NPACH: The National Policy and Advocacy Council on Homelessness

NPACH Statement : House Committee Approves HEARTH Act

Yesterday, the House Financial Services Committee approved H.R. 840, the Homelessness Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (HEARTH), after first adopting a substitute amendment offered by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI).

As expected, Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R-IL) and Congressman Geoff Davis (R-KY) later offered an amendment to include children, youth, and families who are verified as homeless by federal program personnel (including school district liaisons, Head Start programs, Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs) in the HUD definition of homelessness.

After an intense and emotional debate, the amendment was withdrawn in an exchange for a commitment from Full Committee Chairman Frank and Housing Subcommittee Chairwoman Waters to continue working to improve the HUD definition of homelessness before the bill moves to the floor in September. We will continue to fight for these improvements, and are confident that with your help they will occur. The Committee leadership of both parties also agreed to send a letter to the Government Accountability Office, next week, requesting a study on expanding the HUD definition of homelessness.

The markup was an important step forward in our ongoing effort to ensure that the HUD definition of homelessness is expanded to accurately reflect the full range of people experiencing homelessness in this country. We are pleased that almost the entire debate was focused on the issue of the HUD definition and the needs of children, youth, and families. While the Biggert-Davis amendment was not approved, we are confident that its introduction and the spirited debate will result in meaningful improvements to HR 840 before it is considered on the House floor. And we are deeply grateful to Mrs. Biggert and Mr. Davis for their leadership.

Next week, we will provide a more detailed summary of today’s markup. We thank you for all of your hard work on this issue, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration in the weeks and months to come.

The markup can be viewed here.

A powerful Time Magazine opinion piece on the importance of a reality-based expansion of HUD's definition of homelessness can be read here:

Proposed Manager's Amendment to HEARTH (H.R. 840) Would Dismantle Good Legislation With Broad Support

Because of what we learned from you, NPACH worked closely with staff for the late Representative Julia Carson to introduce the HEARTH Act, a strong bill to rewrite the laws governing HUD's homeless assistance programs. HEARTH has been co-sponsored by 85 House Members, including almost all Democrats on the Housing Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee.

Despite the broad support for HEARTH, when the bill is considered Subcommittee Chairwoman Maxine Waters plans to introduce an amendment that would replace the entire HEARTH Act with a new bill. This new bill is almost identical to the Senate's McKinney-Vento bill, S. 1518, which NPACH has opposed. Congresswoman Waters plan is supported by Full Committee Chairman Barney Frank.

The Financial Services Committee is likely to schedule a meeting for Wednesday, July 30, to consider housing bills. We urge the Committee not to consider the HEARTH Act during this markup. Instead, the House should continue to work with NPACH and other stakeholders to improve the bill. A more reasonable bill would maintain key elements of HEARTH - an improved definition of homelessness, balanced set-asides and incentives that do not unreasonably limit local flexibility, and requirements for broad community participation in local Continuums of Care.

If markup proceeds, the bill can be substantially improved by supporting the "Homeless Children and Youth Amendment." This amendment would allow children, youth, and families who are defined as homeless by education and human services programs to be considered homeless under HUD's definition. While the amendment would not cover nearly as many people as HEARTH as introduced, it is a fair proposal that we enthusiastically support.

Action Needed by Thursday -- Read Our Full Alert

Get the Facts About the Homeless Children and Youth Amendment

New NPACH Newsletter Released

Read the July issue of the NPACH Report

Join Six National Organizations to Support the HEARTH Act!

In June, we expect the House Financial Services Committee to consider the HEARTH Act (H.R. 840). HEARTH is strong legislation that will re-write the rules governing HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grant programs, better enabling urban, suburban, and rural communities to end homelessness.

NPACH, First Focus, the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, the National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, and the National Network for Youth support the HEARTH Act as introduced. However, we understand that some changes will be made as the bill is considered by the Financial Services Committee. Unfortunately, Congresswoman Maxine Waters of Los Angeles is proposing a broad set of alterations to HEARTH through a "manager's amendment." The changes being supported by Congresswoman Waters would turn HEARTH into a bill that is almost identical to the Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act (S. 1518) - Senate legislation that NPACH has opposed.

Please call House Members and urge them to support HEARTH as it is - legislation that provides a reasonably expanded definition of homelessness, permits greater local flexibility in addressing homelessness, and ensures broad community participation in local planning to end homelessness.

Read NPACH's Full Response to the HEARTH Managers Amendment

Click Here to Call Your House Member and Support HEARTH!

Help Wanted - End Homelessness for Children!

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