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Spotlight On...
HUD Reports Decline in Veteran and Chronic Homelessness
On Monday, December 10, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a report showing a 7.2 percent decline in the number of veterans experiencing homelessness between 2011 and 2012 , and a 19.3 percent decline in the number of persons experiencing chronic homelessness since 2007. The report, "The 2012 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness," shows that in January 2012, 633,782 people experienced homeless on a single night in the United States and that, while the total number of people experiencing homelessness has remained the same since January 2011, the number has decreased by 5.7 percent since 2007. Among persons in families, homelessness has increased by 1.4 percent since 2011, but has decreased by 3.7 percent since 2007.
Read the report
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Hill Update
Obama and Boehner Discuss Fiscal Cliff
This past Sunday, December 9, President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) met at the White House to discuss issues related to the impending so-called fiscal cliff. This marked the first face-to-face meeting held between the two leaders since they each released their disparate plans to avert the fiscal cliff in the preceding weeks. Details, including the length of the meeting and whether any progress was made toward reaching a deal, are unknown to the public.
Leading up to this meeting, the White House maintained its stance that a balanced approach to reducing the deficit cannot be achieved until Republicans are willing to discuss higher tax rates for the top 2 percent of income earners. Republicans have publicly made it clear that they strongly object to this increase; however, last Friday, December 7, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) indicated that he may compromise on tax rates by responding that he would not rule out an increase of tax rates on high-income earners to 37 percent. Raising revenue through tax rate increases would decrease the deficit, leaving less to be reduced through spending cuts that would make it more difficult to sustain a commitment to homelessness assistance programs.
It remains unclear whether a deal will be reached before the end of the calendar year, when a number of fiscal changes including sequestration, the automatic across-the-board spending cuts to non-exempt discretionary and defense programs, are scheduled to go into effect.
Hearing on HUD Rental Housing Assistance Programs
On Tuesday, December 11, the Housing, Transportation, and Community Development Subcommittee of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee held a hearing titled "Streamlining and Strengthening HUD's Rental Housing Assistance Programs." Sandra B. Henriquez, Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Public and Indian Housing, provided testimony regarding opportunities to reform the Housing Choice Voucher and public housing programs. This was the second of a two-part hearing. The first part took place on August 1.
Archived webcast
Upcoming Webinars
SSVF for New and Existing Grantees
On Wednesday, December 12, at 2 p.m. ET, the Alliance will host a webinar that will explain the application process for grants under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. In addition to discussing rapid re-housing basics and the application process, speakers will provide helpful advice on program design and give pointers for creating an effective application.
Register for the webinar
Strategies to End Chronic Homelessness: Pursuing Innovative Policies at the State Level
On Tuesday, December 18, at 3 p.m. ET, Alliance Senior Policy Analyst Lisa Stand will join field experts to look at strategies to integrate housing and health care solutions at the state level. Experts will include Richard Wayman of the HEARTH Connection and Marti Knisley of the Technical Assistance Collaborative.
Register for the webinar
Ending Family Homelessness: National Trends and Local System Responses
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recently released a paper coauthored by the Alliance and the Corporation for Supportive Housing, "Ending Family Homelessness: National Trends and Local System Responses." The paper examines research on family homelessness and explores implications for the design of local homelessness service systems, in particular for Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties in Washington State.
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