tag:npach.org,2008://4 2008-08-01T18:14:46Z The National Policy and Advocacy Council on Homelessness is a grass roots anti-poverty organization. Our mission is to ensure that national homelessness policy accurately reflects the needs and experiences of local communities. Movable Type 3.33 tag:npach.org,2008://4.109 2008-08-01T18:03:05Z 2008-08-01T18:14:46Z

Yesterday, the House Financial Services Committee approved H.R. 840, the Homelessness Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (HEARTH), after first adopting a substitute amendment offered by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI). As expected, Congresswoman...

Jeremy Rosen After an intense and emotional debate, the amendment was withdrawn in an exchange for a commitment from Full Committee Chairman Frank and Housing Subcommittee Chairwoman Waters to continue working to improve the HUD definition of homelessness before the bill moves to the floor in September. We will continue to fight for these improvements, and are confident that with your help they will occur. The Committee leadership of both parties also agreed to send a letter to the Government Accountability Office, next week, requesting a study on expanding the HUD definition of homelessness. The markup was an important step forward in our ongoing effort to ensure that the HUD definition of homelessness is expanded to accurately reflect the full range of people experiencing homelessness in this country. We are pleased that almost the entire debate was focused on the issue of the HUD definition and the needs of children, youth, and families. While the Biggert-Davis amendment was not approved, we are confident that its introduction and the spirited debate will result in meaningful improvements to HR 840 before it is considered on the House floor. And we are deeply grateful to Mrs. Biggert and Mr. Davis for their leadership. Next week, we will provide a more detailed summary of today’s markup. We thank you for all of your hard work on this issue, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration in the weeks and months to come. The markup can be viewed here. A powerful Time Magazine opinion piece on the importance of a reality-based expansion of HUD's definition of homelessness can be read here: ]]> tag:npach.org,2008://4.107 2008-07-22T14:37:21Z 2008-07-22T18:31:48Z

Because of what we learned from you, NPACH worked closely with staff for the late Representative Julia Carson to introduce the HEARTH Act, a strong bill to rewrite the laws governing HUD's homeless assistance programs. HEARTH has been co-sponsored by...

Jeremy Rosen you, NPACH worked closely with staff for the late Representative Julia Carson to introduce the HEARTH Act, a strong bill to rewrite the laws governing HUD's homeless assistance programs. HEARTH has been co-sponsored by 85 House Members, including almost all Democrats on the Housing Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee. Despite the broad support for HEARTH, when the bill is considered Subcommittee Chairwoman Maxine Waters plans to introduce an amendment that would replace the entire HEARTH Act with a new bill. This new bill is almost identical to the Senate's McKinney-Vento bill, S. 1518, which NPACH has opposed. Congresswoman Waters plan is supported by Full Committee Chairman Barney Frank. The Financial Services Committee is likely to schedule a meeting for Wednesday, July 30, to consider housing bills. We urge the Committee not to consider the HEARTH Act during this markup. Instead, the House should continue to work with NPACH and other stakeholders to improve the bill. A more reasonable bill would maintain key elements of HEARTH - an improved definition of homelessness, balanced set-asides and incentives that do not unreasonably limit local flexibility, and requirements for broad community participation in local Continuums of Care. If markup proceeds, the bill can be substantially improved by supporting the "Homeless Children and Youth Amendment." This amendment would allow children, youth, and families who are defined as homeless by education and human services programs to be considered homeless under HUD's definition. While the amendment would not cover nearly as many people as HEARTH as introduced, it is a fair proposal that we enthusiastically support. Action Needed by Thursday -- Read Our Full Alert Get the Facts About the Homeless Children and Youth Amendment]]> tag:npach.org,2008://4.108 2008-07-21T05:07:33Z 2008-07-23T05:10:42Z

Read the July issue of the NPACH Report...

Jeremy Rosen Read the July issue of the NPACH Report ]]> tag:npach.org,2008://4.106 2008-06-27T17:15:46Z 2008-06-27T17:18:38Z

In June, we expect the House Financial Services Committee to consider the HEARTH Act (H.R. 840). HEARTH is strong legislation that will re-write the rules governing HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grant programs, better enabling urban, suburban, and rural communities to...

Jeremy Rosen as introduced. However, we understand that some changes will be made as the bill is considered by the Financial Services Committee. Unfortunately, Congresswoman Maxine Waters of Los Angeles is proposing a broad set of alterations to HEARTH through a "manager's amendment." The changes being supported by Congresswoman Waters would turn HEARTH into a bill that is almost identical to the Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act (S. 1518) - Senate legislation that NPACH has opposed. Please call House Members and urge them to support HEARTH as it is - legislation that provides a reasonably expanded definition of homelessness, permits greater local flexibility in addressing homelessness, and ensures broad community participation in local planning to end homelessness. Read NPACH's Full Response to the HEARTH Managers Amendment Click Here to Call Your House Member and Support HEARTH! ]]> tag:npach.org,2007://4.99 2008-06-25T20:15:11Z 2008-06-27T17:19:19Z

Please donate to NPACH today. We are the only national organization working every day to ensure that no child in America is homeless. With your help, we can work towards the day where every child in America has safe, decent,...

Jeremy Rosen only national organization working every day to ensure that no child in America is homeless. With your help, we can work towards the day where every child in America has safe, decent, and affordable housing! Click here to show your support! ]]> tag:npach.org,2008://4.105 2008-03-04T17:25:20Z 2008-03-04T17:59:31Z

House Action on HEARTH Act Imminent - Senate Makes Changes to Definition of Homelessness! Senate staff have agreed to make improvements to their proposed HUD definition of homelessness, but we continue to have concerns with the scope and complexity of...

