National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty: the latest news

Looking Back: A Milestone Year for Homeless Advocacy

The year 2012 was an important milestone for the Law Center, as we marked the 25^th anniversary of the McKinney-Vento Act—the first federal legislation to address homelessness—for which our founder and executive director was a primary advocate.  But while great progress has been made since McKinney-Vento’s passage, there is still much to be done.  That’s why we used the occasion to renew our commitment to finish what we started and end homelessness in America.

The year began with exciting achievements in our civil rights and human rights programs.  In February, after observing Sacramento denying sanitation and safe drinking water to homeless residents during a visit organized by the Law Center, the UN Special Rapporteur on Water and Sanitation wrote an unprecedented letter to Mayor Kevin Johnson, calling the City’s actions a blatant violation of human rights.  This sent a powerful message that the U.S. is accountable to its international treaty obligations and generated strong media coverage, which reinforced the human rights implications, helping to change the political playing field and empowering marginalized homeless advocate.

To read the whole article click here. 

 

Tackling issues of LBGTQ homeless youth leads to movement of change

Forum tackles homelessness among LGBTQ

NEW BRUNSWICK — Recognizing the increasing rate of homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youths — including “throw-away kids” rejected by their families — more than 100 professionals sought solutions at a symposium Thursday.

“This is not only an educational event but also a political action, as well,” said John Mikytuck, director of program resources at Life Ties/Triad House. “I am blown away that there are so many people really focused on this issue. ... Perhaps it wouldn’t be such a huge problem if (the) LGBTQ community were accepted in general.”
To read the full article click here.

Chasing ghosts: Counting the homeless in Bergen County

Reporter Myles Ma tags along for Point in Time Survey in Bergen County. For the article, click here.

Christie rules on using foreclosed housing for the homeless

Gov. Chris Christie’s latest rejection of legislation to make vacant foreclosed homes available as affordable housing has left a broad coalition of proponents scratching their heads about what to try next to deal with New Jersey’s foreclosure crisis.

Two articles:

Christie rejects bill that would turn foreclosed homes to affordable housing. http://bit.ly/11e7VaK 

MT @jtyrrell87: Lesniak: "whoever wrote" Christie veto messages doesn't understand housing bill, foreclosure relief. http://bit.ly/11e7VaK 

The Politics of COAH: why the appointments to NJ's Top Court matter

Does the NJ Governor have the power to abolish COAH? Hearing has constitutional and budgetary implications. http://bit.ly/119FwXS 

ICYMI, our analysis of the COAH hearing -- or why Christie & Sweeney's battle over the NJ Supreme Court matters. http://bit.ly/119FwXS 

Disaster Unemployment Assistance Deadline Feb. 4

TRENTON, N.J. – The deadline is approaching for Hurricane Sandy survivors to apply for disaster unemployment assistance. 

Registration closes Monday, Feb. 4. Workers can register for DUA by calling one of the following New Jersey 

Re-employment Call Centers:
Union City: 201-601-4100
Freehold: 732-761-2020
Cumberland: 856-507-2340

Survivors can also register for DUA at njuifile.net.

Frozen dinner distribution Saturday Feb. 9

CHURCH OF CHRIST

 DISASTER RELIEF EFFORT, INC.

NASHVILLE, TN

SPONSORED BY

THE PITMAN ROAD CHURCH OF CHRIST, SEWELL, NJ

 AND IN COOPERATION WITH

 THE OCEAN COUNTY LONG TERM RECOVERY COMMITTEE

WILL BE DISTRIBUTING

 30,000 – 45,000 FROZEN DINNERS

TO FAMILIES AFFECTED BY SANDY

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

BEGINNING 9:00 AM

AS LONG AS SUPPLIES LAST

DOLLAR GENERAL PLAZA

1001 FISCHER BOULEVARD

TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753

IF YOU ARE A FAMILY AFFECTED BY SANDY,

 PLEASE COME AND RECEIVE THIS GIFT TO YOU.

IF YOU CAN DELIVER TO FAMILIES IN NEED,

PLEASE COME AND HELP, STORE AND DISTRIBUTE.

Garden State Topic: Lack of Housing for Young People Hits Home in NJ, Nationwide

This month the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released results of its 2012 “point in time” survey, for which local teams count all the homeless people to be found on one night in January.

In New Jersey, there were 13,025 people without permanent housing that night, including 2,695 severely mentally ill people and 592 veterans. More than 1,500 of them were found in Newark or elsewhere in Essex County.

Those totals don’t parse out all of the young people who have no place to go, the young adults who aged out of foster care without families, who got kicked out of their homes for being gay or pregnant, or who are couch-surfing because their parents can’t or won’t shelter them.

Counting homeless young people is a challenge in any season – for their own safety, young people with no place to go often don't want to be recognized and work hard to remain invisible. Pimps, muggers, and gangs quickly sniff out vulnerable young people, and those stories don't end well.

To read more click here.

How HUD Is Helping Seniors Afford Assisted Living

A grant program that converts existing low-income senior housing into assisted living facilities is helping more elderly Americans age in place, in the comfort of familiar surroundings.

HUD grants for this program are available in nine state, but not New Jersey.  Why's that?

To read more click here.

SBA disaster loan app deadline nears

Deadlines for SBA disaster loan applications for those affected by #Sandy extended:. Jan 30 for #NJ http://ow.ly/ghNhh
 

Webinar on New Federal Renters’ Tax Credit

January 24: from 10:30 – 12:00, the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities are pleased to invite you to a webinar on a proposal for a new federal renters’ tax credit.  Click https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/756890119 to register.  There is no limit on the number of staff from an agency who can register.

The number of poor families facing high housing cost burdens has grown sharply in recent years, but federal rental assistance programs have not grown to meet the need and tight budget caps make it unlikely they will expand significantly in the coming years.  CBPP has developed a proposal to address part of this unmet need by authorizing states to allocate federal tax credits that would enable the poorest families to afford housing.  Families assisted through the credit would pay 30 percent of their income for rent and owners or mortgage lenders would receive a credit in exchange. 

CBPP’s materials on the Renters’ Credit are gathered at www.cbpp.org/rentercredit, including an overview of the proposal and a summary of  key details.  The full report discusses the need for a more balanced housing policy and explains how a new federal renters’ tax credit would help address that need.

For a Homeless Deaf Man, an iPad Makes Life Easier

Some of the problems Abreham Zemedagegehu faces as a homeless person in New York, like cold weather and lack of sleep, are fairly predictable. Some are less so: the police have gotten angry with Mr. Zemedagegehu because they did not realize that he could not hear their instructions. He was born with no hearing in one ear and only a little in the other.

To read more click here.