2014 Federal Laws and Policies Impacting Homelessness in America
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Transcript of 2014 Federal Laws and Policies Impacting Homelessness in America
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POLICY
GUIDE National Alliance to End Homelessness
July 2014
1
Table of Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 2
Policy Priorities ......................................................................................................................... 3
Legislation ................................................................................................................................ 3
Appropriations ..................................................................................................................... 4
Homeless Assistance Grants (HUD) ............................................................................. 4
Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HUD) ................................................................. 5
HUD – VA Supportive Housing Vouchers (HUD-VA) .................................................... 5
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HUD) ................................................. 6
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (VA) ............................................................ 6
Grant and Per Diem Program (VA) ............................................................................... 7
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Programs (HHS) ................................................... 7
SAMHSA Homeless Services (HHS) ............................................................................... 8
Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (HHS) .............................. 8
Community Health Centers / Health Care for the Homeless (HHS) .......................... 8
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (DoL) ...................................................... 9
Education for Homeless Children and Youth (ED) ...................................................... 9
Second Chance Act (DOJ) ............................................................................................ 10
Emergency Food and Shelter Program (DHS) ............................................................ 10
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Appropriations......................................... 11
Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations ........................................................................ 12
Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education Appropriations ............. 12
Miscellaneous Appropriations .................................................................................... 14
Authorizations ................................................................................................................... 15
Section 8 Voucher Reauthorization ........................................................................... 15
National Housing Trust Fund ..................................................................................... 15
HEARTH Act Technical Fix .......................................................................................... 16
Guide to Congress ................................................................................................................. 17
Capitol Hill Day Information .................................................................................................. 23
2
Introduction
The National Alliance to End Homelessness publishes this Policy Guide each year to pull together
in one document a description of issues with which Congress and the Administration are grappling
that will have an impact on homelessness. People who work on ending homelessness in their
communities have important information that is helpful to people making policy at the federal
level. This Policy Guide is intended to make it easier to share that information. The Policy Guide
gives a brief description of each issue or program, explains how it impacts homelessness, and
describes what is at stake in current policy debates.
Federal policy has an important impact on homelessness in two ways. First, the federal
government is a major source of funding, both for state and local programs working to end
homelessness, and for benefits for Americans with the lowest incomes and the highest
vulnerability. Second, federal policy can incentivize effective practices by rewarding results. The
programs and issues described in the Policy Guide include those with both of these impacts.
Among other things, the Policy Guide is designed to be useful for advocates. Decision-makers in
Washington, DC can only do their jobs effectively if they have good information about how policies
play out in the field, what kinds of spending get good results, and what practices are the most
important to incentivize. Since most people working in agencies and congressional offices cover a
range of topics, they are unlikely to ever be real experts on a topic like how to end homelessness.
They rely on people working in the field to give them helpful information. This Policy Guide makes
it easier to know the important information.
This year there are some key issues that need to be addressed and messages that need to be
communicated. The first issue is the importance of following the plan to end homelessness set out
in Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. Action by Congress is
needed this year to meet Opening Doors’ call for communities to end chronic homelessness by the
end of 2016 (already pushed back a year to account for cuts to HUD programs). Thorough
assessments by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and the
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have made it clear that accomplishing this
will require about 37,000 additional rent subsidies targeted toward housing chronically homeless
people. HUD included a request for this funding in its FY 2015 budget request, which Congress is
considering now. The funding bills that have emerged so far in the House and Senate, however, do
not include this. This proposal remains a high priority for the Administration, and will remain in
play until final spending bills are passed for the year. The federal plan remains a crucial tool for
making progress, and Congress needs to do its part. This message needs to be made forcefully,
establishing that carrying out Opening Doors needs to be a national priority.
The other important message is that now, more than ever, we are proving that we are able to be
successful. The large reductions in homelessness in some communities, among veterans, people
with disabilities, and/or families, using proven models of permanent supportive housing, rapid re-
housing, coordinated assessment, and a system-wide focus on outcomes, are proving that
investments in the right kinds of programs will have a big positive impact for the most vulnerable
people in our country. Most significantly, rapid reductions in homelessness among veterans
demonstrate that when funded to scale, the approach to ending homelessness that communities
have put into place is capable of achieving great results.
3
Policy Priorities¹
The Alliance is devoted to working with
communities, the Administration, and
Congress to improve federal policies that will
prevent and end homelessness. A major
concern is that as Congress continues to
address the national debt and reduce federal
spending, programs for the most vulnerable
people, including people who are homeless,
will be included in the federal cuts. Recent
funding decisions have had a
disproportionately negative impact on low-
income populations and Congress must work
to rectify those deleterious impacts.
The Alliance believes that advocating for the
following programs will have the most
significant impact on homelessness this year.
Provide $2.406 billion for the HUD
Homeless Assistance Grants in fiscal year
(FY) 2015. This funding level would cover the
cost of maintaining and expanding
Continuum of Care (CoC) programs and
would help communities to continue their
investment in rapid re-housing. This funding
level will pay for enough new permanent
supportive housing to end chronic
homelessness by the end of 2016, the time
frame laid out in Opening Doors.
Provide $1.64 billion for homeless
veterans programs funded by the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA),
including $500 million for the Supportive
Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program,
in FY 2015. This proposal would allow
communities to continue bringing SSVF to
scale and maintain other valuable options for
ensuring that homeless veterans have the
services they need to stay housed. $1.64
billion would provide the funding necessary
to end homelessness among veterans by
2015.
Fund all Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
renewals and provide $320 million to
replace vouchers lost by sequestration. In
addition, provide $75 million for 10,000
new HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-
VASH) vouchers in FY 2015. Available
affordable housing is a key component in
efforts to prevent and end homelessness. It is
critical to guarantee stability for all current
voucher holders, and to recover lost vouchers
to help prevent and end homelessness for
more people. The HUD-VASH vouchers are
also necessary to help end veteran
homelessness by 2015.
Fund the National Housing Trust Fund
(NHTF). When funded to scale, the NHTF will
close the gap between supply and need for
affordable housing and will help end
homelessness in the United States. The
program is ready to be implemented as soon
as Congress provides sufficient funding.
Congress should work to finalize current
House and Senate tax reform proposals that
would fund the NHTF.
*
These and other programs play a critical role
in the fight to end homelessness. As
Members of Congress make decisions
regarding annual funding bills and deficit
reduction, they should be sure to prioritize
programs that serve the most vulnerable
people, including those experiencing
homelessness.
¹Further detail about these policy priorities can be found throughout this Policy Guide.
Legislation
The Legislation section of this Policy Guide
describes some of the important issues in
federal homelessness policy that Congress is
likely to debate in 2014. There are two types
of legislation:
● Appropriations bills, which provide
funding for programs. Congress must
enact these bills each year.
● Authorization bills, which create or
modify programs or set automatic
funding levels for them. These bills do
not have to be enacted annually.
4
The initiatives described below are not the
only proposals in Congress that affect
homelessness, but they are the most likely to
be enacted in the near future and to have the
most significant impact on people
experiencing homelessness.
Appropriations
As noted in the introduction, this year will be
challenging for work on appropriations. Many
Members of Congress wish to further reduce
federal spending, and some wish to
drastically reduce the federal government’s
role in social programs overall. Furthermore,
the upcoming November mid-term elections
may further delay finalization of FY 2015
appropriations.
Despite these challenges, in advocating for
increased spending for homelessness,
advocates can emphasize key points that
have proven effective in motivating Members
of Congress: homeless people are among the
poorest and most vulnerable people in the
nation and have the most acute needs.
Fortunately, the work to address
homelessness, and the federal programs that
support that work, are extremely effective
and efficient. Both Republicans and
Democrats can take credit for the excellent
outcomes of homeless assistance programs –
the latest data show a decrease in overall
homelessness and substantial decreases in
veteran, chronic, and family homelessness.
