FW: Congress Closing in On Deal - Please Call ASAP

[Christine Johansen]

From: Amanda Krusemark [mailto:AKrus...@NAEH.org]
Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 11:47 AM
To: Catherine Seif
Cc: Amanda Krusemark
Subject: Congress Closing in On Deal - Please Call ASAP

 

Dear McKinney Campaign Advocates,

 

Leaders from both the House and Senate have been working the past two days to reach an agreement on a final FY 2011 spending bill. Unfortunately, negotiations are still underway and as of Friday afternoon, it remains unclear whether or not the government will be shut down tonight at midnight, when the current stopgap measurement funding the government expires.  In the event of a government shut down, negotiations will continue.  Once the Senate and House have reached a deal, it is likely that they will move fast to finalize such a compromise, including a final funding level for the McKinney-Vento program.

 

Given that the current situation could change rapidly at any point today, or early next week, we need you to make calls THIS AFTERNOON! Please take this opportunity to express to your Members of Congress how essential an INCREASE to the McKinney-Vento programs is to help America’s most vulnerable citizens.

 

The Alliance would like to extend a tremendous Thank You to everyone who has made calls and sent emails so far.  We really appreciate your efforts. If you haven’t already called the members of your congressional delegation, please do so RIGHT AWAY. Ask your friends and colleagues to do the same.

 

We need your help! Please take just a moment this afternoon to do the following:

 

1. Please contact your Senators’ and Representatives’ DC offices TODAY. Ask to speak to the person who handles housing issues.
1. We can help you find contact information if you don’t have it.
2. Explain the importance of providing an INCREASE to McKinney-Vento funding in the final FY 2011 bill. See the talking points attached and/or below for more information.
1. If your Member of Congress sits on the Senate or House Appropriations Committee (see attached list), ask them to make sure that the final bill includes an INCREASE for McKinney-Vento programs.
2. If your Members of Congress do NOT sit on an Appropriations Committee, ask them to contact their colleagues on the Appropriations Committee RIGHT AWAY in support of providing an INCREASE for McKinney-Vento.
3. Let us know who you contacted!
1. Contact Kate Seif at cs...@naeh.org or me at akrus...@naeh.org.

 

We’re closing in on a deal, and we really need your help to make sure as many Members as possible know the importance of this program to their constituents! Thank you all SO much for your help and continued support throughout this process!!

 

Amanda Krusemark

Program and Policy Associate

National Alliance to End Homelessness

1518 K Street NW, Suite 410

Washington, DC 20005

(202) 942-8256

 

 

Sample Talking Points

NOTE: More detailed talking points are attached. However, these bullets provide a quick guide.

 

○       As you consider a final FY 2011 funding bill, please remember the impact it will have on the most vulnerable Americans – people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in our community.

○       Due to increased need in light of the recession and reduced state budgets, hardworking families with children and others are facing increased risk of homelessness, and federal resources to solve the problem are needed now more than ever.

○       Programs like HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants are highly effective. They have a proven track record and have repeatedly been proven effective at ending homelessness for veterans, families, individuals, youth, and children. They helped contribute to strong national and local declines in homelessness in recent years.

○       Funding renewals would basically swallow up ALL of the McKinney-Vento funds if the program receives flat funding, serving very few people who are currently homeless. This basically means NO progress toward implementing new changes to the McKinney-Vento program that would further focus communities on proven strategies, and NO help to deal with the effects of the recession. Flat funding would put a DEAD STOP to our strong, bipartisan momentum of the last several years of actually SOLVING homelessness.

○       We need an INCREASE in funding for McKinney-Vento. Please ask your boss to contact Appropriations Committee leaders RIGHT AWAY in support of increased funding in the final FY 2011 bill for HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program.

 

 

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