Categories: Federal
07.26.2013
Meetings held with the offices of all NY representatives
The Network joined dozens of housing and homelessness nonprofits on July 24 for a robust advocacy day in Washington, D.C. The event, formed as part of the National Alliance to End Homelessness' (NAEH) annual conference, was our largest federal advocacy day to date. The Network led a diverse delegation of providers, fellow advocates and consumers in meetings with all 29 of New York's congressional delegation. We held direct meetings with a record number of members of Congress, including New York Reps. Engel, Jefferies, Owens, Rangel, Tonko and Velazquez.
The day was made extra special with the presence of dozens of NYC Continuum of Care members who made a day trip by bus to join in the efforts. This marked the very first NYC CoC sponsored lobby day, made possible by the donations and volunteer efforts of Ali Forney Center, VIP Community Services, Good Shepherd Services, Center for Urban Community Services, VOCAL-NY, Project Renewal and Housing Works. The Network wants to especially thank CoC Steering Committee member Jim Mutton for being bus captain. The Westchester County CoC also drove a carload of advocates for meetings with the three members of Congress who represent that county.
This unprecedented level of participation comes as a result of sequestration and the rising concern over the decreased funding for critical housing programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Both the House and Senate are now working on HUD budgets. The Senate's budget allocates $6 billion more to HUD than the House's document. Much of our advocacy focuses on getting the Senate's HUD budget bill passed. The Senate has sent a strong message about the importance of protecting and prioritizing the federal programs such as McKinney-Vento and Section 8 that directly prevent and end homelessness for our country's most vulnerable individuals and families. For a full rundown of the House and Senate's proposed HUD budgets, see this document.
Along with a full day of meetings, the Network also participated in a rally on the South Capital Lawn to support funding increases for HUD. Network Executive Director Ted Houghton spoke at the event, stressing the vital nature of HUD programs and the devastating effects of sequestration. A big thank-you to Housing Works for organizing this event.
Members of Congress are now home for August recess. We urge you to take advantage of this lull in activity by contacting your representatives. With your help, we hope we can convince our elected officials to fund HUD at the Senate's levels when they return to Washington.
If you'd like to learn more about our federal advocacy efforts and how you can get involved, please email the Network's Steve Piasecki.
Caption: New York housing advocates meet with U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries on July 24. Photo includes representatives from the Network, West End Residences, Citizens' Committee for Children, Project Renewal, Common Ground, Community Solutions and VOCAL-NY.