It will be necessary to secure significant
increases in funding for homeless and
housing programs in order to increase our
capacity to end homelessness. We hope to
increase capacity by acquiring the permanent
supportive housing resources necessary to
meet our goal to end chronic homelessness
by the end of 2016, and by expanding
investments in the Emergency Solutions
Grant program to help communities rapidly
and permanently house people experiencing
homelessness. This section of the Policy
Guide provides overviews of many of these
vital homeless and housing programs. Please
note that all funding levels below refer to
proposals and recommendations for FY
2015 funding, unless otherwise noted.
HOMELESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS (HUD)
HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance
Grants program is the largest federal
program working to address homelessness.
The HEARTH Act reauthorization of 2009
created an expanded Emergency Solutions
Grant (ESG) program (formerly the Emergency
Shelter Grant) to fund both traditional shelter
activities and new homelessness prevention
and rapid re-housing efforts. The expanded
ESG program is intended to help communities
continue the progress made through the
Recovery Act’s Homeless Prevention and
Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funding
which expired in September 2012.
Most of the remaining funds under HUD’s
McKinney-Vento program are distributed
through the Continuum of Care (CoC)
program. Under this competitive grant
process, homeless providers in a specific
geographic area work together to identify
their needs, describe their assistance
strategies, and rank the projects that they
want to fund. Funding can be used for
permanent supportive housing, transitional
housing, rapid re-housing, and services.
The HEARTH Act was intended to begin to be
implemented in FY 2012; however, Congress
has not yet provided sufficient funding to
make all the anticipated changes. The new
Rural Housing program has not been
implemented, and many communities have
not received Continuum-level funding for
administration, for example.
In its FY 2015 Budget Proposal, the
Administration requested $2.406 billion for
Homeless Assistance Grants, an increase of
$301 million over the final FY 2014 level. A
small amount would be needed to fund
existing programs whose multi-year grants
will expire and to adjust permanent housing
grants to take increasing rental costs into
account. Most of the increase, however, is
intended to fund new permanent supportive
5
housing for approximately 37,000 chronically
homeless people. Combined with work to
better target existing permanent supportive
housing units to chronically homeless people,
and to use a portion of turnover in
mainstream HUD programs, this would be
enough to end chronic homelessness by the
end of 2016, in line with the time frame set
out in Opening Doors.
In June, the House of Representatives has
passed legislation to fund HUD programs.
Their bill would provide $2.105 billion for
HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants, the same
as in FY 2014. Because increased funding is
needed just to maintain existing units, this
funding level would likely require some
programs to be defunded, as was the case
with the FY 2013 “sequestration” funding
cuts. The Senate Appropriations Committee
has passed a bill with a funding level of
$2.145 billion, which according to our
estimates is enough to avoid downsizing, but
not enough to achieve the goal of ending
chronic homelessness.
Recommendation
Congress should provide $2.406 billion in FY
2015 for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants
programs to maintain the current level of
assistance and to put money on the table to
meet the goal of ending chronic
homelessness by 2016.
SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS (HUD)
HUD’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
program, also known as Tenant-Based Rental
Assistance, is the core program intended to
assist extremely low income people with the
cost of housing and has proven to be highly
effective at preventing and ending
homelessness.
Program participants pay 30 percent of their
income for rent, with the program paying the
remainder up to a set maximum. About two
million households receive rental assistance
through this program, and 75 percent of all
turnover vouchers are targeted to individuals
and families with incomes at or below 30
percent of area median income (AMI). About
82 percent of voucher households are
attached to the workforce or are elderly or
disabled.
The lack of funding for this program means
that only about one in four households that
are eligible for vouchers receive any form of
federal housing assistance.
Within the Section 8 program, the
Administration and Congress typically
commit some Housing Choice Vouchers for
the HUD-VASH program (see below for more
information).
The Administration requested $20.045 billion
for Housing Choice Vouchers in FY 2015, an
increase of $868 million over the final FY
2014 level. The House approved legislation
that would provide $19.357 billion in FY
2015. The Senate Appropriations Committee
approved legislation that would provide
$19.562 billion. Both House and Senate bills
included $75 million for new HUD-VASH
vouchers. Neither bill, however, would be
sufficient to avoid downsizing the number of
families served compared to the FY 2014
funding level, due to rising rental and other
costs.
Recommendation
The Alliance recommends that Congress fund
all Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
renewals and provide $320 million to replace
vouchers lost by sequestration. In addition,
Congress should provide $75 million for
10,000 new HUD-VA Supportive Housing
(HUD-VASH) vouchers in FY 2015.
HUD-VA SUPPORTIVE HOUSING VOUCHERS (HUD AND VA)
The HUD-VASH voucher program is a joint
supportive housing program administered
through HUD and VA. Homeless veterans
receive Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers
6
from HUD that are coupled with case
management and clinical services provided
by VA. As part of the broader plan to end
veteran homelessness, for the past seven
years Congress has appropriated funds to
provide approximately 10,000 incremental
HUD-VASH vouchers per year for a current
total of about 70,000 vouchers. They are
targeted to those who need permanent
supportive housing.
For FY 2015 the Administration proposed
funding VA case management services at
$321 million, a $43 million increase from FY
2014. The Administration’s Section 8 request
included $75 million for 10,000 new targeted
vouchers within HUD. The full House and
Senate Appropriations Committee both voted
to provide the requested $75 million for an
additional 10,000 new vouchers within HUD
but the House voted to provide only $278
million for VA case management,
representing flat funding from last year. The
Senate Appropriations Committee voted to
fund VA case management at $374 million (a
significant $96 million increase over FY
2014).
Recommendation
The Alliance recommends that Congress
provide $374 million for the VA case
management portion of HUD-VASH. In
addition, Congress should provide $75
million for the HUD portion to fund an
additional 10,000 vouchers in FY 2015.
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS (HUD)
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS
(HOPWA) provides stable housing and
supportive services for low-income people
living with HIV/AIDS, thereby improving their
access to life-sustaining treatment. Evidence
of the link between housing, access to health
care, and management of HIV/AIDS is strong.
HOPWA funding to state and local
governments supports:
Short-term rental assistance;
Mortgage and utility assistance to
prevent homelessness; and
Facility-based assistance, including
construction, rehabilitation,
acquisition, operating costs, and
supportive services.
The Administration’s request of $332 million
in FY 2015 is an increase of $2 million over
the final funding level in FY 2014. The full
House approved legislation in June that
would provide $306 million for the program,
representing a $24 million cut. The Senate
Appropriations Committee approved funding
legislation that would provide $330 million
for the program.
Recommendation
The Alliance recommends that Congress
provide $332 million for HOPWA programs in
FY 2015, which would supply urgently-
needed housing assistance for people living
with HIV/AIDS.
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES (VA)
The Supportive Services for Veteran Families
(SSVF) Program awards grants to nonprofit
organizations that provide rapid re-housing
and homelessness prevention services to
veterans and their families.
The Administration requested $500 million
for SSVF in FY 2015, which represents a $200
million increase from FY 2014. The Senate
Appropriations Committee voted in May to
provide $500 million (matching the
Administration’s proposal) for the program in
FY 2015. The full House voted in late April to
flat fund the SSVF program at $300 million.
Recommendation
The Alliance recommends that Congress
provide $500 million for SSVF in FY 2015 to
fund this program at a scale necessary to end
veteran homelessness by the end of 2015.
7
GRANT AND PER DIEM PROGRAM (VA)
The Homeless Veterans Grant and Per Diem
(GPD) program funds capital grants and
operating costs for transitional housing and
service centers for homeless veterans. It has
two components: a capital grant program
that can fund up to 65 percent of the capital
costs of construction, renovation, or
acquisition; and a Per Diem component that
funds operating costs, including salaries, for
transitional housing programs and service
centers for homeless veterans.
The Administration proposed providing $252
million for the program in FY 2015, a $2
million increase over FY 2014. The full House
voted to flat fund the program at $250
million for FY 2015. In May, the full Senate
Appropriations Committee voted for a
funding increase of $3 million for GPD in FY
2015, $1 million higher than the
Administration’s proposal.
