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Action Alerts

10/8/2008
HUD McKinney-Vento Reauthorization Passes House!
On October 2, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, H.R. 7221, which would reauthorize the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance programs. The bill passed by a margin of 355 to 61. Click here to find out how your Representative voted.

If enacted, H.R. 7221 would reauthorize the HUD McKinney programs at $2.2 billion for Fiscal Year 2009 and such sums as necessary for Fiscal Year 2010. The bill would also make several positive changes to existing programs, including expanding the types of assistance that may be provided and allowing more persons who are doubled up to be served.

For the first time in federal legislation passed by either House, the bill explicitly takes a stand against criminalization of homelessness, directing the federal Interagency Council on Homelessness to press for the elimination of ordinances and policies that criminalize homelessness. NLCHP will post a more detailed analysis of the bill on NLCHP's website next week.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Jack Reed (D-RI) are working to secure passage in the Senate. Due to restrictions on available time, the measure will only pass if Senators Dodd and Reed are able to secure the unanimous consent of all Senators to pass the bill. If they are unable to secure passage before the Senate adjourns next week, there may still be another opportunity in mid-November, when the Senate is expected to return for a "lame duck" session following the election.

NLCHP would like to thank Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL), Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY), and the late Rep. Julia Carson for their hard work on the HEARTH Act.

For more information, contact Laurel Weir by phone (202-638-2535) or email (lweir@nlchp.org).

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