2013 Point In Time census changes

For anyone interested in participating in the 2013 PIT below are new changes that HUD has mandated for the data collection.  Please use the link and read the 26 page PDF as we will need to perform these questions on the PIT.
If you have any questions please contact me.
Ryan

Ryan L. Reilly, MPA
Program Development Specialist 1
Coordinator - Human Services Advisory Council
Ocean County Department of Human Services
1027 Hooper Ave., Bldg. 2,
Toms River, NJ  08754
Phone 732-506-5374 
Fax 732-341-4539
  

  2013 HIC & PIT Data Collection Requirements
In anticipation of the upcoming 2013 Housing Inventory Count (HIC) and Point-in-Time (PIT) count of homeless persons, HUD has published updated HIC and PIT guidance for Continuums of Care (CoCs). The updated guidance is outlined in the 2013 Housing Inventory Count (HIC) and Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of Homeless Persons: Data Collection Guidance.
CoCs are strongly encouraged to review the updated guidance, which provides information on how to prepare to successfully complete the upcoming HIC and PIT counts. As CoCs begin to organize and plan for these activities, staff should use it as a reference to ensure that they are capturing all of the required data.
Changes to the 2013 HIC:
The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) Provider Program Type has been removed because HPRP ended on September 30, 2012.  
Rapid Re-housing (RRH) will be added as a new Provider Program Type due to the changes under ESG and CoC per the HEARTH Act.
All provider programs with inventory that have been identified as “Under Development” will need to indicate whether or not the provider program is expected to begin operation within the next 12 months.
Changes to the 2013 PIT:
CoCs will be required to report on the number of persons in each household type by one of the following age categories: under age 18, age 18 to 24, and over age 24.
CoCs will be required to report both the number of one-child households and the number of multi-child households in the household type “Households with Only Children.”
Unaccompanied youth will no longer be collected on the Subpopulation chart, as this information is now collected in the Populations chart.
CoCs will be required to report on the number of female veterans.
CoCs will be required to report on the number of sheltered and unsheltered persons in each of the subpopulation categories, except domestic violence, which will remain an optional subpopulation category.
CoCs will be required to report and explain the PIT counting methodologies used for sheltered counts (survey, HMIS extrapolation, other) and unsheltered counts (public place count, service-based count, observation, interview, sampling). This is similar to what is reported in the CoC application.
HUD encourages CoCs to engage their homeless assistance partners, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Runaway and Homeless Youth providers, Local Education Liaisons, and critical local agencies and service providers, to determine the most accurate count of homeless persons in your areas. HUD commends you for your great work and is grateful to be a partner with you in this critical effort.
Questions about the HIC, PIT, or unmet need?
All HIC, PIT, or unmet need questions should be submitted to the "HDX (PIT, HIC, AHAR, PULSE)" program/system on HUD HRE Virtual Help Desk.

From HUH, Homeless Resource Exchange: http://hudhre.info/index.cfm?do=viewResource&ResourceID=4697

2013 Housing Inventory Count (HIC) and Point-in-Time Count (PIT) of Homeless Persons Data Collection Guidance

Abstract

This document provides information to Continuums of Care (CoCs) on what information to collect in order to successfully complete their 2013 Housing Inventory Count (HIC) and Point-in-Time (PIT) count. As CoCs begin to organize and plan these activities, staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference to ensure that they are capturing all of the required information.

For the PDF on data collection guidance, click here:

Unemployed N.J. veterans get a boost from job fairs; next is in Flemington

By Terry Wright/Hunterdon County Democrat Hunterdon County Democrat
Military veterans have a higher unemployment rate than others in the New Jersey work force, and to help, job fairs particularly geared to veterans are held around the state.
One at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton on Sept. 12 brought more than 120 employers ranging from large companies, such as Johnson & Johnson, PSEG, Toys R Us and Prudential, to small businesses and government agencies.

The next one will be held Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the National Guard Armory, 422 Route 12, west of Flemington and near Croton.

For the full article click here

Beware of Foreclosure Rescue and Loan Modification Scams

A new breed of scam artist has grown along with the current mortgage crisis. This pamphlet available from the US government describes common foreclosure rescue scams, tell-tale signs of a scam operator, and whom to contact if you're caught in a scam. (Previous item number: 526W)

http://publications.usa.gov/USAPubs.php?PubID=6073
Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Released: 2009
Pages: 2
Publication ID: 6073
Item number: 526X
ISBN: 978-1-61221-053-7

Also available in Spanish

Tent City winter needs

Hello!

