requirements needed to receive HUD McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance funding.

Funding for the Collaborative comes from the HUD McKinney-Vento Supportive Housing Program, HMFA, DCA and DHS, CoC’s and user organization participation fees.  HMFA is the administrative entity for the Collaborative, contracting with the selected HMIS software vendor – Foothold Technology, administering HUD Collaborative HMIS grants, and providing technical assistance, training to CoC’s, state agencies, and user organizations. 

The NJ HMIS Collaborative is a nationally recognized model for a statewide HMIS project that includes strong participation from State agencies, local government and provider organizations.

1. Collection of data and information on the number of homeless persons, their characteristics, and the services utilized to better understand the extent and nature of homelessness.  This information is essential to strengthen the CoC needs assessment process required of all local jurisdictions.  
2. To enable state and local government to assess mainstream housing and social service systems with respect to evaluation of their effectiveness, resource utilization and tracking the impact of changes to these systems. 

In order to implement it’s goal of collecting unduplicated client data at the local level, HUD is requiring the implementation of a HMIS that meets HUD’s established data and technical standards.  HUD Homeless Assistance funding for current and future project awards requires that CoCs address HMIS compliance in their Exhibit One and Project applications.  Programs that receive funding through McKinney-Vento that produce an APR must collect program level data elements using standard response categories set forth in the HMIS Data and Technical Standards.  All McKinney-Vento funded programs are expected to participate including:

• SHP
• S+C
• Section 8 Mod Rehab
• ESG
• HOPWA funded homeless programs

HUD has prioritized programs for inclusion in the HMIS as follows:

1)  Emergency shelters, transitional housing, and outreach programs

2)  Permanent supportive housing funded by McKinney Vento

3)  Homeless prevention programs, supportive services only (SHP), and non-federally funded permanent housing programs