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Hill Update
House Appropriations Committee Mark Up T-HUD FY 2011 Bill
On July 20, the House Appropriations Committee marked up the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) spending bill for fiscal year (FY) 2011. The bill passed out of the Committee and may go to the floor of the House for a vote sometime this week. Although all of the details are not yet available, the legislation includes:
- $2.2 billion for HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants ($145 million above the Administration's request);
- $17.080 billion for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance renewals (an $740.8 million increase over FY 2010), including
1. $75 million for 10,000 new HUD-VA Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers;
2. $85 million for 10,000 housing vouchers for the Housing and Services for Homeless Persons Demonstration;
- $350 million for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program (a $15 million increase over FY 2010);
- $4.829 billion for the Public Housing Operating Fund (a $54 million increase over FY 2010);
- $2.5 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund (no change from FY 2010);
- $200 million for HOPE VI (a $65 million increase over FY 2010);
- $4.352 billion for the Community Development Block Grant (a $97.9 million decrease over FY 2010); and
- $1.825 billion for HOME (no change from FY 2010).
Senate Appropriations Committee Mark Up T-HUD FY 2011 Bill
On July 21, the Senate Appropriations Committee marked up the T-HUD appropriations bill for FY 2011. The bill passed out of the Committee and may go to the floor of the full Senate for a vote sometime this week or next. Although all of the details are not yet available, the legislation includes:
- $2.055 billion for HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants;
- $17.165 billion for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance renewals, including
1. $75 million for 10,000 new HUD-VA Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers;
2. $85 million for 10,000 housing vouchers for the Housing and Services for Homeless Persons Demonstration;
- $340 million for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program;
- $15 million for family unification vouchers;
- $4.8 billion for the Public Housing Operating Fund;
- $2.5 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund;
- $250 million for HOPE VI;
- $3.99 billion for the Community Development Block Grant; and
- $1.825 billion for HOME (no change from FY 2010).
House and Senate Appropriations Committees Mark Up VA FY 2011 Bill
On Tuesday, July 20, the House Appropriations Committee held markup sessions on their FY 2011 appropriations bill for spending within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The House Committee proposed a total of $800 million for VA programs for homeless veterans. The Senate Committee allotted $799.2 million for targeted VA programs to assist homeless veterans, including $151 million for the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (VASH) program and $220.6 million for the Homeless Grant and Per Diem program, which received $150 million in FY 2010. The bills passed out of both Committees and may go to the floor of the House for a vote sometime this week or next.
Senate HHS Appropriations Subcommittee to Mark Up FY 2011 Bill
On Tuesday, July 27, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education will mark up its FY 2011 spending bill. More details about the bill will be available soon.
National Housing Trust Fund and TANF ECF Await Action in Senate
On July 21, the Senate passed an amended version of H.R. 4213, commonly referred to as the "Tax Extenders Bill." Prior to the final vote on July 21, Senate leadership removed provisions that provided funding for the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) and extended the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Emergency Contingency Fund (TANF ECF). The removed provisions are awaiting further action from the Senate.
SAMHSA Produces New Permanent Supportive Housing Toolkit
A newly published toolkit confirming the effectiveness of permanent supportive housing has been published by the Center for Mental Health Services of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This toolkit highlights the safety and affordability offered by permanent supportive housing, as well as its ability to provide residents with the rights of tenancy. The toolkit contains several helpful resources, including guidance on initiating evidence-based practices and building and evaluating a program.
New Report Discusses Effects of TANF on Poverty
On July 19, NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby, held a briefing to announce and discuss its third study about the effects of welfare reform on people experiencing poverty entitled TANF Tested: Lives of Families in Poverty during the Recession. Over 800 families in 20 states and the District of Columbia participated in the study, in which NETWORK found that the number of families being served by TANF is not keeping pace with increased levels of need. The study questions the wisdom and efficacy of TANF's "Work First" approach during times of high unemployment, particularly among those who have multiple barriers to employment. Finally, the study provides policy recommendations for TANF reauthorization, including continuing to invest in subsidized jobs like those created by the highly successful TANF Emergency Contingency Fund.
Council of State Governments Justice Center Announces New Website, Database
The Council of State Governments Justice Center has recently released two new web-based resources: a conference website in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and a reentry programs database developed with BJA and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The conference website contains materials and videotaped sessions from Making Second Chances Work: A Conference for Grantees Committed to Successful Reentry held in May in Washington, D.C. The conference website is available here. The database profiles different types of reentry organizations and programs that serve adults and juveniles and is meant to be a resource for other providers as well as for those seeking services. Beyond offering profiles on different organizations, initiatives, and innovative practices, the database has search capabilities and offers links to related media and research content.
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