Recommendation
The Alliance recommends that Congress
provide $253 million for the Grant and Per
Diem Program in FY 2015.
RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH ACT PROGRAMS (HHS)
The Family and Youth Services Bureau, part of
Department of Health and Human Services’
(HHS) Administration for Children and
Families, administers the Runaway and
Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) programs. There
are three RHYA programs:
The Basic Center (BC) Program
addresses the immediate needs of
runaway and homeless youth (and
their families) up to age 18, providing
emergency shelter, reunification when
possible, food, clothing, counseling,
and access to health care;
The Transitional Living Program (TLP)
supports housing and services for
homeless youth ages 16 to 21 for up
to 18 months; and
The Street Outreach Program provides
funds to private and nonprofit
agencies for prevention and outreach
efforts designed to move youth off
the streets.
The Administration requested $114 million
for the RHYA programs: $53 million for BC,
$44 million for TLP, and $17 million for
Street Outreach, representing flat funding
from FY 2014. The Administration also
proposed providing $2 million to conduct a
national incidence and prevalence study of
youth homelessness, which is important
because accurate national-level data is
needed about the number of runaway and
homeless youth and their needs. The
proposed funding for RHYA programs is level
with FY 2014 funding (with the exception of
the extra $2 million for the incidence and
prevalence study). The House has not
released or voted on any funding bills for
HHS programs. On June 10, the Senate
Appropriations Labor, Health and Human
Services, Education and Related Agencies (L-
HHS) Subcommittee approved an FY 2015
appropriations bill that keeps overall L-HHS
funding at FY 2014 levels. However, as of
printing, the details of that bill have not been
released, and the full Senate Appropriations
Committee has not approved the bill.
Recommendation
The Alliance recommends that Congress
provide $140 million for RHYA programs in
FY 2015, including dedicated funds for the
proposed incidence and prevalence study.
This funding level will help to close the gap
between the number of homeless youth and
number of available RHYA beds for them.
8
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION HOMELESS SERVICES (HHS)
Homeless programs operated by the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) directly target
services – such as behavioral health
treatment, health care referral, and case
management – within supportive housing
settings. These programs are highly effective
and cost-efficient, filling important service
gaps while helping people experiencing
chronic homelessness begin to access critical
mainstream programs. Extensive data and
research demonstrate that the most
successful interventions for that population
link housing assistance to appropriate
support services. However, for many
communities, the largest obstacle to progress
in ending homelessness is funding for
services. SAMHSA’s financial support for
services will continue to be critical to ending
homelessness.
The Administration requested $74 million for
SAMHSA Homeless Services programs in FY
2015, the same amount the program received
in FY 2014. The House has not released or
voted on any funding bills for HHS programs.
On June 10, the Senate L-HHS Appropriations
Subcommittee approved an FY 2015
appropriations bill that keeps overall L-HHS
funding at FY 2014 levels. However, as of
print time, the details of that bill have not
been released, and the full Senate
Appropriations Committee has not yet
approved the bill.
Recommendation
The Alliance recommends that, for FY 2015,
Congress provide at least $100 million for
SAMHSA Homeless Services to fund essential
treatment services linked to permanent
supportive housing.
PROJECTS FOR ASSISTANCE IN TRANSITION FROM HOMELESSNESS (HHS)
SAMHSA’s Projects for Assistance in
Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
program provides funding to states to serve
homeless or at-risk individuals who have
serious mental illness, including those with
co-occurring substance use disorders. Eligible
services include outreach, screening and
diagnosis, habilitation and rehabilitation,
community mental health services, substance
abuse treatment, case management,
residential supervision, and housing.
The Administration requested $65 million for
the PATH program in FY 2015, which is level
with FY 2014 funding. The House has not
released or voted on any funding bills for
HHS programs. On June 10, the Senate L-HHS
Appropriations Subcommittee approved an
FY 2015 appropriations bill that keeps overall
L-HHS funding at FY 2014 levels. However, as
of print time, the details of that bill have not
been released, and the full Senate
Appropriations Committee has not yet
approved the bill.
Recommendation
The Alliance recommends that Congress
provide the full authorized amount of $75
million for the PATH program in FY 2015 to
better serve homeless and at-risk individuals
with serious mental illnesses.
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS / HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS (HHS)
The Community Health Center (CHC) program
operates in medically-underserved areas,
ensuring people in high-poverty rural and
urban communities have adequate access to
health care, especially primary care. Since
many homeless individuals are not currently
eligible for Medicaid, the health centers fulfill
a critical basic need. Through expanded
Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
of 2010, health centers will continue to
guarantee access to appropriate care in
underserved communities, as well as fill
9
coverage gaps for critical services to
vulnerable populations.
Funding for community health centers is vital
to ending homelessness as health centers
provide intensive outreach, case
management, linkages to housing, income,
and transportation, as well as primary care.
Each year, 8.7 percent of the overall CHC
appropriation is directed to Health Care for
the Homeless (HCH) clinics, which reach out
specifically to people experiencing
homelessness.
The Administration requested a total of $4.6
billion for CHCs, including $3.6 billion in
mandatory ACA funding. This request reflects
an increase of $960 million over FY 2014
funding levels. The House has not released or
voted on any funding bills for HHS programs.
On June 10, the Senate L-HHS Appropriations
Subcommittee approved an FY 2015 funding
bill that includes approximately $5.1 billion
for CHCs, including the $3.6 billion in
mandatory ACA funding. This is an increase
of approximately $1.5 billion over FY 2014
funding levels. However, as of print time, the
full Senate Appropriations Committee has yet
not approved the bill.
Recommendation
The Alliance recommends that Congress
provide $5.1 billion for the CHC program in
FY 2015, including $443 million for HCH, to
ensure access to vital health care services for
those who need them.
HOMELESS VETERANS’ REINTEGRATION PROGRAM (DOL)
The Homeless Veterans Reintegration
Program (HVRP), within the Department of
Labor (DOL), provides job placement services
to homeless veterans. HVRP provides yearly
competitive grants to state and local
workforce investment boards, public
agencies, and nonprofit and for-profit
organizations that offer employment-based
case management and services. The
Incarcerated Veterans Transition program is a
pilot program funded through HVRP that
helps veterans who are previous offenders
and are at risk of homelessness successfully
enter the workforce. Due to insufficient
funding, HVRP has only been able to serve a
small percentage of eligible homeless
veterans.
The Administration requested $38 million for
HVRP in FY 2015, representing flat funding
from FY 2014. The House has not released or
voted on any funding bills for DOL programs.
On June 10, the Senate L-HHS Appropriations
Subcommittee approved an FY 2015
appropriations bill that keeps overall L-HHS
funding at FY 2014 levels. However, as of
print time, the details of that bill have not
been released, and the full Senate
Appropriations Committee has not yet
approved the bill.
Recommendation
The Alliance recommends that Congress
provide $50 million for the HVRP program in
FY 2015, which would provide employment
services to veterans who are accessing rapid
re-housing or prevention through SSVF or
ESG.
EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH (ED)
The Education for Homeless Children and
Youth (EHCY) program ensures that children
who are homeless are able to enroll in,
attend, and succeed in school. It establishes
liaisons within schools to identify homeless
children and refer them and their families to
community services. It also provides funding
for children’s transportation, tutoring, and
supplies. In recent years, school districts
have reported large increases in the number
of homeless students, yet the level of
resources provided for this program has
remained stagnant.
The Administration requested $65 million for
EHCY, representing flat funding from FY
10
2014. On June 10, the Senate L-HHS
Appropriations Subcommittee approved an
FY 2015 appropriations bill that keeps overall
L-HHS funding at FY 2014 levels. However, as
of print time, the details of that bill have not
been released, and the full Senate
Appropriations Committee has not yet
approved the bill. The House has not released
or voted on any funding bills for L-HHS
programs.
Recommendation
The Alliance recommends that Congress
provide $75 million for EHCY in FY 2015 to
help address the educational needs of the
increasing number of homeless children and
youth.
