Press Releases | December 6, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                            December 6, 2012

Contact: Emanuel Cavallaro
202-942-8297
ecavallaro@naeh.org

MEDIA ADVISORY
Congressional Briefing: discretionary budget cuts and the fight to end veteran homelessness

Washington, D.C. – In the Budget Control Act of 2011, Congress exempted all programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs from sequestration on the basis that programs for our nation’s heroes should not be subject to budget cuts. Nevertheless, as January 2 draws nearer and talks surrounding the so-called Fiscal Cliff become more fervent, it is becoming increasingly clear that sequestration could have serious ramifications for groups supposedly protected from these cuts, including very low-income people and veterans.

In this briefing, “Discretionary Budget Cuts: Impact on Veterans,” hosted by the Homeless Veterans National Advocacy Working Group, a panel of experts will educate policymakers on the unintended consequences of sequestration and other cuts on programs serving homeless veterans. This budgetary impasse has the potential to undo the progress made in our historic effort to end veteran homelessness, and could lead to an increase in the number of our nation's heroes falling into homelessness. The panelists will advocate for solutions.

Panelists will include: 

• Shauna Curley, Formerly Homeless Veteran in HUD-funded program at Community Connections;
• Michael DeHart, Housing Coordinator, Community Connections;
• Jonathan Harwitz, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Programs, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD);
• Ian Lisman, Program and Policy Analyst on Veterans Homelessness, National Alliance to End Homelessness; and
• Doug Rice, Senior Policy Analyst, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

What: Congressional Briefing on the impact of discretionary budget cuts on the fight to end veteran homelessness

When: Thursday, December 6, 2 to 3 p.m.

Where: Russell Senate Office Building, Room SR-418, Washington, DC 20001

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The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonprofit, non-partisan, organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States. As a leading voice on the issue of homelessness, the Alliance analyzes policy and develops pragmatic, cost-effective policy solutions; works collaboratively with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build state and local capacity; and provides data and research to policymakers and elected officials in order to inform policy debates and educate the public and opinion leaders nationwide.