Federal Policy Update: Housing and Veterans Initiatives

Capitol Hill Day Materials:www.endhomelessness.org

Today’s Agenda

1. Introduction– Hill Day Logistics– Capitol Hill Day Policy Agenda

2. NHTF – Update, Talking Points, Action Needed

3. HUD Appropriations - Update, Talking Points, Action – McKinney and Section 8, HUD-VASH– Related programs

4. Authorizing legislation - Update, Talking Points, Action– SEVRA– Veterans Legislation to Prevent and End Homelessness

5. Questions

Hill Day Logistics

• Thank you State Captains for organizing Hill Day!

• Contact Katie Glenn, (kglenn@naeh.org / 202-942-8295) for info about participating in Congressional visits.

• Conference “Advocacy Track” Agenda can be found on the Capitol Hill Day Info Page – www.endhomelessness.org

Capitol Hill Day Policy Agenda

• Reflects critical issues being considered AS WE SPEAK

• Issues we can impact at the time of the conference

• Issues you have been working on for several months

Capitol Hill Day Policy Agenda

• Several policies are moving forward

• Prioritizing issues for each meeting is CRITICAL

• Less issues = more progress

Capitol Hill Day Policy Agenda

Deciding on an issue:

• Is your Senator or Representative on a committee considering one of these policies?

• What have they supported in the past?

• We can help you find this info!

National Housing Trust Fund

• Next Steps – Program Regulations and Funding Source

• HUD to release distribution formula by July 30

• Administration and Congress proposed a $1 billion mandatory (not subjected to appropriations) allocation.

• Congress and the Administration are working to identify a funding source / off-set.

• Chairman Frank’s proposal – TARP for Main Street Act

National Housing Trust Fund

Targets: • House Financial Services Committee• Senate Banking, Housing and Urban

Affairs Committee

Action Needed:• Work with the Administration to approve a

$1 billion mandatory allocation for the Trust.

National Housing Trust Fund: Policy Request

Talking Points: What leave-behinds should you bring from home?

• Local rise in recession-related poverty = increased need for affordable rental housing

• Deep targeting increases access to housing for people who are homeless or at risk

• Resources are directed to many of the households you serve - 75 % to households below 30% AMI

HUD Homeless Assistance Grants

Committee proposed $1.85 billion

• $173 million (10%) increase over FY 2009

• Continues policies--30% set aside, SPC renewals, 25% services match.

• No new pilot initiatives.

HUD Homeless Assistance Grants

Key Points:

Contact Senators on Appropriations Committee about increasing HUD homeless assistance funding right away.

Next year we will need big increase for HUD McKinney funding.

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers

Committee proposed $18.242 billion

• $1.2 billion increase over FY 2009, but that overstates the increase.

• $75 million for approximately 10,000 new VASH vouchers

• No new FUP, Disability, or other incremental vouchers.

Other HUD programs

Public Housing increases $345M operating, $50M Capital, $129M HOPE VI.

CDBG: $725 million increase

HOPWA: $40 million (13%) increase

HOME: $175 million (10%) increase

202: $235 million (31%) increase

811: $100 million (40%!) increase

Section Eight Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA)

Update:• House Financial Services Committee began marking up SEVRA on

July 9 • SEVRA has not been introduced in the Senate

Action Needed:• House Members:

Vote for SEVRA, H.R. 3045• Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Members:

Urge Chairman Dodd to pass a Section Eight Voucher Reform bill this year

Talking Points:• SEVRA – a no-cost way to increase program’s resources, use

existing resources more efficiently • Authorizes new, highly-needed vouchers

Veterans legislation to prevent and end homelessness:

Update:• Senator Reed (D-RI) is expected to introduce a bill shortly in the

Veterans’ Affairs Committee

• Rep Nye (D-VA) introduced a prevention bill

• Homes for Heroes (H.R. 403/S.1160) passed the House and has been introduced in the Senate Banking Committee

Action Needed:

• Final legislation should increase the capacity of the VA to provide assistance to all veterans who are homeless or are at risk through rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, short-term emergency assistance, and outreach services