Advocacy Update: Action Needed - Senate McKinney Appropriations Letter
Date: 2 Apr 2008
Author: National Alliance to End Homelessness
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Advocacy Update
NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS |
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| April 2, 2008 |
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Seeking Signatures on Senate McKinney Appropriations Letter
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Advocates are urged to ask their Senators to sign a letter led by Senators Reed (D-RI) and Martinez (R-FL) to the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) Appropriations Subcommittee in support of including $2 billion for HUD's McKinney- Vento Homeless Assistance Grants in the fiscal year (FY) 2009 appropriations bill.
ACTION NEEDED:
* CONTACT YOUR SENATORS' OFFICES.
* ACT FAST. PLEASE CALL BY WED., APRIL 9.
* REPORT BACK.
- Please report responses from Congressional staff to Sarah Kahn (skahn@naeh.org / 202-942-8259) by Wed., April 9.
- This type of request typically takes a few days for approval. We need plenty of time to get an answer from staff.
- Ask the staff person who works on housing issues if their boss will sign this letter. (We can help provide phone numbers and staff email addresses.)
- Let staff know if he/she signed a similar letter last year (Click here for a list of last year's signers).
- Describe the success of a local McKinney-funded program and what you could do with more resources.
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Letter Details
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Click here for a copy of the letter to the THUD subcommittee.
Click here for a copy of the letter from Senators Reed (D-RI) and Martinez (R-FL) seeking signatures from their Senate colleagues. These documents include information about McKinney funding to help craft your message to Congressional staff.
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Background
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A funding level of $2 billion for McKinney Grants is $364 million above the President's FY 2009 budget request and $414 million over the FY 2008 level for this program.
HUD estimates that the cost of renewals alone will be approximately $1.5 billion (including emergency shelter grants). Therefore, $2 billion will renew existing projects while providing new resources for communities to address unmet housing and service needs.
It is up to the Appropriations Committee and Subcommittees to decide on the details of the appropriations bills. The Appropriations T-HUD Subcommittee will mark up (consider) the appropriations bill as early as April. This letter to the T- HUD Subcommittee is a critical step in ensuring that McKinney funding is significantly increased.
For more information, please contact Sarah Kahn (skahn@naeh.org 202-942- 8259.)
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Legislative Updates 
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. 