CEO Corner: Week of June 16

Welcome back to another CEO Corner.
 
The news cycle has been overwhelming lately, to say the least. And while that’s generally been true for the past several months, the past week felt particularly distracting as we juggled national and international tensions against the day-to-day work of our mission to end homelessness.

One item that’s been on my mind is the shocking assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman. Obviously, all acts of political violence are shocking, but the murder of Speaker Hortman hits closer to home because of her legacy on housing. Her leadership was instrumental in the State of Minnesota’s historic investments in homelessness and housing in the 2023 legislative session.

At a time when so many states are facing reductions in desperately needed federal funds, she and her colleagues set an example to other state lawmakers on how to creatively and strategically leverage state funds to secure the housing their residents need. She will be missed, and the Alliance team offers its condolences to her loved ones and colleagues.

HUD Budget Hearings

Last week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary, Scott Turner, testified before Congressional Appropriations committees about the administration’s FY2026 budget request to Congress. It was evident from both hearings that there is deep concern regarding the dismal request that would cut nearly half of HUD’s funding . Members repeatedly challenged Secretary Turner for more details, but he was unable to provide them.

Congressional Acknowledgements

During a time when it is easy to feel challenged by the happenings in D.C. and in Congress, it is important to acknowledge Members of Congress who are supportive of HUD’s programs, particularly the Homeless Assistance Grants programs.

The Alliance wants to especially thank:

• In the House, Chairman Steve Womack (R-AR), Ranking Member James Clyburn (D-SC), and Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT, Ranking Member of the full House Appropriations Committee) all spoke out with concern during the House Transportation-Housing and Urban Development budget hearing last week. These Representatives noted that the cuts and sweeping changes would set the country back, put more people on the streets, and would have the greatest impact on people with disabilities and those with the lowest incomes.
• In the Senate, Chair Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Senators Patty Murray (D-WA, Ranking Member of the full Senate Appropriations Committee) and Christopher Coons (D-DE), who challenged Secretary Turner repeatedly for the lack of detail and accountability in the administration’s budget proposal, raised concerns about the impact to HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants programs, and raised opposition to the elimination of important HUD programs like CDBG and HOME. Ranking Member Gillibrand also expressed explicit support for continued funding for the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program.
• Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), for leading a sign-on letter to the Senate THUD Appropriators, and Representatives Gwen Moore (D-WI), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MO) for leading a similar letter to House THUD Appropriators. These sign-on letters expressed support for the Alliance’s recommendation of $4.92 billion for HUD’s Homelessness Assistance Grants programs. They secured 42 and 141 signatures of support, respectively.
• Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), who led a sign-on letter to the Senate THUD Appropriators in support of continued funding for the EHV program and secured 103 signatures of support.
• Representative Scott Peters (D-CA) who led a sign on letter to HUD urging Secretary Turner to finalize the processing of the FY2024 Continuum of Care (CoC) award process. This would enable funds to be distributed and would honor the two-year CoC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for FY2024 and FY2025; the letter secured 55 signatures in support.
• Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) for sponsoring the Alliance and partners for a briefing of Congressional staff on Capitol Hill to educate them on why federal funding for homelessness is so important.

Don’t Miss Opportunities During Summer Recess

Congress will be on a brief recess at the end of June and on a more extended recess from August 4 through September 1. This means the Alliance will not be hosting an in-person Capitol Hill Day this year in conjunction with our upcoming conference; however, advocates can engage Members of Congress in many other ways when they are back in their home districts.

• Follow your Members of Congress on social media to find out about local events they’re planning. Reach out to their District office to find out more information. It is important to get to know local staff as well as D.C.-based staff!
• Invite your Members of Congress to visit your program site so they can learn firsthand about the work that you do and the importance of your program in their community. Use this resource to help with planning!
• Reach out to local newspapers and ask if you can submit an Op-Ed in advance of a public event with your Member of Congress. This can help to raise public awareness of the importance of homelessness funding to your community.
• Organize a group of local advocates and organizations to attend local events, such as a town hall, to increase the chance that your priorities are heard.

It is important to take advantage of this opportunity to advocate for robust funding for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants in FY2026. Use the Alliance’s advocacy toolkit find tips and resources for engaging your Members of Congress during this upcoming recess and beyond!