House Passes McKinney Reauthorization Bill

Before the election adjournment, the full U.S. House of Representatives approved the HEARTH Act, S.1518 / H.R. 7221, by a vote of 355 to 61. This legislation substantially improves the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program. The bill now awaits Senate approval. View more information about the HEARTH Act.

Housing Roundtable Update

View the latest Illinois Housing Roundtable newsletter.

An Update from Housing Matters

House Restores Funding for Supportive Housing Services and Other Human Needs

Contact Senate President Jones and Urge Him Call Senate Back into Session

Earlier this week the Illinois House went voted to override $420 million of Governor Blagojevich’s budget vetoes, largely funding for human service programs, albeit without passing any new revenue to pay for them. Among the restored funding, was $4.285 million for services in supportive housing. However, any budget vetoes not also rejected by the Senate by July 24 will stand. To date, Senate President Emil Jones has said he has no plans to call the Senate back into session.

Advocates for supportive housing and other human services are having a rally at noon on Tuesday, July 22 at the Thompson Center, at the corner of Randolph and Clark Streets in downtown Chicago, to urge the Senate to convene in Springfield.

Please attend the rally if you can and contact Senate President Jones and your State Senator to let them know you want supportive housing services funding restored. Senator Jones’ office can be reached at 773-995-7748. Contact information for other Senators is available at www.ilga.gov.

For more information contact Janet Hasz at the Supportive Housing Providers Association, 773-359-0123.

Federal Legislation Responding to Foreclosure Crisis and Creating Housing Trust Fund, Likely To Pass House Next Week

Tell Your Representative You Support This Bill

On Tuesday, July 22, the Rules Committee of the US House of Representatives is expected to vote to allow the HR 3221, The Housing and Economic Recovery Act, to proceed to the full House for a final vote. The bill contains numerous provisions to respond to the foreclosure crisis and creates a Housing Trust Fund. Final passage of HR 3221 by the House could come as early as Wednesday, July 23.

Whenever the bill arrives in the Senate, there will be a vote to decide whether to limit debate to 30 hours ("cloture"). If the Senate does vote "cloture", then a final vote could come as soon as late Tuesday, July 29. If the Senate approves HR 3221 in the same form as sent over by the House (as is expected), then it will go to the White House for the President's signature.

H.R. 3221 would reform the Government Sponsored Entities Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and expand the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to help homeowners facing foreclosure. If enacted, funds intended for the Housing Trust Fund will be diverted to pay for the new FHA Hope for Homeowners program for three years. The bill also provides $3.9 billion in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) funding for the purchase and resale of foreclosed properties to prevent neighborhood blight.

Please contact your representative in the House, stating that you want HR 3221 to pass. You may use this toll free number, 1-877-210-5351, for the congressional switchboard and ask to be connected to the housing staffer in your representative's office.

Safe Homes Act Sent to Governor

While the Senate met for the special sessions called by Governor Blagojevich earlier this month, they unanimously approved Senate Bill 2287 (Senate: Raoul, House: Lindner). This bill will amend the Safe Homes Act by restricting landlords from disclosing the identities of tenants who make use of the Act to protect themselves from domestic violence or sexual assault. It now goes to Governor Blagojevich for his final approval. Contact Bob Palmer at Housing Action Illinois, 312-939-6074 x. 206, or Kate Walz at the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, (312) 263-3830 x. 232.