This website is a treasure trove of information - and they also have action alerts, which you can check at this link:
https://www2398.ssldomain.com/nlihc/template/page.cfm?id=27
Members of the organization have access to everything on the site & also receive action alerts via email. The cost of membership varies, and begins at just $3.00 for low-income individuals. Definitely a bargain!!
The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to ending America's affordable housing crisis. We believe that this is achievable, that the affordable housing crisis is a problem that Americans are capable of solving. While we are concerned about the housing circumstances of all low income people, we focus our advocacy on those with the most serious housing problems, the lowest income households.
They also have a very extensive advocates guide:
https://www2398.ssldomain.com/nlihc/template/page.cfm?id=46
And then there's Out of Reach
- a side-by-side comparison of wages and rents in every county, Metropolitan Area (MSAs/HMFAs), combined nonmetropolitan area and state in the United States. For each jurisdiction, the report calculates the amount of money a household must earn in order to afford a rental unit at a range of sizes (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedrooms) at the area’s Fair Market Rent (FMR), based on the generally accepted affordability standard of paying no more than 30% of income for housing costs. From these calculations the hourly wage a worker must earn to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom home is derived. This figure is the Housing Wage.
You can find the data for your area/region or
Calculate your personal housing wage, based on your current rent.
by going to:
http://www.nlihc.org/oor/oor2006/?CFID=19725491&CFTOKEN=26720084
You can also find a huge listing of resources:
Government Sites of Interest | National Policy and Advocacy Organizations |
The following information was released by the office of Kentucky Rep. Geoff Davis:
On October 2nd, the House passed H.R. 7221, the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2008. This legislation is a compromise version of two earlier bills - Congressman Geoff Davis' original HEARTH Act of 2007 (H.R. 840) and S. 1518, the Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act of 2007. Congressman Davis is a lead Republican co-sponsor of the bipartisan compromise bill.
H.R. 7221 amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development's definition of "homeless" to include unaccompanied youth and homeless families with children who are defined as homeless by other federal definitions (such as the definition used in Department of Education homeless youth programs), but currently do not fall under HUD's definition. The definition also includes stronger language to help individuals who are victims of domestic violence or living in other dangerous or life-threatening conditions.
Congressman Davis stated, "Expanding HUD's definition of homelessness to include living situations most frequently encountered by homeless families, children and domestic violence victims has been one of my top priorities for over two years. This is a huge step towards helping the 'invisible' homeless get the assistance they need to get back on their feet. If we are truly serious about ending homelessness in the long-term, we have to ensure that homeless children are given the opportunity to grow and learn in a stable home environment.
"I am extremely pleased to see H.R. 7221 pass the House and look forward to its consideration in the Senate. In addition to expanding the definition, the bill provides increased flexibility and tools for agencies and provider organizations to better meet the needs of the local homeless populations.
"A roof over one's head goes a long way, but it is the supportive services, combined with housing, that have the biggest impact on changing a person's path in life. The homeless assistance grant programs lend a helping hand to people who want to build a future and pursue a dream. This type of federal assistance has a lasting positive impact not only on the recipient, but on our communities as a whole."
Congressman Geoff Davis introduced the original bipartisan HEARTH Act (H.R. 840) last year with the late Congresswoman Julia Carson [D-IN]. The legislation reauthorizes the homeless assistance grant programs created by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987.
In addition to expanding HUD's definition of homelessness, H.R. 7221:
Consolidates HUD's competitive homeless assistance grant programs into a single Continuum of Care program, streamlining the way communities apply for funding, reducing administrative burden, and increasing local flexibility and decision-making;
Allows providers to use up to 20% of funds under the Emergency Solutions Grants for homeless prevention (current law only allows 3%);
Creates the Rural Housing Stability Assistance Program, giving rural areas increased flexibility to serve homeless populations that are without the resources and housing availability of large metropolitan areas; and
Provides incentives for rapid rehousing programs for homeless families that have been successfully used in a number of communities to significantly reduce family homelessness by ensuring a quicker return to stability and self-sufficiency.
