New Broom Coalition

According to a recent point in time survey by the National Alliance
to End Homeless, there are an estimated 740,000 people experiencing
homelessness at any given time in America. In addition to this, an
estimated 3.5 million people will experience temporary homeless at
some point in a given year, including some 1.35 million children
according to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. As
America slides into a recession many victims of the mortgage crisis
will find themselves homeless, hidden victims of the subprime loan
fallout. The fact is that homeless can happen to anyone, children,
working adults, veterans and even entire families.

I believe that we as Americans have the collective will to end
homelessness in America by strengthening the social safety net and
making sure that no one falls through the cracks. At the federal
level there are many proposals available that would provide a
seamless web to catch those who have fallen on hard times and insure
that in the future no one is found sleeping under a bridge or frozen
to death in the middle of the winter for lack of adequate housing.

For starters the federal government could look closely at how we
define homelessness to include individuals and families who are
living in motels, hotels and campgrounds as well as people who are
sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic
hardship or a similar situation. Such persons, who may be considered
as "at risk homeless" often suffer the same drastic loss of quality
of life and economic hardship as more traditional categories of
homelessness.

Then we could find a way to support the financing of permanent
housing. We can do this at the federal level by providing vouchers
to those who are currently sitting on waiting lists and transfer
permanent housing contracts to help fill the currently unmet needs of
those seeking housing vouchers. To fund this appropriation and
provide housing for most of those who are seeking housing right now
but can't get it would only cost about three billion dollars, which
is less than two percent of the funds appropriated to fight the war
in Iraq last year.

After we have done this we could increase funding for the emergency
shelters. These shelters, which are in every large town in America,
provide a vital service to the homeless by offering temporary
emergency housing, medical care and social services as well as job
placement and mental health counseling. The shelter system is the
bottom line safety net for persons experiencing homelessness. As
such, national set-asides of funds should be made specifically to
provide more beds and secure funding streams for the emergency
shelters.

Finally, we can takes steps to make certain that homelessness never
happens to those who are most vulnerable to this condition by
investing in homelessness prevention programs. These programs look
at the rural poor and urban poor, identifying and providing solutions
to those most vulnerable to losing their homes. Through USDA
assistance grants and HUD financing we can move in a positive
direction to ensure that almost no one slips through the cracks again.

So let's invest in our country by fully funding programs designed to
end homelessness in America. In addition we should take steps as a
country to decriminalize the condition of homelessness. Homelessness
is most often a circumstance and not a choice. We will not make it
easier for those who ended up on the streets to get back on track if
we give them fines, threats, and put them in jail. This only adds to
the trauma and helps to perpetuate the cycle of hopelessness and
victimization that so many homeless fall into. Instead, let's treat
the homeless as our brothers and sisters, fully deserving of the
dignity and respect we can offer by supporting programs which will
help them to get off the streets and into permanent housing.

Chris Lugo for US Senate
9 Music Sq So #164
Nashville, TN 37203
615-593-0304
www.voteforpeace.info