Legislative Updates 
Second Chance Act
The Second Chance Act, which was signed into law by the President in April 2008, is often considered the first step in creating a more effective federal response to the problem of people leaving the corrections system without adequate support. The act provides funding to states for reentry programs. It also authorizes grants from the Department of Justice to nonprofits for reentry programs and creates an interagency task force to analyze and coordinate policy.
Housing is a critical component of any reentry strategy. The Second Chance Act addresses housing needs in several ways. For example, under the law, housing activities qualify as an eligible use of program funds for states, as does strengthening the capacity of prisoners’ families to provide stable living situations for the former prisoners.
Additionally, housing is a critical part of the planning and evaluation stages of the grants. Each state that receives funds must both address housing issues in its strategic plan and monitor and report to the Department of Justice on housing as one of its performance outcomes.
Latest News:
On June 9, the full House Appropriations Committee approved the FY 2010 Commerce, Science, and Justice Appropriations Bill, which includes $100 million for Second Chance Act programs, as requested by President Obama. This represents a $75 million increase over FY 2009, but $14 million less than the Commerce, Science, and Justice Appropriations Subcommittee requested. The full House is expected to vote on the bill during the week of June 15.
FY 2010 Appropriations: Second Chance Act Programs
This document provides information about the Second Chance Act programs, which were passed into law in April 2008, and recommendations for funding in FY 2010.
Explainer: How Much Does the Federal Government Spend on Homelessness?
Answering the question about how much the federal government spends on homelessness should be as simple as summing the total expenditures for homeless assistance programs. Homeless programs, however, do not fit neatly into one federal agency; instead they are spread across several, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Education (ED), and the Department of Labor (DOL).
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.
