NEXT WEEK is National Call-In Week! Congress is back from its summer recess on September 8 and preparing to begin negotiations on finalizing fiscal year (FY) 2015 federal funding.
We need to use this time, particularly September 8-12, to call congressional offices about the importance of providing a $301 million increase for McKinney programs in FY 2015.
During National Call-In Week, please call your representatives' and senators' offices and tell them to contact the Chair or Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee and tell them that providing $2.406 billion for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program in FY 2015 is a high priority.
These funds would help us end chronic homelessness by the end of 2016 and make significant reductions among other populations. Even in another difficult budget year, Congress should be working to ensure that we help those who are most in need.
Call your Members of Congress NEXT WEEK as part of a National Call-In Week!
Here's what you can do:
- Call your Senators and Representative(s)! During the week of September 8, reach out to both your representatives AND senators. You can find your senators' contact information here and your representatives' contact information here. When you call the offices, ask to speak to the person who handles housing issues for the Member.
- Tell the staff person to urge their boss to contact the Chair or Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee and tell them that providing $2.406 billion for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program in FY 2015 is a high priority. More in-depth talking points can be found here!
- Let us know if you have any questions and/or which office(s) you contacted! It is important that we keep track of how many calls everyone has made, so please let us know how many calls you make!
- Spread the word with this flier and this sample action alert that you can share with your field to customize before sending it around to their networks!
More Information
The President's FY 2015 Budget Proposal included good news for HUD, including a 14 percent increase to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program to $2.406 billion! In contrast to the President's Budget Proposal, this legislation passed by the full House flat funded HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants, and made cuts to various other HUD programs. This funding level would result in cuts to Continuums of Care, and if enacted, communities will once again be faced with the difficult tiering and prioritization decisions they made for the FY 2013 NOFA.
This legislation passed by the full Senate Appropriations Committee included $2.145 billion for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants, which is $40 million above the enacted FY 2014 level but $255 million below the level proposed by the Administration. Although this amount would likely be enough to cover renewals from FY 2014, it would not provide funding to expand ESG programs or any additional funding for new projects.
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