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Spotlight On...
Webinar on Re-Tooling Homeless Assistance Programs
In order to make progress toward the goal of ending homelessness, communities must invest in interventions that are both effective and cost-effective. Because HUD McKinney-Vento funds are largely tied up in renewals of existing projects, Continuums of Care (CoCs) must review their portfolio of existing projects on an annual basis to determine if their current projects are effectively meeting the needs of the community. During the annual CoC competition, HUD allows CoCs in Hold Harmless Need status to reallocate funds from existing Supportive Housing Program renewal projects to create new permanent housing projects.
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and the Alliance are partnering to present a webinar to help communities transition their programs through reallocation to achieve better community performance and reduce homelessness. The webinar, entitled "HUD CoC Competition: Why Communities Should Be Thinking About Reallocation," will be held Thursday, September 22 from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m. ET.
More Information and Registration
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Hill Update
House T-HUD Subcommittee Marks Up FY 2012 Legislation
Last Thursday, September 8, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (T-HUD), marked up legislation for fiscal year (FY) 2012 funding, including funding for many low-income housing and homelessness programs. The legislation included the following proposed funding levels for key programs (a more complete list of proposed funding levels for HUD programs is available here):
- $1.901 billion for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants, which represents flat funding compared to FY 2011;
- $75 million for new HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers; and
- $18.468 billion for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, $97 million above the FY 2011 level.
The House T-HUD Subcommittee expressed its commitment to renewing Section 8 vouchers for every individual and family in the program. However, a recent analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) found that the legislation would not fund renewals for approximately 42,000 housing vouchers now used by low-income families. CBPP concludes that cost-free revisions to the legislation could ensure that all voucher renewals are funded in FY 2012. The Alliance will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates in Alliance Online News.
During the markup, the subcommittee adopted an amendment by Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) to provide $2.68 million for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). The initial draft legislation would have included no funding for USICH. For more information on the House's draft FY 2012 T-HUD legislation, click here.
The Senate T-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to release its own funding proposal in the coming weeks. Before becoming law, the two versions must be reconciled and passed by each chamber of Congress.
Other FY 2012 Appropriations Updates
The Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittees in both the House and Senate are also expected to release their draft legislation in the coming weeks. The House was originally scheduled to mark up this legislation last Friday, September 9.
The federal fiscal year ends on September 30, though Congress is not expected to pass all 12 appropriations bills before that date. Instead, Congress is likely to pass a stopgap funding measure next week that would fund the government into the fall.
Administration Proposes American Jobs Act
Last week, the President proposed that Congress pass the American Jobs Act, which includes approximately $450 billion worth of tax cuts and new initiatives to foster and promote job growth, several of which would benefit people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. One such initiative in the proposed legislation is the provision of $15 billion to build upon the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). The NSP currently allows city or state agencies to purchase foreclosed or abandoned properties that can be used to provide affordable housing for very low income people.
In addition, the proposed legislation would create a new Pathways Back to Work Fund that would, among other things, build on the success of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Contingency Fund (ECF) by supporting subsidized employment opportunities for unemployed low-income individuals.
It is unclear if and when Congress will pass the American Jobs Act, either in whole or in part. For more information on the proposal, click here.
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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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Presentations from the 2011 National Conference on Ending Homelessness are now available online.
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