ATD Blog
HUD Secretary Donovan: Focus on Whats Possible Yields Housing for Veterans
Wed Nov 23 2011
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At last week’s Excellence in Government conference HUD Secretary Shaun
At last week’s Excellence in Government conference HUD Secretary Shaun
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Donovan reminded us to focus on what’s possible – including collaboration. One
Donovan reminded us to focus on what’s possible – including collaboration. One
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of HUD’s four priority goals set at the beginning of the Obama administration was
of HUD’s four priority goals set at the beginning of the Obama administration was
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finding housing for homeless veterans, Donovan recalled, and in two years, a
finding housing for homeless veterans, Donovan recalled, and in two years, a
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program combining forces of HUD and Veterans Affairs is ahead of its targets; it found housing for 25,761 homeless veterans.
program combining forces of HUD and Veterans Affairs is ahead of its targets; it found housing for 25,761 homeless veterans.
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Often the temptation is to design programs to prevent what could
Often the temptation is to design programs to prevent what could
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go wrong rather than taking opportunities to make things right, Donovan said.
go wrong rather than taking opportunities to make things right, Donovan said.
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This HUD- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program, called VASH, is an example of
This HUD- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program, called VASH, is an example of
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that opportunity.
that opportunity.
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“Too often in government we don't know
“Too often in government we don't know
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what success looks like,” he said. “It’s incredibly simple but it's incredibly
what success looks like,” he said. “It’s incredibly simple but it's incredibly
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powerful to say ‘Let's all agree on what success looks like and let’s set a
powerful to say ‘Let's all agree on what success looks like and let’s set a
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specific target.” That can organize not only internally everyone on the team to
specific target.” That can organize not only internally everyone on the team to
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be focused in the same direction, but actually it really helps to organize
be focused in the same direction, but actually it really helps to organize
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other agencies you work with.”
other agencies you work with.”
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A program called rapid re-housing was one of the most innovative
A program called rapid re-housing was one of the most innovative
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things HUD did, according to Donovan. Many at the conference where he spoke
things HUD did, according to Donovan. Many at the conference where he spoke
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felt the rapid re-housing program made a lot of sense. In cases where a family
felt the rapid re-housing program made a lot of sense. In cases where a family
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will become homeless over a small thing, like a missed security deposit, the
will become homeless over a small thing, like a missed security deposit, the
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government pays that rather than have taxpayers incur the much larger costs of losing
government pays that rather than have taxpayers incur the much larger costs of losing
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the housing, parents losing jobs, kids falling behind in school, and people
the housing, parents losing jobs, kids falling behind in school, and people
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being unproductive while falling homeless.
being unproductive while falling homeless.
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Donovan said HUD exceeded its expectations for rapid
Donovan said HUD exceeded its expectations for rapid
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rehousing. The department expected to help a half million people but wound up
rehousing. The department expected to help a half million people but wound up
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helping a million people as of last summer.
helping a million people as of last summer.
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This
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is certainly opening doors and making a difference, the theme of the winter Public Manager – www.ThePublicManager.org . The issue also includes an article from Donovan and from Barbara Poppe of the
is certainly opening doors and making a difference, the theme of the winter Public Manager –www.ThePublicManager.org. The issue also includes an article from Donovan and from Barbara Poppe of the
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interagency task force President Obama and Congress established to coordinate
interagency task force President Obama and Congress established to coordinate
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the federal response to homelessness. Donovan wrote in the upcoming Public
the federal response to homelessness. Donovan wrote in the upcoming Public
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Manager,
Manager,
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“At
“At
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the HUD headquarters building in Washington, DC, we have a map that visually
the HUD headquarters building in Washington, DC, we have a map that visually
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represents where veterans are homeless in our country, and another map that
represents where veterans are homeless in our country, and another map that
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shows where HUD- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers are being
shows where HUD- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers are being
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used—and they are virtually identical.”
used—and they are virtually identical.”
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Diana Farrell, director of McKinsey and Co. who used to work for
Diana Farrell, director of McKinsey and Co. who used to work for
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the National Economic Council, said at the conference Donovan has been
the National Economic Council, said at the conference Donovan has been
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effective in moving the national discussion on housing and homelessness to include
effective in moving the national discussion on housing and homelessness to include
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social goals like caring for the nation’s veterans.
social goals like caring for the nation’s veterans.
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For more on Donovan read the work of Emily Kopp who sat next to me
For more on Donovan read the work of Emily Kopp who sat next to me
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at the conference, click here .
at the conference, click here.