In addition to grant programs and research relevant to homelessness, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also funds several resource centers and activities that provide valuable information to consumers, service providers, and policy makers. Several HHS operating divisions also have web pages with agency-specific information related to homelessness.
- Resources for the homeless
- Resources for policy makers and service providers
- HHS Division of Personnel and Operational Resources
- Federal links relevant to the homeless
Resources for the homeless
Resource center for housing and the homeless
The Homeless and Housing Resource Center (HHRC) provides free, high-quality training for health and housing professionals in evidence-based practices that contribute to housing stability, recovery, and ending homelessness. Working in partnership with national experts in homelessness, mental health and substance abuse services, HHRC develops and delivers self-paced comprehensive resources, webinars and online training. Education focuses on models of housing and care for adults, children and families living or at risk of homelessness who have serious mental illness, serious emotional disorders, substance abuse disorders, or mental and substance abuse disorders.
National Safe Escape Line
The mission of the National Runaway Safeline (NRS) is to help keep America's runaway, homeless and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. NRS provides educational and solution-focused interventions, offers non-sectarian and non-judgmental support, respects confidentiality, collaborates with volunteers and responds to at-risk youth and their families 24 hours a day via phone, email and live chat.
National domestic violence hotline: 1-800-799-SEGURO (7233)
National Resource Center for Human Trafficking: 1-888-373-7888
Or send "HELP" or "INFO" toBe free(233733)
Find a program for runaway and homeless youth
Find the nearest emergency shelter funded by the Department of Families and Youth, a transitional living program, or a street program for runaway or homeless youth.
Find a health center
Find the nearest health center, including health assistance programs for the homeless.
Resources for policy makers and service providers
buildingState Medicaid Housing AgencyPartnerships
The CMS Medicaid Innovation Accelerator (IAP) program is a collaboration between the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). The Medicaid IAP supported three groups of state Medicaid-Housing Agency partnerships from 2016 to 2019. To support states interested in more information, the IAP released a six-part Housing Partnership Toolkit and hosted related learning webinars. For IAP resources, including links to webinar recordings and materials, seestranicu Medicaid Housing Partnerships and Services. ethe state agency's Medicaid-Housing Partnership tool.
COVID-19 Resources to Support the Homeless(CDC)
Guidelines related to the prevention of COVID-19 disease in shelters, strategies to provide assistance for homeless vaccinations, and other resources to inform prevention and mitigation efforts. The site also offers CDC tools, training and articles on homelessness and COVID-19.
Disaster Preparedness for Building Community Resilience: Information and Tools for Homeless Service Providers and Disaster Professionals
The toolkit provides guidance for identifying and collaborating with partners to address the disaster response and recovery needs of the homeless. Describes strategies for engaging in preparedness and minimizing service disruptions due to a disaster. In addition, it outlines how to improve health facility capacity with providers experienced in caring for the homeless and provide extended care after a disaster or public health emergency.
Disaster response for homeless individuals and families: A trauma-informed approach
Homeless people tend to have limited resources and are likely to have previously been exposed to traumatic events. Therefore, they may be at greater risk of adverse physical and psychological reactions following a public health emergency or disaster. Trauma-informed approaches can help disaster response teams effectively serve homeless people and families. This site provides considerations and gathers resources to better serve the homeless in disasters.
Health insurance for homeless and at-risk youth
This fact sheet explores health insurance eligibility, including Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), for youth who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. You'll find information about the subpopulations of young people who are likely to be eligible for health insurance, what services are covered, and how to apply. You'll also find Medicaid and CHIP eligibility levels for each state.
SSI/SSDI Reach, Access and Recovery (SOAR)Technical assistance (substance abuse management and mental health services)
The National SSI/SSDI Extension, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) Technical Assistance Project is designed to increase access to the disability benefit programs it administersSocial Security Administration (SSA)for qualifying children and adults living or at risk of homelessness who have a serious mental illness, medical disability, or co-occurring substance abuse disorder.
