Last summer, Members of Congress and the Administration debated whether to raise the debt ceiling -- the maximum amount of money the U.S. government can borrow.  After weeks of negotiation that took the U.S. to the brink of defaulting on its debt, Congress finally passed the Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011.

 

The resolution was a short-term fix, with Congress required to reach a new deal on federal spending by January 2, 2013-orface major cuts to programs both parties care about.  If Congress fails to reach a new agreement, automatic spending cuts kick in, including an 8.4 percent cut to all non-defense spending.

President Barack Obama and Rep. John Boehner | AP

This would have disastrous consequences for an already-decaying social safety-net.

 

The Law Center is working to educate Congress about the human impact of these prospective cuts.  As part of that effort, we're stepping up our role in the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding (CHCDF), a coalition of organizations working to preserve and expand funding for HUD programs.  CHCDF put together a brief detailing exactly how looming cuts would hurt efforts to end homelessness: over 145,000 people would lose housing obtained through HUD's homeless aid programs, and roughly 275,000 people would lose their Section 8 assistance.

 

It seems unthinkable that these cuts could take effect, but if Congress and the Administration fail to agree on a new budget deal, that's exactly what will happen.  And with the 2012 elections looming, it's difficult to see Members putting aside their partisan differences and forging consensus.  Congress is likely to wait until the last possible second -- just like last summer -- and stalling too long could savage vital programs.

 

We encourage constituents to engage their Members of Congress during the fall recess, when most Members return to their home districts.  Make sure they understand the severe impact these cuts would have on individuals in your community.

A new documentary by filmmakers Joe and Harry Gantz follows eight families' struggle to survive in the wake of the economic and foreclosure crisis.  Their experiences are a stark reminder of what's at stake and the catastrophic consequences of further cuts to safety-net programs.

"American Winter" shows mothers and fathers fighting to provide for their children, and children forced to grow up far too early.  You follow them as they pound the pavement looking for work, grapple with corporate bureaucracy, and do everything they can to put food on the table.  More than that, you see the toll their experiences take and their inspiring fight to stabilize their lives.

The Law Center is proud to support this tremendous film.  We truly believe it has the potential to change the public dialogue around issues of homelessness and poverty.

Please take five minutes to watch the trailer.  And if you feel, as we do, that this documentary could be a game-changer, please show your support to help them finish the film.

A new report by the Law Center and the National Network for Youth reveals a disturbing truth: 1.6 million youth experience homelessness without a parent or guardian each year, facing numerous barriers to meeting basic needs. 

The report, Alone Without a Home, explains why these youth become homeless and reviews current laws affecting them in all 50 states and 6 U.S. territories.  Common causes include severe family conflict, parental abuse or neglect, parental mental health issues, and substance abuse.  Prior to leaving home, almost half of all unaccompanied youth report being beaten by a caretaker, while one out of four had caretakers request sexual activity.

The rights of unaccompanied youth widely vary from state to state, and it is often difficult for youth and homeless service providers to clarify their legal protections and eligibility for housing, health care, and education services.  Moreover, many unaccompanied youth do not seek out help because they assume they will be turned away, or even fear being taken into state custody.

Alone Without a Home recommends eliminating laws that criminally punish unaccompanied youth as runaways  or  truants, in favor of policies that divert them from court involvement.  It also calls on states to expand access to housing, health care, education, and other stabilizing services.  This includes allowing youth to contract for housing, receive medical treatment, and enroll in school without parental consent.

To read the full report, click here.

In May 2009, following extensive advocacy by the Law Center, President Obama signed into law the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (PTFA) to prevent housing loss and homelessness for renters.  PTFA gives renters of foreclosed properties the right to remain in their home until the end of their lease or-if there is no written lease-90-days notice before eviction.

This month, the Maryland Court of Appeals set an important precedent affirming the law's protections in the case Curtis v. U.S. Bank, for which the Law Center filed an amicus brief.

In late 2007, Judy Curtis leased a property in Pasadena, MD with her children.  In 2009, her landlord defaulted on the property.  And in June 2010, the U.S. Bank National Association (USBNA) acquired the property.  Without clear instructions on how to proceed, Curtis continued to pay her landlord monthly.  In December 2010, USBNA sent her two confusing and conflicting notices: one, a "Notice to Quit and Vacate Property" that mentioned she might have "certain rights" if she were a bona fide tenant under the PTFA, and another that said she had to leave on or before March 23, 2011.  Just two weeks after sending these documents, USBNA filed for "immediate possession" of the unit, claiming that Curtis had received the 90-days notice required by PTFA.  Curtis realized her PTFA rights were being violated and took USBNA to court.

The Maryland Court of Appeals agreed with Curtis' assessment, saying that "[USBNA's] notice to vacate was confusing and ineffective for purposes of PTFA."  This sets a critical precedent that has the potential to impact thousands of other renters.  This is especially important because PTFA does not have clear guidance on which federal agency is responsible for holding banks accountable to the law.

Since the foreclosure crisis began in 2007, we've seen a dramatic rise in homelessness, including a 20 percent increase among families.  No one should be homeless-including renters who have played by the rules and done everything right.  When applied as intended, PTFA gives renters the necessary time to find alternative housing, vastly decreasing their risk of becoming homeless.  In the coming months, the Law Center will continue its efforts to make PTFA permanent, ensure banks fully understand their legal obligations, and support litigation that reaffirms the law's protections.

Voting rights are under attack in a way not seen in decades.  "Voter ID laws," in place or pending across the country, could disenfranchise as many as five million voters.  Worse, the laws will have a disproportionate impact on specific communities: homeless, poor, elderly, and disabled persons; minorities; and students.
 
The new laws require voters to produce specific types of government-issued photo ID that many eligible citizens do not possess.  Proponents of the laws claim these measures crack down on widespread voter fraud, but there is no credible evidence that such fraud even exists.  In fact, one study found that a person is more likely to be struck by lightning than cheat the system.

The Law Center will be releasing its own 50-state report on homeless persons' voting rights in the run-up to the elections.  The report will discuss the legal and policy implications of voter ID laws and other restrictions that disproportionately impact homeless persons, while providing state-by-state information on voter registration and voting.  Moreover, we will conduct trainings to ensure at-risk populations and local service providers understand voters' rights.

We're also moving forward with our litigation -- brought in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Wisconsin, and Dechert LLP -- challenging the constitutionality of Wisconsin's voter ID law in federal court.

While work on our lawsuit continues, two separate rulings in other cases resulted in the law being suspended on state constitutional grounds. Unfortunately, that's not the end of the story.  Attorneys for the State are now asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to overturn these rulings-meaning thousands of Wisconsin voters are still at risk of being disenfranchised in November.

This only renews the Law Center's determination. The facts are on our side, and we're working vigorously with our partners to prevent the State from silencing the voices of homeless, poor, and other marginalized constituencies.

Click here to join our fight!