Legislative Updates 
McKinney-Vento Reauthorization
On May 20, 2009, President Obama signed into law a bill to reauthorize HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance programs. The bill was included as part of the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act. The McKinney-Vento reauthorization provisions are identical to those included in two bills introduced earlier in 2009, both known as the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act. The Senate bill (S. 808) was introduced by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Kit Bond (R-MO), and 11 other Senators. The House bill (H.R. 1877) was introduced by Representatives Gwen Moore (D-WI), Judy Biggert (R-IL), and 5 other House Members.
The HEARTH Act will provide communities with new resources and better tools to prevent and end homelessness. The legislation:
- Increases priority on homeless families with children, by providing new resources for rapid re-housing programs, designating funding to permanently house families, and ensuring that families are included in the chronic homelessness initiative.
- Significantly increases resources to prevent homelessness for people who are at risk of homelessness, doubled up, living in hotels, or in other precarious housing situations through the Emergency Solutions Grant program.
- Continues to provide incentives for developing permanent supportive housing and provides dedicated funding for permanent housing renewals.
- Grants rural communities greater flexibility in utilizing McKinney funds.
- Modestly expands the definition of homelessness to include people who are losing their housing in the next 14 days and who lack resources or support networks to obtain housing, as well as families and youth who are persistently unstable and lack independent housing and will continue to do so.
Latest News:
On May 19, both houses passed S. 896, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, which included the HEARTH Act as an amendment. President Obama signed the legislation into law on May 20. Click here to watch the Signing Ceremony.
Underestanding the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act
Steve Berg, vice President of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, explains the history of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance programs and what we can expect in the future.
2009 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.
HEARTH Act: Next Steps in Implementation
Now that Congress has passed legislation reauthorizing the McKinney-Vento homeless assistance programs, many people are wondering what the next steps are. This one-pager provides an overview of the next steps in implementation of the HEARTH Act, including an anticipated timeline and information on what you can do.
HEARTH Act Section-by-Section Analysis
This document provides a section-by-section analysis of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act signed into law in May 2009.
Legislative Text of Final HEARTH Act
This document provides the legislative text of S. 896, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, which was signed into law by President Obama on May 20, 2009. Contained within S. 896 was the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act. The text of the HEARTH Act begins on page 32 of the bill.
Alliance Applauds Congress and President Obama for Enacting the HEARTH Act
Press Release | May 20, 2009
Summary of HEARTH Act
This brief provides a detailed overview of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act that was included in the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, which was signed into law on May 20, 2009 by President Obama. The document explains the legislation's background, provides details on its provisions, and discusses the ramifications of the bill's language for implementation and application procedures.
HEARTH Act: Homeless Families Benefit
This one-pager explains how homeless families will benefit from the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, which reauthorizes McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance programs and was signed into law on May 20, 2009.
Highlights of HEARTH Act, S. 896
This two-page brief provides highlights of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act that was signed into law by President Obama on May 20, 2009.
HEARTH Act Original Co-sponsors
This is a list of original co-sponsors of the HEARTH Act, S. 808 / H.R. 1877.
Co-Sponsors of Past McKinney Reauthorization Bills
This is a list of co-sponsors of previous versions of McKinney Reauthorization legislation.