Tools for Screening and Evaluation of Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs
This list includes screening and assessment tools that service providers can use to decide what types of interventions and services each young person needs. The screening includes short instruments that check for things like traumatic stress and mental health problems and can identify certain young people who need more thorough diagnostic assessment and treatment. Assessment includes assessment of multiple aspects of social, emotional and behavioral skills and functioning to inform service planning and monitor progress towards improved outcomes. The tools presented include those suitable for use in various federal programs for youth and young adults, generally between the ages of 12 and 24, and that are inexpensive or in the public domain.
American Interagency Council on Homelessness
The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) is expected to coordinate the federal response to homelessness and create a national partnership at all levels of government and with the private sector to reduce and end homelessness in the nation. , while maximizing the effectiveness of homelessness. The federal government. in contributing to ending homelessness.
Guidance on Using Medicaid for the Chronically Homeless and Residents in Permanent Supportive Housing
This report provides a "how-to" guide to the different ways Medicaid can cover services for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, including Medicaid authorities and new options provided by the Affordable Care Act.
Homeless Families - Homeless Interactive Modules for CCDF Leaders and CCDF Subsidized Child Care Providers:Completed in 2018, this interactive learning series is intended for Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care professionals, including early childhood and school-age child care providers, CCDF lead agency or authorized agency staff, and other key stakeholders. Learn how to identify homeless families, conduct community outreach, and more.
Potential analyzes with data on homelessness: ideas for policy makers and researchers
This paper summarizes ideas for data analysis to help answer questions of interest to policy makers and researchers. The study is funded by AnHHS,Data on Homelessness in Conventional Health and Human Services Programs, found that thirty states currently collect information on homelessness or risk factors for homelessness from TANF or Medicaid applicants. Abt Associates, under contract with HHS, developed ideas for potential uses of this information for policy makers (particularly at the state level) and researchers.
Guide to Assessing Housing Status for State TANF and Medicaid Programs
This Guide is intended to provide recommendations on a set of standardized questions about housing status and risk of homelessness that can be included in state TANF and/or Medicaid applications. The taxonomy of issues presented in this Guide is provided only as a resource for states interested in modifying current implementation issues and in promoting coordination between major social service programs and housing and homelessness service providers. It is important to note that changing the current application and data collection procedures is not a requirement for countries interested in using this Guide.
Federal programs that can help communities end youth homelessness
These federal programs provide targeted and untargeted funding to prevent and end homelessness, including among youth, which can, combined with other funding sources, help communities implement the coordinated response they need.
Guidelines for States and Agencies to Address Child and Youth Trafficking in the United States(Administration for Children and Family)
These guidelines for states and service programs are designed to create greater awareness and a better response to the problem of child trafficking in child welfare systems and services for runaway and homeless youth. These guidelines focus on new knowledge and practices that systems and services might consider integrating into existing activities.
Federal programs that can help communities end youth homelessness
These federal programs provide targeted and untargeted funding to prevent and end homelessness, including among youth, which can, combined with other funding sources, help communities implement the coordinated response they need.
National Information Chamber on Families and Youth
The National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth of the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) educates the field of family and youth work—including FYSB users and aspiring users—about research and effective practices that can improve long-term social and emotional well-being. term benefit for families and youth. From sustainability to evidence-based practice and trauma-informed care, NCFY publishes more than 250 articles, podcasts, and videos annually about the research and innovative work happening in the field.
Increase personal protective equipment for homeless children
This page contains information about the effortOffice for Early Childhood Developmentexpand early care and education services for homeless children. Resources include information on policies, procedures, and strategies to increase access to services for street children, a resource list, a topic brief on early care and education for young street children, a developmental screening guide for residential providers, webinars, and blog posts. These resources will help policy makers and program directors improve access to services for young children experiencing homelessness.
Strategies for increasing ECE services for homeless children
Various federal laws and policies affect the ability of homeless families to access early care and education programs. Service providers and advocates at the state and local levels can better coordinate existing policies across programs to ensure that homeless children are included in America's early education and care (ECE) programs.
