Interfaith Advocates Pinboard

last edited on 07/24/2007

Make Homeless Families Count! Send a letter to your Congressman in support of HR840, the HEARTH Act

Federal housing officials estimate that families make up nearly 40% of the 3.5 million people who experience homelessness every year. However, the actual number is even greater, because doubled-up families and those who stay in motels are not counted as homeless by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Finding the “Hidden Homeless”
Many shelters will not take families, or will refuse to take in families with older boys or fathers. The HUD definition ignores their plight. When these families are left with no other option but to live doubled-up with family or friends or in motels, it appears as if their needs are being met in the community. In reality, these alternative arrangements become unofficial homeless shelters, with a difference: families become the “hidden homeless,” missing from the federal homeless survey and disconnected from the assistance that could help them regain independence and stability.
Meeting the Needs of all the Homeless
Another challenge facing homeless families is HUD’s focus on “chronic” homelessness-- single adults with disabling conditions who have been homeless either continuously for one year, or four or more times in the past three years. These adults make up about 10% of the overall homeless population, but communities are often pressured to focus on the “chronic” homeless even if their community identifies other needs like homeless families. As a result, federal resources directed toward homeless families have been reduced across the board, and many rural areas are hit even harder -- where families, single mothers and children make up the largest group of people who are homeless.
The Hearth Act (Hr 840) - Make Homeless Families Count
An effective federal response to homelessness will help communities respond to homelessness in rural, suburban and urban areas by providing greater flexibility and more resources. It will help make HUD homeless policy more sensitive to the needs of all people experiencing homelessness, including families and single adults.
The HEARTH Act (HR 840), which was introduced earlier this year by a bipartisan group of legislators, will “Make Homeless Families Count.” The HEARTH Act expands the HUD definition of the homeless by including people who are living in doubled-up situations or in hotels/motels due to lack of adequate alternatives. The HEARTH Act, without being overly prescriptive, allows communities to set their own priorities for housing and services based on their needs, not a rigid “one size fits all” solution set by HUD in Washington, D.C.

Mission Statement

Interfaith Advocates is a network of congregations and individuals-including clergy, laity, homeless and formerly homeless, committed to raising our voices collectively in the arena of public policy to create substantial and lasting changes that will improve the lives of low-income families. We build on the existing structures of the Northwest Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network (NPIHN) and the Northwest Interfaith Movement (NIM) and our rich history of interfaith cooperation and collaboration in Northwest Philadelphia. Interfaith Advocates maintains a strong affiliation with the National Interfaith Advocacy Program of Family Promise, the national parent organization for NPIHN.

Our members have signed a covenant to advocate actively for public policies that promote social justice, the alleviation of poverty, and the well being of low-income families.

Sign our Advocacy Covenant and become an Interfaith Advocate now!

Interfaith Advocacy Works!

During 2005-2006, Interfaith Advocates enjoyed major successes:

• Securing a Housing Trust Fund in Philadelphia: In cooperation with the Affordable Housing Coalition, Interfaith Advocates successfully provided the public support for the Housing Trust Fund that will create 250 to 400 additional units of affordable housing in Philadelphia annually. Children from local congregations made pictures with wishes and prayers that were strung and displayed during hearings in City Council.
• Assuring Dedicated Funding for Mass Transit in PA: As part of the Pennsylvania Transit Coalition, we brought a busload of advocates to a rally in the state capital. Interfaith Advocates were the only religious voices at the rally, which resulted in the State government setting up a task force on Mass Transit and prevented any local fare increases.
• Stopping Federal Cutbacks for Social Programs: Along with many local and national groups, we have been working to stop federal cuts to social services and programs that are critical for low-income families and individuals. Interfaith Advocates managed to help change one swing vote of a local suburban Congressional representative by organizing approximately one hundred phone calls, faxes and letters to his office.
• Raising the Minimum Wage In PA: As a member of the Raise the Minimum Wage Coalition, we brought advocates, including a formerly homeless NPIHN mother, to Harrisburg to lobby to raise the state minimum wage (which has not been raised in nine years). The bill was just recently passed and signed into law on July 10, 2006 with many Interfaith Advocates in attendance.
• Speaking Truth to Power: One of our NPIHN family members testified before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives� Urban Affairs Committee as part of the Homes Within Reach Briefing sponsored by The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania.