Legislative Updates 
HUD and McKinney-Vento Appropriations
HUD Appropriations
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides more direct funding for homeless organizations than any other federal agency. Several programs within the HUD budget contribute to preventing and ending homelessness, including:
- Homeless Assistance Grants;
- Housing Vouchers/Section 8;
- Public Housing;
- Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA);
- Housing for People with Disabilities (Section 811).
Funding for HUD programs has fared very poorly for most of the decade. Public Housing programs were cut for several consecutive years, and changes to the Housing Choice Voucher program led to fewer households being assisted.
Latest News:
In early May, President Obama released details of his proposed budget for FY 2010. The proposal called for $17.8 billion for Tenant Based Rental Assistance, $8.1 billion for Project Based Rental Assistance, $310 million for HOPWA, a total of $6.8 billion for public housing, and $250 million for Section 811 housing. Over the coming months, Congress will begin work on its appropriations bills, using these proposed levels as a starting point.
McKinney-Vento Appropriations
HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants fund a variety of programs and activities. In FY 2008, $160 million was distributed to communities for the Emergency Shelter Grants program, and a similar amount was allocated in FY 2009. Most of the remaining funds are distributed through the Continuum of Care process. Under this process, homelessness providers in a specific geographic area work together to describe their assistance, identify their needs, and rank the projects that they want funded. HUD ranks the applications and provides funding based on the quality of the application, the performance of the local homeless assistance system, the need for homeless assistance, and the local rankings of individual programs. Funding can be used for permanent and supportive housing, transitional housing, and services.
While some cities have already made remarkable progress reducing homelessness, all of them are at a critical juncture. They have developed plans, brought in new partners, identified cost-effective strategies, and located some potential sources of funding. They are, however, counting on the federal government to be an active partner in their efforts.
Latest News:
The Administration’s FY 2010 budget proposal calls for nearly $1.8 billion for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance grants, an increase of $117 million over FY 2009. In the coming months, Congress will work on its FY 2010 appropriations bills.
FY 2010 Appropriations: Housing Choice Vouchers
Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance (Housing Choice Voucher program) is the core program intended to assist extremely low-income people with the cost of housing. Approximately 2 million households receive rental assistance through this program. Congress should fund all existing vouchers and 200,000 additional Housing Choice Vouchers in FY 2010.
FY 2010 McKinney Appropriations Sign-On Letter
On May 15, Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Mel Martinez (R-FL), along with 21 other Senators, sent a letter to the Senate Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (T-HUD) Appropriations Subcommittee urging them to include $2.2 billion for HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program in fiscal year (FY) 2010.
FY 2010 President's Budget Rundown
This document provides a brief rundown on funding for homeless and housing programs that were included in President Obama's FY 2010 budget proposal.
President's FY 2010 Budget Proposal Chart
This chart provides information about targeted homeless assistance programs included in President Obama's fiscal year (FY) 2010 Budget Proposal, which was released on May 7, 2009. The chart also includes historical appropriations levels from FY 2008 and FY 2009.
FY 2010 Appropriations: McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants
HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants fund thousands of homeless assistance programs in nearly every community. Congress should include $2.2 billion for the program and continue the rapid re-housing for families program in the FY 2010 Appropriations Bill.
Section 8 Resources
Click here to access resources on Section 8 programs, including information on how to answer difficult questions about Section 8 from the media and Congressional staff. Also available is an overview of Section 8.
Supportive Housing is Cost Effective
January 19, 2007
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
This section provides resources on the HOPWA program, as well as additional resources relating to homelessness and HIV/AIDS.
HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH)
This document provides an overview of the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, the Alliance’s recommendation for funding the program, and the current status of funding for HUD-VASH.
Federal Spending on Housing and Low-Income Housing
This one-pager provides an overview of how much the federal government spends on homelessness and low-income housing.
The Homelessness Budget
This handout describes The Homelessness Budget, an index that combines the funding levels of eleven major federal programs dedicated to homelessness. It provides a quick look at the Federal commitment to homelessness and how it is changing. It also includes a broader indicator of federal housing spending and need.
2008 Policy Guide
This policy guide provides information about the most important federal programs, policies, and legislation affecting homelessness. Key housing and homelessness topics are covered including HUD's McKinney-Vento homeless assistance programs, Section 8 housing choice vouchers, and housing programs dedicated to people with HIV/AIDS, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
