Economic Recovery: Congress Should Invest in Preventing and Ending Homelessness

[dajoki]

Economic Recovery: Congress Should Invest in Preventing and Ending Homelessness
There is evidence that solution-focused interventions have reduced homelessness in many communities across the country. However, because of the current economic situation, many states are facing budget deficits, and a growing number of low-income households are in the midst of a housing and financial crisis. Without a meaningful response from the federal government, homelessness will inevitably increase.

We have a unique opportunity to gain new recourses for important housing and prevention strategies. Congress and the incoming Obama Administration are crafting legislation right now aimed at economic recovery and stability. Reports indicate that it will cost anywhere from $500 billion to $1 trillion.

Please join us in calling on them to invest in key programs to prevent future spikes in homelessness and refuel local efforts to end homelessness.*

Action Needed
Ask your Senators and Representatives to prevent increases in homelessness by urging the leadership to include in an economic package:
$2 billion for the Emergency Shelter Grant Program for preventing and ending homelessness,
$10 billion for the National Housing Trust Fund over two years, and
$3.6 billion for 400,000 Section 8 vouchers over two years.
Call or email the staff person who works on housing issues or copy that person on a letter and fax it to your Members of Congress' offices. (Below is more information.)

More Information to Help you Make your Case:
Click here for detailed talking points.
http://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/2145/
Click here for background material on the funding requests. http://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/2144/


*The Alliance has been working with several Congressional offices involved in this legislation and these funding requests have been very well received. Now, it is crucial that staff hear from their constituents about how this funding will impact efforts locally to prevent and end homelessness.

Timing
Congress will be crafting an economic recovery package this week and a final bill will likely be considered when the new Congress takes office, so as early as January. It is important that Members of Congress hear from you now as they write the bill. We will continue to update you at future points in the process when further action is needed.

Please contact Sarah Kahn to report what you hear back from offices and if you have any questions or comments (202-942-8259 / [e-mail]).

[bobbolink]

1. this is easy to do, DUers, and IMPORTANT. Please help out!

[bobbolink]

2. Very important... deserves attention from the nigh tcrew!

:kick:

[sixmile]

3. JOBS, dammit, JOBS!

With a job, the rest falls into place.

[babylonsister]

5. Yep. And that's the plan with the economic stimulus. It can't come soon enough. nt

[tblue37]

6. Only if the jobs pay a living wage. nt

[dajoki]

7. That is so right...

not minimum wage, but a LIVING WAGE!!

[bobbolink]

9. And those who can't work....????

Are only working people the ones who are important?

What about elderly and disabled people?

Forgotten?

Out With The Trash?

[dajoki]

10. Those who can't work...

are not part of the middle class so they don't count. The middle class is shrinking and many will soon see what its like to be invisible, maybe then this country will wake up.

[bobbolink]

11. YEs, we don't count. BUT, when there are lots of suicides because of NO WAY TO SURVIVE

because of being invisible, then all "progressives" will say, is, "See, they were mentally ill."

"Progressives" just cover themselves, rather than actually opening their hearts to see REALITY.

[dajoki]

4. kick

[dajoki]

8. another kick

[JeffR]

12. Kicking this important thread.

:kick:

[bobbolink]

13. Thanks! It's such a small request for action, and so IMPORTANT!

I thank you.

dajoki thanks you.

:hi:

[JeffR]

15. And I thank you both for your tenacity and dedication.

:hi:

[dajoki]

26. I appreciate...

your thanks JeffR, but its people like Bobbie who really deserve it, she is on the front lines and inspires many.:hi:

[dajoki]

33. Thank you JeffR!! n/t

[Greyhound]

14. Kick but too late to rec. Wu & Merkley both got my message.

Not much point in talking to Smith's office.:shrug:

:kick:

[Blue_In_AK]

16. Kick

[grantcart]

17. These are modest requests and they will have a higher multiple impact

on dollars invested than most government programs



There is not only the jobs from constructing low income homes but the reduction in crime that goes with reducing homelessness.

[bobbolink]

19. You're absolutely right. Thank you for taking action on this!

:yourock:

Please now ask your friends and family to make the calls, too!

