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In this issue...
HUD Publishes Regulations for New Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Fund
The clock is now ticking for the state of Connecticut and five municipal formula grantees to submit plans to HUD, in the form of amendments to their HUD mandated consolidated plans, for the new funding which they have names the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP). Connecticut ESG grantees, including Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, New Britain and Waterbury, along with the state of CT for all other areas of the state, will have to provide their plans to HUD by May 19, 2009 and grant contracts must be in place by September 30th.
CCEH has created an information repository on our website for HPRP, please Click Here to visit our site which we will be updating with new information regularly. Also, the National Alliance to End Homelessness and HUD are continuously publishing materials on their websites as well.
On March 30th Janice Elliott from Insight Housing Solutions, CCEH's consultant on the project, facilitated a statewide teleconference on the newly published regulations and statewide planning efforts. If you were unable to join the call, please call (888) 203-1112 and enter passcode: 63163525 to access an archived recording of the discussion.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty will be co-hosting a webinar on this guidance recently issued by HUD on Wednesday, April 1st. Please Click Here to register.
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2009 CCEH Annual Meeting Announcement
CCEH invites you to join their 2009 Annual Meeting to be held on Friday, May 8, 2009 from 11am-3pm at the Four Points by Sheraton in Meriden, CT featuring keynote speaker Chris Dodd.
Senator Dodd is the principal architect, along with House leader Barney Frank, of the National Housing Trust Fund signed into law by former President Bush in 2009. The National Housing Trust Fund will exist as a new program within HUD that will provide a creative and sustainable way to provide funding to meet the shortage of affordable rental housing that exists in the country. The National Housing Trust Fund will be funded by a portion of profits realized from future mortgage loans issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The bill revolutionizes and makes permanent the government's commitment to the creation of affordable housing.
Click Here to register for the 2009 CCEH Annual Meeting. For more information on the Meeting, please contact Sorimar Vazquez at svazquez@cceh.org or (860) 721-7876 ext. 105.
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State Legislative Update
As the State legislative session moves forward and legislators work to address economic issues, many of the public hearings regarding housing and homelessness have garnered excellent turn out and testimony. Thank you to the many that worked with CCEH and participated in the process.
Below you will find updates on the budget and homelessness and housing issues, as well as actions you can take to influence our state legislators as they make critical decisions.
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The Budget and Contacting the Legislature
The Appropriations Subcommittees have turned in their first reports and the Chairs will now begin designing the Appropriations budget. Negotiations between the Legislature and the Governor's office will commence once the proposed budget is released.
Now is the time for advocates to contact legislators either by email, phone, and/or mail and ask them to talk to the Chairs of the Appropriations committee as well as Leadership on the budget on their constituent behalf. Advocates are strongly encouraged to contact the Chairs and Leadership directly as well.
Click Here to find your legislator by the town in which you live.
Chairs of the Appropriations Committee:
- Senator Toni Harp, Harp@senatedems.ct.gov, Toll free: 1-800-842-1420
- Representative John Geragosian, John.Geragosian@cga.ct.gov, Toll free: 1-800-842-8267
Leadership
- President Pro Tempore Senator Don Williams, Williams@senatedems.ct.gov, Toll free: 1-800-842-1420
- Speaker of the House Rep. Chris Donovan, Christopher.Donovan@cga.ct.gov, Toll free: 1-800-842-1902
Below are several key points advocates can make regarding the budget. These are short statements that can be made while on the phone; additional details can be found in the talking points drafted by CCEH for emails and or letters found by Clicking Here.
- No Additional Cuts to the Housing and Homelessness Line Item
- Restore $900K to Counselors in Shelter Program to provide services at previous levels
- Support PILOTS: Payments in Lieu of Taxes for Public Housing and Low and Moderate Income Tax Abatement Program
- Support the State Rapid Re-housing Pilot proposed in the Governor's budget
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Contact Governor Rell and Advocate for Supportive Housing (Next Steps 3)
Advocates are asked to contact Governor Rell to release funding for the development, services, and operating subsidies necessary to create 150 new units of permanent supportive housing through the third round of the Next Steps initiative. In the fall Governor Rell pulled back on this funding, halting the creation of new supportive housing in Connecticut.