We are getting ready for winter at Tent City and have many homeless residents this season.  We are doing our best to make sure that everyone has adequate heat before the "real" winter weather quickly starts.  We greatly appreciate any help and have attached the Winter Needs list.  Thank you for your support and concern for the homeless community.  Thank you from all the residents of Tent City!

God Bless,

Minister Steve

2012 Winter Needs for Tent City, P.O. Box 326, Lakewood, NJ 08701

PLEASE contact Minister Steve at (732) 364-0340 BEFORE bringing in any donations.  THANK YOU!

¨ Gift Cards: Home Depot or Lowes (for building materials to prepare for winter)

¨ Gift Cards: K Mart or Wal-Mart (for tents and other camping gear)

¨ Gift Cards: Gas Stations (Regular fuel for Generator use)

¨ Gift Cards: Gas Stations (Regular fuel for Generator use)

¨ Wood burning stoves (on sale at Harbor Freights during October)

¨ Electric Parabolic Heaters 400W/800W (on sale at Harbor Freights during October)

¨ Sleeping bags

¨ Cots

¨ Electric start Generators 7000Watts or higher

¨ Tents: 8 Man Capacity or Larger (new or used)

¨ Tarps: 15’ X 20’ and Larger

¨ Shovels, Leaf Rakes & Metal Graters

¨ Bottled Water: any size

¨ Pots & Pans

¨ Paper Products:  Paper Plates, Paper Towels, & Hot/Cold Cups

¨ Plastic Flatware: Forks, Spoons and Knives

¨ Toiletries: Shampoo, Conditioner, Soap and Body Wash

¨ Blankets

¨ New Socks

¨ Winter Clothing

              Thank you, from all the residents of Tent City!

WHYY reports: Artists from Trenton soup kitchen get exhibit at Grounds for Sculpture

October 4, 2012

By Ilene Dube, of The Artful Blogger

 

A burgundy haze is beginning to form in the canopy of trees at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton where, inside the education building, visitors can see the work of the A-Team artists through October 21.
Two-and-a-half miles away, on the concrete and asphalt Escher Street in Trenton, the color comes not from foliage but from the salon-style outpouring on the walls of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK). In a room off of the main dining room, Susan Darley, A-Team coordinator, asks the artists to introduce themselves...  For more click here.

Feeding the Hungry Feeds the Soul: A child's story

September 19, 2012 / Christi Zellerhoff

I DON’T WANT TO GO! protested my 9 year old son.  “Yes, you are going to go,” I said; and off we went to feed the homeless at a local church cooperative organization called “TRANSFORM BURIEN.”

How do you prepare your young children for what experiences they may encounter when feeding people in need?  Simply, be honest with them.

“You may see and feed people young and old, who haven’t showered; come in soiled clothing; look sad or angry; perhaps they will seem different to you,” I counseled him.  “Will they hurt me mom?” “No, you will be safe.”  Hesitantly, he got into the car with the rest of our family. His grumbling stopped, replaced with silence.

When we arrived, we were each assigned a “job” along the serving assembly line.  My son chose to hand out the plates and napkins-the first point of contact. This surprised me.

Standing next to him, at first I noticed that he was subdued, trying not to stare as, one by one, people extended their hand to receive their plate and napkin.   EVERY time he handed out a plate, he received a gracious “thank you.” “Your welcome,” he would reply. Then I noticed it-his skeptical demeanor changed. He began returning conversation to those who engaged him.

He looked at me and smiled big.

On the way home, I asked him how he felt about the experience. “What did you think about the people you met today? Where you scared?” His reply? “No mom, I realized they were no different than me.”

I still tear up when I tell this story. My 9 year old son taught me a beautiful lesson that day. He looked past the dirt, tattered clothing, sad and hungry eyes, and at times, offensive smells. He saw their hearts; he embraced their kind and gracious souls; and he served without prejudice.

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40) NIV

If only we ALL could be more like that!

College Student Recalls High School Homelessness

When Tierra Jackson was in high school, she was struggling. She kept getting yelled at for being late to school.
What most of her teachers and administrators didn't know was the reason for her tardiness: Jackson was homeless. Her mother was in and out of prison. She and her brother were living with her aunt and cousins. All seven of them shared a single room in one of Chicago's homeless shelters, a long bus ride from her school.
Her story (ttext and audio) can be found on the NPR Web site:
http://www.npr.org/2012/09/21/161473187/college-student-recalls-high-school-homelessness?ft=1&f=4516989&sc=tw

Advanced education is available, free in many instances.
Ocean County Library offers more than 500 courses thru Universal Class: http://theoceancountylibrary.org/UniversalClass.htm

Another source of classes is :

http://www.openculture.com/2012/09/new_additions_to_our_list_of_530_free_online_courses_from_top_universities_.html