The Obama Administration awards nearly $1.4 billion in homless grant

[impik]

WASHINGTON – The Obama Administration today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is renewing grant funding needed to keep thousands of local homeless assistance programs operating. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said a total of nearly $1.4 billion will help an unprecedented 6,445 programs to continue offering critically needed housing and services to homeless persons and families.

The grants announced today are being awarded through HUD’s Continuum of Care programs. For the first time ever, HUD is quickly providing renewal grants to local programs to prevent any interruption in federal assistance and will announce funding to new projects in early 2010. For a local summary of the grants announced today, visit HUD’s website.

“As we move into the coldest time of the year, it’s critical that no program risk running out of money to keep their doors open,” said Donovan. “These grants will make certain that those programs on the front lines of helping the homeless have the resources they need to house and serve persons who might otherwise be forced to turn to the streets.”...

More:

http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2009/HUDNo.09-239

[Sultana]

1. K&R

Too bad many on this board are too busy being ignorant and hateful to acknowledge this....

[impik]

2. Or any of the other tons of great things he has done

[Sultana]

4. True

:(

[laughingliberal]

48. Too bad the thread starts with a snark against people who, sometimes, question the policies of our

elected officials. Might be more persuasive to let the information stand on its own rather than immediately try to alienate those who could be persuaded. For example, I was about to comment that these are the policies I'd like to see more of. Then the first thing I see is a put down of people who don't always agree with where this administration has spent our money. So, good job.

[Sultana]

52. Have you been paying attention to the utter madness on this board?

Oh I guess not...

Questioning is one thing but the hate and venom exhibited by some is way past the whole 'questioning the administration'.

Mm,kthxbai

[laughingliberal]

55. Yeah, I have. And starting out with a snark at people who have legitimate issues with some of

the administration's policies is asking for more of it.

[tblue]

53. No kidding. Wow. I was gonna say Good on Obama.

Instead I have to say calling people "ignorant and hateful" ain't no way to win friends and influence people.

[laughingliberal]

58. Exactly! I don't think anyone can imagine how hard I look for the glimmers that would tell me we'll

at least get a nod here and there from this, thus far, very corporate friendly administration. Then, I see this and think, "that's a start. no one helps the homeless much. good for him." Next thing I see is a bashing of those who, sometimes, dissent. Kind of makes one wonder if persuasion is the actual goal.

[impik]

3. Unreccing homeless help. How classy and "progressive".

Pathetic losers.

[Renew Deal]

6. That feature has worked out exactly as I predicted.

It's complete crap.

[KrR]

15. The new meme on DU is that only 'Average' Americans matter n/t

[MH1]

41. Yeah I guess helping the poor is no longer a "progressive" issue.

[whistler162]

20. Obviously this issue is not important to you!

why else would you highjack it with a comment on someone elses unrec!

Always amazing!

[CTyankee]

28. But, but, they are exercising their freedom of speech!!!

Why do you hate the Constitution?

These Unreccers are the true descendants of our founding fathers! They are fighting for our freedom by clicking the Unreccomend button? Do you know how much courage that takes?

It's not like they're anonymous....

oh wait...

[AllyCat]

61. Blaming progressives for unreccing?

I am fed up to here with Obama and his politicking, but I would never unrec something that will help lots of folks. I don't think most progressives would. Maybe Repuke trolls, but not progressives. Your slam is inappropriate.

[Cha]

5. This is a late night post..Thank you, impik..

Thanks to the Obama admin for doing this for those needing help with their home situations.

[NanceGreggs]

7. Jesus Hussein Christ.

People unrec'ing a post about funding programs for the homeless.

(Anyway, :kick: & REC'D)

[live love laugh]

8. Now who would do a thing like that...other than selfish, greedy Republicants? nt

[tblue]

60. Once or twice I clicked on "unrec" when I meant to click on "rec."

Not this time! But I was bummed when it happened.

[POAS]

17. I bet it was that pesky

Jane Hamsher or her newest pal Grover.

[pundaint]

38. Is it Rahm you love, or are you just angry at Jane because she's able to demonstrate

something more effective than snark?

If you think, as I do, that Democrats have no business governing as Republicans, and that Rahm is a big enabler in that regard, then what good does dissing someone who got some greatly needed attention paid to the weasel with the presidents ear do? There are not enough Progressives in America right now to win any battle at all on our own. It's way better to achieve results, than to be the most correct loser.

