This year has been filled with unpredictability and turmoil. Our way of life has been negatively impacted. We have been forced to distance ourselves from those we love, our co-workers, and our traditions.
COVID-19 has been incredibly challenging for people experiencing homelessness. Economists estimate that homelessness could increase by up to 32% as a result of COVID-19 related issues.
With your help, we have been pushing Congress to include both short and long-term housing and other economic relief for everyday people. We are encouraged by the relief package and omnibus budget signed into law by the President this week.
This new $900 Billion COVID-19 relief plan includes:
- $25 billion for rental assistance (click here see how much your state will receive)
- Extends the federal eviction moratorium for 1 month and use of CARES funding set to expire on 12/30/20 to 12/31/21.
- $13 billion for enhanced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
- Provides direct payments of at least $600 to adults and $600 per child. Families with incomes under $75,000/year. (Two parent household up to $150,000)
- $284 billion for Paycheck Protection Program /small business loans.
- $20 billion for small business grants and $15 billion for live event venues.
- $300 billion for federal unemployment supplement and temporarily keep in place pandemic-era programs that expanded unemployment insurance eligibility, this will allow 12 million people to remain on unemployment insurance and enhance the 11 weeks of benefits by $300/week.
- $20 billion for purchase of vaccines, $8 billion for disbursement of vaccines and also provides relief to hospitals.
- $82 billion for schools and colleges.
- $10 Billion Child Care Assistance
The omnibus Fiscal Year 2021 budget passed includes:
- A permanent, minimum 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit rate, as well as disaster housing credits for qualified states, which could result in the addition of more than 130,000 units of affordable housing;
- A five-year extension of the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) at $5 billion for a total of $25 billion in new NMTC authority;
- $4.839 billion for the Public Housing Operating Fund;
- $3 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants; and
- $2.765 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund.
- The 2020 CoC NOFA is postponed and current programs will be re-funded for one year (which we have pushed for since early in the pandemic!)
We still need more, both short and long term housing and other supports for everyday folks who have been impacted most by the pandemic and resulting economic downturn. We look forward to the new Congress and Administration focusing more on these issues as we move into a new decade!