Congressman Davis joined the following members in working to find a compromise on the House and Senate versions and subsequently introducing H.R. 7221 on September 29, 2008: Representative Gwen Moore [D-WI], Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank [D-MA], Financial Institutions Subcommittee Ranking Member Judy Biggert [R-IL], Housing and Community Opportunity Chairwoman Maxine Waters [D-CA] and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito [R-WV], and Representative Andre Carson [D-IN], the grandson of the late Representative Julia Carson.
For more information, click here.
I'm posting this because it addresses issues faced by all low income families and individuals. And yes, this would affect the homeless or housing insecure as well.
Most of my homeless clients qualify for nothing but food stamps; most of those housed will be needing help with utility bills this winter. For those on Section 8 or in public housing, losing utilities could mean losing their housing since it is typically part of the housing contract that utilities be on/maintained at all times.
So...read on:
Congressional Outlook: * Action on another economic stimulus
package could come in November during a Lame Duck session. The
Senate is set to reconvene November 17th; the House, which has not
ruled out reconvening in October, also is likely to meet in
November. Numerous House Committees are holding fall hearings
focused on aspects of the economic crisis and possible responses.
*Pending Economic Stimulus Nutrition Provisions:* House Democratic
leaders may seek additional action on economic recovery this fall or
early next year. If so, the package could be larger than that
passed in September (H.R. 7110). *H.R. 7110* provides $2.6 billion
for a temporary Food Stamp/SNAP benefit increase based on 105
percent of the Thrifty Food Plan; $50 million would support state
costs for administering those benefits. *S. 3604* was offered in
the Senate in September but could not garner the 60 votes to cut off
debate; it proposed $5 billon for a 10 percent increase in Food
Stamp/SNAP benefits through FY 2009; $450 million for the
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
(WIC); $50 million for The Emergency Food Assistance Program
(TEFAP); $30 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program
(CSFP); $60 million to help senior meals programs.
*Take Action:* Contact Members of Congress while home in the
district this October.
*Message: * Urge Members of Congress to push in October or in a
November Lame Duck session for approval of an economic recovery
package that includes: a temporary increase in SNAP/Food Stamp
benefits; SNAP/Food Stamp administrative support; increased funding
for WIC, CSFP, and TEFAP; state fiscal relief; Low Income Home
Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); Head Start; Child Support
Enforcement; Unemployment Insurance and other programs that support
families in need.
*Background:* For information on the human needs community's
priorities for action this fall, see "Towards a Shared Recovery:
Congress Must Do More to Reverse the Recession," posted at
http://www.chn.org/pdf/2008/stimulus8108.pdf
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=TkUzqEvHzniIDfzYYd9jCytvZRIieLoF>
Simply go to http://www.govspot.com/ then click on "Legislative Branch" in the left hand column. Simple and quick!
Both Washington DC and local contact information should be available.
Subject: HHS RELEASE--LIHEAP FUNDS
Date: October 16, 2008
For Release: Immediately
Contact: ACF Press Office
(202) 401-9215
Headline: More Than Five Billion Dollars Released Under LIHEAP
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced the release of $5.1 billion
from the federal government's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP) under the Fiscal Year 2009 Continuing Resolution. The funds
will assist states, territories, tribal areas and the District of
Columbia with addressing their energy needs, particularly for the
upcoming winter season.
"The release of these funds will help low-income families stay warm this
winter," Secretary Leavitt said. "These funds will also help reduce the
risk of health and safety problems exacerbated by exposure to extreme
temperatures."
LIHEAP funding is provided to states through the Office of Community
Services in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at HHS.
The funds will assist eligible low-income households in meeting their
heating and other energy needs.
"The funds released by the Bush Administration will help our most
vulnerable citizens, including the disabled, elderly and children," said
Josephine Robinson, director, Office of Community Services at ACF.
Under the language of the Continuing Resolution, $4.5 billion in block
grant funds and $590 million contingency funds must be released by Oct.
30, 2008. Block grant funds will be allocated to states under a formula
specified in the Continuing Resolution. Of the $590 million in
contingency funds, $100 million will assist states where large numbers
of eligible households use heating oil for heat: Alaska, Connecticut,
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The
remaining $490 million will help individuals in all 50 states.
For a complete list of state allocations of the funds released today go
to:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2008/liheap_allocations_fy2009.htm.
Individuals interested in applying for energy assistance should contact
their local/state/LIHEAP agency. For more information, go to
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap or
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/brochure.html.
###
Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are
available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.