Federal Strategic Action Plan for Services to Victims of Human Trafficking in the United States 2013-2017.(Interagency working group for monitoring and combating human trafficking)
The first Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services for Victims of Trafficking in the United States sets out a five-year path to further strengthen coordination, cooperation, and capacity among government and non-governmental bodies dedicated to providing support to victims of human trafficking. . The Ministry of Health and Social Services co-chaired the planning process for this Plan, which emphasizes the importance of coordination with runaway and homeless youth programs.
A report to Congress on promising strategies to end youth homelessness(Administration for Children and Family)
A report to Congress on promising strategies to end youth homelessness concludes that building stable, caring families is the most effective way to prevent youth homelessness. Increasing positive parenting skills, as well as connecting youth and their families to community resources, can help parents and caregivers deal with issues that can disrupt the family. When these efforts fail, youth need ongoing connections with other stable adults and comprehensive support services for a successful transition to adulthood.
National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence: Final Report(Ministry of Justice) (2012)
This report from the National Attorney General's Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence provides a comprehensive roadmap for preventing violence and helping children and youth heal and recover when it occurs. The report makes a number of recommendations to help identify these young people soon after exposure and provide them with specialist services, evidence-based treatment and appropriate care and support.
HHS Division of Personnel and Operational Resources
Administration for Children and Family (ACF)
The Directorate for Children and Family promotes the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals and communities. It implements several targeted and non-targeted programs that deal with the needs of homeless and at-risk families, children and youth.
Directorate for Children and Family, Office for Family and Youth
The Family and Youth Bureau (FYSB) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) administers the Homeless and Runaway Youth Program - the only federal funding stream dedicated to serving runaway, homeless, and street youth for 22 years. The youth program was authorized by Congress 40 years ago to prevent young people from becoming homeless - either by providing preventive services or by quickly and effectively relocating and resolving cases when youth are on the street.
Community Life Administration
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) was created around the core principle that seniors and people with disabilities of all ages should be able to live where they want, with the people they choose, and be able to fully participate in their communities. ACL advocates across the federal government for seniors, people with disabilities, and families and caregivers; funds services and grants primarily provided by networks of state and community programs; and invests in training, education, research and innovation. By funding services and support provided by networks of community organizations and investing in research, education and innovation, ACL helps make this principle a reality for millions of Americans.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health and security threats, both foreign and domestic. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, chronic or acute, treatable or preventable, human error or intentional attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same. CDC is increasing our nation's health security. As the national health agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. To fulfill our mission, CDC conducts critical science and provides health information that protects our nation from costly and dangerous health threats and responds when they occur.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for ensuring effective, up-to-date health care and promoting quality care for beneficiaries.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
The Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead federal agency for improving access to health care services for the uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. HRSA administers the Health Centers Program which funds a network of more than 4,000 clinics nationwide consisting of community health centers, migrant health centers, homeless health centers, and public residential primary care centers. Homeless health centers are focused on providing preventive and primary health care to homeless people, but homeless people can seek free or low-cost care at any health center.
Assistant Secretary, Office of Preparedness and Response, Division of At-Risk Individuals, Behavioral Health, and Community Resilience
The Individuals at Risk, Behavioral Health and Community Resilience (ABC) Division provides policy leadership, expertise and coordination of internal and external partners to ensure that the access and functional needs of individuals at risk, behavioral health and community resilience are integrated into preparedness, response and recovery activities in public health and medical emergencies.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, has established a clear vision for its work—community living for all. To achieve this vision, the Agency has strongly focused its mission on building resilience and facilitating the recovery of people with or at risk of mental or substance abuse disorders. SAMHSA offers several resources for training and technical assistance.practitioner trainingprovides tools, training and technical assistance for mental health and substance abuse professionals.Softwareand campaigns provide information, training and technical assistance to improve the quality and delivery of behavioral health services across the country. In addition to behavioral health training and technical assistance, SAMHSA has a number ofpublications and digital productsresources.