“HOPE VI has accelerated the loss of public housing,” House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity Chair Maxine Waters (D-CA) said in her opening remarks at a July 29 hearing, “Academic Perspectives on the Future of Public Housing.” Chair Waters spoke throughout the hearing on her concerns about the program, including that HOPE VI has resulted in a net loss of more than 50,000 public housing units, the displacement of public housing residents, and a low rate of return to the redeveloped public housing units by original residents. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Legislation’ Category
HOPE IV Blamed for Loss of 50,000 Affordable Housing Units
Thursday, August 6th, 2009
Congress Passes HEARTH Act; President to Sign Bill Today
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
Yesterday, Congress passed S. 896, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 and Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009.
S. 896 also includes the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, which reauthorizes the HUD McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act programs and amends HUD’s definition of homelessness. (more…)
Senate Passes HEARTH Act: Definition Debate Continues
Tuesday, May 5th, 2009
Today, the US Senate approved the HEARTH Act (S. 808), which would re-write the federal law governing HUD’s homeless assistance grant programs. We remain very concerned about the definition of homelessness contained in HEARTH. It excludes too many vulnerable children, youth, and families in need of HUD housing assistance; it would be overly complex to administer at the local level; and it was developed well before the recent recession-driven spike in family and youth homelessness. It is not a “compromise” definition, as evidenced by the broad array of housing, children, youth, education, and legal organizations who do not support it. Those of us involved directly in negotiations consistently objected to provisions harmful to child and youth development, including requirements for multiple moves and other arbitrary restrictions imposed on those in motel and doubled-up situations. (more…)
Playing the Name Game With Family Homelessness
Monday, April 13th, 2009
As we have all seen, on our streets and in the media, family homelessness over the past three years has skyrocketed. The recent mortgage crisis has escalated the numbers even more.
In the face of growing numbers of families losing their homes, having to split up for survivals sake, and even some children ending up in the hellhole of the Foster Care System, what is our federal government doing? Unbelievably, they seem intent on putting system-wide, draconian obstacles in front of families trying desperately to find a roof over their heads.
On April 2, 2009 the House (HR 1877) and the Senate (S 808) both reintroduced legislation entitled Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009. If this bill becomes law, as many people fear, thousands of destitute and poor families will fail to “qualify” for services funded with federal homeless assistance dollars because they will be deemed not homeless enough. (more…)
Campaign to Strengthen Obama’s Budget Priorities!
Wednesday, April 8th, 2009
President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget provides a visionary blueprint that turns away from the failed economic policies of the past and seeks to invest in our future by expanding opportunities for all. His budget commits major investments in health care reform, education, and clean energy, while restoring fairness to our tax system and reducing military expenditures over time in a responsible manner. It builds upon the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to protect Americans from the damaging impact of the recession and sows seeds of a sustainable prosperity. (more…)