Advocates Must Fight for Increased Federal Funding for Programs for Homeless People
Even though the economic recession is supposed to be on the way to recovery, many American individuals and families are still suffering the effects of homelessness. The climate of budget cuts and deficit reduction in Washington, D.C. makes them, and many more vulnerable people, in jeopardy of losing the little help they now have.
We are calling on you to join our efforts to not only maintain funding but to increase the McKinney-Vento Homeless Services funding and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration funding used to help homeless people in Arizona and across the nation!
HUD's Homeless Assistance Grants (McKinney-Vento) need $2.4 billion to adequately implement the HEARTH Act
In May 2009 Congress passed the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, which makes improvements to existing programs, based on lessons learned from communities over recent years. HEARTH also includes new funding for prevention, planning and oversight, assistance to families and to rural areas. It is time Congress funded this critical program!
Without a substantial increase in funding, there will be little or no funding available for new projects in 2011!
SAMHSA grants need an additional $45 million for services that are linked to permanent supportive housing. This includes $15.8 million needed for the new Homeless Initiatives Program proposed for FY 2011 by President Obama.
In the recent funding competition conducted by SAMHSA, the agency received over 500 applications. They were only able to fund 68 of these programs. The interest of the 500 applicant agencies clearly demonstrates their willingness and capacity to help end homelessness if they receive adequate funding.
The President has proposed a new Homelessness Initiative Program that would be provided by a HUD/HHS partnership that will fund two demonstration projects: one that couples HUD Housing Choice vouchers with TANF and Department of Education resources targeted to families: and, another program targeted for individuals that partners Housing Choice Vouchers with services funding from Medicaid and SAMHSA.
Take Action This Week
- Timely Action is of the Essence!
- Advocate for increase McKinney-Vento funding by calling or writing Arizona's Congressional Delegation. Ask our Representatives to sign onto a Congressional "Dear Colleague" letter circulating through the House by Reps. Gwen Moore (D-WI) and Geoff Davis (R-KY) that requests increased funding for McKinney-Vento--a $2.4B total request.
- This week or next call or write to Arizona's Congressional Delegation asking them to include the $120 million for the SAMHSA Homeless programs. Express support for the President's Homeless Initiative Program.
- Engage your colleagues, partners, staff, board members and donors in your advocacy efforts.
- Invite your congressional representatives to tour your HUD McKinney-Vento and SAMHSA funded programs when they are on spring break to see first-hand how these dollars are making a difference in the lives of Arizona's men, women and children.
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