Legislative Updates 
McKinney-Vento Reauthorization
There are currently two version of legislation to reauthorize the HUD McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. In February 2007, Representative Julia Carson introduced the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act, or the HEARTH Act, H.R. 840. In May 2007, Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Wayne Allard (R-CO) introduced the Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act (CPEHA), S. 1518.
CPEHA would significantly improve the McKinney program through rewarding proven strategies, continuing a focus on permanent housing, increasing the resources devoted to prevention, better serving families with children, shifting the permanent housing renewal burden to the Section 8 account, increasing the capacity of rural communities to respond to homelessness, and in a number of other ways. In September 2007, CPEHA unanimously passed the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the first major housing legislation to pass that Committee in nine years.
The HEARTH Act would greatly expand the definition of homelessness, and allow more funds to be used for homelessness prevention. It has no provisions regarding rural areas, incentives for permanent housing or programs that serve families. Two hearings were held in October.
Latest news:The Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act awaits action on the floor of the U.S. Senate; currently, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has placed a hold on the bill because of the increased funding levels authorized in the bill.
The House Financial Services Committee has indicated it hopes to mark up the HEARTH Act this spring. The Committee has suggested that the HEARTH Act will move forward with several Amendments.
HEARTH Act Section by Section Analysis
Distributed by the House Financial Services Committee, this document provides a section by section analysis of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act as it would be modified by an amendment that they are currently considering.
Highlights of H.R. 840, HEARTH Act
This document was distributed by the House Financial Services Committee to describe the highlights of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act as it would be modified by an amendment that they are currently considering.
Summary of the HEARTH Act (with Amendment)
The National Alliance to End Homelessness has produced this draft summary of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, including an amendment that is likely to be adopted by the committee. The 6-page summary describes the new features of the program, including a prevention and rehousing initiative that allows communities to serve doubled up and precariously housed people, more support for homeless families, and a new rural option that simplifies the program for rural applicants.
Analysis of Homeless Definition Changes
This analysis shows that the Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act (S. 1518) allows communities to serve people who are doubled up or in precarious situations without the dangerous consequences of a dramatically expanded definition.
Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act of 2007
This document summarizes the significant features of the Act, describing how homeless assistance would differ from existing practice, and how homeless people, providers, and communities would be affected. The summary is followed by a more detailed description of the bill’s features.
Analysis of the Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act of 2007 (CPEHA)
The Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act of 2007 (CPEHA) would
reauthorize and amend the housing titles of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. The legislation aims to realign the incentives behind the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s homeless assistance programs to accomplish the goals of preventing and ending homelessness. The bill would make HUD’s homeless assistance more flexible, performance-based, and accountable.
CPEHA, S. 1518: Key Provisions and Changes to Current Law
CPEHA will provide resources to help communities provide permanent housing, assist doubled up families, prevent homelessness, and compete more effectively in rural communities.
Families reap substantial benefits under the Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act of 2007
Families with children are the group that would probably benefit most from the changes that CPEHA makes in the current system.
Testimony to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Testimony of Nan Roman for the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs about the Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act (S. 1518) on June 21, 2007.
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This audio conference covered the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.
This video highlights how communities across the country are decreasing homelessness among families. Thanks to the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, it’s yours to use for free. 