McKinney Vento Reauthorization

On May 2, over 500 people participated in an Alliance sponsored audio conference on reauthorization of HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Materials from the audio conference, including the HEARTH Act Section by Section Analysis, Highlights of the HEARTH Act, and Summary of the HEARTH Act can be found on the McKinney Reauthorization legislative update page. A podcast of the audio conference will be available in approximately one week.

Congress is currently considering reauthorization legislation. The House Financial Services Committee is now working on the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act along with an amendment. The amended bill would provide prevention and rehousing for people in precarious housing situations, increase resources for rapid rehousing for homeless families, and simplify the funding process for rural areas.

Senate Holds Hearing on Homeless Veterans
Last Thursday, May 1, the Senate Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee and the Military Constructions-Veterans Affairs Subcommittee held a joint hearing entitled, "Housing Our Heroes, Addressing the Issue of Homeless Veterans in America." The Committees heard testimony from Steve Berg, Vice President for Programs and Policy for the Alliance; Mark Johnston, Deputy Assistance Secretary for Special Needs Programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development; Pete Dougherty, Director of Homeless Veterans Programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs; and several other witnesses. All witnesses highlighted programs that serve homeless veterans and those at risk of homelessness and discussed the importance of taking these programs to scale. In particular, a number of witnesses focused on the HUD-VA Supportive Housing program, which received a $75 million increase in fiscal year 2008 appropriations.

House Committee Passes Foreclosure Legislation
On May 1, the House Financial Services Committee passed H.R. 5830, the FHA Housing and Homeowner Retention Act. The bill, introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), the Chair of the Committee, would modify the Federal Housing Administration in order to make it easier for borrowers to refinance their mortgages by providing up to $300 billion in outstanding loan guarantees. Also, the bill would authorize $210 million for foreclosure counseling.

H.R. 5830 is expected to be attached to a larger housing stimulus package, H.R. 3221, which passed the Senate in April. H.R. 3221 may be considered by the full House this week. Also, the full House may consider H.R. 5818, the Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008, which was introduced by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and would provide $7.5 billion in loans and another $7.5 billion in grants to states to purchase foreclosed properties for home ownership and rental housing. Half of the grants would be used for rental housing for very low income households and half of that amount for extremely low income households.

How to Reduce Sex Crimes by Safely Housing Sex Offenders

On April 21, the Council of State Governments Justice Center convened a meeting of state agency officials, victim advocates, prosecutors, and national experts to discuss strategies for increasing public safety by ensuring that sex offenders released from prisons and jails have a place to live. The group reviewed current strategies, including secure transitional facilities, rental units, and hotels and motels. The group also discussed the growing number of sex offenders entering homeless shelters and sleeping on the streets.

Upcoming Audio Conference: Emergency Prevention Programs

On Thursday, May 8, at 3:00 pm ET, the Alliance will host "Emergency Prevention Programs," an installment of the Leadership to End Homelessness Audio Conference Series. Among the families entering shelter each year are those who either lost a housing voucher or were evicted from public housing. For many, the loss of public housing will mean long stays in homelessness. Helping families retain housing assistance is one of the emerging best practice innovations in ending homelessness.

Speakers will include Donna Trabue and Morris DeLaney of Volunteers of America Kentucky who will provide information on how they have partnered with the Louisville Metro Housing Authority to prevent evictions from public housing. Beth Stokes of Hamilton Family Center in San Francisco will share her organization's efforts to prevent homelessness by serving families in assisted housing.

Thanks to Captiol Connection, those with Internet audio capability can participate in this conference call free of charge via the web. For details on how to listen to the call through the webcast and submit questions by email,

Grand Rally

On Wednesday, May 7, at the U.S. Capitol, AARP, Child Welfare League of America, Children's Defense Fund, Generations United, GrandFamilies of America, and the National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights are co-sponsoring the Third National GrandRally for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children. The event highlights the important role grandparents and other relatives play in raising children and the help they need from family, friends, their communities, states, national organizations, and agencies and elected officials.

In the Media: Violence Against Homeless People

Last week,

HUD Hosts Webcast on HUD-VASH Program

On Thursday, May 8, from 11:00 am ET to 12:30 pm ET, HUD is hosting a webcast on the HUD-VASH program. The HUD-VASH program combines HUD Housing Choice Voucher program rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs at its medical centers and in the community.

Save the Date: Alliance Annual Conference July 2008

The Alliance's Annual Conference July 2008 will be held on July 28-30, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill. Reserve your hotel room now at the group rate. The group rate will be available until June 24, 2008.