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Housing Alert- Take Action to Protect State Funding Increases for Homeless Prevention and Supportive Housing
Kathy Kregor - Legislative Advocacy Network
In February, Governor Rod Blagojevich's released his fiscal year 2007 budget proposal, which included $11 million for homeless prevention funding and a $4.2 million increase for supportive housing services funding. Negotiations to come to a final agreement on the budget are currently underway.
Catholic Social Teaching challenges us to measure our society by how well we meet the needs of the poor and most vulnerable members. Housing is a basic need of all.
Background: The homeless prevention program has prevented nearly 44,000 households in Illinois from experiencing homelessness by providing emergency grants. However, last year alone, an estimated 40,000 households were turned away due to lack of funds. Additional supportive services funding will give 1,300 men, women, and children a decent, affordable home with the support services that will allow them to stay in that home and take the positive next steps in their lives. This funding will cover 874 units of supportive housing across the state.
Action Needed: In order to assure this funding remains in the final budget please c ontact Governor Blagojevich, House Speaker Madigan and Senate President Jones and ask them to include the full $11 million for homeless prevention and the additional $4.2 million for supportive housing services in the final budget for fiscal year 2007. A sample letter is included below and is also available at Housingmatters.net
Please take action by April 14, 2006.
Dear _______________,
We urge you to ensure that the full $11 million for homeless prevention and the additional $4.2 million for supportive housing services remain in the final budget for fiscal year 2007.
The homeless prevention program has prevented nearly 44,000 households in Illinois from experiencing homelessness by providing emergency grants. However, last year alone, an estimated 40,000 households were turned away due to lack of funds. The program has a proven track record. Families are prevented from homelessness at a cost of less than $600 per household and more than 80% remain housed 6-18 months later.
Additional supportive services funding will give 1,300 men, women, and children,
• who have been homeless,
• who have mental illness,
• who have chronic, debilitating illness, such as HIV/AIDS,
• who have been incarcerated,
• or who face all of the above,
a decent, affordable home with the support services that will allow them to stay in that home and take the positive next steps in their lives. This funding will cover 874 units of supportive housing across the state. This funding will leverage over $57 million of federal funding and it will save the state money. Supportive housing costs much less to the state than prisons, IMDs, or state mental hospitals.
We request your support for these two critical programs.
Thank you!
Sincerely
Source- HousingMatters.net
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