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Senators Call for HUD Secretary Jackson's Resignation
On Friday, March 21, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), sent a letter to President Bush calling for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Jackson's resignation. The letter follows hearings before their Committees during which Secretary Jackson continually refused to respond to questions. During a Senate Banking Committee hearing, Secretary Jackson refused to answer questions from several members of the Committee. Following the hearing, Senator Dodd sent a letter to Secretary Jackson requesting specific information on a number of allegations of wrongdoing on his part, the answers to which did not address Dodd's concerns and questions. Secretary Jackson also refused to answer questions regarding the same matters in Senator Murray's subcommittee hearing on the HUD budget.
Martha Burt recently completed an evaluation of LA's Hope, a program that helps chronically homeless people move into permanent housing and helps them return to work. The report, Ending Chronic Homelessness through Housing and Employment, looks at program outcomes - 69 percent of participants were in housing and 84 percent were engaged in employment related activities.
Washington Post published an article on Washington, D.C.'s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), which completed its first full year of providing rental assistance in 2007. The program, administered by the D.C. Department of Human Services, was designed to curb homelessness in the city, where one in five residents is living in poverty and the average apartment rent is almost $1,900 a month. Of ERAP recipients to date, 80 percent were families with children and 20 percent were households that included elderly or disabled persons.
The article notes that the program is in such demand that advocacy groups are asking city officials to increase funding. One of the community agencies that distributes rental assistance, for instance, received $2.2 million in ERAP funds to distribute in fiscal year 2008 and has already provided over $1 million in the first four months of the contract. The article also acknolwedges that the alternative to rental assistance is often the much more expensive city shelter system. The average cost of housing a family in a shelter is $30,000 a year, according to the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness, whereas the average emergency rental check for arrears and late fees under ERAP last year was $2,002.71. The average security deposit paid was $848.80, and the combined average first month's rent and security deposit was $1,278.80.
On April 9, 2008, the Alliance will hold its Annual Awards Ceremony honoring private, nonprofit, and public sector leaders who are making a difference in ending homelessness. The event will be held at the Terrace Theater of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. This year, the John W. Macy award is being given to Horace Sibley.
Horace Sibley is a retired Senior Partner of King & Spalding, LLP with more than 30 years of experience in national and international business transactions. Sibley chaired the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta's Regional Commission on Homelessness that developed Blueprint to End Homelessness in Atlanta in Ten Years, a comprehensive ten year plan to end homelessness in Atlanta announced in March 2003. The plan is a collaboration of many stakeholders, including local foundations, numerous local agencies, and faith and nonprofit communities. The plan contains 29 program recommendations including the expansion of a reunification program to assist those homeless persons who wished to be reunified with family or support systems, expansion of an eviction prevention program, and the creation of permanent supportive housing with on-site services for those with mental disabilities, substance use disorders, or dual diagnoses.
Commenting on his involvement with the Regional Commission on Homelessness, Sibley said, "When you combine the business and the political will and the faith community together with some very strong providers in the community, you have the perfect partnership to get something done."
The Macy Award is named in honor of John W. Macy, Jr., the Alliance's first Chairman of the Board. It is the most prestigious award conferred by the National Alliance to End Homelessness and is presented to those individuals who have made a significant contribution to ending homelessness in our nation. It is not presented on an annual basis, but only when an individual merits the distinction.
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Legislative Updates 
Forward
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This audio conference covered the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.
This video highlights how communities across the country are decreasing homelessness among families. Thanks to the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, it’s yours to use for free. .jpg)