Alliance Online News

Date: 4 Dec 2007

Author: National Alliance to End Homelessness

December 4, 2007

POLICY | DATA + RESEARCH | TOOL + TRAINING | NEWS + MEDIA

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Editor: Samantha Batko

Spotlight On...
Housing in the Nation's Capital 2007

This week, the Urban Institute and the Fannie Mae Foundation released the annual report Housing in the Nation's Capital. Key findings include that while the region as a whole experienced a slowdown in the housing market between 2005 and 2006, housing affordability problems persist. The median home-sale price was $431,000 this year, which is far out of reach for moderate and low income households. Additionally, rents continue to elude low income renters. A family would have to earn $49,000 a year to afford the average apartment rental price (in larger buildings) of over $1,200 a month. The enduring housing affordability problems in the District put more families and households at- risk of homelessness. In 2007, there were 11,800 people who experienced homelessness at a given point-in-time. While this decreased in the past year, it remains above the 2005 level. However, there has been a 58 percent increase in the number of individuals served by permanent supportive housing since 2004.

Housing in the Nation's Capital outlines housing affordability issues for homeowners and renters in the DC region. This issue focuses on populations with special needs, such as those who are homeless and at-risk of homelessness. It also examines housing instability among the elderly and the disabled as a part of a chapter on the growing number of people with special needs housing in the region.

Housing in the Nation's Capital 2007

Congressional Outlook: Appropriations and SAMHSA Reauthorization

Appropriations
As Congress returns from recess, a major priority will be the remaining 11 Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations bills (only the Defense bill has been signed into law). Both the Transportation-HUD and the Labor-HHS- Education bills include significant increases for programs serving homeless people. However, the President has promised a veto for any appropriations bill that exceeds his request.

Appropriators are now working on passing a single omnibus bill, which would combine the 11 appropriations bill into one. In an attempt to compromise with the President, the total non-Defense funding level in the omnibus bill is $484.2 billion, or $10.6 billion less than the Democrats originally wanted. It remains unclear if low-income housing and homelessness programs will receive less funding and whether the President will accept this compromise.

SAMHSA Reauthorization Moves Forward
This week, the Senate is scheduled to introduce legislation reauthorizing programs within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This would reauthorize SAMHSA programs through 2013 and includes several provisions important to homeless providers and clients:

It includes the Services to End Long Term Homelessness Act (SELHA) as a new program within SAMHSA;
It renames the Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals program the Grants for Treatment and Recovery for Homeless Individuals (GTRHI);
It authorizes SELHA and the new GTRHI program together for $100 million;
It adds a new program targeted to integrating systems for those with co-occuring substance abuse and mental health disorders. Homeless populations are a priority in this new program. It is authorized at $14 million for the first year, $20 million in the second, and such sums as necessary thereafter; and
It addresses funding issues within the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) by increasing the state minimum to $600,000 (from $300,000 in current law) and increasing the Territory allotment to $100,000 (from $50,000 in current law).

The bill will be available online after it is introduced. It is expected to be considered by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee next week.

Alliance to Testify on Housing Needs of Low- Income Veterans
On Wednesday, December 5, the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity of the House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing entitled "

Affordable Housing Needs of America's Low-Income Veterans." Alliance President Nan Roman will testify, highlighting findings from the Alliance's recent report, Vital Mission: Ending Homelessness Among Veterans.

Congressional Site Visit to Pathways to Housing

On Thursday, November 29, the Alliance hosted a tour of Pathways to Housing, Inc., a permanent supportive housing program in Washington, DC, for Congressional and federal Department of Housing and Urban Development staff. Participants visited the apartment of Pathway's client Richard Corbett who, after four years of living in shelter, his car, and on the street, is no longer homeless. In addition, Sam Tsemberis, Director of Pathways to Housing, Inc., and Christy Respress, Director of Programs and Development of Pathway's DC office, led a discussion emphasizing the important role of supportive services, linked to affordable housing, in ending chronic homelessness.

Our partners have many examples of how visiting local homeless assistance programs and meeting homeless and formerly homeless people has persuaded a member of Congress to support federal policy that will prevent and end homelessness. The holiday Congressional recess is an opportune time to invite your Senators and Representatives to see local programs. Contact Sarah Kahn at

skahn@naeh.org or visit our website for more information about planning and conducting a successful site visit.

Overcoming NIMBY Free Audio Training

On Thursday, December 13, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) will host "Overcoming NIMBY Opposition to Homeless Services," a free training to discuss NIMBY ("Not In My Back Yard") opposition to housing and services for homeless people. Trainers will discuss successful efforts in creating housing or providing services despite NIMBY opposition, federal laws that can be utilized to overcome barriers that result from NIMBY opposition, and methods for combating NIMBY opposition itself. Panelists will include Catherine Bendor, Deputy Legal Director at NLCHP; Diane Louard-Michel, Director of the New York Program for the Corporation for Supportive Housing; and Laurel Weir, Policy Director at NLCHP.

Online Registration Now Available

Online registration is now available for the National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness 2008. The conference will be held on February 7 and 8, 2008 at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel in Seattle, Washington. The conference will bring together leaders from all parts of the country, from the nonprofit provider community, to local, state, and federal government, to business and philanthropy. We will share solutions, confront issues, and unite in our resolve to ensure that the day is near when no child or parent will experience homelessness. Your leadership is part of the solution. Please join us in Seattle.

ABOUT US
	The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan, non profit organization dedicated to solving the problem of homelessness and preventing its continued growth. www.endhomelessness.org
EXPERT Q & A
	Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy. This month's expert is Senator Richard Burr (R-NC). Take Five! Expert Q & A
UPCOMING EVENTS
	December 6 \| 9th Annual Conference on Supportive Housing
	December 13 \| Research on Youth Homelessness
	January 10 \| Substance Abuse Treatment Models for Homeless People
	February 7-8 \| National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness 2008

QUICK LINKS
	Ten Year Plan The Ten Essentials Online Library Community Plans Legislative Updates Newsletter Archive Daily Media Clips

Alliance Online News

Date: 4 Dec 2007

Author: National Alliance to End Homelessness

NEWSLETTER

Permanent Housing Solutions for Homeless Veterans

Keys: Ending Family Homelessness

Take Five! Q & A with Laurence Belinsky