2014 Federal Laws and Policies Impacting Homelessness in America

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POLICY

GUIDE National Alliance to End Homelessness

July 2014

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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


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


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.

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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


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.


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


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.

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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



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 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



approved the bill.

Recommendation


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

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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.


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


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.


HVRP in FY 2015, representing flat funding

from FY 2014. The House has not released or

voted on any funding bills for DOL programs.


Subcommittee approved an FY 2015



print time, the details of that bill have not



approved the bill.

Recommendation


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.


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



approved the bill. The House has not released

or voted on any funding bills for L-HHS

programs.

Recommendation


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.


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


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.


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


provide $120 million for EFSP in FY 2015 to

increase homelessness prevention and

emergency food and shelter services.

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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.


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.


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.

Government & Nonprofit

2014 Federal Laws and Policies Impacting Homelessness in America