[POAS]

71. ROFL....n/t

[whistler162]

21. Unrec is better than people who highjack threads

with whines about people unrec'ing posts!

[CTyankee]

29. Snort! See post #28...

[Historic NY]

42. I'm with you Nance.

[Undercurrent]

9. Fantastic news!

My god, it's been such an unusualy cold winter where I live, and other than donate to the food bank, and donate warm clothing I feel so helpless. I look forward to this making a difference both short term, and longer.


--typo

[goclark]

26. K and R

[Forkboy]

10. K&R for this.

The homeless just in my town alone seems to have doubled in the last year or so here in north central Mass. It's always been a tough area with higher than average unemployment, but things are as bad as I remember them being in the 80's when Reagan emptied the mental health centers (we still have survivors of that on the streets here).

I know for a fact that many shelters are barely operating due to budget problems, so this is good, even if it's not a long term approach. We need to fully address this issue and not just throw money at it, but it's such a wide ranging issue with roots in so many other factors that it's a tough one. But there's zero excuse for a nation of our wealth to have the homeless problem we do, and it reflects on all of us collectively. We can, and have to, do better.

[Undercurrent]

11. Well said Forkboy.

We have the remains of Reagan's heartless dumping of patients as well, and still have old Vietnam vets. Most are my age now, and are plagued with PTSD, and years of self medicating with alcohol and drugs. And more families now. It's a national disgrace to have suffering homeless people.

[Forkboy]

12. I posted an article here a few weeks back that said veterans make up 25% of the homeless.

Which makes a disgraceful situation even more disgraceful. :(

[bluestateguy]

13. President Obama has graciously provided more money for the homeless

Out of the generosity of this Administration, it has seen fit to provide the homeless with the privilege of additional funding for this program.

[Hekate]

14. Wonderful. I hope a bunch of that $$ comes to California, where our safety net is in tatters...

... due to our budgetary crisis.

Barack Obama is getting good things done.

Hekate

KnR

[jefferson_dem]

16. CORPORATIST!11!

:)

[Lorien]

31. That's what most would call someone who gives trillions to banks and

war profiteers, but only a tiny fraction of that to the victims of those institutions.

[Cha]

34. That's right..try and take a crap on the money for homeless thread.

but, you're really not going to fuck it up.

[Top Cat]

18. K&R

[phleshdef]

19. More evidence that we are slaves to our (insert some BS about oligarch/corporate master here)

[NJmaverick]

22. Change we can believe in!

[shadesofgray]

23. How much of this money will help people who are homeless because of the banks Obama gave $$$$$$$ to?

[treestar]

24. Equally as logical to say that the homeless get money because of

taxes paid by people who work in banks?

K&R

[Bluenorthwest]

25. But we all pay taxes, and not all of us have increased the

homeless population for our own gain, as the banking industry has done and continues to do. And that is the difference. Some pay taxes on what they earn helping the homeless. Other from what they earn making the homeless.
Good for the Obama administration for these grants and for keeping the money flow going. Our ongoing wars just keep making future homeless vets, so we have to do better, and this is part of doing better.

[Lorien]

30. Well, the homeless will get a little less than 0.1% of what the banks got as a bailout

So I guess that we should be completely thrilled.

[Cha]

33. Your question makes no sense.

[Armstead]

27. Well at least he didn't mandate them to buy houses

[Cha]

32. Stupid cheap shot..you have nothing else on a positive thread.

[Armstead]

35. Probably is a stupid cheap shot

But it just seemed so ironic considering his statement that trying to ficx healthcare by mandating people to buy insurance didn;t make sense, like trying to solve homelessness by mandating them to buy homes.

Yes I believe it is a good thing they allocated money for the homeless. I support that. better than what a republican would do...Rah Rah....But I'm still pissed at him for his role in the healthcare debacle.

[butterfly77]

36. Its good but..

there should have been more for affordable housing..But,still a good start.

[NYC_SKP]

37. K & R!

[pundaint]

39. This sounds great. My belief has been abused, however, so I'll wait until I verify

that the bulk of the money benefits the needy and not a collection of corporations, before I rejoice.

If true, this is the first thing done, that I voted for.

[girl_interrupted]

40. Big deal. Like Obama wouldn't renew them

Did anyone think he wouldn't?

The Treasury had originally given both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac a $200 billion line of credit. Even though neither company had come close reaching their current credit limit, the Obama administration had been thinking of doubling that line of credit to $800 billion total ($400 billion each). Instead of doubling the limit, the Obama administration announced late Christmas Eve that the Treasury department would give both companies an unlimited line of credit. By removing any cap on the potential loan before the end of the year, Obama was able to avoid getting Congressional approval for the decision.

