Action Alert: Contact Congress About Critical Homelessness Funding Earlier this month the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a notice of new grant funding for the Continuum of Care Program, which included major changes to this primary source of federal homelessness funding. Additionally, because of federal delays, agencies were given less than two months to complete applications. Last week, Gov. Evers announced that Wisconsin was joining a multi-state lawsuit to stop these changes.
You can use this link to amplify the State’s action by contacting your members of Congress and ask that they noncompetitively renew all existing contracts for one year so that program changes can be reviewed by Congress.
Note: When you get to the page with draft letters, scroll all the way down to make sure you complete letters to both your Representative and the two Senators. There is more information about the grant changes at the link. You can also use the following information to personalize your message:
- The new funding requirements mark a shift away from the long-standing Housing First model to instead prioritize programs that provide transitional housing and impose requirements that those served engage in treatment and services. This change impacts our neighbors going through homelessness, many of whom will lose access to critical housing services and supports.
- The significant changes in grant requirements mean agencies will either have to make significant program changes or abandon critical programs. The Madison agencies at risk of losing up to $5m. in funding through these grants include the Salvation Army, Porchlight, Housing Initiatives, Urban Triage, Tellurian and The Road Home. These agencies form the backbone of our support for people who are homeless in Madison. Years of work creating our continuum of care will be undermined.
- Such drastic changes to the Continuum of Care program reflect a shift in funding priorities that would typically require Congressional oversight. The requested delay in issuing the grants allows for appropriate Congressional oversight to avoid catastrophic impacts.
- Current grants will begin to expire in January, but new grant awards will not be announced until May, leaving agencies without funding for up to five months, even if they are successful in their reapplications. Without grant funds, organizations will be unable to make rent payments to expectant landlords, pay operating costs, or make payroll.
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