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*SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE EDITION*
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Greetings!
January has already proven to be a busy month and there's much talk about the Governor's proposed budget and its impact on the work that you do to prevent and end  homelessness. As a result, this month's newsletter is a special legislative edition in which we focus on the 2012 legislative session, the state budget, VCEH's policy and advocacy efforts, and how you can help!
All the best,
The Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness
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The state's leadership on homelessness represents an unprecedented opportunity to make real and measurable progress in preventing and ending homelessness for the approximately 45,000 Virginians who experience homelessness every year.
But we can't be successful without your help! Much of our success in getting such bipartisan support for our budget amendments is first a result of VCEH partners and members calling/emailing their legislators.
ACTION/ASK:
Contact your Delegate and Senator by phone and/or email to request their support for the following:
- The $1.5 million in new funding proposed by the Governor for FY2013 for permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing
- Delegate Lingamfelter's (R) or Senator Howell's (D) bi-partisan supported permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing budget amendment for $1.5 million in FY2014 (see handout)
- Delegate O'Bannon's (R) or Senator Howell's (D) Supportive Services budget amendment (see handout)
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On Monday, December 20th, Governor McDonnell released his 2012 - 2014 biennial budget which highlighted his top priorities including: transportation, higher education, state retirement system, and job creation. In keeping with his goal to reduce homelessness by 15 percent by 2013, the Governor included $1.5 million in new funds for homelessness. See below for more information.
Governor McDonnell's Budget Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
* Reduce homelessness in Virginia by providing rapid rehousing assistance
Provides funding for rapid re-housing assistance to persons experiencing homelessness. Rapid re-housing assistance focuses on moving homeless persons out of shelters and into permanent housing solutions as quickly as possible. This funding is consistent with the Homeless Outcomes Advisory Committee's recommendations. (Page B-70) General Fund - FY2013 $500,000, FY 2014 $0
* Reduce homelessness through the creation of permanent supportive housing
Provides funding to help develop new permanent supportive housing to house chronically homeless persons across the Commonwealth. Funding will be leveraged with private, federal, and/or local funds to construct housing. Housing and Community Development's contribution toward the construction costs will write-down the costs of the housing development and the savings will translate to less expensive rent for the tenants, thus making the housing affordable to individuals whose sole income is generally social security, SSI or disability payments. In addition to affordability, existing state programs and local social services agencies and behavioral health agencies will provide services. This funding is consistent with the Homeless Outcomes Advisory Committee's recommendations. As part of its annual report on the state's homeless programs, the department will include information regarding the accomplishments achieved with these funds. (Page B-71)
General Fund - FY2013 $1,000,000, FY2014 - $0
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On Wednesday, January 11th, the 2012 Virginia General Assembly session began. The main focus of the
week was the Governor's budget and Friday's deadline for amendments. VCEH was hard at work securing co-patrons and signatures for a permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing (PSH/RRH) budget amendment to include $1.5 million in matching funds for FY2014. The week ended with great success as the following co-patrons were secured for the house and senate amendments:
Patron: Del. Lingamfelter (R - Woodbridge)
Co-patrons: Anderson (R - Woodbridge), Comstock (R - McLean), Carr (D - Richmond), Head (R - Roanoke), Herring (D - Alexandria), Loupassi (R - Richmond), McClellan (D - Richmond), Tata (R - Virginia Beach), Villanueva (R - Virginia Beach)
SB30 PSH/RRH Amendment
Patron: Senator Howell (D - Reston)
Co-patrons: Edwards (D-Roanoke), Wagner (R - Virginia Beach), Watkins (R - Midlothian)
Next Steps
Our next steps include contacting members of relevant Senate Finance and House Appropriations subcommittees in which our amendments go for review.
VCEH will continue to send legislative updates and action alerts to ensure that funding for homelessness remains a priority! Stay tuned!
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POLICY & ADVOCACY
Permanent Supportive Housing/Rapid Re-Housing|
Patrons: Delegate Scott Lingamfelter, Senator Janet Howell
Governor McDonnell's budget included $1.5 million in new funds to prevent and end homelessness. This includes $500,000 for rapid re-housing and $1 million for permanent supportive housing for FY2013. Given that permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing are cost effective permanent solutions to ending homelessness VCEH is advocating for a second year of funding for FY2014. This level of funding will help end homelessness for 200 households including children and their families and individuals with severe disabilities.
Supportive Services Budget Amendment|
Patrons: Delegate John O'Bannon, Senator Janet Howell
VCEH and the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Virginia have partnered together to advocate for an increase in supportive services and housing for one of our state's most vulnerable populations via a supportive services budget amendment. The amendment provides that balances achieved through savings from the implementation of care coordination of Medicaid community-based behavioral health services will be used to develop and expand community mental health services for chronically homeless adults with behavioral health disorders. This reinvestment of savings will include a 20 percent set aside dedicated to the provision of such services.
Virginia Housing Trust Fund|
As a member of the Campaign for a Virginia Housing Trust Fund (VHTF), VCEH has been organizing a number of successful advocacy strategies and has continued to advocate that a minimum 20 percent of funding be targeted to families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
Over the past two weeks, VCEH learned that a number of Housing Trust Fund bills had been introduced by Delegates Morrissey (D), Lopez (D), and Herring (D). After convening a quick stakeholders meeting, Delegate Morrissey agreed to a substitution amendment to his HTF bill to instead read as the bill initially drafted for Delegate Peace. At this time we recognize that the VHTF will continue to be an uphill battle, but VCEH is continuing working with key legislators to secure co-patrons. Stay tuned!
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Have you received your annual membership renewal letter? If so, please renew! If you are unsure whether or not your membership is due, email vceh@vceh.org
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The Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness is the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in the Commonwealth of Virginia through community collaboration, capacity building, education, and advocacy. www.vceh.org
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