1.4 billion for the poor? Not impressed.

[Raine]

43. GOOD for Obama

I'll give him a BIG :thumbsup: for that! :woohoo:

[Andronex]

44. Trillions for the banks and wars...

one billion for the homeless, happy that this administration has it's priorities straight, now were did I put my pom poms.

[nofurylike]

45. k&r. thank you for posting this important news, impik. and for your

continued strong efforts to keep reality visible.


peace and solidarity

[PJPhreak]

46. Well I'll Be Damned!!

Thank You Mr. Obama.

Well...As Nance said Jesus H Christ!

Ya'll just Don't Understand!

Shame on The half of Ya'll who would rather complain about what Wall St got and WE (The Homeless and Ex-Homeless like Myself) Did Not.

Ya'll Just Don't Understand!

I will speak for Myself and say that this is WAY more than Ronnie Raygun,Bush the First and The Shrub Ever Did!

Ya'll Just Don't Understand!

I spent almost 17 Years as a Homeless Person. It was Hell. There is no way anybody can understand what it feels like to have someone tell you to got to hell and by the way why don't you go get a job ya bum as they climb into their Snob 900 Turbo with the "John Kerry for Pres" and "Save the Rainforest" Sticker after leaving Starbucks with a latte in their hand,when all you wanted is a bit'o their change for a meal and maybe a warm room for the evening.

Ya'll Just Don't Understand!

Very few here know what it is like to go to sleep in an alley just off Harvard Square.

Or under a bush in Golden Gate Park.

Or on the Imagine Mosaic in Central Park.

Or in the Middle of Dupont Circle in D.C.

Ya'll Just Don't Understand!

I DO!

It is really easy to get Homeless...It is NOT Easy to get Unhomeless,in fact it is nearly Impossible.

Maybe I'm overreacting but to piss on the fact that this President at least is Trying to do something rather than the "Nothing But Lip Service" and a coupla Food Stamps that we got from Raygun,Bush I and The Shrub really Chaps My Ass!



For those of Ya'll who Have Done almost Everything,With Nothing,For the Nobody's of this country for Many Years I Can't Thank You Enough...If it weren't for you I would still be "Flyin The Cardboard" for my next meal.

For those who can't stop complaining about Wall St or Unrecs or some such...I hope you wear that Latte!

[Undercurrent]

49. I hope

that people really listen to what you have to say with an open mind. There's a lot to be learned from your perspective.

Thanks for posting.

[PJPhreak]

56. Thank You.

Like I said I may have been a bit overreactive but sometimes this place sounds more like a Rainbow Family Thanksgiving Council rather than the group of Educated,Forward Thinking,"Want to Change the World" people that I looked up to back in the 70's...We almost did it then,I just keep hoping that we will succeed at some point,Our(The Human Races)Lives depend on it!

Edit to add:

We have Homeless DU Members,Right Now,Right Here,Who post here everyday.

Not to sound crass but what percentage of the rest of Us who are able to have tried to help them?
I'm sure it is not as large as one might imagine,in fact I am sure the number of "Helpers" is minuscule in comparison to the "Bitchers"

Again,my apologies to those who may take offense at my "Hardass"'Tude,it comes from all the crap we the homeless take every day.

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FrenchieCat]

50. Minimizing this effort and pissing on this thread,

while hurling your negativity about koolaid really makes you look
ugly.

[democracy1st]

51. this Goldman Sachs admin isn't doing crap for working folks

[earth mom]

69. You got that right. nt

[Number23]

63. Proudly admitting to unreccing a thread about helping the homeless

Even if you legitimately thought that the policy wasn't enough (just in case someone on this site is unaware of your motives) why would you feel the need to crap on this thread and unrec it??

What exactly is wrong with you that even irreproachable (to most sane people anyway) attempts to improve things are STILL not enough for you and are reasons for scorn just because Obama is the one doing it?

[PJPhreak]

64. May I ask,

Just what "Long Term Solutions" do you have in mind?

Lets look at what has been tried already...

Education and Job Training.

All the training and education in the world isn't gonna help if you don't have a place to Sleep,Bathe,Cook,Do laundry,or even keep what little one may have from being stolen by a crackhead while you are at work...Oh and the thought of "just take your stuff to work with you" is BS....Have you ever gone looking for a job with a 50 Lb backpack? Don't believe me? Ask the Homeless person with a BA/BS or Masters how well that might work. Nuff said.

