Advocate for Homeless to Testify at Congressional Hearing on Federal Property Reform
WASHINGTON, DC – June 23, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — On Tuesday, June 16, 2015, Maria Foscarinis, Executive Director of the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, will testify before a subcommittee of U.S. House of Representatives about a federal program that requires agencies to make their unused real property available at no cost to help people experiencing homelessness.
Title V of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, benefits more than 2 million Americans each year, including over 12,500 homeless and formerly homeless veterans.
Approximately 500 buildings on nearly 900 acres of land that were no longer needed by the federal government have been put to use in 30 states and the District of Columbia to provide housing, shelter, and a wide variety of services, including job training and child care.
The hearing, titled “Saving Taxpayer Dollars in Federal Real Estate: Reducing the Federal Government’s Space Footprint,” will be held by the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management as Congress considers reforming how the federal government disposes of its unneeded real property. As Ms. Foscarinis will testify, in addition to helping millions of Americans each year, the Title V program helps eliminate government waste and save taxpayer dollars.
But, despite its impressive accomplishments – and its ability to help the government meet its goals under the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness – the federal government has failed to adequately implement the Title V program.
The result has been a lost opportunity for homeless people desperately in need of housing and services during tough economic times. More than 3.5 million Americans experience homelessness each year.
Several of the Law Center’s recommendations for improvements to the Title V program are included in Ms. Foscarinis’ testimony is available here.
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The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (www.nlchp.org) is the only national organization dedicated solely to using the power of the law to end and prevent homelessness. With the support of a large network of pro bono lawyers, we address the immediate and long-term needs of people who are homeless or at risk through outreach and training, advocacy, impact litigation, and public education.
Contact: Sarah Knutson
(202) 638-2535 Ext.105
