ACT NOW! Congress's COVID-19 Funding Still Does Not Include Homeless Services

Thank you to everyone who took action this week to demand homelessness funding in the federal response to coronavirus. Nearly 3,000 people participated in the Alliance's advocacy action, and we are grateful to every single person who expressed the urgency and importance of funding homeless services during the coronavirus pandemic.  Since my last email, two major things have occurred:  The Trump administration has asked for $400 million in Homeless Assistance Grants in upcoming supplemental appropriations. While this does acknowledge the dire risk to people without a home during this pandemic, it is not a sufficient response.  Yesterday, Congress completed work on its second installment of emergency supplemental spending. Congressional leadership determined that funding for homelessness would not be provided in that bill, but could be considered as part of a third spending bill, which they are working on now and which may come up for a vote as early as this weekend. Homelessness must be included in this upcoming legislation. TAKE ACTION NOW If you weren't able to take action before, please do now. If you took action before, we need for you to speak up again. And we need everyone to spread the word to their networks.   Local communities need at least $5 billion to serve people living on the streets or in shelters, and $5 billion more to divert people who are at immediate risk of becoming homeless during this crisis. We're also calling for $50 billion to support housing stability. The coronavirus pandemic will be devastating to our unhoused neighbors if we don't include them in our national response.   We need you to contact your Senators and Members of Congress immediately to demand homelessness funding in the Coronavirus response. Our updated call to action reflects what's at stake in this next phase of the legislative debate, as Congress takes up "Stimulus Phase Three" over the coming days.  With your help, we can make sure that Washington includes funds for homelessness in this bill. The success in our advocacy will save lives and protect some of the most vulnerable people in America from this dangerous pandemic. Please take action now. Sincerely, Steve Berg VP for Programs and Policy National Alliance to End Homelessness