(NAEH) People Experiencing Homelessness Need Your Voice During COVID-19
COVID-19 is hitting the homeless population hard. Over the past few months, advocates have stepped up like never before and helped to secure historic investments in homeless assistance. Meanwhile, providers and systems leaders have urgently and creatively worked through this crisis to house and serve people experiencing homelessness, even with seriously limited resources.
We need your advocacy to secure vital funds to continue serving people experiencing homelessness. The Senate is working on legislation that can provide additional, essential relief – but they need to know how direly the homeless services sector needs it.
This is a historic opportunity: Congress is making big investments, and homelessness programs must be among them.
The upcoming Public Health Emergency Shelter Act, to be introduced by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, would provide an additional $11.5 billion in homeless assistance through the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). Telling your Senator to support this bill is extremely important, and can assist in providing funds for homelessness in future stimulus bills. Without your advocacy now, the Senate legislation is likely to have far less ESG money or none at all.
We need you to ask two things from your Senator:
This ask is a way to build up momentum for homelessness funding in Congress, and pave the way for future stimulus funds. The more Senators cosponsor the Public Health Emergency Shelter Act, the more likely it will be passed.
Your activism is vitally important over the next several weeks. These funds can help to end homelessness, even during a pandemic. But not unless we demand it.
If you have questions or would like to do even more to educate your lawmakers about the needs of homeless families and individuals in your community, please contact jthrelkeld@naeh.org and jjones@naeh.org.
Sincerely,
Steve Berg
VP for Programs and Policy National Alliance to End Homelessness |