President's Budget Slashes Homeless Funding

[pamela]

2009 Proposed Budget Includes Cuts to Range of Programs

http://www.nlchp.org/news.cfm?id=1

"As in past years, the Administration proposed an increase for the McKinney-Vento programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Under the President's proposed budget, HUD McKinney-Vento programs would get approximately $49 million in increased funding, approximately a 3% increase. At the same time, however, the President proposed cutting the McKinney-Vento Emergency Food and Shelter (EFS) program by approximately $53 million, a cut of 35% over prior year's levels. The EFS program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), provides funding for eviction prevention, emergency shelter and services, and food assistance.

In addition to the EFS program, the President also proposed cutting funding for a number of programs that provide housing or services that help to prevent homelessness. The Section 202 program for elderly persons would lose approximately $196 million and housing for persons with disabilities would be cut by $78 million under the proposed FY09 budget. Community Development Block Grants would be cut by $659 million. The President also proposed to fund Housing Choice Vouchers at a level that would result in 100,000 fewer vouchers.

Other social safety net programs would also suffer. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program would be cut by $570 million, a 22% cut from FY08 levels. Households that have their utilities cut off are more likely than other households to end up homelessness. The Runaway and Homeless Youth Program were flat-funded, without any increase to account for inflation.

Domestic violence programs would be particularly hard hit. The President proposed to reduce funding for programs under the Violence Against Women Act by $120 million. The President also would eliminate funding for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund - a $2 billion cut. VOCA provides counseling, court advocacy, child trauma evaluation, and other services for victims of domestic violence."

-snip

*********

NLCHP is asking everyone to write or call their congresspersons and request them to support funding for Homeless Assistance Programs. Ask them to:

* Oppose proposed cuts to the McKinney-Vento Emergency Food and Shelter Program
* Oppose cuts to the Violence Against Women Act programs and Victims of Crime Act Fund
* Oppose cuts to public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and the Section 202 and Section 811 programs
* Request $75 million for the McKinney-Vento PATH program
* Support the request for $75 million for the HUD-VASH program

More info at this link:
http://www.nlchp.org/action_alerts.cfm

[pamela]

1. Wow, four recs, no comments?

Not even a "Bush is an asshole!"? :shrug:

[El Pinko]

2. Five recs now.

And Bush is an ASSHOLE.

[pamela]

3. Thanks, El Pinko!

And welcome to DU!:hi:

[cutlassmama]

12. Yes, yes he is. More for his "war"

[bobbolink]

14. As you can see, pamela, this is not a priority issue at DU.

Some of us have tried over the years.

:cry:

[Triana]

4. I got comments...

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad:
:mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad:
:mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad:

[pamela]

6. Hi Triana.

I wonder why the candidates aren't talking about this.

-Violence Against Women Act to be cut by $120 million.
-The elimination of funding for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund.
-$570 million cut from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Wonder if our congress critters will roll over on this one, too.

:mad: AND :scared:

[Triana]

10. YES why aren't the candidates SCREAMING about this?

And Congress - well - they don't represent us anyway, apparently. :(

But our Democratic candidates SHOULD be all over this like white on rice!

I don't know that they've even mentioned it?

[bobbolink]

15. We poor folk haven't been important to the Dem party for quite some time, now.

Like, oh...say, since Bobby Kennedy died..

:cry:

[Lorien]

5. And he wants how many more BILLION for the Pentagon?

I really do wish that Jesus would return-to bitch slap this guy!

[pamela]

7. I think he's up to a brazillion now for the Pentagon.

And I'd pay to see Jesus bitch-slap him.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. All so he can fund his war and create more homeless vets when they return

and have trouble readjusting to society after spending years in a quagmire and seeing what they've seen.

[Jed Dilligan]

9. Fuck. Great timing, dickwingle.

[NMMNG]

11. Fuck You very much GWB.

[Greyhound]

13. K & R

:kick: & R

[Greyhound]

16. Night Kick. n/t

:kick:

[lonestarnot]

17. That son of a bitch! Have I said how much I hate him today?

No! Well let me take this opportunity! I hate you you motherfucker!