Monarch Housing’s Blog!

This is an important training as voting is important for all citizens including the homeless.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008 2:00-3:00 EST

This audio training will cover some of the common barriers to voting for people experiencing homelessness and ways to overcome those barriers. We will also discuss ways service providers and advocates can foster greater voter registration and participation.

Tulin Ozdeger of NLCHP and Michael Stoops and Corey Yarbrough of NCH will be co-presenting.

We will be using webinar software for this training. Click here and follow the promts to access the visual portion of the presentation.

Call (641) 715-3222, access code 163-588-116 to hear the audio portion of the presentation

Written materials from this training will be made available on our website.

Click here to register for this event.

We are pleased that Congressman Albio Sires has signed on as a co-sponsor of the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2008. Congressman Sires is one of thirteen co-sponsors in the House of Representatives of this crucial legislation.

Section 811 is a critically important federal program that assists the lowest income people with serious and long-term disabilities to live independently in the community by providing integrated affordable rental housing linked with voluntary services and supports.

Click here to read our previous posts.

For more information on this important legislation:

Click here to read Opening Doors on Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2008 in PDF or here to read it online.

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On Friday, June 20, 2008, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), chairwoman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, held a hearing entitled “H.R. 5772, the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2008″.

To view the hearing in widows media format click here. If this does not work go to the Committee’s web site by clicking here.

Click here to read our previous posts.

H.R. 5772, introduced by Rep. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and co-sponsored by Frank Pallone of NJ, of New Jersey, aims to increase the amount of affordable, supportive housing available for people with disabilities. Supportive housing refers to the availability of services such as assistance with housekeeping and daily living that make it possible for residents to live independently.

Witness List and Prepared Testimony:

Ms. Diane Randall, Executive Director, Partnership for Strong Communities
Ms. Ann O’Hara, The Technical Assistance Collaborative
Mr. Ronald S. Cohen, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles, Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties
Mr. Mark Shelburne, North Carolina Housing Finance Agency
Mr. Tony Paulauski, Executive Director, The Arc of Illinois

For more information on this important legislation:

Click here to read Opening Doors on Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2008 in PDF or here to read it online.

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Last Thursday, June 20, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development marked up the Appropriations Bill for the fiscal year (FY) 2009. In total, the bill allocates $108.3 billion for transportation and housing programs, including:

$1.69 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, $105 million above last year’s level;

$75 million to fund 10,000 new housing vouchers for homeless veterans;

$30 million for 4,000 new housing vouchers for people with disabilities;

$16.57 billion for the Tenant Based Section 8 housing program, a $145 million increase over last year;

$7.3 billion for the Project Based Section 8 program, an increase of nearly $1 billion above last year;

$765 million for the Section 202 program, a increase of $30 million over last year; and

$250 million for the Section 811 program, an increase of $13 million dollars over last year.

To view the full budget click here.

The full House Appropriations Committee is expected to consider the bill either later this week or shortly after July 4. The Senate Subcommittee is scheduled to consider its version of the bill on July 10.

On June 23rd the New Jersey State Senate approved by a vote of 21-16 S1783, its version of the comprehensive housing reform bill, identical to A500 which passed the Assembly on June 16.

This is an important step toward meeting the affordable and supportive housing needs of individuals and families including the homeless.

According to the Star-Ledger, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden), a prime sponsor in the lower house said “I’m gratified. We have taken a giant step toward making the dream of affordable housing a reality in New Jersey.”

Roberts said Gov. Jon Corzine has assured him he will sign the legislation in the near future.

This legislation includes a number of policy priorities the Housing and Community Development Network, Homes for New Jersey and Monarch Housing have championed for many years.

The core elements of S1783 represent significant opportunities for New Jersey to provide safe, quality and affordable housing to residents of our State, including:

Creating a State Housing Plan and Commission: This Commission will provide strategic direction in establishing housing goals, strategies and resource priorities for the state. Comprised of public, private and government representatives, it will gather and disseminate information on housing needs, and prepare and adopt an annual Strategic Housing Plan with public input. New Jersey needs a regularly updated housing plan to establish priorities, identify needed reforms and ensure the most effective and targeted use of limited state resources. DCA and HMFA must submit an annual report detailing its housing activity.

Establishing a Statewide Developer Fee: This assessment will help increase critically needed resources for affordable housing development. It will also help create a predictable playing field for commercial and non-residential developers, by applying a statewide 2.5% fee on these projects, rather than a fee, that under COAH regulations, could be as high as 9% on these projects.

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Tags: Advocacy, affordable-housing, Ending Homelessness, Joe-Roberts, Supportive Housing

Three more organizations have become members of the New Jersey Advocacy Network to End Homelessness during this week. The new members are:

Bergen County Community Action Partnership

Housing and Community Development Network

Mental Health Association of Essex County

The New Jersey Advocacy Network to End Homelessness’ mission is to advocate on a federal level for adequate funding for permanent affordable and supportive housing for homeless individuals and families. The Advocacy Network’s next event is the Second Annual Congressional Reception will be held on July 30, 2008.

To register online for the Congressional Reception and the busses click here. If you are unable to access this form click here [Email address: EVENTS #AT# ENDINGHOMELESSNESSINNJ.ORG - replace #AT# with @ ] to send an email.

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Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) announced on June 17, 2008, that they intend to offer tax measures as part of a larger amendment to a housing bill, H.R. 3221. We reported on the House passage of the H.R. 3221 on May 11, 2008. To view all of the changes proposed by the Senate Finance Committee click here.