Advocates can call Governor Rell's office at 1 (800) 406-1527.
Send emails directly to Gov. Rell by Clicking Here to link to the Reaching Home Campaign.
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Non-Driver Photo IDs Now FREE for Homeless Clients
The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) now issues a Non-Driver Photo Identification Card to individuals who do not possess a valid driver's license or whose license is presently under suspension provided they are a Connecticut resident. The fee for this card ($22.50) may be waived for applicants of a homeless shelter who provide proof of residency from an authorized shelter in the state. To obtain a card, applicants must apply at any Full Service DMV Branch office, Willimantic, or Winsted office.
This change in law is a direct result of your advocacy efforts. States such as North Carolina, Oregon, Illinois, South Carolina and Nevada have had such a waiver on the books for some time, and during last year's legislative session the Connecticut General Assembly passed SB 300 to ensure that individuals and families facing homelessness in CT would also not have to pay this fee.
This development exemplifies the ability of advocacy in promoting meaningful legislation that directly impacts people experiencing homelessness. Special thanks to former CCEH work study student Larry Fulgieri who worked tirelessly to gather research and information used by advocates in their efforts.
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Legislation on Runaway and Homeless Youth
There is significant focus statewide and nationally on homelessness among single adults and families yet we hear very little about the "invisible" population of runaway homeless children and homeless youth in Connecticut. In 2007, The National Runaway and Homeless Youth Management and Information System reported a total of 209 runaway and homeless youth in our state.
Currently, there is a lack of multisystem coordination, awareness, and few services for this population in Connecticut. To address this issue, Representative Gail Hamm of CT recently introduced House Bill No. 5915, "An Act Concerning 'Stuck Kids'". According to Attorney Stacy Violante Cote of Center for Children's Advocacy, "The bill seeks to require DCF to review and monitor the placement of every out-of -state, runaway, and homeless child and youth in DCF custody, care, or supervision and to issue an annual report to the General Assembly."
For more information please contact Stacy Violante Cote, Esq., MSW, Chair of the CT Team, at (860) 570-5327 or sviolant@kidscounsel.org. 211 Infoline also has information available.
To follow bill 5915, visit www.cga.ct.gov. CCEH contact on Youth Homelessness: Naomi Gallagher, Project Manager, (860) 721-7876 ext 109.
Stay posted for CCEH's upcoming webpage dedicated to youth homelessness including links to CT providers and advocates.
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New Tools for Advocacy
Connecting and building relationships with legislators is integral to effectiveness in advocacy efforts. CCEH is now offering some basic tools to facilitate this kind of connection.
How to Contact Legislators - Including formats for letters, emails, and phone calls.
Make an appointment with your Legislator - Providing a phone script and action steps.
Advocacy Network Survey - CCEH now has network sign up that will connect you to the legislative email alerts and activities based on your interests. So that we can best tailor our information to your needs, please complete the Advocacy Network Survey and get connected!
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Legislative Advocacy Workshops Available
CCEH is happy to offer workshops covering advocacy best practices and providing the latest updates on legislation important to you, your group, or region. Workshops establish an ongoing relationship as CCEH continues to monitor legislation and supplies contributory updates.
For further information or to schedule a workshop please contact Katie Martin at kmartin@cceh.org or call (860) 721 7876 ext. 107.
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Now Connect with CCEH on Facebook
CCEH is proud to announce its new Facebook group designed to connect you with others interested in ending homelessness. Link to resources, news, and upcoming events hosted by CCEH. Ask us questions, share your experience at the Capitol, or tell us and others what is going on in your community.
Log onto www.facebook.com and search for CT Coalition to End Homelessness. We hope to see you there.
