March 17, 2010
UPDATING FEDERAL POVERTY MEASURES
On March 2, the Commerce Department’s US Census Bureau announced that it is preparing to develop a Supplemental Poverty Measure that will use new data and methodologies to obtain an improved understanding of the of how federal policies affect those living in poverty. The Supplemental Poverty Measure will be released in the fall of 2011, at the same time that the official income and poverty measures for 2010 are released by the Census Bureau. The official poverty measure, which has been in use since the 1960s, largely estimates poverty rates by looking at a family’s or an individual’s cash income. It will remain the definitive statistical measure. The supplemental measure will be a more complex and refined statistic, including such additional items as tax payments and work expenses in estimating family resources. Unlike the official administrative measure, the supplemental measure will not be the measure used to estimate eligibility for government programs. Instead, it will be an additional macroeconomic statistic, providing further understanding of economic conditions and trends.
The Partnership has attended hearings on need for a supplemental poverty measure and wrote an article on it for the Winter 2009 issue of The Promise magazine. Watch the magazine and eNews for updates.
US Department of Commerce news release:
Census Bureau to Develop Supplemental Poverty Measure
http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_008963
US Census Bureau paper:
Observations from the Interagency Technical Working Group on Developing a Supplemental Poverty Measure
PERTAINS TO WEATHERIZATION
Weatherization Assistance Program Announces Request for Information on Proposed Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers Grants
March 09, 2010
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program today announced a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the Department’s proposed Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers (SERC) Grants for up to $109 million.
Under the Recovery Act, states and local service providers are accelerating the pace of weatherization to create jobs and increase the number of families who can benefit from the energy and cost savings available through the Weatherization Assistance Program. The Weatherization Assistance Program works in partnership with states and more than 900 local service providers to weatherize homes of eligible low-income families.
The purpose of the proposed SERC grants are to speed delivery of weatherization assistance services, promote increased leveraging of federal funding with other funding sources, and identify and develop sustainable energy funding models that are not currently deployed by the Weatherization Assistance Program network.
The Department seeks comments from potential applicants, which include state weatherization agencies and local services providers, and also from other stakeholders.
This is a Request for Information (RFI) and not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). The Request for Information can be viewed through FedConnect. See the RFI and click on "Weatherization Assistance Program Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers Grants." Or follow these instructions:1. Go to the FedConnect Web site.
2. Click on "Search Public Opportunities."
3. Search by title: "Weatherization"
4. Select the listing with issue date of 3/8/10.
5. Click on "Weatherization Assistance Program Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers Grants."Public comment is requested by Monday, March 22, 2010. Responses are due to sustainableenergywap@hq.doe.gov.
New York State Community Action Association is offering a
Community Action (and Head Start) Finance and Human Resources Conference
April 28-30, 2010 in Auburn, NY (just south of Syracuse, NY)
Why consider coming?
It is High Quality!• Gerry Zack, founder of the Nonprofit Resource Center. This is his third year with us and is excellent.
• Terry Cook from Fiscal Management Associates in NYC. FMA does a tremendous amount of training and technical assistance with nonprofits.
• Human Resources training provided by a firm that CAPLAW also uses at its conference, Fischer and Phillips, LLP. Council Services Plus will also join us. Peter Andrew has been working with nonprofits for more than a decade.
• Head Start training done in partnership with the Region II Head Start office and Vincent Daly in partnership with the New York Head Start State-Based Training & Technical Assistance Office
• Adding a Head Start track is new this year and we hope it expands the interest level for agenciesIt is Affordable!• Registration is only $275 and includes two breakfasts and two lunches. Compare that to other national trainings.
• Overnight rooms are only $79.95 and the hotel (Holiday Inn) is a short drive from the Finger Lakes WineriesYou get to come to New York!• Snow has stopped by then (even in Syracuse)
• There is an indoor pool!
• Did I mention the nearby wineries?Click here for the program brochure.
And a link for more information and speaker bios: http://www.nyscaaonline.org/Events_details.aspx?cnfNum=393
The Partnership is a member of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Partnership staff Lisa Holland and Don Mathis participate regularly in NLIHC meetings and policy briefings. Thanks to NLIHC for generating this letter which we signed in support of TARP funds to support housing and jobs for low-income individuals and families.
March 16, 2010
The Honorable Harry Reid
Majority Leader
United States Senate
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Minority Leader
United States Senate
Dear Leader Reid and Leader McConnell,
The undersigned organizations write to express our disappointment that the U.S. Senate has not included funding for the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) in either H.R. 2847 passed on February 24 or H.R. 4213 passed on March 10, the two “jobs” bills that the Senate has passed so far in 2010. We urge that the Senate include $1.065 billion for the NHTF in the next jobs bill or other legislative vehicle as soon as possible.
