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Spotlight On...
Alliance Hosts Virtual Discussion on HPRP Implementation
On Thursday, November 12, the Alliance will host a Virtual Discussion on implementing the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). Starting at 10 am ET, staff from the Alliance, as well as some of our national partners, will be available throughout the day to respond to your HPRP questions. The Virtual Discussion will be held on Community ShareNet, the Alliance online community.
To participate in the discussion, simply register for Community ShareNet. You will receive email confirmation of your registration, along with a link to the Community ShareNet site. On the day of the Virtual Discussion, log in to Community ShareNet using the email and password you created when registering. Click on the "Discussion" tab at the top of the page, and look for the "HPRP Implementation" discussion thread in the middle of the page. You can post a question you have or challenge you are facing, and Alliance staff and our partners will respond. Participants should also feel free to check the website periodically to follow the discussion.
Register for Community ShareNet
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Hill Update: Second Stopgap Measure Includes Funding for Section 8 Shortfalls
Last week, both chambers of Congress passed a fiscal year (FY) 2010 stopgap spending measure, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), to fund the government through December 18. FY 2010 began on October 1, before Congress was able to complete all 12 annual appropriations bills. As a result, Congress passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government mostly at FY 2009 levels through October 31. However, that CR expired on Saturday, so Congress passed a second CR. The stopgap funding measure approved last week included a provision that would allow HUD to use advance 2010 appropriations so that public housing agencies (PHAs) can prevent the termination of vouchers for low-income families. As a result of that provision, PHAs that were going to have to terminate assistance to families will be able to receive additional funding from HUD to prevent termination from the Section 8 voucher program.
announced that they intend to work with Congress to identify a funding source for the National Housing Trust Fund, which was authorized by the 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act but never capitalized. On Thursday, November 5 at 1 pm ET, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) will host a free call to review the latest developments on the National Housing Trust Fund. Sheila Crowley, Executive Director of NLIHC, will lead the call.
Urban Institute, Fannie Mae Release Report on Housing in Washington, DC
Last week, the Urban Institute and Fannie Mae released "Housing in the Nation's Capital 2009," part of an annual series that profiles emerging housing trends in the Washington, DC metropolitan statistical area. This year's report focuses on the impact of the foreclosure crisis on both the housing market and on residents. It finds that regional home loan foreclosures increased by a factor of more than eight between January 2007 and June 2009, with minorities being disproportionately affected. It notes that homelessness is increasing in the region, and the number and share of homeless families is also rising.
The report also notes that renters constituted approximately 50 percent of households impacted by foreclosure in the region. "Housing in the Nation's Capital 2009" found that regional rent rates increased, though at a slower pace than in the past, and that rental housing remains unaffordable to low- and moderate-income households. In addition, an entire chapter of the report is devoted to examining the impacts of foreclosures on residents and neighborhoods. The report concludes by reviewing strategic opportunities for the region to prevent foreclosures, help displaced families recover, connect children in foreclosed homes to services, and address the impacts of foreclosures on neighborhoods.
new Executive Director of USICH. Several departments also reported their most recent efforts affecting people experiencing homelessness. The Department of Education presented a report on trends in students experiencing homelessness. The most recent nationally aggregated data comes from the 2007-2008 school year and was compared with the previous two school years. The report concludes that a total of 794,617 homeless students were reported as enrolled in local education agencies, a 17 percent increase from the 2006-2007 school year. Overall, 39 states reported increases in the total number of homeless children and youth in school. Also at the meeting, the Census Bureau reported on its plans for counting homeless people in the 2010 Census. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services reported that it had unveiled an H1N1 flu guide for faith- and community-based organizations.
New York Times published a two-part series about youth homelessness. The first part, "Recession Drives Surge in Youth Runaways," discusses the current economic climate and its relationship to an increase in young children running away from home. Financial duress and stress linked to abuse and neglect are presented as one reason for the rise in runaways and homeless youth. Also highlighted in the article is the dearth of information about the pathways in and out of homelessness for youth populations. In fact, there is no official national count of homeless youth in the United States. Homeless youth may be less aware of resources, more hesitant of government personnel, and generally harder to identify. The article highlights the need for focused research on service models and methods of intervention, including increased housing resources, to end youth homelessness. The second piece sheds light on the often dire and dangerous conditions that homeless youth face, including a high rate of prostitution and sexual assault, and on promising new law enforcement services that prevent further sexual exploitation.
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| ABOUT US |
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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
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| Expert Q & A |
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Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to read our interview with this month's featured expert, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
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February 11-12, 2010
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