SECOND CHANCE ACT (DOJ)
The Second Chance Act Prisoner Reentry
program within the Department of Justice
(DOJ) is designed to enhance outcomes for
people returning to communities from
prisons and jails. This program gives federal
grants to government agencies and nonprofit
organizations to provide employment
assistance, substance abuse treatment,
housing, family programming, mentoring,
victim support, and other services to help
reduce recidivism. The goal of this program
is to help former prisoners reenter their
communities and avoid unemployment,
reoffending, homelessness, and other
negative outcomes.
The Administration requested $115 million
for the Second Chance Act in FY 2015, a $47
million increase over the FY 2014 funding
level. The House approved legislation that
would provide $63 million in FY 2015 for the
program. The Senate Appropriations
Committee voted to provide $70 million for
the Second Chance Act program in FY 2015.
As of print time, the full Senate has not yet
approved the FY 2015 DOJ appropriations
bill.
Recommendation
The Alliance recommends that Congress
provide $115 million for Second Chance Act
grant programs in FY 2015 in order to ensure
that those exiting the criminal justice system
have the resources they need to reenter
society and avoid recidivism and
homelessness.
EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM (DHS)
The Emergency Food and Shelter Program
(EFSP) is operated by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) within the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS). EFSP
distributes federal funds to local
communities for homelessness prevention
and emergency food and shelter services. At
the local level, EFSP funds are distributed by
local boards, comprised of nonprofit, faith-
based, and community agencies active in
antipoverty work. EFSP combats
homelessness by providing one-time
monetary grants to families whose short-term
crisis situations leave them behind on rent,
utilities, or mortgage payments. It can also
fund shelter or hotel placements, meals, and
groceries.
The Administration requested $100 million
for EFSP, $20 million below the final FY 2014
funding level. In early June, the full House
voted to provide $120 million for the
program. In late June, the Senate
Appropriations Committee approved
legislation that would provide $100 million
for the program. As of print time, the full
Senate has not yet approved the FY 2015 DHS
appropriations bill.
Recommendation
The Alliance recommends that Congress
provide $120 million for EFSP in FY 2015 to
increase homelessness prevention and
emergency food and shelter services.
11
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) APPROPRIATIONS
The following table shows the funding levels
selected HUD programs received in FY 2014
and the levels requested by the
Administration for FY 2015. The full House
approved the FY 2015 HUD appropriations
bill on June 10. The full Senate
Appropriations Committee approved its FY
2015 funding bill on June 5. As of print time,
the full Senate had not yet approved the FY
2015 HUD appropriations bill. The latest
figures are included in the chart below.
Table: Summary of Appropriations for HUD (in millions of dollars)
Program
FY 2014
Enacted
FY 2015
Admin.
Proposal
FY 2015
Full
House
FY 2015
Senate
Approps
Cmte
Homeless Assistance Grants 2,105 2,406 2,105 2,145
HOPWA 330 332 306 330
Housing Choice Vouchers 19,177 20,045 19,357 19,562
HUD-VASH [75] [75] [75] [75]
Section 811 Mainstream Vouchers [107] [108] [108] [83]
Project-based Vouchers 9,917 9,746 9,746 9,746
Public Housing
Operating Subsidies 4,400 4,600 4,400 4,475
Capital 1,875 1,925 1,775 1,900
Choice Neighborhood Initiative 90 119 25 90
CDBG 3,030 2,800 3,000 3,020
HOME 1,000 950 700 950
Housing for the Elderly (Section 202) 384 440 420 420
Housing for People with Disabilities (Section 811) 126 160 135 135
Brackets indicate that funding is included in the above program.
12
VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) APPROPRIATIONS
The table below provides an overview of the
funding levels selected VA programs received
in FY 2014 and the levels requested by the
Administration for FY 2015. The full House
approved the FY 2015 VA appropriations bill
on April 30. The full Senate Appropriations
Committee marked up its FY 2015 funding
bill on May 22. As of print time, the full
Senate had not approved the FY 2015 VA
appropriations bill.
Program FY 2014
Enacted
FY 2015
Admin.
Proposal
FY 2015
Full
House
FY 2015
Senate
Approps
Cmte
Veterans Homelessness Programs 1,400 1,600 1,400 1,641
Supportive Services for Veteran Families [300] [500] [300] [500]
Grant and Per Diem [250] [252] [250] [253]
HUD-VASH (VA case management portion) [278] [321] [278] [374]
Brackets indicate that funding is included in the above program.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS), LABOR (DOL), AND EDUCATION (ED) APPROPRIATIONS
The House and Senate spending bills for the
Departments of Labor, HHS, and Education
include funding for many programs that serve
individuals or families who are experiencing
or at risk of homelessness.
This table provides an overview of the
funding each of these programs received in
FY 2014, as well as the amount requested by
the Administration for FY 2015. The Senate L-
HHS Subcommittee marked up its FY 2015
funding bill on June 10. As of print time, the
House had not released FY 2015
appropriations bills for L-HHS programs and
the Senate bill had not been approved by the
full Appropriations Committee or full Senate.
13
Program FY 2014
Enacted
FY 2015
Admin.
Proposal
FY 2015
House
LHHS
Subcmte
FY 2015
Senate
LHHS
Subcmte
Community Health Centers (Discretionary)* 1,495 1,000 n/a 1,491
Community Health Centers (Mandatory under
ACA) 2,145 3,600 n/a 3,600
SAMHSA Homeless Services 74 74 n/a n/a
PATH 65 65 n/a n/a
Ryan White AIDS Programs 2,293 2,323 n/a n/a
LIHEAP 3,425 2,800 n/a 3,390
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) 674 350 n/a 668
Family Violence Prevention and Services 134 135 n/a n/a
Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs
(RHYA)* 114 116* n/a n/a
Promoting Safe and Stable Families
(Discretionary) 60 60 n/a n/a
Education for Homeless Children and Youth 65 65 n/a n/a
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program 38 38 n/a n/a
*The President’s budget commits $2 million from the RHYA program to conduct a national prevalence and
incidence study on youth homelessness
14
MISCELLANEOUS APPROPRIATIONS
The Department of Agriculture (Ag), DOJ, and
DHS also have programs that serve homeless
and at-risk people. This table provides an
overview of the funding many of these
programs received in FY 2014, as well as the
amount requested by the Administration for
FY 2015. The full House passed its FY 2015
DOJ funding bill in June, and the Senate
Appropriations Committee also voted on its
version of the bill in June. The House
Appropriations Committee marked up its FY
2015 Ag and DHS funding bills in May and
June, respectively, and the Senate
Appropriations Committee marked up its
version of the Ag bill in May and its version
of the DHS bill in June. As of print time, no
further action had been taken on any of these
bills.
Program FY 2014
Enacted
FY 2015
Admin.
Proposal
FY 2015
Full
House
FY 2015
Senate
Approps
Cmte
Transitional Housing for Victims of Domestic Violence,
Dating Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Assault (DOJ)
25 25 25 26
Federal Juvenile Justice Programs (DOJ) 255 299 224 258
Second Chance Act Prisoner Reentry (DOJ) 68 115 63 70
Program FY 2014
Enacted
FY 2015
Admin.
Proposal
FY 2015
House
Approps
Cmte
FY 2015
Senate
Approps
Cmte
Rural Housing (Department of Agriculture)
Section 515 24 24 24 24
Section 521 1,110 1,089 1,089 1,094
Emergency Food and Shelter Program (DHS) 120 100 120 100
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (DOL) 38 38 n/a n/a
15
Authorizations
Because of a divided Congress (Republican-
controlled House and Democratic-controlled
Senate), time-consuming budgetary issues,
and other matters, advancing authorization
bills remains difficult. However, some
authorizing legislation related to affordable
housing and homelessness may move
forward.
The initiatives described below are not the
only proposals regarding homelessness being
considered, but they are those most likely to
advance or have an impact.
