Rep. Carson Continues Battle on Homelessness (*** TAKE ACTION *** on H.R. 840 - HEARTH Act of 2007)

[Sapphire Blue]

Rep. Carson Continues Battle on Homelessness

Washington, DC – Today Congresswoman Carson and Congressman Geoff Davis introduced the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2007 (HEARTH). The focus of this bill is reauthorization of title IV the McKinney-Vento Act and consolidation of the three competitive homeless assistance programs. This legislation would ensure that those on the verge of homelessness are caught before they lose their home, protect victims of domestic violence by prohibiting the disclosure of any identifying information by housing or service agencies and redefine the idea of homelessness as it is seen by HUD.

“I thank Congressman Davis for joining me in this vital step to ensure that Americans facing homelessness are aware of the options available to them. We can ensure that local communities address homelessness in the most logical way for them and not based off of arbitrary decision by the federal government. This bill has widespread and bi-partisan support and I am sure that it will have a positive impact on decreasing the approximately 3.5 million Americans who are thought to be homeless at some point in the next year,” Congresswoman Carson stated.

“I am once again proud to work with Congresswoman Carson as we address the needs of homeless populations in our communities,” said Congressman Davis. “Reauthorizing Title IV of the McKinney-Vento Act will help ensure that the organizations assisting the homeless receive the funding and federal support that they require to effectively combat homelessness. This legislation will also expand HUD’s definition of homelessness to include the types of homeless situations that families and children most often encounter. Expanding the scope of HUD’s definition will increase flexibility for agencies and organizations that serve homeless populations.”

Other original co-sponsors of the legislation are Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressman Rick Renzi. This legislation will help families, youth, veterans and others who have not been eligible for HUD assistance in the past receive the help they need.

http://juliacarson.house.gov/press07/02.07.07.shtml

Edited to add: TAKE ACTION:

Legislative Alert! - Grassroots organizations are urged to contact their Members of Congress and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 840, the HEARTH Act. Tell Members of Congress that H.R. 840 will provide more flexibility to communities and allow them to more effectively serve all segments of the homeless population. Read our Legislative Alert for more information.

http://www.nlchp.org/

Will you stand up for Human Rights for the Homeless & send this report to your Senators & Rep?: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sapphire%20Blue/154


The Nameless and Faceless Deaths in Our Midst: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sapphire%20Blue/157

[Monkeyman]

1. Danny Davis should know We have a huge Homeless problem here

Chicago is cold I mean cold all you hear is someone froze to death here.

[EFerrari]

2. Who is Renzi? Barbara Lee on the right side of things and way ahead as always.

:toast:

[Sapphire Blue]

3. Congressman Rick Renzi, Arizona 1st District, US House of Rep. (REPUBLICAN!!!)

Congressman Rick Renzi: http://www.house.gov/renzi

[EFerrari]

4. Wow! That's so great and so surprising

This is a smart bill.

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

5. Very surprising! Check out the 'TAKE ACTION' edit in the OP; I just found it.

:hi:

[EFerrari]

6. Thanks, I will!

:hug:

:loveya:

:grouphug:

[EFerrari]

8. I have no problem calling Nancy's office. But you know, sometimes

I feel like the endlessly nagging mom. At any time now, they're going to charge me to call her and get a note taken.

lol

:)

[Sapphire Blue]

14. They should install a personal hotline for you!

;)

[EFerrari]

16. "It's that lady again, the one out by the beach -- can you take it?"

:rofl:

[Sapphire Blue]

44. ***** TOLL-FREE NUMBERS ***** 1-877 851-6437 or 1-800 828-0498 *****

:kick:

(((((((((( and a great big :hug: & 'Thank You' to calimary for having the toll-free numbers in her DU sig line ))))))))))

[EFerrari]

51. calimary rocks.

:)

:kick:

[salin]

7. I would contact my congressperson,,, but...

Caron IS my congresswoman. :thumbsup: Congresswoman Carson!

Comment doesn't mean I won't contact - with support - Congresswoman Carson - just rare that in Indiana that one can have such a snarky (as in *already supports*) response.

[Sapphire Blue]

10. Oh, you snarky Indianan!

:hi:

:toast: to Congresswoman Carson!

[salin]

15. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't realize that you went back far enough to the "Indianan" joke. There were a few folks vocal per that little joke (when a former DUer used to tell Hoosier dems that he knew more about hoosier politics than we did - and then went on to repeatedly refer to us as "Indianans" - which became quite a joke). Have to remember that many read threads while not necessarily participating on those threads. What a chuckle for the evening. thanks.

