Washington, D.C. December 12, 2016 – Today, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (the Law Center) announced a major victory that will create housing for people experiencing homelessness by using surplus federal property. The Law Center worked with a bipartisan coalition in Congress on the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016 (FAST Act), which reforms how the federal government disposes of its property, including property for homeless services under Title V. The FAST Act (H.R. 4465) passed the U.S. House of Representatives in May of 2016, and then passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent on December 10, 2016. The bill is expected to be signed into law.

Washington, D.C. December 8, 2016 – Today, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (the Law Center) issued Grading the U.S. Response to Homelessness, it’s annual report card on the human right to housing in the U.S. The report card praises the progress of the federal government this year in addressing the criminalization of homelessness and in some areas to promote fair housing, but condemns its ongoing failure to stem the tide of homelessness by ensuring adequate, affordable housing is available to all, resulting in an overall grade of “D.”

Washington, D.C. November 15, 2016 – Today, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (“Law Center”) releases its Housing Not Handcuffs report which shows that the criminalization of homelessness continues to increase throughout the country, despite strong evidence showing it is counter-productive and expensive. A national press conference will be held today at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the findings of the report. To register, call 202.638.2535 x112 or email llima@homelesslaw.org.

Washington, D.C. November 02, 2016 – Today, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty issued a new report showing that too many states were struggling to make schools accessible to students experiencing homelessness, even before heightened legal requirements went into effect earlier this month. The report, Homeless Students Count: How States and School Districts can Comply with the New McKinney-Vento Education Law Post-ESSA, based on a 50-state survey of current state laws is accompanied by several important resources to help state education departments and local school districts to comply fully with federal law, including the amendments to the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act that went into effect October 1.

Washington, D.C. October 24, 2016 – Today, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (“Law Center”) applauded the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) for protecting low-income survivors of abuse in its final regulations implementing the 2013 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”). The Law Center also urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Internal Revenue Service of the U.S. Treasury to issue implementing regulations soon.

Washington, D.C. October 14, 2016 – The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty is gratified that the U.S. Department of Justice issued a letter late Thursday affirming that Seattle Council Bill 118794 is “without question” consistent with important constitutional principles. The Seattle Bill creates protections for unsheltered homeless people who are forced to live in public spaces, while also carving our sections of the city where encampments are not permitted. These important protections would help preserve the constitutional rights of people who experience homelessness and who are, too often, deprived of their civil, human, and constitutional rights.

Washington, D.C. October 6, 2016 – On Thursday October 6, 2016 Eric H. Holder, Jr. will receive the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Lawyers’ Executive Advisory Partners’ Luncheon, hosted by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.

Washington, D.C. October 5, 2016 – The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (the Law Center) is concerned that legislation to create a Middle Income Housing Tax Credit (MIHTC), introduced by Senator Ron Wyden on September 22, would focus scarce federal resources on middle income renters – rather than on extremely low income renters – who face the greatest need.

Washington, D.C. September 21, 2016 – On Thursday September 22, 2016 the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (“the Law Center”) will be honoring Washington Wizard John Wall, U.S. Senator Susan M. Collins, Dechert LLP and Angela Spencer, at the 18th annual McKinney-Vento Awards Ceremony in Washington D.C. The Law Center will also celebrate 27 years of high impact work to protect the rights of individuals experiencing homelessness and to end homelessness in America. Dana Jacobson, an award winning TV sports personality and correspondent and anchor for CBS News and CBS Sports, will emcee. Ted Leonsis and Congresswoman Gwen Moore will join us as awards presenters.

Washington, D.C. September 19, 2016 – New federal laws and guidance, effective October 1, expand access to early childhood education programs, improve identification, and help homeless youth better prepare for college.

Washington, D.C., July 28, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Education launched important new guidance to help schools implement the Every Student Succeeds Act’s (ESSA) mandate for ensuring homeless students have equal access to education.

Washington, D.C., June 30, 2016 – The White House announced Thursday the launch of the Data-Driven Justice Initiative with a bipartisan coalition of sixty-seven city, county, and state governments who have committed to using data-driven strategies to divert “super-utilizers” of the criminal justice and healthcare systems, including chronically-homeless individuals with mental illness, out of the criminal-justice system and into supportive housing and other appropriate measures.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN., March 2, 2016 – While Cities from San Francisco to Chicago have come under recent scrunity for evicting homeless encampments without providing adequate alternatives for homeless persons, Indianapolis, Indiana last week signed into law a new ordinance requiring transitional or permanent housing be provided to homeless camp residents before evictions can take place, consistent with key guidance provided by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) last summer.