[dajoki]

27. Yes, a multiple impact...

including savings on health care in the long run.

Thanks!!

[Trillo]

39. It's only about 2% of 700 billion.

700 billion for Paulson and cronies FAST, within weeks, but homeless folks still on the street since the 1980s, aka The Reagan Era.

15.6 billion for homelessness is only about 2% of The Corporate Welfare given to Paulson.

[bobbolink]

40. thank you for the excellent figures... this should be something ALL "progressives" talk about,

and are aware of.

This should be talked about on DU.

It should be broadcast on Air America.

It should be something we are ALL aware of and know.

I thank you! :toast:

[ColbertWatcher]

18. Kick. n/t

[intheflow]

20. "Error. You can only recommend threads that were started in the last 24 hours."

:(

Just heard on NPR this evening that Colorado homeless advocates are panicking because they don't have the resources (affordable housing, rental subsidies) to help so many people, most of whom are homeless for the first time. They fear an increase in deaths due to people living on the streets. This country is sickening in how we encouraged greed over the last 30, to the detriment of every social safety net like rent control.

[bobbolink]

21. "They fear an increase in deaths due to people living on the streets. "

YEs, and I am in that category.

YET.... when the deaths are reported, what will happen is people, and I'm including many "progressives" I know, will only say, "See, they were so mentally ill...."

THAT'S just how sick we are as a nation... we REFUSE to take responsibility for causing this deplorable state of affairs.

The FACT is, we have so many homeless people because we ACCEPT HOMELESSNESS.

If and when we decide that homelessness isn't acceptable in the richest country in the world, we will find the will to change it.

Not until then.

I hope you made the phone calls. ^_^

And thank you for understanding!

:yourock:

[maryf]

35. If and when we decide that homelessness...

Isn't acceptable for a single human being regardless the reason...and lets remember the number one cause of homelessness is the lack of low-income housing...I too hope everyone is making those calls!!!

[L0oniX]

22. hmmm ..health care ...homeless ..hmmm ...how about homeless and no heath care?

I don't know which is worse or more of a danger but I tend to think single payer health care is more important. Of course you could rap up homelessness into health care because being homeless increases your chance of getting sick or being robbed or just plain ol beat up by young punks. IMO having shelter and food are a part of health care. Sadly we'd rather spend 700 billion a year on our military for defense ...choke coff coff gag ..wtf it's not defense anymore, it's offense. I say close down the military for 3 years and take the 2.1 trillion and spend it on our own people for a change. Obviously it is more important for them to keep spending the money on war machine corporations and fat cat wall street gang bangers. They don't give a shit about the 5000 children who die in this country every year because of negligence. Instead we spend 700 billion a year to kill 100,000 Iraqis because the 3000 who died in NY were somehow related to why we kill in Iraq. You decide, 5000 of our own children or 100,000 Iraqis. Where do you want your money spent?

[bobbolink]

23. It doesn't have to be an either/or... that is a false choice. But maybe people have to

experience it all before they get it.

I hope you made the phone calls!!

And then urged friends and family to do the same.

We thank you.

[saltpoint]

24. A kick with a capital 'K.'

[dajoki]

32. Thank you Old Crusoe!! n/t

[saltpoint]

34. Hey there.

:thumbsup:

[maryf]

25. Huge Kick Dajoki!

This is what we need is practical posts that help us take action! Thanks!:pals:

[dajoki]

30. Thanks Mary...

you and Bobbie deserve the credit for all your efforts and hard work on this, good night, friend.

:grouphug: :fistbump:

[maryf]

45. All for one, one for all

Hey dajoki, sometimes it takes three!! :grouphug:

[dajoki]

46. Three Muskateers!!

:hi: :grouphug:

[varelse]

28. K&R

Kicking this up past the 10,000 Rick Warren "discussions" (well for 30 seconds anyway :eyes:)

[bobbolink]

29. Kicking for the night crew! Please Call and ask your friends to CALL!

This is important!

:kick:

[dajoki]

31. Good night Bobbie...

must keep these two going!!