SECTION 8 VOUCHER REAUTHORIZATION
For several years, advocates and
congressional committee staff have been
working on technical reforms to the Housing
Choice Voucher program (Section 8) that
would remove bureaucratic red tape and
allow the program to serve more people
without increased spending. Advocates for
tenants, low-income people who are not
getting help, housing authorities, local
officials, and HUD have now largely agreed
on a package of reforms that would improve
the program’s efficiency without unduly
burdening the beneficiaries of the program.
National and local organizations have agreed
upon ten basic tenets to be included in the
reform legislation, including streamlining
housing quality inspections and rent
calculations, stabilizing voucher allocation,
and making the housing admissions process
fairer.
Outlook and Recommendation
As of print time there has been a good deal
of behind-the-scenes work, but no
comprehensive authorizing bill has been
introduced that includes the entire package
of reforms. The HUD Appropriations bills that
have begun to move in the House and Senate
include some of these cost-saving measures,
indicating a desire to move forward. In cases
like this, authorizing-type legislation is
sometimes passed on an appropriations bill.
However, for this to happen the authorizing
committees will have to send a clear signal to
the appropriations committees that they
approve of the process, and that there is
bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the
provisions.
The Alliance recommends that Members of
Congress inform the authorizing committees
(Senate Banking Committee, House Financial
Services Committee) that they support the
consensus list of cost-saving reforms to the
Housing Choice Voucher program and that
reform legislation should move through the
relevant congressional committees.
NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND RESOURCES
In July 2008, the Housing and Economic
Recovery Act was signed into law,
establishing a National Housing Trust Fund,
among other housing-related provisions. The
goal of the Trust Fund is to provide ongoing,
permanent, dedicated, and sufficient sources
of revenue to build, rehabilitate, and preserve
1.5 million units of housing for the lowest-
income families over the next 10 years.
At least 90 percent of Trust Fund resources
must be used for the production,
preservation, rehabilitation, or operation of
rental housing. Up to 10 percent can be used
for the following homeownership activities
for first-time homebuyers: production,
preservation, rehabilitation, down payment
assistance, closing cost assistance, and
assistance for interest rate buy-downs. At
least 75 percent of the funds for rental
housing must benefit extremely low income
households (30 percent of AMI or less) or
households with incomes below the federal
poverty line, whichever is greater. All funds
must benefit very low income households (50
percent of AMI or less).
Although the Trust Fund has been
established, a permanent funding stream has
16
not been secured. It is estimated that more
than $200 billion over 10 years would be
needed to fully implement the Trust Fund to
scale.
Outlook and Recommendation
The Administration’s FY 2015 budget
proposed $1 billion in mandatory funding to
capitalize the Trust Fund. The Housing
Finance Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act
of 2013, S. 1217, also known as the
“Johnson-Crapo” housing finance reform bill,
if enacted, would provide $3.75 billion
annual investment in the NHTF. That bill has
been approved by the full Senate Committee
on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.
Advocates should work to ensure passage of
the legislation in the Senate before the end of
the 113th Congress. While it is not likely that
the House and Senate will reach a
compromise on housing finance reform this
Congress, whatever passes the Senate will
likely be the basis for efforts in the next
Congress.
In addition, on March 12, 2013
Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN)
introduced HR 1213, the Common Sense
Housing Investment Act of 2013. This
legislation would: lower the cap on the
amount of mortgage for which interest can
be deducted from $1 million to $500,000;
convert the mortgage interest deduction to a
15 percent non-refundable mortgage interest
tax credit; phase these changes in over five
years; and direct the resulting revenue to the
National Housing Trust Fund, as well as the
Low Income Housing Tax Credit, Section 8,
and the Public Housing Capital Fund. While
this bill is not expected to be taken up in
short run, there may be opportunities for
passage, or inclusion in comprehensive tax
reform legislation, in the future.
HEARTH ACT RENTAL ASSISTANCE TECHNICAL FIX
The Alliance is currently working with key
staff on the House Financial Services
Committee to pass a small technical fix to the
HEARTH Act of 2009, which reauthorized the
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants
Program. The CoC regulations that were
released in 2012 included language that
stated that only government entities
(including Public Housing Authorities) are
able to administer rental assistance. This
regulation is based in the legislation;
therefore, it requires a legislative (as opposed
to regulatory) fix. The language excludes
nonprofits from administering short term
rental assistance such as that associated with
rapid re-housing. Government entities are
typically reluctant to administer small
amounts of rental assistance such as these.
Outlook and Recommendation
Efforts are underway to amend the current
language to include nonprofits [501(c)(3)] as
entities eligible to administer rental
assistance with HUD CoC funds. Both the
Administration’s budget proposal and the
Senate Appropriations Committee’s FY 2015
HUD funding legislation included language
which would allow nonprofits to administer
rental assistance. It is unclear when or if the
House will take up such a measure.
Currently, nonprofits are able to administer
rental assistance through FY 2015.
The Alliance recommends that the House
Financial Services Committee and Senate
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Committee pass a simple language
correction for this issue as soon as possible
to provide a permanent fix.
17
Guide to Congress
The following is a list of Members of Congress along with committee assignments for those who are on key
committees for housing and homelessness.
Senate
Underline – Indicates the Member is Chair or Ranking Member of the Committee or Subcommittee
App – Appropriations Committee
(La) – Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education
(HUD) – Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development
(VA) – Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veteran Affairs
Ba – Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
(Hous) – Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
Bu – Budget Committee
Jud – Judiciary Committee
Fin – Finance Committee
Vet – Veterans’ Affairs Committee
HELP – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
AL Richard Shelby (R) – App(La,HUD), Ba(Hous)
AL Jeff Sessions (R) – Bu, Jud
AK Mark Begich (D) – App(VA), Vet, Bu
AK Lisa Murkowski (R) – App(VA), HELP
AZ John McCain (R)
AZ Jeff Flake (R) –Jud
AR John Boozman (R) – App(La,HUD), Vet
AR Mark Pryor (D) – App(HUD,VA)
CA Dianne Feinstein (D) – App(HUD), Jud
CA Barbara Boxer (D)
CO Mark Udall (D)
CO Michael Bennet (D) – Fin, HELP
CT Richard Blumenthal (D) – Jud, Vet
CT Christopher Murphy (D) – HELP
DE Chris Coons (D) – Bu, Jud
DE Tom Carper (D) – Fin
FL Bill Nelson (D) – Bu, Fin
FL Marco Rubio (R)
GA Saxby Chambliss (R)
GA Johnny Isakson (R) – Fin, Vet, HELP
HI Brian Schatz (D)
HI Mazie Hirono (D) – Jud, Vet
ID Jim Risch (R)
ID Michael Crapo (R) – Bu, Fin, Ba
IL Richard Durbin (D) – App(La,HUD), Jud
IL Mark S. Kirk (R) – App(La,HUD, VA), Ba(Hous), HELP
IN Joe Donnelly (D)
IN Dan Coats (R) – App(HUD, VA)
IA Charles Grassley (R) – Bu, Fin, Jud
IA Tom Harkin (D) – App(La,HUD), HELP
KS Pat Roberts (R) – Fin, HELP
KS Jerry Moran (R) – App(La,HUD), Ba(Hous), Vet
KY Mitch McConnell (R) – App(VA)
KY Rand Paul (R) – HELP
LA Mary Landrieu (D) – App(La, VA)
LA David Vitter (R) – Ba
ME Angus King, Jr. (I) – Bu
ME Susan Collins (R) – App(HUD, VA)
MD Barbara Mikulski (D) – App(La,HUD), HELP
MD Benjamin Cardin (D) – Fin
MA Elizabeth Warren (D) – HELP, Ba(Hous)
MA Ed Markey (D)
MI Carl Levin (D)
MI Debbie Stabenow (D) – Bu, Fin
MN Al Franken (D) – HELP, Jud
MN Amy Klobuchar (D) – Jud
MS Thad Cochran (R) – App(La)
MS Roger Wicker (R) – Bu
MO Roy Blunt (R) – App(HUD, VA)
MO Claire McCaskill (D)
MT John Walsh (D) – Fin
MT Jon Tester (D) – Ba, Vet, App(La,VA)
NE Mike Johanns (R) – App(La,VA), Ba, Vet
NE Deb Fischer (R)
NV Harry Reid (D)
NV Dean Heller (R) – Ba(Hous), Vet
NH Jeanne Shaheen (D) – App(La,VA)
NH Kelly Ayotte (R) – Bu
NJ Cory Booker (D)
NJ Robert Menendez (D) – Ba(Hous), Fin
NM Tom Udall (D) – App(VA)
NM Martin Heinrich (D)
NY Charles Schumer (D) – Ba(Hous), Fin, Jud
NY Kristen Gillibrand (D)
NC Kay Hagan (D) – HELP, Ba
NC Richard Burr (R) – Vet, HELP, Fin
ND Heidi Heitkamp (D) –Ba(Hous)
ND John Hoeven (R) – App(HUD,VA)
OH Sherrod Brown (D) – Ba(Hous), Vet
OH Rob Portman (R) – Bu, Fin
OK Jim Inhofe (R)
OK Tom Coburn (R) – Ba(Hous)
OR Ron Wyden (D) – Bu, Fin
OR Jeff Merkley (D) – App(La), HELP, Ba
PA Bob Casey (D) – Fin, HELP
PA Patrick Toomey (R) – Ba(Hous), Bu, Fin
RI Jack Reed (D) – App(HUD,VA), Ba(Hous)
RI Sheldon Whitehouse (D) – Bu, HELP, Jud
SC Lindsey Graham (R) – Bu, App(La, HUD), Jud
SC Tim Scott (R) – HELP
SD Tim Johnson (D) – App(HUD, VA), Ba
SD John Thune (R) – Fin
TN Lamar Alexander (R) – App(La, HUD), HELP
TN Bob Corker (R) – Ba(Hous)
TX Ted Cruz (R) – Jud
TX John Cornyn (R) – Fin, Jud
UT Orrin Hatch (R) – Fin, HELP, Jud
UT Mike Lee (R) – Jud
VT Patrick Leahy (D) – App(HUD), Jud
VT Bernard Sanders (I) – Bu, HELP, Vet
VA Mark Warner (D) – Ba, Bu
VA Tim Kaine (D) – Bu
WA Patty Murray (D) – App(La, HUD, VA), Bu, Vet, HELP
WA Maria Cantwell (D) – Fin
WV John D. Rockefeller (D) – Fin, Vet
WV Joe Manchin III (D) – Ba
WI Tammy Baldwin (D) – Bu, HELP
WI Ron Johnson (R) – Bu
WY John Barrasso (R)
WY Michael Enzi (R) – Fin, Bu, HELP
18
Alabama
1. Jo Bonner (R) – App
2. Martha Roby (R) – EdW
3. Mike D. Rogers (R)
4. Robert Aderholt (R) – App
5. Mo Brooks (R)
6. Spencer Bachus (R) – Fin(Hous), Jud
7. Terri Sewell (D) – Fin
Alaska
At Large. Don Young (R)
Arizona
1. Ann Kirkpatrick (D) – Vet
2. Ron Barber (D)
3. Raúl M. Grijalva (D) – EdW
4. Paul Gosar (R)
5. Matt Salmon (R) – EdW
6. David Schweikert (R)
7. Ed Pastor (D) – App(HUD)
8. Trent Franks (R) – Jud
9. Krysten Sinema (D) – Fin(Hous)
Arkansas
1. Rick Crawford (R)
2. Tim Griffin (R)
3. Steve Womack (R) – App(La)
4. Tom Cotton (R) – Fin
California
1. Doug LaMalfa (R)
2. Jared Huffman (D) – Bu
3. John Garamendi (D)
4. Tom McClintock (R) – Bu
5. Mike Thompson (D) – WM(Hth)
6. Doris Matsui (D) – EnC
7. Ami Bera (D)
8. Paul Cook (D) – Vet
9. Jerry McNerney (D) – EnC
10. Jeff Denham (R) – Vet
11. George Miller (D) – EdW
12. Nancy Pelosi (D)
13. Barbara Lee (D) – App(La), Bu
14. Jackie Speier (D)
15. Eric Swalwell (D)
16. Jim Costa (D)
17. Mike Honda (D) – App(La)
18. Anna Eshoo (D) – EnC
19. Zoe Lofgren (D) – Jud
20. Sam Farr (D) – App(VA)
21. David G. Valadao (R) – App
22. Devin Nunes (R) – WM(Hth)
23. Kevin McCarthy (R) – Fin
24. Lois Capps (D) – EnC
25. Howard “Buck” McKeon (R) – EdW
26. Julia Brownley (D) – Vet
27. Judy Chu (D) – Jud
28. Adam Schiff (D) – App
29. Tony Càrdenas (D) – Bu
30. Brad Sherman (D) – Fin(Hous)
31. Gary Miller (R) – Fin(Hous)
32. Grace Napolitano (D)
33. Henry Waxman (D) – EnC
34. Xavier Becerra (D) – WM
35. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D) – Vet
36. Paul Ruiz (D) – Vet
37. Karen Bass (D) – Jud
38. Linda Sánchez (D) – WM(HR)
39. Edward R. Royce (R) – Fin(Hous)
40. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) – App(La)
41. Mark Takano (D) – Vet
42. Ken Calvert (R) – App, Bu
43. Maxine Waters (D) – Fin(Hous)
44. Janice Hahn (D)
45. John Campbell (R) – Fin, Bu
46. Loretta Sanchez (D)
47. Alan Lowenthal (D)
48. Dana Rohrabacher (R)
49. Darrell Issa (R) – Jud
50. Duncan Hunter (R) – EdW
51. Juan Vargas (D)
52. Scott Peters (D)
53. Susan Davis (D) – EdW
Colorado
1. Diana DeGette (D) – EnC
2. Jared Polis (D) – EdW
3. Scott Tipton (R)
4. Cory Gardner (R) – EnC
5. Doug Lamborn (R) – Vet
6. Mike Coffman (R) – Vet
7. Ed Perlmutter (D) – Fin
Connecticut
1. John Larson (D) – WM(HR)
2. Joe Courtney (D) – EdW
3. Rosa DeLauro (D) – App(La)
4. Jim Himes (D) – Fin
5. Elizabeth Esty (D)
Delaware
At Large. John Carney (D) – Fin
House
Underline – Indicates the Member is Chair or Ranking Member of the Committee or
Subcommittee
App – Appropriations Committee
(La) – Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