As you know, the National Housing Trust Fund was created in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 to provide much needed housing opportunities for those with the lowest incomes. Initial funding was to come from contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but those contributions were suspended before they could begin because of the financial crisis.
President Obama requested $1 billion to get the NHTF started in both his FY10 and FY11 budgets. The Department of the Treasury identified a tax offset to pay for the $1 billion and offered that suggestion to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee last fall.
In the meantime, Senator Jack Reed introduced legislation on September 30, 2009 to fund the NHTF with $1 billion from the proceeds from the sale of TARP warrants (S. 1731). House Financial Services Committee Barney Frank introduced a bill on October 9, 2009 to use $1.065 billion in TARP funds directly for the NHTF (H.R. 3766).
The House “Jobs for Main Street Act, 2010,” passed on December 16, 2009, includes $1.065 billion for the NHTF. TARP is the revenue source in that bill.
An infusion of $1 billion in capital funds into the NHTF will support the immediate production of 10,000 rental homes, creating 15,000 new construction jobs and 4,000 new jobs in ongoing operations. Based on the formula for distribution of the NHTF funds that HUD has published, NLIHC has estimated how much money each state will receive with the initial capitalization of $1 billion and how many jobs will be created as a result. Nevada will receive $9.9 million, which will create 287 new jobs. Kentucky would receive $9.2 million, which would create 174 new jobs. A state by state chart is attached.
These homes will help address the serious shortage of housing affordable and available for the lowest income families in the United States, including people who are unemployed or employed in the low wage work force, veterans, and elderly and disabled people on fixed incomes. Today, there are only 37 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 renter households with income at or below 30% of their area median ($19,620 a year in Las Vegas). This acute scarcity of housing that the poorest families can afford is the principle cause of homelessness in the United States.
Despite significant effort by the NHTF campaign and the strong support of many Senators (see attached letters), the Senate has not yet taken up this important issue. Given the significant unmet need for affordable housing and the high priority that many Senators have placed on getting this critical new housing resource to their states, we are mystified as to why the Senate has not acted to fund the NHTF.
We urge that the Senate give immediate attention to enactment of legislation to provide $1.065 billion for the NHTF ($1 billion to capitalize the NHTF and $65 million for project-based vouchers to couple with NHTF capital grants) at the soonest possible date.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
American Association for Homes and Services for the Aging
Center for Community Change
Coalition on Human Needs
Community Action Partnership
Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities Housing Task Force
Corporation for Supportive Housing
Enterprise Community Partners
Family Promise
Housing Assistance Council
Jesuit Conference
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Federations of North America
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
NAACP
National AIDS Housing Coalition
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials
National Coalition for the Homeless
National Coalition on Asian Pacific American Community Development
National Center on Family Homelessness
National Community Reinvestment Coalition
National Council on Independent Living
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
National Housing Law Project
National Housing Trust
National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
National Low Income Housing Coalition
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Poverty & Race Research Action Council
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Leadership Team
Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future
Technical Assistance Collaborative
United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society
Union for Reform Judaism
Volunteers of America
cc:
The Honorable Lamar Alexander
The Honorable Max Baucus
The Honorable Robert Bennett
The Honorable Sherrod Brown
The Honorable Susan Collins
The Honorable Christopher Dodd
The Honorable Byron Dorgan
The Honorable Richard Durbin
The Honorable John Ensign
The Honorable Russ Feingold
The Honorable Mike Johanns
The Honorable John Kerry
The Honorable Herb Kohl
The Honorable John Kyl
The Honorable Robert Menendez
The Honorable Jeff Merkley
The Honorable Jack Reed
The Honorable Bernie Sanders
The Honorable Olympia Snowe
Thanks to our high-energy, incredibly diligent colleagues Jen Beeson at Families USA and Debbie Weinstein at the Coalition on Human Needs for their great leadership with the Health Reform Coalition. Special appreciation to SEIU for paying for the two full-page ads (below) appearing in Politico, Roll Call, and The Hill which the Partnership signed along with 200 other national organizations.
Letter to the editor continue to be an effective (and low-cost!) way to tell our great Community Action stories. Thanks to Denise Harlow, CEO of the New York State Community Action Association, for sharing her letter on ARRA’s effectiveness that appeared in the Albany Times Union.
Help available for unemployed
Friday, March 12, 2010
The March 5 story, "Coldest spell for area jobless," highlights the dismal employment figures in New York, including the Capital Region. We agree that the situation is dismal and find it crucial to let readers know that help is available.