:grouphug: :hi:

[JNelson6563]

36. Kickin' this

:kick:

Please join the effort DU! :toast:

[bobbolink]

37. thanks sooo much! This is indeed important!

I very much appreciate your help!

[bobbolink]

38. Make those calls today, folks!

It's every bit as important as talking about shoe-throwing...

Really.

And takes MUCH less time.

[dajoki]

41. "Timing...

Congress will be crafting an economic recovery package this week and a final bill will likely be considered when the new Congress takes office, so as early as January. It is important that Members of Congress hear from you now as they write the bill."

[saltpoint]

42. Here is a humble kick for those in Beloit and Gary and other places

this evening, in the path of an ice storm, and homeless, and hungry.

[bobbolink]

43. "this evening, in the path of an ice storm, and homeless, and hungry." and so easily forgotten.

They deserve our phone calls!

Please?

Thanks, Old Crusoe.. for remembering those in peril! :hi:

[saltpoint]

44. -- -- --

:hi:

[bobbolink]

47. Reminder to take action on behalf of invisible people!

:kick:

[maryf]

48. Its really very easy...

Isn't it Bobbie? and makes you feel so good to have done something...:toast:

[bobbolink]

50. Sometimes you get a staff member who is just grateful you called!

It's not a popular or sexy topic, and those staff people who are particularly into this issue are sooo happy you took the time to call!

:toast:

[dajoki]

49. Back up top and...

Good night Everybody!!:hi:

[bobbolink]

51. back to the top for an important action request...

and good afternoon!

:hi:

[dajoki]

55. And yet another...

:kick:

[Muttocracy]

52. kick. nt

[saltpoint]

53. A kick.

I hope DUers will engage this post and its options of caring and sharing.

[bobbolink]

58. from your keyboard to the monitor of the goddess!

:hi:

[depakid]

54. Yet another lesson America can learn from the Aussies

December 21, 2008

THE Rudd Government will today unveil its white paper on homelessness, committing $6.1 billion to the first five years of its biggest social reform program. The states have joined the Commonwealth to commit to two headline goals by 2020: to halve overall homelessness and to offer accommodation to every "rough sleeper".

As a start, $800 million will be pumped into new support services for the homeless over the next four years and $400 million for social housing for the homeless over two years. The Government will establish a fund-raising foundation to raise money from the private sector, a new Council on Homelessness will be appointed, and states will be forced to report progress on targets to the Commonwealth.

Mr Rudd considers the 12-year plan a "once in a generation opportunity".

His Government will introduce legislation to anchor the plan in a guarantee that "people who are homeless are treated with dignity and respect, and receive quality services".

<snip>

he new National Affordable Housing Agreement will come into effect next month. It commits $6.1 billion to social housing, help in the private rental market, support and housing for the homeless or those at risk, and help for home-buyers.

The white paper will outline three key strategies to tackle the homeless scourge: early intervention, expansion of services and "breaking the cycle".

The Government will pledge to:

� help up to 9000 more young people remain connected with their families;

� assist up to 2250 more families at risk of homelessness to stay housed;

� provide day-to-day support to an extra 1000 adults with mental illness;

� build up to 2700 additional public and community houses for low income households at risk of homelessness;

� fund a network of 90 "engagement officers" in Centrelink to support those at risk of homelessness;

� build up to 4200 new houses and upgrade up to 4800 existing houses in remote indigenous communities;

� allocate aged-care places and capital funds for at least one new specialist facility for older homeless people every year for the next four years.

Yesterday, Brotherhood of St Laurence executive director Tony Nicholson said: "This is the most substantial commitment we've ever seen to tackling homelessness in this country. It is far more substantial and visionary than anything I've seen in comparable countries."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/61b-to-give-homeless-a-helping-hand/2008/12/20/1229189946180.html

[bobbolink]

57. Yet again, the U.S. must learn from other nations!

WHY are we so stubborn about remaining so far behind in this issue???

Come on, USians, let's get with it here!

Thanks for this! It's not perfect, and there are things I would change, but it's great to see this effort! :applause:

[Incitatus]

56. kick nt