Advocacy Alert from the National Alliance to End Homeless – Ask Congress to Support President’s Proposed 17% Increase to HUD’s McKinney-Vento Programs
The President has proposed that Congress provide $2.23 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2013 for HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants – a 17 percent increase over FY 2012. Now, it’s up to us to ensure Congress follows through on the recommendation.
Congressman John Olver is currently the Ranking Member and senior Democrat on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Sub-Committee, so contacting him is a top priority. You can reach him (his aide) at his Holyoke office at 413-532-7010 or DC office at 202-225-5335 or email him by clicking here.
Please ask him to support a funding level of $2.23 billion for HUD’s McKinney-Vento programs. Without an increase in funding, communities across the Commonwealth won’t be able to continue existing CoC and ESG activities.
Representatives have until March 20 (and Senators until March 23) to submit a list of their official funding priorities to the HUD Appropriations Subcommittee. So, we need YOUR help to convince them to include a request for $2.23 billion for HUD’s McKinney-Vento programs.
What You Can Do:
Write a letter! Ask your colleagues and clients to write letters, too! Click here for a letter template.
Why is this important? When Should You Act?
To have the greatest impact, we want everyone to send letters at the same time, from now through March 20. Congress just began making decisions about funding levels for federal programs, so NOW is the time to start influencing our Members of Congress so we can make sure they prioritize funding for HUD’s McKinney-Vento programs.
The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) made a HUGE difference in communities across the Commonwealth. But with HPRP set to expire and the effects of the recession still lingering, we need further federal investment to keep homelessness from rising, to continue funding existing ESG and CoC activities, and to implement the HEARTH Act, with its focus on proven solutions like homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing, and permanent supportive housing.
Want more information? Have questions? Contact Kate Seif at the National Alliance to End Homelessness at cseif@naeh.org.