Just cuz I have to say this from time to time - at least prior to the 2006 elections (this may or may not have changed) - Carson was the only member of the Congressional Black Caucus that was elected from a predominantly white congressional district. Why do I point this out - because this is INDIANA where residual racism still exists - and the anomoy of Carson's continual reelections is a sign of hope in this red state.

[EFerrari]

17. lol

Well, how cool is that?

:hi: to you, salin

[salin]

19. It was a more common experience when I lived in the Bay Area...

but when I moved back to hoosierland... yikes! Then moved again (still in hoosierland - but to Carson's district) - have to relish in these 'ironic' redstate moments.

:hi: to you as well!

May I take this moment to tell you how much I admire you - on so many levels. You inspire me. :hug:

[EFerrari]

20. What?!

lol

There are SO many DUers who do SO much more than I do. I want to ask Skinner if I can get a group rate for hearts this week.

:hug:
:grouphug:

[jeff30997]

9. K&R

[Sapphire Blue]

11. Thanks, jeff30997!

:hi:

[Sydnie]

12. K&R!

Thank you SB for all your devotion to these threads. :hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

13. Thank you, Sydnie!

:hug: :loveya:

[antigop]

18. Is there a companion Senate bill?

I'll contact my representative, for sure about HR 840. But what about the Senate?

[Sapphire Blue]

21. As far as I know, there isn't. Looks like we need to contact our Senators to introduce one!

Thank you for contacting your Rep!

[antigop]

22. Sapphire, I'll take your word for it that this is a good bill

As long as you are satisfied that this will help, I'll contact my rep on it (and senators).

I don't know enough to assess the bill's merits, but if you think it is a good bill, I'll contact my representatives.

[Sapphire Blue]

23. It's good. Here's more about it from the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty:

NATIONAL LAW CENTER ON HOMELESSNESS & POVERTY

Alert – McKinney Reauthorization Bill Introduced

H.R. 840, the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act,
was introduced this week by Rep. Julia Carson (D-IN), Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY), Rep. Barbara Lee
(D-CA), and Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ). The bill would reauthorize and amend the four McKinney-
Vento Homeless Assistance Act programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD). Under the bill, the Emergency Shelter Grant program would continue
to remain as a block grant program. The Supportive Housing Program, the Shelter Plus Care
Program, and the Section 8 Single Room Occupancy Moderate Rehabilitation Program would be
combined into a single program in the model of the Continuum of Care process.

The bill has already been endorsed by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty as well
as the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, the National Policy and Advocacy Council on
Homelessness, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the National Network for Youth,
Catholic Charities USA, and Volunteers of America.

Action Steps

Grassroots organizations are urged to contact their Members of Congress and ask them to cosponsor
H.R. 840. Tell Members of Congress that H.R. 840 will provide more flexibility to
communities and allow them to more effectively serve all segments of the homeless population.

H.R. 840 would:

• Authorize the HUD McKinney programs at $2.5 billion. This would provide additional
resources for communities to use to address homelessness.

• Codify and strengthen the Continuum of Care process.

• Aligns HUD’s definition of homelessness with other federal definitions. Specifically, the
bill would make families living doubled up or those who are living in hotels or motels
eligible for services. This change will allow more homeless families to receive assistance
and will make it easier at the State and local level to coordinate services across federally
funded programs.

• Improves privacy protection for victims of domestic violence within the Homeless
Management Information Systems (HMIS) data that is reported to HUD.

• Allows communities to provide permanent housing to homeless persons and families who
do not require permanent, supportive services.

• Makes homeless prevention an eligible activity under the Continuum of Care process.

• Requires a 25% match. The 25% match could be met by cash, services, or a combination of
the two options.

• Improves inclusiveness in the Continuum of Care planning and application process.

• Discourages ordinances and practices that criminalize homelessness.

For more information or to be added to the Law Center’s legislative email update list, please contact
Laurel Weir at [e-mail].

http://www.nlchp.org/LegislativeAlert.pdf

[antigop]

25. Yes, I saw that -- but sometimes bullet items don't tell the whole story

But as long as you think it's a good one, I'll go ahead tomorrow and make the contacts.

