Momentum Builds around Federal Housing Policy

On July 21, 2006, low-income tenants, service providers, and advocates will participate in a statewide conference call with Minnesota’s Congressional Delegation.

The message: Minnesota must provide leadership on federal housing and homelessness policy.

Congressional staffers will hear from advocates and people impacted by federal housing policy on the following issues:

• Public Housing:
A proposal would limit the number of tenant protection vouchers to units “under lease” at the time of conversion or demolition of project-based units. There are many valid reasons why a public housing unit might be vacant for a short period of time. The proposed language would mean a permanent loss of housing vouchers for the impacted communities. Participants will also voice their concern over a recent HUD announcement that there is a $600 million shortfall in federal funding for public housing operations.
• Section 8:
Advocates are urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to fund Section 8 at levels proposed by the House or higher. House Resolution 5576 would fund all current vouchers in use and increase voucher funding by $70 million –- an additional 10,000 vouchers.
• USDA Rural Housing:
One avenue for providing affordable housing to low-income populations in rural communities comes through federal loans to rental housing owners. The low-cost loans require units be rented to low-income households. Advocates successfully fought off a rural development proposal in the House that would allow pre-payment of many of these federal loans, thus leaving existing tenants without an affordable place to live. We are keeping our delegation informed so a similar proposal does not rear its ugly head in the Senate.
• The competing federal definitions of homelessness:
HUD, HHS, and the Department of Education all have different definitions of homelessness. At times, the definitions conflict as programs strive to serve a particular homeless population. The Department of Education definition under the McKinney Vento Act provides a flexible definition that does not exclude any segment of the homeless population from service.
• Phone Service Tax Threatens Twin Cities Community Voice Mail:
A federal tax increase on phone service could increase the operating expenses of Twin Cities Community Voice Mail by $34,000 annually. TCCVM is a free voice mail service for people experiencing homelessness. This tax increase threatens to shut down the service.

If you are concerned about these issues, we want you to participate. Call Dayna Fondell or Maria Laverdiere at (612) 230-3287. There are fifteen sites across Minnesota for constituents to participate; the call will happen from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.