(HUD) – Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development
(VA) - Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veteran Affairs
Fin – Financial Services Committee
(Hous) – Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity
Bu – Budget Committee
WM – Ways and Means Committee
(Hth) – Subcommittee on Health
(HR) – Subcommittee on Human Resources
Jud – Judiciary Committee
EnC – Energy and Commerce Committee
EdW – Education and Workforce Committee
Vet – Veterans’ Affairs Committee
19
Florida
1. Jeff Miller (R) – Vet
2. Steve Southerland II (R)
3. Ted Yoho (R)
4. Ander Crenshaw (R) – App
5. Corrine Brown (D) – Vet
6. Ron DeSantis (R) – Jud
7. John Mica (R)
8. Bill Posey (R) – Fin
9. Alan Grayson (R)
10. Daniel Webster (R)
11. Rich Nugent (R)
12. Gus Bilirakis (R) – Vet
13. C.W. Bill Young (R) – App(VA)
14. Kathy Castor (D) – Bu, EnC
15. Dennis Ross (R) – Fin(Hous), Jud
16. Vern Buchanan (R) – WM(Hth)
17. Tom Rooney (R) – App(VA)
18. Patrick Murphy (R) – Fin
19. VACANT
20. Alcee Hastings (D)
21. Ted Deutch (D) – Jud
22. Lois Frankel (D)
23. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) – App
24. Frederica Wilson (D) – EdW
25. Mario Diaz-Balart (R) – App(VA)
26. Joe Garcia (D) – Jud
27. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R)
Georgia
1. Jack Kingston (R) – App(La)
2. Sanford B. Bishop, Jr. (D) – App(VA)
3. Lynn Westmoreland (R) – Fin(Hous)
4. Hank Johnson (D) – Jud
5. John Lewis (D) – WM(HR)
6. Tom Price (R) – Bu, EdW, WM(Hth, HR)
7. Rob Woodall (R) – Bu
8. Austin Scott (R)
9. Doug Collins (R) – Jud
10. Paul Broun (R)
11. Phil Gingrey (R) - EnC
12. John Barrow (D) – EnC
13. David Scott (D) – Fin
14. Tom Graves (R) – App
Hawaii
1. Colleen Hanabusa (D)
2. Tulsi Gabbard (D)
Idaho
1. Raúl Labrador (R) – Jud
2. Michael Simpson (R) – App(La)
Illinois
1. Bobby Rush (D) - EnC
2. Robin Kelly (D)
3. Dan Lipinski (D)
4. Luis Gutierrez (D) – Jud
5. Mike Quigley (D) – App(HUD)
6. Peter Roskam (R) – WM(Hth)
7. Danny K. Davis (D) – WM
8. Tammy Duckworth (D)
9. Jan Schakowsky (D) – EnC
10. Brad Schneider (D)
11. Bill Foster (D) – Fin
12. Bill Enyart (D)
13. Rodney Davis (R)
14. Randy Hultgren (R) – Fin
15. John Shimkus (R) –EnC
16. Adam Kinzinger (R) – EnC
17. Cheri Bustos (D)
18. Aaron Schock (R) – WM(HR)
Indiana
1. Peter Visclosky (D) – App
2. Jackie Walorski (R) – Bu, Vet
3. Marlin Stutzman (R) – Fin
4. Todd Rokita (R) – Bu, EdW
5. Susan W. Brooks (R) – EdW
6. Luke Messer (R) – Bu, EdW
7. André Carson (D)
8. Larry Bucshon (R) – EdW
9. Todd Young (R) – WM(HR)
Iowa
1. Bruce Braley (D) – EnC
2. David Loebsack (D) – EdW
3. Tom Latham (R) – App(HUD)
4. Steve King (R) – Jud
Kansas
1. Tim Huelskamp (R) – Vet
2. Lynn Jenkins (R) – WM
3. Kevin Yoder (R) – App(VA)
4. Mike Pompeo (R) – EnC
Kentucky
1. Ed Whitfield (R) – EnC
2. Brett Guthrie (R) – EdW, EnC
3. John Yarmuth (D) – Bu, EdW
4. Thomas Massie (R)
5. Harold Rogers (R) – App
6. Andy Barr (R) – Fin
Louisiana
1. Steve Scalise (R) – EnC
2. Cedric Richmond (D) – Jud
3. Charles Boustany, Jr. (R) – WM
4. John Fleming (R)
5. Rodney Alexander (R) – App(La)
6. Bill Cassidy (R) – EnC
Maine
1. Chellie Pingree (D) – App
2. Michael Michaud (D) – Vet
Maryland
1. Andy Harris (R) – App(La)
2. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D)
3. John Sarbanes (D) – EnC
4. Donna F. Edwards (D)
5. Steny Hoyer (D)
6. John Delaney (D) – Fin
7. Elijah Cummings (D)
8. Chris Van Hollen (D) – Bu
Massachusetts
1. Richard Neal (D) – WM(HR)
2. Jim McGovern (D)
3. Niki Tsongas (D)
4. Joseph P. Kennedy III (D)
5. Ed Markey (D) – EnC
6. John Tierney (D) – EdW
8. Mike Capuano (D) – Fin(Hous)
9. Stephen Lynch (D) – Fin
20
10. William Keating (D)
Michigan
1. Dan Benishek (R) – Vet
2. Bill Huizenga (R) – Fin
3. Justin Amash (R)
4. Dave Camp (R) – WM
5. Dale E. Kildee (D) – Fin
6. Fred Upton (R) – EnC
7. Tim Walberg (R) – EdW
8. Mike J. Rogers (R) – EnC
9. Sander M. Levin (D) – WM
10. Candice Miller (R)
11. Kerry Bentivolio (R)
12. John D. Dingell (R) – EnC
13. John Conyers, Jr. (D) – Jud
15. Gary Peters (D) – Fin
Minnesota
1. Tim Walz (D) – Vet
2. John Kline (R) – EdW
3. Erik Paulsen (R) – WM(HR)
4. Betty McCollum (D) – App(VA)
5. Keith Ellison (D) – Fin
6. Michele Bachmann (R) – Fin
7. Collin Peterson (D)
8. Rick Nolan (D)
Mississippi
1. Alan Nunnelee (R) – App(VA), Bu
2. Bennie Thompson (D)
3. Gregg Harper (R) – EnC
4. Steven Palazzo (R)
Missouri
1. William Lacy Clay (D) – Fin(Hous)
2. Ann Wagner (R) – Fin
3. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R) – Fin(Hous)
4. Vicky Hartzler (R) – Bu
5. Emanuel Cleaver II (D) – Fin(Hous)
6. Sam Graves (R)
7. Billy Long (R) – EnC
8. Jason Smith (R)
Montana
At Large. Steve Daines (R)
Nebraska
1. Jeff Fortenberry (R) – App(VA)
2. Lee Terry (R) – EnC
3. Adrian Smith (R) – WM(Hth)
Nevada
1. Dina Titus (D) – Vet
2. Mark Amodei (D) – Jud, Vet
3. Joe Heck (D) – EdW
4. Steven Horsford (D)
New Hampshire
1. Carol Shea-Porter (D)
2. Ann McLane Kuster (D) – Vet
New Jersey
1. VACANT
2. Frank LoBiondo (R)
3. Jon Runyan (R) – Vet
4. Chris Smith (R)
5. Scott Garrett (R) – Fin(Hous), Bu
6. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D) – EnC
7. Leonard Lance (R) – EnC
8. Albio Sires (D)
9. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D) – WM(Hth), Bu
10. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D)
11. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R) – App
12. Rush D. Holt Jr. (D) – EdW
New Mexico
1. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) – Bu
2. Steve Pearce (R) – Fin
3. Ben Ray Luján (D) – EnC
New York
1. Tim Bishop (D) – EdW
2. Peter T. King (R) – Fin
3. Steve Israel (D)
4. Carolyn McCarthy (D) – Fin, EdW
5. Gregory W. Meeks (D) – Fin
6. Grace Meng (D)
7. Nydia Velázquez (D) – Fin(Hous)
8. Hakeem Jeffries (D) – Bu, Jud
9. Yvette D. Clarke (D)
10. Jerrold Nadler (D) – Jud
11. Michael Grimm (R) – Fin
12. Carolyn B. Maloney (D) – Fin(Hous)
13. Charles B. Rangel (D) – WM
14. Joseph Crowley (D) – WM
15. José Serrano (D) – App
16. Eliot L. Engel (D) – EnC
17. Nita Lowey (D) – App(La)
18. Sean Patrick Maloney (D)
19. Chris Gibson (R)
20. Paul Tonko (D) – EnC
21. Bill Owens (D) – App
22. Richard Hanna (R)
23. Tom Reed (R) – WM(HR)
24. Dan Maffei (D
25. Louise McIntosh Slaughter (D)
26. Brian Higgins (D)
27. Chris Collins (R)
North Carolina
1. G. K. Butterfield (D) – EnC
2. Renee Ellmers (R) – EnC
3. Walter B. Jones (R)
4. David Price (D) – App(VA)
5. Virginia Foxx (R) – EdW
6. Howard Coble (R) – Jud
7. Mike McIntyre (D)