[Dracos]

36. KICK

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

39. Thanks for the kick, Dracos!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

40. I called my Senator - no companion Senate bill; if it passes the House, it goes to the Senate.

I requested that my Senator introduce a companion bill; my request will be forwarded.

[kaygore]

24. I'll call them tomorrow

Thank you for alerting us!

[Sapphire Blue]

26. Thanks, kaygore!

:hi:

[EFerrari]

27. kick

[midnight]

28. This is great. The poor are the least entitled to any voice. The

conversation about homelessness in this country is on the rise.

[EFerrari]

29. About time, too. We keep defense contractors in luxury while our people

go without. Sanity in this new century.

:kick:

[Doondoo]

30. bump

[Sapphire Blue]

33. Thanks for the bump, Doondoo, and Welcome to DU!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[Solly Mack]

31. k&r

[Sapphire Blue]

34. Thank you, Solly Mack!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[lonestarnot]

32. kick

[Sapphire Blue]

35. Thank you for the kick, lonestarnot!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[Czolgosz]

37. K & R - keep up the fight!

[Sapphire Blue]

38. Thanks, Czolgosz!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[antigop]

41. Done -- I just contacted my reps n/t

[Sapphire Blue]

42. Thank you, antigop!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[antigop]

43. Hope it helps! Thanks for keeping us informed on this issue! n/t

[bobbolink]

45. Do you have any idea when this may come up for a vote??

This looks like good news.

It doesn't do anything, it appears, for people like me, except maybe the "prevention" part, but still... there are many for whom this may be a life saver!

THANKS!! :applause: :hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

46. I just called Rep. Carson's office...

HR 840 has been referred to committee, probably won't come up for action until June, possibly May. Additional legislation regarding homelessness is expected to be introduced between now & then, too... this bill & related legislation will most likely be under under one big umbrella.

JUNE?!?!?!? Well, that gives us plenty of time to get 200+ cosponsors!

(I also thanked Rep. Carson profusely; she's been getting quite a few 'Thank You' calls!)

[bobbolink]

47. Great news!! I"m soooo delighted to know there will be other bills!

PLEASE, HELP ME TO LIGHT SOME FIRES ABOUT GETTING MORE LOW-INCOME HOUSING!

That is what kept me homeless for so long--there are so few apartments available!

All the mention of more shelters and more SROs make me neervous. Yes, it is helpful to some... like that poor homeless paraplegic man, crawling along the street. :cry: He so badly needed a safe place to recuperate!

BUT... for elderly and handicapped people, only offering a SRO--that's insulting, ugly and unacceptable!!

We are human beings, and we deserve decent places to live!

How can we get pressure applied to build more decent Section 8?

Thanks for calling her... I"m delighted to know she's getting supportive calls!

:hug: :loveya: :hug: :applause:

[Sapphire Blue]

48. Call, email, fax Congress; tell them to FULLY fund Federal housing programs. Send them this report:

“Without Housing: Decades of Federal Housing Cutbacks, Massive Homelessness and Policy Failure:: http://wraphome.org/wh_press_kit/Without_Housing_20061114.pdf


Forward this: Will you stand up for Human Rights for the Homeless & send this report to your Senators & Rep?: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sapphire%20Blue/154


and this: The Nameless and Faceless Deaths in Our Midst: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sapphire%20Blue/157


and this: CORRELATION BETWEEN HISTORIC CUTS TO FEDERAL HOUSING PROGRAMS AND CONTEMPORARY MASS HOMELESSNESS: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sapphire%20Blue/118


and look here for more: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sapphire%20Blue


Tell everyone you know to stand up, speak out, call, email, fax, and encourage everyone they know to do the same.

Bring it up at Church, bring it up at community meetings, bring it up at work, bring it up at the PTA meeting, bring it up at school, bring it up to the person sitting next to you on the bus, bring it up when you're waiting in line at the Post Office, at the bank, in the doctor's office, bring it up at your Senators' & Representative's town hall meetings when they're in their home districts.

[faithnotgreed]

49. yes please and a big thank you

[Sapphire Blue]

50. ..

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[bobbolink]

52. Thank you so much, faithnotgreed!

I so much appreciate your efforts on these issues!

I loook forward to seeing your screen name pop up!

:pals:

[Sapphire Blue]

53. ^^^

:kick:

[Irishonly]

54. Called, Wrote and Forwarded

We must. It the moral action to take.

[Sapphire Blue]

55. Thank you, Irishonly!

:hug: :loveya: :hug: