Central Lutheran Church

Community is at the core of the work that Central Lutheran Church is doing to end homelessness because of how they understand living out their faith. Central not only reaches out to their surrounding community by providing services, such as meals and clothing, but has also created a community within their outreach ministries. Some who used to seek services at Central are now volunteering and giving back to the community that once helped them. Through a wide variety of direct service and advocacy work Central is helping to fill immediate needs in the community as well as to create long-term systemic change, all with the goal of ending homelessness.

The direct services at Central take place in the Restoration Center. Augsburg nursing students come once a week to provide basic medical care; they also run a weekly women’s group which provides a safe, welcoming place for conversation and community. Volunteers in the Clothes Closet sort donated clothing which is made available for free to those in need of a shirt or pair of shoes. People gather on Mondays for a morning worship service and to share a community meal. AA meetings happen weekly. Some financial assistance is also available for help with rent and other immediate needs. The Restoration Center also provides services focused on long-term solutions in the form of employment assistance, helping people to write resumes and look for jobs. Bob, head of the employment team, believes everyone who wants a job should have one and sometimes all it takes is a little help putting skills onto a paper resume for that to happen.

Advocacy at Central has grown over the past two years as more people stop by Sunday’s Take 5 tables, a DCEH program that allows people to advocate for causes related to homelessness and poverty, and become introduced to the idea of ending homelessness. The Heading Home Central team is made up of congregants in charge of initiating advocacy at Central Lutheran and the team is already gearing up for the next legislative session. Ann, chair of the team, is excited for the coming year and making the shift from being reactive advocates to more proactive advocates. Advocacy is a key piece of ending homelessness, and the advocates at Central are empowered and ready to show people what justice and ending homelessness looks like.

Rolf Lowenberg-DeBoer, director of Community Ministries at Central, believes in a three tiered approach to ending homelessness: education, direct service and advocacy. “In order to serve your community you need to know your community.” By knowing the community and educating the congregation about homelessness Central has driven home the idea that people have important immediate needs as well as long term needs and it is important to plan for those long term needs in a variety of ways by working for justice. Through their advocacy efforts and increased focus on long-term needs, Central is making the shift from providing charity and managing homelessness to ending homelessness in our community by addressing the barriers people encounter in order to support themselves. Together with the DCEH, Central is working to ensure that the whole community in which we live is healthy and vibrant and that everyone has access to safe, decent and affordable housing.

Action Alert November 22, 2009

The  Message: urge your elected officials this week to co-sponsor these bills to fund the National Housing Trust Fund; H.R. 3766, the “Main Street TARP Act”, in the House and S. 1731, the “Preserving Homes and Communities Act” in the Senate.

Talking Points:

• Tell Your Story: Talk about why creating and preserving housing is important to you and to the community!  Talk about your values as a person of faith.
• Request Support for Funding:  Ask your   Senators and Representatives to be a co-author of the bills to support and dedicate funding for this new program.

Additional  information: Legislation providing $1 billion in funding for the National Housing Trust Fund has been introduced in both the House and the Senate.  Sen. Jack Reed (RI) introduced “Preserving Homes and Communities Act” and Rep. Barney Frank (MA) introduced “Main Street TARP Act”. The trust fund is a new program created in 2008 to create or preserve mostly rental housing for extremely low income households. It is currently unfunded.  These are billion dollar phone calls and emails!

Whom  to call:

Senator Amy Klobuchar                             202-224-3244    www.klobuchar.senate.gov

1^st Dist Rep. Tim Walz                                202-225-2472    www.walz.house.gov

2^nd Dist Rep. John Kline                             202-225 2271     www.kline.house.gov

3^rd Dist Rep. Erik Paulsen                           202-225-2871     www.paulson.house.gov

4^th Dist Rep. Betty McCollum                    202-225-6631     www.mccollum.house.gov

5^th Dist Rep. Keith Ellison                          202-225-4755     www.ellison.house.gov

6^th Dist Rep. Michelle Bachmann              202-225-2331     www.bachmann.house.gov

7^th Dist Rep. Collin Peterson                      202-225-2165     www.collinpeterson.house.gov

8^th Dist Rep. James Oberstar                      202-225-6211     www.oberstar.house.gov

senator al franken has already signed as a co-sponsor of the legislation

Background Information

Program and Impact

The National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) is a new program created in 2008 to create or preserve mostly rental housing for extremely low income households.

At least 90% of funds are for rental housing, with 75% of rental funding for extremely low income households.

Proposed $1 billion in funding could bring $11 million to Minnesota (1.1% is estimate by NLIHC of MN share of Trust Fund).

Background

National Housing Trust Fund authorized in 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA):

• Uses dedicated funding
• Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac was intended to capitalize program, but now new funding source(s) required after Government Sponsored Enterprises placed in receivership.
• NLIHC goal is to finance 1.5 million affordable units over 10 years.

Policy Issues

Federal:

• Advocates want $5 billion per year for 10 years.
• Obama administration 2010 budget includes $1 billion for NHTF, but source still undecided.
• On 9/30/09, Sen. Reed (D-RI) introduced legislation (S. 1731) to provide $1 billion for NHTF out of sale of financial investments connected to the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP).
• On 10/9/09 Rep. Frank (D-MA) introduced Main Street TARP Act of 2009 (H.R. 3766) which provides $1 billion for NHTF from unexpended assets of TARP, as a revision of his previous bill.

State:

• MN Federal Housing Action Coalition supports $5 billion/year to build, preserve, and rehab 1.5 million units over 10 years.

Action Alert   November 8^th, 2009

The message:  Ending homelessness and poverty is possible and needs to be a top priority at the state legislature.  Our pledge to legislators is to maintain regular contact this session.  Our expectation is for legislators to support funding and policies that will help to end homelessness and poverty.

Whom to Email/Call: Your state Senator and Representative.

Talking points:

• Tell your story.  Include your experience with people experiencing homelessness and why ending homelessness matters to you!
• Take the Pledge. Mention the pledge, why you are taking it—and encourage your legislators to join you to pledge to do all they can to end homelessness.

Sample:

Dear Rep/Sen __________

I am writing to inform you that today I am committing to maintain contact with you during the 2010 legislative session about policy and funding legislation needed to end homelessness.  Out of my faith/values, I find it unacceptable that despite the great resources within our state thousands of families, youth, and adults will be without a safe and decent place to sleep tonight.  Please do what you can to work for legislation that will end this injustice.

Sincerely,

Name (legible)

Address

Phone

Action Alert   December 6^th, 2009

The message:  The community is coming together to honor those members of our community who died in 2009 while experiencing homelessness.  Send your legislators a note inviting them to the Memorial March and Silent Vigil as well as the Service of Remembrance.

The 5pm Memorial March and Silent Vigil begins from the Hennepin County Government Center, 3rd Avenue South and 5th Street South, to Simpson UMC, 2740 1st Avenue South, Minneapolis.  At 6:30pm there will be a Service of Remembrance.

It is unacceptable for people to be dying while without a home. Ending Homelessness needs to be a top priority at the state legislature.

Whom to Email/Call: Your State Senator and Representative.

Talking points:

• Tell your story.  Include your experience with people experiencing homelessness and why ending homelessness matters to you!
• Last year’s service honored a record 131 homeless and formerly homeless people, as well as homeless advocates, who died in Minnesota in 2008.
• On any night in Minnesota, there are at least 1,000 people out on the street. The average life expectancy in America is 77 years. The life expectancy of a person who is homeless is 47 years.

Sample:

Dear Rep/Sen __________

I am writing to invite you to attend a community wide Homeless Memorial March and Service of Remembrance that will take place December 17.   On any night in Minnesota, there are at least 1,000 people out on the street. The average life expectancy in America is 77 years. The life expectancy of a person who is homeless is 47 years.  I am committed to maintain contact with you during the 2010 legislative session about policy and funding legislation needed to end homelessness.  I am doing this because I find it unacceptable that despite the great resources within our state thousands of families, youth, and adults will be without a safe and decent place to sleep tonight.  Everyone deserves a placed to call home.  Please do what you can to work for legislation that will end this injustice.

Sincerely,

Name (legible)

Address

Phone

It Takes A Village

The Action: Tell the governor not to balance the budget on the backs of the poor and vulnerable. Harmful cuts to the safety net are irresponsible.

Whom to call: Governor Pawlenty 651-296-3391

Talking points:

• I am a person of faith from ________.
• I support balancing the budget fairly with adequate revenue increases to solve the budget deficit and not on the backs of the poor and vulnerable.

Background The Minnesota Legislature compromised on a fair budget of spending cuts and increased revenue to balance the budget at $34 billion. On Thursday, Governor Pawlenty promised to balance the state budget on his own through line item vetoes and unallotments to shave off $3 billion. If cuts are made to our safety net, our communities will suffer. The legislative session for 2009 will end on Monday night and the Governor has declared he will not call a special session.

The increase of homelessness during the economic recession has increased the need for emergency shelter, transitional housing, street outreach, youth homeless programs, and supportive services for families. Three years ago on any given night, there were about 10,000 Minnesotans without a home. These numbers have worsened dramatically in the last two years. Shelter use in Hennepin County alone is up 60% since 2006. Continuing job loss and home foreclosures are increasing the need for state resources to prevent homelessness and provide housing (Joint Religious Legislative Coalition).

Without an adequate supply of stable housing and support, homeless adults, youth, and children draw on multiple private and public services. Spending occurs in areas where there is little choice but to respond: policing, jails and prisons, courts, probation, child welfare, foster care, emergency rooms, hospitals, and detox facilities. Supportive housing has a proven track record of cutting costs in these expensive services and setting formerly homeless adults and youth on a path of stability, responsibility and productivity.

Senator
Amy Klobuchar: 202-224-3244

Talking points:

· We can do better than Senator Reed’s bill. This bill fails to make needed improvements that were contained within the House version of the Hearth Act last year.

· Take the time needed to get it right. It will be better to pass a quality bill later than to pass a substandard bill now.

More about the Hearth Act and McKinney-Vento Programs:

· Among the concerns that National Coalition for the Homeless has with the HMV bills and amendments being actively considered are:

· Ineligible People – The definition of “homeless individual” for purposes of eligibility for HUD programs (and other programs that use HUD’s definition) fails to include some living situations understood to be homeless, meaning that people in those situations will, with rare exception, remain ineligible for HUD-funded homeless assistance.

· Weakens Community Decision-Making – The bills fail to assign a role to homeless people or service providers as formal decision-makers in a geographic area’s collaborative application for funding.

· Restrictions on Eligible Activities – The bills would put into the force of law restrictions on a community’s use of funds that exist now only as administrative practice …and adds some new restrictions. This will further reduce geographic areas’ flexibility to respond to homelessness the way it makes most sense.

· Privacy Concerns – The bills authorize a data collection and reporting system on clients of HMV-funded projects, but do not ensure client privacy and safety of their data.

· HMV reauthorization bills currently before Congress—the HEARTH Act and CPEHA—contain provisions that would adversely affect homeless persons’ access to housing and services and fail to assure the privacy of their personal identifying information. The bills also limit community flexibility in the use of HMV funds.

· HUD McKinney-Vento (HMV) programs, first established in 1987, have saved lives and helped hundreds of thousands of Americans to regain stability and return to permanent housing.

· HUD McKinney-Vento (HMV) programs have not been reauthorized since 1992. Reauthorization is overdue to reflect changes in program design that have taken place administratively over the past 15 years.

Background: The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, enacted in 1987, was the first—and remains the only—major federal statutory response to homelessness. The Act originally consisted of fifteen programs providing a range of supports to homeless people, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing, job training, primary health care, and education. The Act has since been renamed the “McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.”

Title IV of the McKinney-Vento Act authorizes emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing, and supportive services programs and assigns those to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Title IV established a set of competitive grant programs to which public agencies and nonprofit organizations were directly eligible. However in 1995, HUD redesigned the Title IV programs into a “Continuum of Care” process whereby appropriated funds were made available on a competitive basis to geographic areas, with responsibility granted to the geographic area to recommend the array of housing and service projects to be funded.

HUD McKinney-Vento programs make funds available to service providers in urban, suburban, and rural communities across the nation. In 2008, Congress appropriated over $1.5 billion for HMV programs. Studies have suggested that HUD McKinney-Vento programs have helped hundreds of thousands of Americans to regain stability.

In the 110^th Congress, the House and the Senate were able to resolve differences between Committee-passed versions of their HUD McKinney-Vento reauthorization bills. The new compromise bill passed the House on October 2, 2008, by a vote of 355-61, but its companion bill in the Senate did not come to a vote by the full chamber.

On April 2, 2009, identical HUD McKinney-Vento reauthorization bills were reintroduced in both the House and the Senate. The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009, H.R. 1877, was introduced in the House by Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI). In the Senate, a companion bill was introduced by Senator Jack Reed (D-WI). The bills are nearly identical to the House-passed legislation from the 110^th Congress.

The bills have been referred to the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, respectively.

For further information on the public policy recommendations of the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), contact the NCH public policy staff at info@nationalhomeless.org or 202.462.4822, or visit www.nationalhomeless.org.

TODAY’S ACTION: Tell your Legislators to resist cuts to the renter’s credit!

The message: Governor Pawlenty plans to cut the Renters’ Credit by 27%, giving $100 less on average to renters who now receive it. These cuts would harm renters across the state – most notably seniors, persons with disabilities and other low- and moderate-income Minnesotans. Immediate action is needed to prevent passage of this cut, which would increase overall rental costs and push some renters closer to homelessness.  Tell your legislators not to follow Governor Pawlenty’s budget in cutting the renter’s credit.  Tell them we can not balance the budget deficit on the backs of the poor.

Whom to write: Your Minnesota State Senator and Representative

Talking points:

§  Keep it personal.  Talk about yourself.  Why is housing/ending homelessness important to you?  What experiences have you had with individuals facing housing instability?

§  Consider raising revenue. Our current budget deficit cannot be resolved by budget cuts alone without inflicting great harm to low-income folks.  Legislators need to look to raising revenue before making cuts to the poor.

Background: Minnesota’s Renters’ Credit program provides a special rebate to Minnesotans whose rent is high relative to their income. While renters do not pay property taxes directly, the Renters’ Credit recognizes that owners of rental property pass on the cost of property taxes to renters in the form of higher rents.

Gov. Pawlenty claims that a cut to the Renters’ Credit is justified because property taxes have decreased for apartment owners in recent years. However, this decrease in property taxes has not benefitted renters because those savings have not been passed on to them.

The governor’s proposed cut will result in an average credit reduction of $100 for about 274,000 low-income renters throughout the state. Many Minnesotans rely on the Renters’ Credit to meet basic needs such as delayed dental care, car repairs, school supplies, and prescription drugs. Cutting the Renters’ Credit will harm Minnesota’s most vulnerable families, forcing them to bear a disproportionate share of the cost of balancing the state’s budget.