Homeless Services United Inc

HOMELESS SERVICES UNITED (HSU) IS A COALITION OF NON-PROFIT AGENCIES SERVING HOMELESS AND AT-RISK ADULTS AND FAMILIES IN NEW YORK CITY. HSU PROVIDES ADVOCACY, INFORMATION, AND TRAINING TO MEMBER AGENCIES TO EXPAND THEIR CAPACITY TO DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES. HSU ADVOCATES FOR EXPANSION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PREVENTION SERVICES AND FOR IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO SAFE, DECENT, EMERGENCY AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, OUTREACH AND DROP-IN SERVICES FOR HOMELESS NEW YORKERS. HOMELESS SERVICES UNITED PROMOTES EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO END THE CRISIS OF HOMELESSNESS IN NEW YORK CITY.

HSU PROGRAM PROVIDES OUR MEMBERS DISCOUNTED TRAINING ON BEST PRACTICES IN HOMELESS SERVICES DELIVERY, FREE JOB POSTINGS, MEDIA ALERTS AND PERIODIC UPDATES AND ALERTS REGARDING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR. IN ADDITION TO THESE BENEFITS, WE PARTNER WITH OUR MEMBERS TO INFORM POLICY IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: WE ARE CLOSELY TRACKING THE AMENDMENT PROCESS AND, ARE ADVOCATING WITH DHS AND MOCS TO ENSURE THE VALUE OF THE INDIRECT COST RATE INITIATIVE IS NOT ERODED BY UNFAVORABLE INTERPRETATIONS OF THE COST MANUAL. HSU CONTINUES TO MEET WITH DHS/DSS SENIOR LEADERSHIP REGULARLY TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR TIMELY REGISTRATION AND HAS A SEAT ON THE NEW TASKFORCE ESTABLISHED BY MAYOR ELECT ADAMS AND COMPTROLLER ELECT LANDER TO SOLVE FOR CHRONIC DELAYS. WE HAVE ALSO MET WITH THE ADAMS ADMINISTRATION'S TRANSITION TEAM TO HIGHLIGHT THE CONCERNS OF OUR MEMBERS AND WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH TO ENSURE DHS AND HRA PROCEDURES PROMOTE POSITIVE CASH FLOW AND FISCAL RESILIENCY.SUPPORTING COVID RESPONSE AND RECOVERY: HSU HAS PLAYED A LEADING ROLE IN INFORMING CONTINUED COVID RESPONSE AND RECOVERY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS SUPPORTING MOVES IN AND OUT OF DE-DENSIFICATION HOTELS, COORDINATING ACCESS TO VACCINE AND FUNDING FOR INCENTIVES FOR OUR CLIENTS AND WORKFORCE. HSU ALSO SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR PRIORITY ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR RESIDENTS AT HIGHER RISK OF COVID COMPLICATIONS FOR EHV VOUCHERS AND CERTAIN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING RESOURCES. PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES: HSU PROVIDES MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEMBERS TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER, HONE THEIR SKILLS AND RECEIVE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM LEADERS IN OUR FIELD. WE OFFERED TRAINING ON IMPROVING ATTENDANCE FOR HOMELESS STUDENTS AND HELD OUR ANNUAL POLICY SYMPOSIUM VIRTUALLY WHERE WE ASSEMBLED PANELS OF EXPERTS TO DISCUSSED RETHINKING HOW WE USE AND ADAPT REAL ESTATE FOR SHELTER AND HOUSING, RECONFIGURING THE ADULT SHELTER SYSTEM TO FUNCTION IN SOCIALLY DISTANCED HOTELS, ADAPTING PREVENTING PROGRAMS TO THE REMOTE ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPING TELEMEDICINE PROGRAMS AND RENEWING OUR COMMITMENT TO INTERAGENCY DISASTER PLANNING. ORGANIZING PROVIDERS TO IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY: THROUGH OUR COMMITTEES WE ARE LEADING THE CHARGE TO MAXIMIZE PREVENTION RESOURCES DURING THE EVICTION MORATORIUM WORKING WITH PROVIDERS, OTDA AND HRA TO IMPROVE THE ERAP PROGRAM, ADVOCATING FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, COORDINATING SERVICES AND ENHANCING ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR THOSE LIVING UNSHELTERED AND, EASING ACCESS TO EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS AND OTHER RESOURCES. HSU IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH POLICY MAKERS, COALITIONS AND TASKFORCES REPRESENTING OUR SECTOR SO THAT ANY TIME A POLICY, REGULATION OR LAW IS BEING PROPOSED OR DEBATED, THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE PROVIDER COMMUNITY ARE FRONT AND CENTER SO THAT WE ARE POISED TO CONTINUE TO DO THE TRANSFORMATIVE WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT IN ALL OF OUR MEMBER PROGRAMS.THIS WORK HAS CONTINUED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND GROWN TO INCLUDE DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY COORDINATION ACROSS THE SECTOR. LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ADVOCACY: OUR BIGGEST VICTORIES THIS YEAR CAME VIA HISTORIC LEGISLATION TO RIGHT-SIZE VOUCHER AMOUNTS FOR BOTH THE CITY AND STATE FHEPS PROGRAMS BOTH OF WHICH ARE NOW INDEXED TO FAIR MARKET RENT. THESE REFORMS WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS MORE NEW YORKERS TO RETAIN OR OBTAIN HOUSING. WE ALSO WORKED IN COALITION WITH THE EVICTION PREVENTION ROUNDTABLE, THE HOUSED CAMPAIGN, NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS AND OTHERS TO MAXIMIZE FEDERAL RESOURCES COMING TO NEW YORK TO ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND BEST SUPPORT OUR CLIENTS' RECOVERY.

HSU'S POLICY SYMPOSIUM:HSU HOLDS A POLICY SYMPOSIUM ANNUALLY TO PROVIDE MEMBERS A CHANCE TO SHOWCASE NEW AND EMERGING PROGRAM MODELS, POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO ELEVATE AND AMPLIFY A MEMBER INFORMED APPROACH TO HOMELESS SERVICES DESIGN. LEADERS IN THE FIELD COME TOGETHER WITH PARTNERS IN GOVERNMENT, PHILANTHROPY, ADVOCACY AND THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY TO COLLECTIVELY REIMAGINE THE ROLE THAT SHELTERS AND HOMELESS PROGRAMS PLAY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN THE SECTOR. HSU WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE INNOVATIVE WORK OF OUR MEMBERS TO CREATE SYSTEM-WIDE IMPROVEMENTS.HSU WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE FISCAL YEAR END JUNE 30, 2022 SYMPOSIUM VIRTUALLY.