Transcript Federal Policy Update: 2012 Capitol Hill Day Capitol Hill Day Materials: www.endhomelessness.org/2012HillDay Today’s Agenda • Introduction • Federal Policy Overview and Outlook • Capitol Hill Day Logistics and Policy Overview • Policy.

Federal Policy Update:
2012 Capitol Hill Day
Capitol Hill Day Materials:
www.endhomelessness.org/2012HillDay
Today’s Agenda
•
Introduction
•
Federal Policy Overview and Outlook
•
Capitol Hill Day Logistics and Policy
Overview
•
Policy Priorities: Update, Talking Points,
Action Needed
•
Questions
Federal Policy:
Overview and
Outlook
Hill Day Logistics
• Capitol Hill Day is Wednesday, July 18!
• Thank you State Captains for organizing Hill
Day!
• Contact Maulin Shah, ([email protected] / 202942-8295) for info about participating in
congressional visits.
• Conference “Advocacy Track” Agenda can be
found on the Capitol Hill Day Info Page –
www.endhomelessness.org/2012HillDay
Hill Day Logistics
• Check in: Advocacy Information Table
(across from Registration)
– Get your Capitol Hill Day packet and materials
– Find out when your state’s prep session is
• Meeting for all State Captains – 8 am
Tuesday
• Congressional meetings mostly
Wednesday afternoon
Capitol Hill Day Policy Agenda
• Reflects critical issues being considered
AS WE SPEAK
• Issues we can impact at the time of the
conference
• Prioritize issues for each meeting  more
progress
– Alliance can help you decide which issue(s) to
focus on with each Member of Congress
Policy Priority
Updates
Appropriations: VA Programs
Provide $1.35 billion for homeless veteran
programs within VA, including:
• $300 m for Supportive Services for
Veteran Families (SSVF);
• $235 m for Grant and Per Diem; and
• $245 m for HUD-VASH case
management.
Appropriations: VA
Latest Update:
• Full House and Senate Appropriations
Committee have approved VA’s proposal
Talking Points:
• Continue progress
• Cost-effectiveness
• Community partnerships
Appropriations: McKinney
Provide $2.23 billion for HUD’s McKinney-Vento
programs
Latest Update:
• Final FY 2012 Level: $1.901 billion
• Administration: Requested $2.23 billion
• Senate Appropriations Committee: $2.146 B
• Full House: $2.005 B
– This is insufficient to maintain the current level of
assistance to people experiencing homelessness
Appropriations: McKinney
Why is a $104 m increase actually a CUT?
• Some CoC grants use multiyear contracts
• Congress provides ALL money upfront for
multiyear contracts
• HUD spends money over the course of multiple
years
• When contracts expire, Congress has to provide
more money so that HUD can keep spending the
same amount on homeless assistance
Appropriations: McKinney
Talking Points
• These programs work!
– Focus on outcomes and impact on
homelessness
• Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
• Rapid Re-Housing and Prevention
• Tie into veterans funding
– CoC funds PSH (like HUD-VASH)
– ESG funds rapid re-housing and prevention
(like SSVF)
Appropriations: RHYA Programs
Provide $127 million for RHYA programs
Latest Update
• Administration, Senate Appropriations
Committee: $115 m (same as FY 2012)
• House has NOT released its bill yet
Appropriations: RHYA
Talking Points
• Need
• Success
– Cost-Efficient
– Effective
– Stable Foundation
Appropriations: Section 8
Renew all existing Section 8 vouchers, and
provide $75 million for 10,000 new HUD-VASH
vouchers
Latest Update
• Administration: $19.1 B
• Senate Appropriations Committee: $19.4 B
• Full House: $19.1 B
 Likely underfunds Section 8 renewals
• ALL include $75 m for HUD-VASH
Appropriations: Section 8
Talking Points
•Importance of affordable housing in your
community
•Housing plus services is a proven model for
ending homelessness for veterans
Appropriations: SAMHSA
Provide $100 million for SAMHSA Homeless Services programs
Latest Update
• Administration, Senate Appropriations Committee: $75 m
(same as in FY 2012)
• House has NOT released its bill yet
Talking Points
• Need for services funding
• Cost-effectiveness
Sequestration
Sequestration = “Automatic Cuts”
Under the Budget Control Act of 2011,
automatic, across-the-board ~8.4% cuts to
non-defense, discretionary spending
- this means virtually all housing and
homelessness programs
Sequestration
• After January 2013 cuts, reduced
spending through FY 2021
• All programs within VA are exempt
• Possibility that sequestration will be
altered (positively or negatively), or
removed altogether
Sequestration
Talking Point
Congress should prevent further cuts in non-defense,
discretionary spending for affordable housing and targeted
homeless assistance programs. Sequestration would
have a devastating impact on efforts to end
homelessness. Affordable housing and homeless
assistance programs play a critical role in improving
individuals’ and families’ outcomes and have already gone
under- or un-funded for several years. Reversing or
lessening non-defense, discretionary cuts mandated under
the Budget Control Act would protect these key programs
that prevent and end homelessness.
Capitol Hill Day Materials:
www.endhomelessness.org/2012HillDay
For more information, contact:
Kate Seif: [email protected] / 202-942-8281
Amanda Benton: [email protected] / 202-942-8256
Maulin Shah: [email protected] / 202-942-8295