Community Action agencies across New York are committed to empowering unemployed state residents, especially the 35,400 in the Capital Region, by promoting self-sufficiency. Services range from job skills training to interview preparation and financial counseling.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has provided all 52 community action agencies in the state with extra support. In addition to employment assistance, Community Action is providing low-income New Yorkers with much-needed services, including home weatherization, transportation services and food stamp application assistance.
The funding is being used to provide employment classes for 116 people through the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council. The Albany Community Action Partnership has assisted 40 individuals in pre-employment workshops. In Rensselaer County, the Commission on Economic Opportunity has expanded Head Start and Early Head Start. With the creation of 20 jobs and the necessary job training, residents have the opportunity to obtain a job and discover a career path.
With thousands of New Yorkers experiencing cuts in salary or loss of work, Community Action services couldn't be needed more.
Denise Harlow
CEO, NYS Community Action Association
Guilderland
FOCUS OF OUR EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS
Our heartfelt thanks to Lydia Tom, senior advisor with Enterprise Community Partners, for her leadership in convening a meeting of leading national-level housing groups to strategize and strengthen cooperative working relationships with Community Action on expanding weatherization for multifamily, low-income households. Participating organizations included Enterprise Community Partners, NeighborWorks America, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP), National Council of State Housing Agencies, National Housing Trust (see letter to the Senate in “Issues & Opinions” below), and Housing Partnership Network.
The Community Action Partnership will continue to work with these effective organizations on low income housing and weatherization, while also sharing their resources, training and expertise in our OCS-funded “Exemplary Practices in Community Economic Development” initiative as well as in the additional OCS working group, “Job Creation and Green Jobs,” chaired by our Partnership. Future issues of e news, The Promise magazine, and our new community economic development web site partnershipCED.org will carry updates, training opportunities, and other resources on housing and green jobs. For more information, contact Don Mathis dmathis@communityactionpartnership.com
Enterprise Community Partners has an informative web site www.enterprisecommunity.org and it includes a link to its “Enterprise Green Communities” program.
Participants in our weatherization/multifamily meeting included (left to right) Bob Scott, National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP); Michelle Winters, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC); Tom Deyo, NeighborWorks America; Lydia Tom, Enterprise Community Partners; and Don Mathis, Community Action Partnership.
On March 10, Community Action Partnership and TracFone Wireless hosted a reception in Washington, DC during the Consumer Federation Assembly, the largest gathering of consumer advocates in D.C. Avril Weisman, Vice President of Community Action Partnership addressed the group to talk about the SafeLink program and the positive impact it has for low-income individuals. Betty Ann Kane, Chair of Washington DC's Public Service Commission, who has seen the difference SafeLink has made in D.C. is a great supporter and also gave remarks. Amplify Public Affairs organized the event and works with both Community Action Partnership and TracFone Wireless to promote and publicize this important program.
From left: Avril Weisman, Vice President, Community Action Partnership; Samuel Simon, Chairman, Amplify Public Affairs, Washington, DC; and Betty Ann Kane, Chairman, Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia at CFA Reception.
The Partnership believes that access to phone service, particularly mobile phone service, is an absolute necessity. Cell phones assist people in getting on the road to self-sufficiency by allowing them to seek employment and maintain a stable form of contact. Having a cell phone can mean a great deal - dignity, stability and safety. Community Action Partnership began partnering with TracFone Wireless last year to help spread the information to the Community Action Network about SafeLink.
SafeLink was the first Lifeline offering to provide free cell phones and monthly air time to income-eligible individuals. We commend TracFone for their trailblazing in this area and for their continued commitment to serving low-income Americans. For more information on TracFone SafeLink program, go to: http://www.safelinkagencies.com/
Community Economic Development, Job Creation and Green Jobs, Emerging Leaders, Asset Development, and Weatherization are some of the many topics and tracks that will be presented at the Annual Convention at the Boston Marriott Copley Place, August 31 to September 3, 2010. We look forward to showcasing the very best of Community Action! Download the Call for Presentations to showcase your program, best practice, or management initiative. The deadline to submit a proposal is April 30.
On Tuesday, August 31, we are planning to offer an exciting pre-conference all-day intensive session for Emerging Leaders. Plan to come and participate in interactive sessions on Community Action in the 21st Century, leadership versus management, modern branding, public speaking and more! Watch upcoming issues of the eNews and our website convention page for detailed information and registration.
To view or download the 2010 Annual Convention Brochure, click here. Hotel rooms are selling quickly at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. Click here to reserve online and assure your reservation is confirmed at the convention rate of $189.00 single or double.