House Votes to Cripple Vital Homeless Assistance Program

Official Statement on Civilian Property Realignment Act (HR 1734)

Press Type: Press Release   Associated Program: Housing

Released: 02/2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty is deeply disappointed by the passage of HR 1734 in the House of Representatives today. If signed into law, this bill would seriously undermine Title V of the McKinney-Vento Act, a highly effective federal program that serves 2.4 million homeless people each year.

Proponents of the legislation, the Civilian Property Realignment Act, claim that Title V is slowing down the federal government's property disposal process. There is simply no evidence that this is the case. HR 1734 reflects Congress' and the Administration's broader efforts to sell public property to private developers, in a misguided effort to raise revenues. While the revenue raised from such sales would be minimal, given the $82 million cost to implement HR 1734, the impact on services for homeless people would be severe at a time of dramatically growing need across the country.

We will turn our attention now to an alternative bill, HR 665, bipartisan legislation that would protect Title V, while making it even more efficient than it already is. We look forward to working with Representatives Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Mike Quigley (D-IL), as well as Members of the Senate, to ensure homeless people continue benefiting from this important program.

- Jeremy Rosen, Policy Director