TWO Action Alerts for the Homeless

 

 

Action Alert – Take Action to Support Homeless Families and Adults

Dee Huie
Legislative Advocacy Network Committee

Action Needed : Calls or E mails to your Congressman in support of HR 840, the HEARTH Act, which provides funding for Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing. It reauthorizes the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Programs. Ask your congressman to co-sponsor and support this bill. 

The Proposal

  Among the provisions, the HEARTH Act would:
  1. Include families, those doubled up and in motels, in the definition of homeless.
  2. Allows local approaches to homelessness instead of HUD’s one-size-fits-all approach.
  3. Strengthens local decision-making and participation of those working with families
  4. Improves administrative aspects that ease local burdens and streamline HUD’s grant process.          
  5. Allows for homelessness prevention activities.
  6. Protects identifying information of victims of domestic violence, and prioritizes safety if dangerous situations arise.
  7. Allows increased resources to address localized priorities for assisting homeless population. 
Catholic Social Teaching challenges us to make the needs of the poor in our communities a priority.  This bill will help make HUD homeless policy more sensitive to the needs of homeless children, youth and families, and is therefore a critical part of a broader strategy to prevent and end homelessness.

 

Action Alert – Take Action to Support Education of Homeless Youth

Dee Huie
Legislative Advocacy Network

Action Needed : Calls or E mails to your Congressman in support of HR 601, the FAFSA Fix for Homeless Kids Act. Ask your congressman to support this bill. 

The Proposal

This bill would amend the Higher Education Act to expand the definition of “independent student” to include unaccompanied homeless youth (UHY).
UHY’s receive no financial support from parents, have no access to parental information and cannot get a parent signature to apply for financial aid. This bill would allow them to apply for aid independent of their parents.

  Catholic Social Teaching challenges us to make the needs of the poor in our communities a priority.  This bill will help make it possible for homeless youth to further their education and break out of the cycle of homelessness.