Washington, DC – Congressman Al Green (TX-09), a member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, today, joined advocates to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passage of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The McKinney-Vento programs successfully provide housing (e.g., shelter, transitional housing) and supportive services to tens of thousands of men, women and children experiencing homelessness. Congressman Al Green’s statements are below.
“Good morning! It is an honor to be here celebrating the 20th anniversary of the passage of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. I know that many of you continue to carry the torch that was lit by Representatives McKinney and Vento 20 years ago and I thank you for your tremendous work. I want to especially thank the coalition of advocates that are here today to remind us that there is still so much work for us to accomplish.”
“While it is symbolic that we have come here today to acknowledge the positive impact of the Act, we must also recognize the growing problem of homelessness in our nation. More than three quarters of a million people are homeless on any given night and as many as 400,000 veterans of the Armed Forces experience homelessness at some point over the course of a year. Although 56 percent of homeless people live in shelters and transitional housing, 44 percent are unsheltered. Back home, in the City of Houston, there are well over 10,000 men, women, and children who do not have a place to call home.”
“If we are to end homelessness within 10 years, rather than just reduce it, we must ensure that we support the programs that work well. We can only do that by fully funding them so that they achieve their true potential.”
“If we are to end homelessness, rather than just reduce it, we must also provide our nation with additional tools to fight homelessness. That is why we are working hard to enact a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund to address the lack of affordable housing that exacerbates homelessness. This morning, the Committee on Financial Services is holding a hearing on H.R. 2895, legislation that would establish a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund for the production, rehabilitation, and preservation of 1,500,000 affordable housing units over the next decade.”
“That is why I will be introducing the Homes for Heroes Act within the next two weeks. Among the many things this bill will do to address the housing needs of homeless veterans is expand the highly successful HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, authorizing 20,000 vouchers and annually and making this program permanent.”