Jeremy Rosen House Action on HEARTH Act Imminent - Senate Makes Changes to Definition of Homelessness! Senate staff have agreed to make improvements to their proposed HUD definition of homelessness, but we continue to have concerns with the scope and complexity of the language. House staff are working on proposed amendments to the HEARTH Act - read our alert and help ensure that key provisions of HEARTH are retained as the bill moves forward. Click Below To Read NPACH's Latest McKinney-Vento Reauthorization Update and Take Action! New Senate Update and House Action Alert Chart of Proposed HUD Homelessness Definitions]]> tag:npach.org,2008://4.104 2008-02-20T14:02:31Z 2008-02-20T14:22:05Z

NPACH Executive Director Jeremy Rosen will participate in the 11th annual Homelessness Radio Marathon, to be broadcast today and tomorrow from the streets of Nashville, TN. The 14 hour marathon begins tonight at 7pm EST, and ends tomorrow morning at...

Jeremy Rosen click here. The site features a live webcast of the Marathon as well as a listing of participating radio stations. Once the event has been completed, the website will also link to an archived broadcast. ]]> tag:npach.org,2007://4.97 2007-11-15T19:58:47Z 2007-11-15T19:59:56Z

Read NPACH's new paper critiquing HUD and the U.S. Interagency Council's recent release of data purporting to show a 12% decrease in "chronic" homelessness between 2005 and 2006. Download the paper...

Jeremy Rosen Download the paper]]> tag:npach.org,2007://4.95 2007-10-19T21:56:36Z 2007-10-19T21:58:34Z

Read this Congressional Quarterly article discussing NPACH's position on HUD McKinney-Vento reauthorization...

Jeremy Rosen Read this Congressional Quarterly article discussing NPACH's position on HUD McKinney-Vento reauthorization]]> tag:npach.org,2007://4.94 2007-10-17T16:09:12Z 2007-10-17T16:10:38Z

New HEARTH Act Materials Posted...

Jeremy Rosen New HEARTH Act Materials Posted]]> tag:npach.org,2007://4.92 2007-10-17T14:01:55Z 2007-10-17T14:49:16Z

On Tuesday, October 16, the House Financial Services Committee held a second hearing on reauthorization of HUD's McKinney-Vento homeless assistance grant programs. Again, multiple witnesses testified in support of H.R. 840 - the HEARTH Act - NPACH's preferred approach to...

Jeremy Rosen Unfortunately, as NPACH's October 4 House testimony predicted, the written and oral testimony of Mr. Johnston and the oral testimony of Mr. Mangano (whose written testimony was either not submitted or not posted on the Committee website) do not contain a single reference to data suggesting that, under the current Administration, overall homelessness or "chronic" homelessness have decreased by even one person. Mr. Mangano urged the Committee to make policy based on data, and to hold stakeholders accountable to outcomes. We agree. We call on Members of Congress to apply those principles to the work of HUD and the U.S. Interagency Council over the past 6 years. If they do, they cannot help but reach the conclusion that federal homelessness policy must change - and that the HEARTH Act is the best vehicle to produce that change. Read the hearing testimony and watch the archived webcast]]> tag:npach.org,2007://4.90 2007-10-09T20:29:23Z 2007-10-09T20:51:58Z

On Thursday, October 4, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on proposals to rewrite the laws governing HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act programs. NPACH Executive Director Jeremy Rosen testified at the hearing. The hearing was quite succesful, with...

Jeremy Rosen Read NPACH's testimony Watch an archived webcast and read the powerful testimony of NPACH's national and local partners Read NPACH's comparison of key provisions in House and Senate legislation ]]> tag:npach.org,2007://4.89 2007-10-09T20:21:41Z 2007-10-09T20:26:38Z

On September, NPACH and a group of national and local partners wrote to Congresswoman Maxine Waters, asking her to include language permitting (but not requiring) project sponsors of HUD-funded Section 202 senior housing to establish a preference for homeless seniors...

Jeremy Rosen included NPACH's recommended language in the bill that was approved by the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity of the House Financial Services Committee. The bill will now be considered by the full Financial Services Committee. The letter was prompted by recent HUD denials of attempts by senior housing project sponsors to include preferences for homeless seniors in new project proposals. While we do not believe that these preferences should be required, we do believe that project sponsors should be permitted to target homeless seniors if they choose to do so. HUD's unwillingness to permit this is simply another unnecessary bureaucratic obstacle that calls into question the Administration's commitment to end homelessness for any population. Read the letter ]]> tag:npach.org,2007://4.87 2007-10-09T19:42:05Z 2007-10-09T19:42:12Z

Duke University student Elizabeth Kelly spent the summer of 2006 as a housing policy intern in the national office of Catholic Charities USA. During her internship, Elizabeth spent a considerable amount of time working on homelessness issues. In reaction to...

Jeremy Rosen Read the paper NPACH thanks Elizabeth Kelly for allowing us to publish this paper.]]> tag:npach.org,2007://4.88 2007-08-21T14:31:29Z 2007-08-21T14:33:46Z

See the updated list of HEARTH endorsers Please email additional endorsements to Jeremy Rosen at NPACH....

Jeremy Rosen See the updated list of HEARTH endorsers Please email additional endorsements to Jeremy Rosen at NPACH.]]>