News from the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness

July 14, 2015

USICH and Federal Partners Release New Guidance on SSI/SSDI Benefits for People Experiencing Homelessness     The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and its partners at SSA, SAMHSA, and VA are pleased to release Key Strategies for Connecting People Experiencing Homelessness to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Benefits. Read the key strategies.       HUD Study Shows Access to Affordable Housing Can End Family Homelessness We were all given an important opportunity last week to deepen our conversations and strengthen our efforts to end family homelessness.  USICH Executive Director Matthew Doherty talks about some of his initial reactions to HUD's Family Options Study. Read his blog.  Medicaid Services Can Support Housing Stability     Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently released an information bulletin on how states can use Medicaid to pay for housing-related services, particularly for people experiencing chronic homelessness. Read the bulletin. We encourage you to use the bulletin as you work with your State Medicaid Agency on ending chronic homelessness in your community.  A Closer Look at Opening Doors | Spotlight on Data Data helps us to end homelessness. It allows us to understand the needs of people experiencing homelessness in our communities, put resources in the right place, and measure the results of our efforts. That's why data takes on even more importance in the newly amended Opening Doors. Read our blog.  For more on the four key updates to Opening Doors, read our blogs on Medicaid, Crisis Response Systems, and Changing of the Goal of Ending Chronic Homelessness.    Interested in joining the USICH team? We are looking for a Regional Coordinator to facilitate implementation of Opening Doors locally.