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Letter to Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer
Please urge your Congressmen to weigh in when the House and Senate Versions of the FY 2003 HUD budget bill are “Conferenced” (after the elections) so that the final bill provides the $41 million to address the renewal crisis in the SHP-PH program and
moves beyond one-year fixes of the permanent housing renewal crisis, (preferably through the Housing Certificate Fund)
moves beyond one-year fixes of the permanent housing renewal crisis, (preferably through the Housing Certificate Fund)
I am writing to request that you support legislation that addresses the crisis in renewal of HUD McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act permanent housing programs. These programs are crucial to the local homeless housing and services system in our community. Nationwide in fiscal year 2003, more than 30,000 of these units are up for renewal requiring a total of $232 million -- at a cost of $194 million for expiring Shelter Plus Care subsidies and $41 million for the Supportive Housing Program permanent housing component. We commend the House and Senate for recommending $193 million for expiring Shelter Plus Care subsidies. However, no funds were allocated for the Supportive Housing Program permanent housing component.
I urge you to work to ensure renewal of expiring operating and rent subsidies under both the Supportive Housing Program permanent housing component and Shelter Plus Care programs for the 2003 funding year. Specifically, please contact the leadership of the Senate Full Appropriations Committee—Chair Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Ranking Member Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) and the VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Ranking Member Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) – and let them know that these renewals are crucial to you. Please urge them to adopt a compassionate and pragmatic solution; namely, renewing these permanent housing subsidies through the Housing Certificate Fund (HCF), which renews expiring Section 8 subsidies. This action would ensure that both the vulnerable tenants of Shelter Plus Care and Supportive Housing Program permanent housing—and the private and non-profit landlords who operate it—can count on the ongoing affordability of this housing, just as Section 8 tenants and developers can.
In passing its version of the FY 2003 VA/HUD budget in July, the Senate Appropriations committee took an important first step, providing $193 million within its $1.215 billion homeless assistance allocation to renew expiring Shelter Plus Care subsidies for another year. On October 9, the House Appropriations Committee followed suit in passing its FY 2003 budget bill—also providing $193 million for SPC renewals within its overall $1.25 billion homeless assistance allocation.
But Congress must move beyond incomplete and stopgap measures—in the final VA-HUD budget bill, Congress must both:
* address the renewals of the Supportive Housing Program permanent housing component for FY 2003 ($41 million); and
* send a clear signal to tenants, non-profit developers, tax credit investors, and other stakeholders in this important housing that Shelter Plus Care and Supportive Housing Program permanent housing component will have a reliable source of renewal funding beyond this fiscal year.
Both of these goals would be accomplished by funding renewals under these programs from the Housing Certificate Fund. This is the action that the conference committee should take when it finalizes the HUD budget. At minimum, the final bill must address the imminent renewals for the Supportive Housing Program permanent housing component as well as Shelter Plus Care renewals.
Local government agencies and private non-profits are using Shelter Plus Care and Supportive Housing Program funds to end homelessness. I urge you to visit one of our local programs to meet some of the formerly homeless people who have become independent and productive citizens as a result of that work.
I urge you to work to ensure renewal of expiring operating and rent subsidies under both the Supportive Housing Program permanent housing component and Shelter Plus Care programs for the 2003 funding year. Specifically, please contact the leadership of the Senate Full Appropriations Committee—Chair Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Ranking Member Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) and the VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Ranking Member Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) – and let them know that these renewals are crucial to you. Please urge them to adopt a compassionate and pragmatic solution; namely, renewing these permanent housing subsidies through the Housing Certificate Fund (HCF), which renews expiring Section 8 subsidies. This action would ensure that both the vulnerable tenants of Shelter Plus Care and Supportive Housing Program permanent housing—and the private and non-profit landlords who operate it—can count on the ongoing affordability of this housing, just as Section 8 tenants and developers can.
In passing its version of the FY 2003 VA/HUD budget in July, the Senate Appropriations committee took an important first step, providing $193 million within its $1.215 billion homeless assistance allocation to renew expiring Shelter Plus Care subsidies for another year. On October 9, the House Appropriations Committee followed suit in passing its FY 2003 budget bill—also providing $193 million for SPC renewals within its overall $1.25 billion homeless assistance allocation.
