2011 Budget increases McKinney-Vento funding $40 M - 2 responses

The final Fy2011 Budget includes a $40 million increase to McKinney-Vento programs, to $1.905 billion. Congress is setting aside $225 million for the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program, about $65 million more than in FY 2010 – which can all go toward HPRP-like activities. This will give communities much-needed rapid re-housing and prevention resources as HPRP funding ends. The modest increase does not necessarily change a difficult set of choices. As Ann Oliva, Director of HUD's Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs has previously stated, "At that level, HUD projects that ESG and competitive renewals can be funded. However, the HEARTH Act could not be fully funded. We commit to providing you with as much information as possible once it becomes clear what the funding level will be." Her comments were based on level funding of $1.865 billion. For more information use this link: http://monarchhousing.org/2011/04/12/40-million-more-for-the-homeless/ Please share. Yours, Richard W. Brown Chief Executive Officer Monarch Housing Associates Good morning McKinney Campaign Advocates. Late last night, House and Senate leaders released their proposed final FY 2011 funding bill. The bill includes a $40 million INCREASE to McKinney-Vento programs, to $1.905 billion. Congress is setting aside $225 million for the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program, about $65 million more than in FY 2010 – which can all go toward HPRP-like activities. This will give communities much-needed rapid re-housing and prevention resources as HPRP runs down. This is a reflection of all of the GREAT work that you have all put in over the past year – especially in recent months – to make sure Members of Congress understand how important these programs are. The full text of the bill is available here. In total, the FY 2011 budget will be about $40 BILLION less than in FY 2010, making an increase to ANY program VERY impressive. This is by far the BIGGEST non-defense one-year spending cut in American history, meaning that each program and Department will feel the impact. So, to say that McKinney-Vento programs received an increase is a HUGE deal. Although this is not as much of an increase as we would have liked or as will be needed to fully implement the HEARTH Act, it will certainly be helpful in addressing increases in homelessness and in continuing the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). Thank you SO much for all of your hard work! YOU are the reason Congress gave us an increase DESPITE the incredible cuts implemented across all agencies. So, what happens now? The House is expected to pass this final bill tomorrow, and then the Senate is likely to pass it on Thursday. The President is expected to sign the legislation this week. Once it wraps up FY 2011 work this week, Congress is going to turn IMMEDIATELY to FY 2012 appropriations. Although we are happy to see an increase to McKinney-Vento programs, as we all know, this isn’t enough to make the substantial progress needed in implementing the HEARTH Act, so we’ll have to work EXTRA hard in FY 2012. Because FY 2011 work is being finished so late in the year, things are behind scheduled for FY 2012, so it will be important to start our advocacy work very quickly. Keep an eye out for more information from us soon on this effort. So, what can you do now? We should call our Representatives and Senators. Let’s make sure they know how GLAD we were to see that they are recommending an INCREASE to McKinney-Vento programs. However, we should also let them know that this isn’t nearly enough to fully implement the HEARTH Act, and we’ll need their support to get the needed increase in FY 2012. As always, please let me know if you have any questions. We really can’t thank you enough for your help on this Campaign. The Alliance is honored to work with each and every one of you. Thanks! Amanda Amanda Krusemark Program and Policy Associate National Alliance to End Homelessness