Homeless Assistance Grants: FY 2011 Appropriations

Senator Patty Murray, Chair Senator Christopher Bond, Ranking Member Subcommittee on Transportation, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Housing and Urban Development Committee on Appropriations Committee on Appropriations United States Senate United States Senate

Dear Chairman Murray and Ranking Member Bond:

Thank you for your commitment to expanding resources for preventing and ending homelessness. I respectfully urge you to provide $2.4 billion for HUD's Homeless Assistance Grants in the FY 2011 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Act. This funding request, $345 million above the Administration's request, is needed to fully implement the HEARTH Act of 2009, a landmark reauthorization of homeless assistance. The investment will help prevent and end homelessness in the midst of one of America’s deepest economic crises.

The HEARTH Act applies two decades of research, innovation, and experience to improve HUD's homeless assistance programs. It changes the way funds are allocated and increases funding for homelessness prevention, assistance to families with children, and rural programs. However, increasing funds to one homeless assistance program automatically places pressure on the larger competitive McKinney program. Without a funding level of $2.4 billion to pay for these activities, my city will not be able to implement some of the HEARTH Act’s changes, particularly those that help prevent homelessness for the thousands of people put at risk because of continuing effects of the recession. During these tough economic times, with homelessness on the rise, we must support lasting solutions to homelessness funded through McKinney.

Chairman Murray and Ranking Member Bond, we urge the inclusion of $2.4 billion in the FY 2011 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Act for the HUD Homeless Assistance Grants program. Thank you for considering this request, and for your continuing support of this important program.

Sincerely,