But Congress must move beyond incomplete and stopgap measures—in the final VA-HUD budget bill, Congress must both:
* address the renewals of the Supportive Housing Program permanent housing component for FY 2003 ($41 million); and
* send a clear signal to tenants, non-profit developers, tax credit investors, and other stakeholders in this important housing that Shelter Plus Care and Supportive Housing Program permanent housing component will have a reliable source of renewal funding beyond this fiscal year.
Both of these goals would be accomplished by funding renewals under these programs from the Housing Certificate Fund. This is the action that the conference committee should take when it finalizes the HUD budget. At minimum, the final bill must address the imminent renewals for the Supportive Housing Program permanent housing component as well as Shelter Plus Care renewals.
Local government agencies and private non-profits are using Shelter Plus Care and Supportive Housing Program funds to end homelessness. I urge you to visit one of our local programs to meet some of the formerly homeless people who have become independent and productive citizens as a result of that work.
For more information:
http://capwiz.com/csh/issues/alert/?alerti...
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The letter is the most popular choice of communication with a congressional office. If you decide to write a letter, this list of helpful suggestions will improve the effectiveness of the letter:
Your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter. If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it accordingly, e.g., House bill: H. R. ____, Senate bill: S.____.
Be courteous, to the point, and include key information, using examples to support your position.
Address only one issue in each letter; and, if possible, keep the letter to one page.
Addressing Correspondence:
To a Senator
------------------------------
The Honorable (full name)
__(Rm.#)__(name of)Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
To a Representative
------------------------------
The Honorable (full name)
__(Rm.#)__(name of)House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative:
Note: When writing to the Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, it is proper to address them as:
Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman:
or Dear Mr. Speaker:
Your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter. If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it accordingly, e.g., House bill: H. R. ____, Senate bill: S.____.
Be courteous, to the point, and include key information, using examples to support your position.
Address only one issue in each letter; and, if possible, keep the letter to one page.
Addressing Correspondence:
To a Senator
------------------------------
The Honorable (full name)
__(Rm.#)__(name of)Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
To a Representative
------------------------------
The Honorable (full name)
__(Rm.#)__(name of)House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative:
Note: When writing to the Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, it is proper to address them as:
Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman:
or Dear Mr. Speaker:
For more information:
http://capwiz.com/csh/issues/basics/?style...
2001 Homeless Count Report
On the streets of San Francisco, our volunteers counted 1,753 homeless men, 460 homeless women, 22 transgender people and 921 genders unknown during this Fall's Homeless Count, for a total of 3,156 compared to a total of 2,033 in October 2000 an increase of 55%. Various factors have attributed to the increase of homeless on the streets of San Francisco. One, climatic conditions were at complete opposite extremes: warm and balmy this year, as compared to cold and wet last year. Also, our volunteer base has become more experienced finding, conducting and identifying homeless individuals. For example, according to the Department of Human Services, 40% of identified homeless families are referred from outside of San Francisco County. Other variables include drug abuse, mental illness, and current economic conditions. Lastly, volunteers found many circumstances when it was a challenge to distinguish between the high numbers of people loitering on the streets and the obvious homeless.
map >> http://sfgov.org/images/homeless/map.gif
The unknown category includes people sleeping in doorways or on the street, people sleeping in vehicles, or people who refuse to be identified. In the meantime, additional shelter capacity will be provided in the coming weeks.
Residing in the single adult shelters and resource centers, were 1,129 men, 392 women, and 4 transgender people staying for a total of 1,525. The total number for single adult men and women represents a slight increase of 2% compared with last year's point-in-time count. Some adult shelters reported that they were under capacity on the night of the count.
Residing in the family shelters and on the Connecting Point waiting list, there were 131 men, 263 women, and 424 children on the night of the Homeless Count. This number represents an increase of 61% (from 505 to 818) homeless men, women and children compared with last year's count.
