Care For the Homeless

To Save Human Service Programs for Homeless and Poor People Last week Care for the Homeless, and 2.100 other advocacy and provider organizations across the U.S., launched a campaign to fight “sequestration”, the automatic federal funding cuts threatening most human service programs in the coming federal budget. These cuts, set at 8.2% for most domestic discretionary spending, include cuts to health programs, housing assistance, child welfare programs, job training and on and on. Operating as NDD United (NDD stands for nondefense discretionary) this national effort contacted every U.S. Senator and House of Representatives member emphasizing the critical importance of these human service programs that serve our neediest neighbors, the harmful effects of budget cuts and the need for a strong domestic program as well as defense spending. The cuts an 8.2% reduction requires would be draconian. It would mean fewer people getting adequate medical care, less mental health care and...

Yes, ALL of you Donors like you make our work possible. This month, we wanted to say a special note of thanks, and then, we realized we had more than one thing to say.  Here are the top 5 reasons why we love you:  5.  Your support is critical, funding program expansions like our new  Mobile Health Clinic .     4. You  inspire  others to give, volunteer, and advocate.  3. You are  passionate  about transforming the lives  of homeless  families .      2. The impact of your support is felt in your  communities .    1.  You give more than money; you provide  hope  to  more than 8,000 homeless men, women, and children. Photo by Nancy Ribeck Thank you for making our work possible.

From one of our extraordinary donors: “I'm glad I could help. I admire your organization –  we should all do as much as we can to care for those less fortunate.”  We truly want to take the time to thank all of our donors  for their continuous support. You change lives and save lives.

Jeff Foreman, Policy Director Client leaders of Care for the Homeless observed Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on Saturday, the longest night of the year, memorializing by name over 90 people who died in New York City without homes in 2013, and recognizing hundreds and hundreds more. As each name was read a bell tolled, a candle was lit and that person’s name was projected on a wall. Several people were remembered with personal recollections and video presentations. Several audience members came forward with names of loved ones they lost. But the message wasn’t bleak, it was hopeful. Care for the Homeless Executive Director Bobby Watts told those assembled he had confidence. “Homelessness is evil,” he said, “but we can destroy it. We can end modern day homelessness as we know it.” State Senator Bill Perkins, whose Harlem district was the location of the event, said he “looked forward to a day of ‘ homefullness ’ when all people will have homes and healthcare as a basic human r...

Jeff Foreman, Policy Director The Congressional Budget Conference Committee meets this week in Washington. It’s important to think about how past and proposed “safety net” budget cuts hurt vulnerable people, especially those experiencing homelessness. This is the Committee with the goal, though frankly little expectation, of crafting a “grand compromise” ending the sequestration/budget battle, government shutdown threat and debt ceiling crisis. Last week the nonpartisan NDD United (NDD stands for Non-Defense Discretionary, as in the domestic spending half of sequestration cuts that hurt people in our communities) released a report. They fittingly called it “How Budget Cuts Have Made Us Sicker, Poorer and Less Safe.” Their point was to put a face on the suffering and loses program cuts have caused to real people. It’s true. In New York City, for example, housing officials had anticipated 5,000 new housing vouchers for families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Af...

Congress has been debating a farm bill in Washington to extend farm subsidies, price supports, federal funding for crop insurance and foreign food aid. But the bill that passed the Senate also includes draconian cuts to SNAP – the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – usually called food stamps. The Senate version would cost $955 billion over 10 years, but cuts SNAP by $4.1 billion. The House version is much worse: it doesn't reauthorize SNAP at all, leading to the very real prospect of no food stamps program. SNAP currently serves more than 45 million Americans, many of them children, in nutritionally unstable families. One in five New York City residents, people living below the federal poverty level, is eligible for SNAP assistance, including about 30% of all kids under 18. SNAP puts food on the table for hungry families, providing a chance at a nutritional and balanced diet. Studies in New York City indicate every $1 in “food stamps” creates $1.80 in local econom...