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 LEAD Legislative Breakfast
The Middlesex County Council on Housing and Homelessness (Middlesex County Ten Year Plan) hosted a legislative breakfast on Friday, March 6th at deKoven House in Middletown. The event, sponsored by Liberty Bank Foundation, the Middlesex United Way, and the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, brought together Middlesex County housing advocates and local and state legislators to discuss housing policies and programs currently being reviewed by the state legislature.
Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano, State Representatives Joseph Serra, Brian O'Conner, and Matt Lesser, and State Senator Paul Doyle responded to presentations by local housing advocates and Ten Year Plan leadership. Recent graduates of the CCEH sponsored Leadership, Empowerment, Advocacy, Development (LEAD) Training (pictured), a consumer leadership training program, shared their personal stories.
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Federal Advocacy Efforts to End Homelessness
Over the last several months advocates for homelessness and housing have seen a considerable shift in federal actions on those key issues. The appointment of Shaun Donovan as the Secretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) signifies the beginning of a new era in Washington, and many leaders view his appointment as a clear message from the Obama Administration that there will be significant investments and innovation in our nation's response to homelessness and housing.
In Connecticut our Congressional delegation underwent a change in the election of Jim Himes to the seat held by Chris Shays for several years. Staff from the Partnership for Strong Communities recently went to D.C. to visit the CT delegation, including a meeting with Congressman Himes and some of his key staff members. We are hopeful that Congressman Himes will continue to push solutions to homelessness as Congressman Shays did during his years in office.
The Stimulus package is the most visible and broad response to the economic crisis. However, there have also been other considerable pieces of legislation that stand to have a sizeable impact on the movement to prevent and end homelessness. Below is a brief synopsis of just a few of these key acts - none of which would have been possible without the efforts of advocates from across Connecticut :
Second Chance Act: The request for proposals is out and funding is now available for communities to more comprehensively respond to the need for appropriate services and housing for individuals exiting prisons and jails. The Second Chance Act is the first time that considerable federal funds have been appropriated towards addressing the issue of prisoner re-entry. National studies have shown that 1 out of every 100 people are in jail across the nation on any given day. The federal decision to allocate dollars ensuring that homelessness is not an allowable condition for discharge marks an important step in addressing this issue.
Second Chance Act request for proposals are due by April 20th and must be submitted through www.grants.gov. For more information on the Second Chance Act and applications please Click Here.
For more information on prisoner re-entry please Click Here.
McKinney-Vento Reauthorization: In October of 2008, both the House and the Senate agreed upon and passed a final McKinney-Vento Reauthorization bill. Funds however, were not appropriated and the bill was not passed by then-President Bush. The National Alliance to End Homelessness (www.naeh.org) believes that in coming weeks the HEARTH Act will be reintroduced in the House and Senate, where signature by President Obama is likely once the bills are final.
The passage of McKinney-Vento Reauthorization stands to make substantial alterations in the movement to end homelessness. Potential changes include an expansion of the definition of chronic homelessness to include families. Additionally, the definition of homelessness would be extended to include people who are both losing their housing in the next 14 days and who lack resources or support networks to obtain housing, as well as families and youth who are persistently unstable and lack independent housing.
Among many further changes, the reauthorization would also prioritize prevention.
For a full synopsis, and updates on where the legislation is, please Click Here.
SAMSHA Funding for Services in Supportive Housing: President Obama recently signed the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill that included $75 million for SAMSHA homelessness programs, including what the agency expects to be $11 million for services in supportive housing. SAMSHA recently sent out a request for proposals for these services dollars, with a due date of April 30th. To download an application for these dollars, please Click Here.
For more information on federal advocacy, including details on anything listed above, please visit the National Alliance to End Homelessness' website at www.naeh.org.
CCEH looks forward to continuing its work with partners and advocates on these initiatives and is hopeful that this is just the beginning. One opportunity for critical advocacy will be the annual NAEH conference and Lobby Day, from July 29-July 31. For more information on the conference, please Click Here.
Please contact Natalie Matthews at nmatthews@cceh.org for additional information about how you can engage in CCEH's efforts towards federal advocacy.
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Upcoming Events and Meetings
Click Here to view our online calendar.
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