Families on Connecting Point's waiting list are requesting shelter. In many cases, these families are currently living with relatives or friends. When a shelter placement becomes available, most families will choose shelter over cramped room or shared apartment. We also included women in crisis (domestic violence shelters) for a total of 50; this includes 33 women and 17 children. This represents a decrease of 20%.
In treatment programs and at San Francisco General Hospital, there were 474 men, 259 women and 6 transgender people recorded on the night of the Homeless Count. This number represents an increase in the number of treatment beds.
A computer run of the prisoners incarcerated in the San Francisco County Jails showed 112 women and 847 men self-identified as homeless. This information was self-reported by each individual at the time of booking. In addition, because their homeless status is self-reported it is difficult to verify this information. This number represents an increase of 439 people (from 520 to 959), an increase of 54%.
The Mayor's Office on Homelessness would like to acknowledge the fine work of the 121 volunteers and staff that participated in making this the best count so far.
Final results are 7,305 homeless people compared to 5,376 counted in 2000, an increase of 36%.
survey results >> http://sfgov.org/site/homeless_page.asp?id=213
resources for the homeless >> http://sfgov.org/site/homeless_index.asp?id=120#assist
MOH home >> http://sfgov.org/site/homeless_index.asp?id=119
On the streets of San Francisco, our volunteers counted 1,753 homeless men, 460 homeless women, 22 transgender people and 921 genders unknown during this Fall's Homeless Count, for a total of 3,156 compared to a total of 2,033 in October 2000 an increase of 55%. Various factors have attributed to the increase of homeless on the streets of San Francisco. One, climatic conditions were at complete opposite extremes: warm and balmy this year, as compared to cold and wet last year. Also, our volunteer base has become more experienced finding, conducting and identifying homeless individuals. For example, according to the Department of Human Services, 40% of identified homeless families are referred from outside of San Francisco County. Other variables include drug abuse, mental illness, and current economic conditions. Lastly, volunteers found many circumstances when it was a challenge to distinguish between the high numbers of people loitering on the streets and the obvious homeless.
map >> http://sfgov.org/images/homeless/map.gif
The unknown category includes people sleeping in doorways or on the street, people sleeping in vehicles, or people who refuse to be identified. In the meantime, additional shelter capacity will be provided in the coming weeks.
Residing in the single adult shelters and resource centers, were 1,129 men, 392 women, and 4 transgender people staying for a total of 1,525. The total number for single adult men and women represents a slight increase of 2% compared with last year's point-in-time count. Some adult shelters reported that they were under capacity on the night of the count.
Residing in the family shelters and on the Connecting Point waiting list, there were 131 men, 263 women, and 424 children on the night of the Homeless Count. This number represents an increase of 61% (from 505 to 818) homeless men, women and children compared with last year's count.
Families on Connecting Point's waiting list are requesting shelter. In many cases, these families are currently living with relatives or friends. When a shelter placement becomes available, most families will choose shelter over cramped room or shared apartment. We also included women in crisis (domestic violence shelters) for a total of 50; this includes 33 women and 17 children. This represents a decrease of 20%.
In treatment programs and at San Francisco General Hospital, there were 474 men, 259 women and 6 transgender people recorded on the night of the Homeless Count. This number represents an increase in the number of treatment beds.
A computer run of the prisoners incarcerated in the San Francisco County Jails showed 112 women and 847 men self-identified as homeless. This information was self-reported by each individual at the time of booking. In addition, because their homeless status is self-reported it is difficult to verify this information. This number represents an increase of 439 people (from 520 to 959), an increase of 54%.
The Mayor's Office on Homelessness would like to acknowledge the fine work of the 121 volunteers and staff that participated in making this the best count so far.
Final results are 7,305 homeless people compared to 5,376 counted in 2000, an increase of 36%.
survey results >> http://sfgov.org/site/homeless_page.asp?id=213
resources for the homeless >> http://sfgov.org/site/homeless_index.asp?id=120#assist
MOH home >> http://sfgov.org/site/homeless_index.asp?id=119
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