8. Richard Hudson (R) – EdW
9. Robert Pittenger (R) – Fin
10. Patrick McHenry (R) – Fin(Hous)
11. Mark Meadows (R)
12. VACANT
13. George Holding (R) – Jud
North Dakota
At Large. Kevin Cramer (R)
Ohio
1. Steve Chabot (R) – Jud
2. Brad Wenstrup (R) – Vet
3. Joyce Beatty (D) – Fin(Hous)
4. Jim Jordan (R) – Jud
5. Robert Latta (R) – EnC
6. Bill Johnson (R) – EnC
7. Bob Gibbs (R)
21
8. John A. Boehner (R)
9. Marcy Kaptur (D) – App(HUD)
10. Michael R. Turner (R)
11. Marcia Fudge (D) – EdW
12. Pat Tiberi (R) – WM(HR)
13. Tim Ryan (D) – App(HUD), Bu
14. David Joyce (R) – App(HUD)
15. Steve Stivers (R) – Fin(Hous)
16. James Renacci (R) – WM
Oklahoma
1. Jim Bridestine (R)
2. Markwayne Mullin (R)
3. Frank Lucas (R) – Fin
4. Tom Cole (R) – App(HUD), Bu
5. James Lankford (R) – Bu
Oregon
1. Suzanne Bonamici (R) – EdW
2. Greg Walden (R) – EnC
3. Earl Blumenauer (D) – Bu, WM(Hth)
4. Peter DeFazio (D)
5. Kurt Schrader (D) – Bu
Pennsylvania
1. Robert Brady (D)
2. Chaka Fattah (D) – App(VA)
3. Mike Kelly (R) – WM
4. Scott Perry (R)
5. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R) – EdW
6. Jim Gerlach (R) – WM(HR)
7. Patrick Meehan (R)
8. Michael Fitzpatrick (R) -Fin
9. Bill Shuster (R)
10. Tom Marino (R) – Jud
11. Lou Barletta (R) – EdW
12. Keith Rothfus – Jud
13. Allyson Schwartz (D) – Bu, WM(HR)
14. Michael F. Doyle (D) – EnC
15. Charles Dent (R) – App(HUD)
16. Joseph R. Pitts (R) – EnC
17. Matt Cartwright (D)
18. Tim Murphy (R) – EnC
Rhode Island
1. David Cicilline (D) – Bu
2. Jim Langevin (D)
South Carolina
1. Marshall “Mark” Sanford (R)
2. Joe Wilson (R) – EdW
3. Jeff Duncan (R)
4. Trey Gowdy (R) – EdW, Jud
5. Mick Mulvaney (R) – Fin
6. James Clyburn (D)
7. Tom Rice (R) – Bu
South Dakota
At Large. Kristi Noem (R)
Tennessee
1. Phil Roe (R) – EdW, Vet
2. John J. Duncan, Jr. (R)
3. Chuck Fleischmann (R) – App(La)
4. Scott DesJarlais (R) – EdW
5. Jim Cooper (D)
6. Diane Black (R) – Bu, WM(HR)
7. Marsha Blackburn (R) – Bu, EnC
8. Stephen Fincher (R) – Fin
9. Steve Cohen (D) – Jud
Texas
1. Louie Gohmert (R) – Jud
2. Ted Poe (R) – Jud
3. Sam Johnson (R) – WM(Hth)
4. Ralph Hall (R) – EnC
5. Jeb Hensarling (R) – Fin(Hous)
6. Joe Barton (R) – EnC
7. John Culberson (R) – App(VA)
8. Kevin Brady (R) – WM(Hth)
9. Al Green (D) – Fin
10. Michael McCaul (R)
11. K. Michael Conaway (R)
12. Kay Granger (R) – App(HUD)
13. Mac Thornberry (R)
14. Randy Weber (R)
15. Rubén Hinojosa (D) – Fin, EdW
16. Beto O’Rourke (D) – Vet
17. Bill Flores (R) – Vet, Bu
18. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D) – Jud
19. Randy Neugebauer (R) – Fin
20. Joaquin Castro (D)
21. Lamar S. Smith (R) – Jud
22. Pete Olson (R) – EnC
23. Pete Gallego (D)
24. Kenny Marchant (R) – EdW, WM(HR)
25. Roger Williams (R) – Bu
26. Michael C. Burgess (R) – EnC
27. Blake Farenthold (R) – Jud
28. Henry Cuellar (D) – App
29. Gene Green (D) – EnC
30. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D)
31. John Carter (R) – App(VA)
32. Pete Sessions (R)
33. Marc Veasey (D)
34. Filemon Vela (D)
35. Lloyd Doggett (D) – WM
36. Steve Stockman (R)
Utah
1. Rob Bishop (R)
2. Chris Stewart (R) - App
3. Jason Chaffetz (R) – Jud
4. Jim Matheson (D) – EnC
Vermont
At Large. Peter Welch (D) – EnC
Virginia
1. Robert Wittman (R)
2. Scott Rigell (D) – Bu
3. Robert Scott (D) – Jud, EdW
4. J. Randy Forbes (R) – Jud
5. Robert Hurt (R) – Fin(Hous)
6. Bob Goodlatte (R) – Jud
7. Eric Cantor (R)
8. James Moran (D) – App(VA)
9. Morgan Griffith (R) – EnC
10. Frank Wolf (R) – App(HUD)
11. Gerry E. Connolly (D)
Washington
1. Suzan DelBene (D) – Jud
2. Rick Larsen (D)
3. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R) – App(HUD)
4. Richard "Doc" Hastings (R)
22
5. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) – EnC
6. Derek Kilmer (D)
7. Jim McDermott (D) – Bu, WM(Hth)
8. Dave Reichert (R) – WM(Hth)
9. Adam Smith (D)
10. Denny Heck (D) – Fin
West Virginia
1. David McKinley (R) – EnC
2. Shelley Moore Capito (R) – Fin(Hous)
3. Nick J. Rahall II (D)
Wisconsin
1. Paul Ryan (R) – Bu; WM(Hth)
2. Mark Pocan (D) – Bu, EdW
3. Ron Kind (D) – WM(Hth)
4. Gwen Moore (D) – Fin, Bu
5. Jim Sensenbrenner (R) – Jud
6. Tom Petri (R) – EdW
7. Sean Duffy (R) – Fin(Hous), Bu
8. Reid Ribble (R) – Bu
Wyoming
At Large. Cynthia Lummis (R)
23
Armed with the information found in this Policy Guide, you are
now ready to participate in
Capitol Hill Day 2014
A crucial component to the work to end homelessness involves educating Members of
Congress on your local progress and the federal resources that play a key part in those
successes. Do not miss the opportunity to meet your legislators while in Washington,
DC - participate in this year’s Capitol Hill Day! The Alliance has plenty of materials
available to help you, as well as staff available to answer any questions you might
have.
Each state has one or more State Captain(s) organizing congressional
meetings on behalf of their fellow conference registrants from that
state. Visit the Advocacy Information Table to connect with your State
Captain and find out where and when your state will participate in a “Hill Day
Prep Session.”
The Alliance has identified five 2014 Capitol Hill Day Policy Priorities
(found in your Capitol Hill Day packet, which can be picked up at the
Advocacy Information Table) and encourages you to join the effort to
advance these issues in Congress. State Captains and Alliance staff are
available to help you choose which issues to discuss in your meetings and
you can use your State Prep Sessions to determine other priorities you’re
your meetings as well. Further information on all of the priorities can be
found in this guide.
If there is not yet a meeting scheduled with your Member of Congress, you
can still schedule one yourself! Call the congressional switchboard at 202-
224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Member’s office. If the
representative or senator and/or his/her staff members are not available,
you can still drop off a Capitol Hill Day Packet at the congressional office.
Staff at the Advocacy Information Table can help you set these meetings up
and provide further information.
Share information on how your meetings went on Thursday afternoon during
the Report Back Session in the Grand Registration Foyer at the
Renaissance. If you cannot attend, make sure to turn in your Report Back
Form (in the Capitol Hill Day packet) in person at the Advocacy Table, to
Grant Sims via e-mail at [email protected], or fax at 202-638-4664.