The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce supports efforts to combat homelessness across the country. Specifically we request Congressional support of the following initiatives:

Support Increased McKinney Vento Appropriations

Support an increase in US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding for homeless assistance programs to $2.4-billion in FY 2011. McKinney Vento was reauthorized in 2009 through the HEARTH Act, which redesigned this critical funding stream to focus on best practices in ending homelessness. These changes will take effect in 2011, and $2.4-billion in funding will ensure communities can fully implement these models.

Coordinate Federal Funding for Permanent Supportive Housing

Support the Administration’s budget proposal to combine HUD operating subsidies and Health and Human Services (HHS) dollars for permanent supportive housing. The current proposal includes 4,000 new rental vouchers for homeless people with disabilities, and HHS funding for behavioral health services and an additional 10,000 incremental vouchers for the HUD VASH program, which funds permanent supportive housing for homeless veterans.

Revise HUD’s Federal Funding Formula

Revise the McKinney Vento funding formula to include factors related to structural determinants of homelessness. This homelessness funding formula is currently based in part on population growth lag and age of housing stock, which are not shown to be key factors related to homelessness. The HEARTH Act stipulates that HUD will consider changes to the funding formula by May 2011.