Federal Policy Update 2010 Capitol Hill Day Priorities

Federal Policy Update: 2010 Capitol Hill Day Priorities Capitol Hill Day Materials: www. endhomelessness. org/2010 Hill. Day

Today’s Agenda 1. – – 2. – – 3. 4. – – Introduction Hill Day Logistics Capitol Hill Day Policy Agenda Appropriations: Update, Talking Points, Action Needed Mc. Kinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants Section 8 SAMHSA Homeless Services Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Authorizing Bills: Update, Talking Points, Action Comprehensive Legislation to End Veteran Homelessness National Housing Trust Fund Questions

Hill Day Logistics • Thank you State Captains for organizing Hill Day! • Contact Sumeet Singh, (ssingh@naeh. org / 202 -942 -8259) for info about participating in Congressional visits. • Conference “Advocacy Track” Agenda can be found on the Capitol Hill Day Info Page – www. endhomelessness. org/2010 Hill. Day

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!

Appropriations: Mc. Kinney Provide $2. 4 billion for Mc. Kinney programs in FY 2011 Latest Update: • Administration proposed $2. 055 billion (10% increase) • House T-HUD Subcommittee “marked up” and voted on its bill on Thursday, July 1, which provides $2. 055 billion • Senate T-HUD Subcommittee still drafting its bill

Appropriations: Mc. Kinney • House T-HUD Members – Thank you! Please work to provide increased funding • All other Representatives – Please work throughout the process to increase funding level • Senate T-HUD Subcommittee members – Provide $2. 4 billion in FY 2011 • All other Senators – Ask T-HUD Chair/RM to provide $2. 4 billion

Appropriations: Mc. Kinney Talking Points • Without enough funding, less money for new Co. C projects or HPRP-like activities • How do you use Mc. Kinney and HPRP funds currently? • One-time big increase to fully implement HEARTH Act – – new ESG program = 18 percent increase; new rural program = 2 percent increase; Project renewals = 5 percent increase; and Community-based oversight and administration = 3 percent increase • National/local declines in homelessness

Appropriations: Housing and Services Demo Housing and Services for Homeless Persons Demonstration 10, 000 Vouchers ($85 million) – 4, 000 units for Chronic Homelessness • $16 million services funding from SAMHSA • Applicants would have to commit to using Medicaid resources – 6, 000 units for homeless and at-risk families • Applicants would have to commit TANF resources

Appropriations: Housing and Services Demo Status • House T-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee included $85 million for Demo. • Senate has not acted yet • Labor/HHS/Education Subcommittees have not acted yet on the $16 million for SAMHSA • Thank House T-HUD Appropriators for including $85 million • Ask Senate T-HUD to include $85 million and House and Senate Labor/HHS Appropriators to include $16 million for SAMHSA

Appropriations: Section 8 Administration requested enough funding to renew existing vouchers, and possibly a little extra. – 10, 000 for Housing and Services Demo – No new VASH, FUP, or disability vouchers – New Transforming Rental Assistance Initiative House T-HUD appropriators included roughly what the Administration requested for Voucher renewals. – 10, 000 for Housing and Services Demo – 10, 000 new VASH Vouchers – No funding for Transforming Rental Assistance

Appropriations: Section 8 National Campaign to double voucher program over 10 years— 200, 000 new vouchers per year. Ask your Members of Congress to significantly expand Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program this year and in future years.

Appropriations: SAMHSA Priority • Provide $120 million for SAMHSA Homeless Services programs in FY 2011, including $15. 8 million for Homeless Initiative Program Latest Update • Administration proposed $87 million • House and Senate HHS Subcommittees drafting bills Specific Ask • HHS Appropriations Subcommittee members: provide $120 million, including $15. 8 million for Homeless Initiative Program • All other Members of Congress: Ask Chair/RM of HHS Subcommittee to provide $120 million

Appropriations: SAMHSA Talking Points • Local URGENCY for services funding for PSH • Difficulty in creating PSH due to lack of services funding • Use of Medicaid funds in supportive housing • Cost-effectiveness data • High level of interest and capacity by providers

RHYA Talking Points – The Numbers • In 2009, SOP teams make contact with over 800, 000 youth nationwide • About 41, 000 received shelter and 4, 000 entered Transition Living Programs • Over 7, 500 were denied shelter or housing in 2009 due to lack of capacity • 73% entered shelter directly from parent or guardian’s home

Talking Points – Who can do what? • Labor-Heath-Education Subcommittee handles RHYA • House support from: – KY, IL, PA, WA, MN, WI, FL, TX, and OH • Senate support from: – NJ, CT, MI, RI, OH, IL, MD, NY, OR, and MN • Need to develop Congressional champions to bring youth housing to scale and benefits of family counseling to keep youth safely in homes

Runaway and Homeless Youth Act • Currently funded at $116 million • Funds Basic Center, Transitional Living, and Street Outreach Programs • Administered by DHHS through Family &Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) • $49 million dollar increase focused on specific programs and research • Part of Federal Housing Policy Campaign to End Homeless for 50, 000 Youth

FY 2011 Appropriations: Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Program Purpose Detailed Request Basic Center Increase community outreach and prevention of runaway episodes through family group counseling and other support services $64 million Transitional Living Case management services Program provided in various residential housing models $79 million Street Outreach services to move youth off of the streets $18 million Research Incidence Study Research to determine baseline number of accompanied, homeless youth between the ages of 12 - 24 $4 million Total $165 million

Authorizations: Comprehensive Veteran Legislation Priority • Enact comprehensive legislation, such as Zero Tolerance for Veteran Homelessness Act, to end veteran homelessness. The legislation should: – Establish a comprehensive homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing program at VA; – Authorize an expansion of the Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program to serve 60, 000 veterans and their families; and – Improve data collection on the extent of homelessness among veterans. Latest Update • Senate VA Committee passed S. 1237, which included ZTVHA • House passed H. R. 4810, which establishes a prevention program • Two bills may go to conference together

Authorizations: Comprehensive Veteran Legislation Specific Ask: • Senators: Pass ZTVHA • Representatives: Enact comprehensive legislation to end homelessness among veterans, such as ZTVHA Talking Points: • Scope of veteran homelessness in your community • Data to describe the positive impact of local HUD-VASH vouchers. • Veterans in your community could benefit from a continuum of housing options for veterans, depending on their needs and the depth of their housing crisis

Authorizations: NHTF Priority • Provide $1 billion to capitalize NHTF Latest Update • Administration proposed $1 billion mandatory allocation • House passed H. R. 4213 with $1 billion for NHTF • Senate hasn’t been able to pass H. R. 4213 Specific Ask • Work with the Administration to approve a $1 billion mandatory allocation for the NHTF.

Authorizations: NHTF Talking Points • Importance of rental housing affordable to ELI households • Would increase access to housing for those experiencing or most at risk of homelessness • State allocation – www. nhtf. org

Capitol Hill Day Materials: www. endhomelessness. org/2010 Hill. Day For more information, contact: Amanda Krusemark akrusemark@naeh. org 202 -942 -8256 Sumeet Singh ssingh@naeh. org 202 -942 -8259