Advocacy Update: Congress Working on McKinney Funding
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Advocacy Update | October 20, 2010
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| Congress Continues Work on McKinney-Vento Funding |
Right NOW, Congress is working on a bill to fund the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for fiscal year (FY) 2011.
Though the House recommended providing $2.2 billion in funding, there is TREMENDOUS pressure on Congress to cut overall spending this year. As a result, there will be a LOT of pressure to REDUCE these proposed increases to the McKinney-Vento program.
Urge Congress to provide $2.2 billion in FY 2011 for McKinney-Vento programs so that we can better implement the HEARTH Act, which changes the way McKinney-Vento funds are allocated.
What You Can Do:
- Call the DC offices of your senators and representatives TODAY. Ask to speak to the staff person who handles housing issues.
- Ask them to contact the HUD Appropriations Committee and let them know that funding McKinney-Vento programs at the House level ($2.2 billion) is a priority for their boss.
Background
Last May, Congress passed the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, which reauthorizes and improves HUD's McKinney-Vento programs. The HEARTH Act changes the way that funds are proportioned and increases funding for certain activities, particularly homelessness prevention and assistance to families and rural areas.
In July, the Senate Appropriations Committee proposed providing $2.055 billion -- a 10 percent increase over FY 2010. The House, however, proposed an 18 percent increase to $2.2 billion. Right now, congressional staff are in the process of drafting a final, compromise bill.
Without a funding level of at least $2.2 billion, communities may receive less funding for new Continuum of Care (CoC) projects or may not be able to implement as many of the HEARTH Act's changes, particularly those that help prevent homelessness and rapidly re-house individuals and families who do become homeless. While $2.4 billion is needed to fully implement the HEARTH Act in FY 2011, a funding level of $2.2 billion will help communities make further progress in implementing this important legislation and in reaching our goal of ending homelessness in the United States.
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BUILDING
POLITICAL WILL
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The Alliance works collaboratively with its local, state, and national partners to advance policies and programs that prevent and end homelessness.
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