Housing

The CMS Systems Change conference, Transforming Systems: Keys to Success was held April 10-12 in Baltimore. Presentations from the 2006 sessions are available in both PDF and text formats. Topics range from ideas on system transformation, stakeholder involvement, coalition building, strategic planning, sustaining systems change, and the Deficit Reduction Act. Full titles are listed in the keywords section.

HUD CPD Notice 06-04 provides guidance on the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. The Notice updates CPD Notice 04-05; it is applicable to a) Units of General Local Government (UGLGs) that wish to form a consortium to participate in the HOME program, b) existing consortia that are already qualified to participate in the HOME program and want to add one or more UGLG members, c) existing consortia that must execute a new consortium agreement because their consortium qualification period ended.

With this funding for Systems Transformation, CMS will be awarding several states and non-profit agencies with small supplemental grants. States and other eligible organizations, in partnership with their disability and aging communities, may submit proposals to design and construct systems infrastructure that will result in effective and enduring improvements in community long-term support systems.

The Compendium contains basic information about each of the Real Choice Systems Change Grantees. The Compendium will help you learn more about how these grants will be used to allow more people of all ages with a disability or long term illness to live and participate in their communities. Real Choice Systems Change Grantees will also find the Compendium useful to identify other Grantees with similar goals and activities. The fifth edition of the Compendium replaces all previous editions.

The Pre-SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) Data Form will be used by Oregon to capture, evaluate and report outcomes for the SOAR Technical Assistance project. The purpose is to monitor improvement, as a result of SOAR training, in accessing SSI and SSDI benefits for eligible people disabled by mental illness.

Essentials of Housing Teleconference was held with Guest Person, Stephen Gold, regarding a systems change strategy to provide training with regards to the largest housing programs in the nation with a focus on recipients of SSI. These included: 1) low-income housing tax credit program, with nearly $600 billion available annually for units, and 2) the HOME Partnership program, with $1.4 billion available annually. Jay Klein facilitated this call.

HUD published these two notices for available funding in order to give prospective applicants sufficient time to begin preparing their applications, and to register early with Grants.gov. Review the notice which contains 39 funding opportunities.

Based on a comprehensive review of the relevant literature, this paper examines the impact of asset ownership on meaningful and participatory social inclusion. The paper first, presents an overview of the assets-based perspective of welfare and highlight factors that have shaped this perspective with an overview of rural communities and their relationship to these issues. Next, the paper reviews the potential effects of asset ownership and how this may impact social inclusion in rural areas.

Studio AID (for Adaptable and Inclusive Design) operates within the University of Arkansas School of Agriculture and provides numerous resources for developing more affordable, adaptable, inclusive, and universal design practices and solutions. Review the resources and research about inclusive design in housing.

The Office of Affordable Housing Programs is now pleased to announce this new training initiative which will use a modified 'Building HOME' primer course as its foundation. Two and one-half days of training will be provided followed by a certification test. The training and testing will happen in various locations across the country and will focus on the HOME regulations. At this time only PJ or HUD staff with at least one year of direct HOME experience are permitted to register.