The federal government is currently funded through Saturday and this may be the last chance for this Congress to act on a FY11 Appropriations Bill.  Otherwise, an additional short term fix will be needed and the fate of this year's funding will be left in the hands of an incoming Congress intent on spending cuts. 

This week the House passed a Continuing Resolution maintaining FY10 funding levels for most programs for the duration of FY11.  While this is preferable to dramatic reductions in domestic programs, the House bill leaves out needed increases to safety net programs and does not fund important new programs for supportive housing and other innovative services.

The Senate Appropriations Committee just released a spending bill that takes into account all of the work Congress has done this past year.  The Senate bill includes:

Level funding for Health Centers ($2.185 billion)

Increases in McKinney homelessness assistance funds ($2.2 billion,   $150million more than the House bill)

Increases in SAMHSA funds for services targeting the homeless ($159 million, an increase of $17 million over the House bill)

Funding for the Housing and Services for Homeless Persons demonstration project ($85 million for vouchers, $12 million for services, neither are included in the House bill)

Dedicated, targeted funds for dozens of specific health center projects and housing programs.  These and other earmarks are one focus of opposition to the Senate bill.

This bill is $20 billion less than the President's proposed FY11 budget, but is far superior to the House bill in terms of meeting the needs of people without homes, and is certainly preferable to anything likely to emerge from the next Congress.

Action by the full Senate is imminent.  Our government needs a thoughtful, deliberate Appropriations Bill that maintains funding for critical programs, not to simply be put on autopilot for the sake of political expediency. 

Act NOW  

Call your Senators (contact information can be found here) TODAY and urge them to support the Senate omnibus appropriations bill.