2000 Best Practice Awards

Best Practice: Wyoming Statewide Homeless Collaborative

Wyoming Statewide Homeless Collaborative Links Remote Services and Shares Knowledge

Casper. The Wyoming Statewide Homeless Collaborative is developing a statewide Continuum of Care for homeless services while meeting the organizational challenges present in a large, sparsely-populated state. The Statewide Collaborative is a confederation of four previously existing local collaboratives of homeless service providers. In an effort to link homeless services and develop a Continuum of Care for the entire state, the four local collaboratives have expanded their activities and outreach efforts to encompass their regions of the state. The Statewide Homeless Collaborative then works through these strengthened regional organizations. The presence of a Statewide Collaborative has improved communication and knowledge sharing among homeless providers. Tasks for the Statewide Collaborative as they develop the Continuum of Care include identifying and eliminating gaps in service, maximizing limited resources by reducing duplication, and mobilizing appropriate groups in an ongoing effort to help homeless people achieve self-sufficiency. Key aspects of the system include prevention, outreach/assessment, emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing and supportive services.

Contact: Dennis Royal, Phone: (307) 235-9491
Tracking Number: 1464
Winning Category: Geographical

Best Practice: Increasing Homeownership Opportunities on the Wind River Reservation

Housing Partners, Inc. Builds New Homes on the Wind River Reservation

Riverton. Housing Partners, Inc. developed a program to increase homeownership at the Wind River Reservation, home to the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone Tribes. By coordinating the activities of nonprofits, businesses, schools, and the Tribes, Housing Partners addresses some of the challenges to private homeownership on the Reservation’s trust lands. By working with Habitat for Humanity, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the respective Tribal Councils, Housing Partners built three new homes last year—the first new housing built on the Reservation in several years. Two additional units are planned for the summer of 2000. Housing Partners is also working to facilitate the use of the HUD Section 184 Loan Guarantee Program. A recently approved 50 year land lease program between the Tribes and the BIA will allow approved lenders to issue Section 184 loans on the Reservation.

Contact: Cathy G. Yochheim, Phone: (307) 857-1988
Tracking Number: 2964
Winning Category: Geograhical and Program (Office of Native American Programs)

Content Archived: April 20, 2011