Temp Housing.

Just does not exist in any real terms...What,one is supposed to get their life in order in 3 to 12 months? Hell it took me 5 years of working 65 to 80 hours a week for 5 years to get where I am today

Drug/Alcohol/Mental Issues.

Whoo Boy,One of the "Biggies" We as a society can't even get health care for "Joe Normal" much less address these real problems that make up a large portion of the "Visible Homeless" population.Notice I said "The Visible Homeless Population" The people that suffer (And Believe me they do Suffer,no one "Wants" to be a Junkie,a Crackhead or Schizophrenic) from these problems actually make up only a small portion of the home less population...You would NEVER known that I was Homeless unless I was panhandling or "Flyin the Cardboard" Otherwise I made it a point to look,behave,sound,smell and generally appear to be "Normal" to everyone else around me.

I could fill this entire thread with a list of shit that makes it almost imposable to get off the streets, suffice to say I am one of the Lucky Ones...And I will Never forget about those that are still out there!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

65. You don't understand -- well, anything -- do you?

Behind your constant attacks, lies and general bitterness lies a mindblowing ignorance worthy of Sarah Palin.

[Name removed]

Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[earth mom]

68. NO-the ignorant one is you-who would cheerlead a band aid that offers no solution.

Talk about ass backwards-that's GD-P! :puke:

[AVID]

54. K&R

[saracat]

57. This is a good thing but it is sad we have to treat it as though it is extraordinary

when it should be "expected".

[saracat]

59. Finally he continues a Bush Era policy that is worthwhile. Sure beats the Partriot Act.

[Undercurrent]

66. Short/selective memory problem?

Bush's war on the homeless = Obama's commitment to helping people dig their way out of homelessness? :wtf:

Guess you forgot about (for example) Bush's assault on Section 8.

Bush, like Reagan never gave a rat's ass about the homeless, or any other mostly urban problem.

-

Stealing From The Poor: The Section 8 Scandal

"...The Times-Union of Northern Indiana reported on June 29 that more than $22 billion dollars in federal money is being diverted to "homeland security," with $2 billion of that amount coming from HUD's much-needed budget that provides funding for public housing, homeless shelters and the poorest renters in America.

From 2002 through 2003, the Homeland Security budget nearly doubled in size. Its budget quickly rose from $19.5 billion to $37 billion on the heels of Bush's $1.35 trillion tax cut for the rich in 2001, which now puts the squeeze on already tight budgets needed by the poor and working class.

A Congressional shell game

The coast-to-coast outcry against the Bush Administration's attempt to shred the Section 8 program was so intense that it forced Republican leaders in Congress to try to repair the damage. On July 20, 2004, Congress responded to the serious backlash from across the nation by restoring most of the $1.6 billion that Bush attempted to cut from Section 8.

On July 20, the House VA-HUD appropriations subcommittee voted to restore most of the cuts to Section 8. But a New York Times editorial on July 22 called the vote "little more than a legislative shell game" because Congress then made "odious cuts" to "all of the other important programs in the housing budget, including many that serve the elderly, the disabled and the homeless."

This Congressional con game restores most of the Section 8 funding, but only by cutting the following essential programs that serve the homeless, disabled, elderly and people with AIDS. McKinney-Vento homeless assistance grants were slashed by $54 million; the HOME program by $86 million; housing for persons with AIDS by close to $13 million; housing for persons with disabilities by $11 million; housing for the elderly by over $32 million; public housing operating funds by $153 million; fair housing programs by almost $2 million; and community development block grants by over $200 million. And the list goes on...."
more...http://www.createpeaceathome.org/streetspirit/2004/june2004/stealingsection8.htm

[saracat]

67. Didn't say Bsh did, but apparently this program existed during his admin. That is all I am saying.

This isn't a new policy. Bush's diverting funds was a disgrace but Obama restoring funds shouldn't be extraordinary. It should be expected.

[Overseas]

62. Glad to hear it. Certainly wish we'd given the bailouts to homeowners

who could have then given the money to the bankers and kept their homes.

This $1.4 billion is probably for the longer term homeless, not those evicted while our bailout billions went to the giant banks who didn't stop the thousands of foreclosures.

Maybe some of the finance guys will donate part of their bonuses to homeless programs too.

[earth mom]

70. Where are the JOBS Obama? This is nothing more than a band aid on a gaping wound. nt