Learn More About Assisting the Homeless -- and How You Can Help

The National Evaluation of the Shelter Plus Care Program is just one result of HUD's ongoing effort to refine and expand its homeless assistance programs and services. The latest milestone in this effort occurred on December 8, when HUD established a new information line that helps callers learn more about what they can do to help the homeless in their own communities.

The toll-free National Homeless Information Line (1-800-HUD-1010) provides callers from across the country with the names and phone numbers of local homeless providers. These providers can suggest ways for callers to volunteer. HUD is also distributing 300,000 Take Ten Tip Cards to callers and other groups explaining how to help homeless people get housing, jobs, healthcare, and other services. The wallet-sized cards list 10 specific ways for people to take 10 minutes, 10 hours, 10 weeks, or 10 months to help the homeless.

"Millions of Americans have walked by homeless people, wanting to help but not knowing how," HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo said in announcing the new service. "HUD's Homeless Information Line and our Take Ten Tip Card give Americans a quick and easy way to get information on how to help homeless people in their own community." Operators will answer calls from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. eastern time on weekdays. Callers on evenings and weekends will get an automated service that gives toll-free local numbers for agencies in all States and major cities.

Another toll-free call can help people learn more about what has already been done to help homeless people through HUD's McKinney Act homeless assistance programs. HUD USER distributes recent, HUD-sponsored evaluations of many of these programs. Available publications include:

• Review of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Programs Administered by HUD: Report to Congress (HUD-6540) draws on evaluations sponsored by HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research to assess the impact of the Emergency Shelter Grants, Supportive Housing Demonstration Program, Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Assistance for Single-Room Occupancy Dwellings, Shelter Plus Care, Supplemental Assistance to Facilities to Assist the Homeless, and the Single-Family Property Disposition Initiative. The report also describes the status and future direction of Federal efforts to end homelessness.

• National Evaluation of the Supportive Housing Demonstration Program: Final Report (HUD-6545) summarizes assessments of two supportive housing demonstration programs -- Transitional Housing and Permanent Housing for the Handicapped Homeless. It includes data on the housing and supportive services provided and the distribution of costs and funding sources.

• Evaluation of the Emergency Shelter Grants Program surveys grantees and recipient agencies in an evaluation and analysis of the program's impact on local systems for providing aid to the homeless. Available in three volumes: Findings (HUD6501); Site Profiles (HUD6502); and Technical Appendices (HUD6503).

Each report is packed with useful data, resources, and insights on national policies and programs. Please use the order form to obtain copies for only $5 per volume.

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