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, (mshah@naeh.org / 202-942-8295) 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 BLikely 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: cseif@naeh.org / 202-942-8281Amanda Benton: abenton@naeh.org / 202-942-8256Maulin Shah: mshah@naeh.org / 202-942-8295