If you are having trouble viewing this newsletter, please click the following link below or copy and paste it into your web browser:
http://www.merceralliance.org/newsletter/1.8.09.htm

Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness

From National Alliance to End Homeless – Call to Action

There is evidence that solution-focused interventions have reduced homelessness in many communities across the country. However, because of the current economic situation, many states are facing budget deficits, and a growing number of low-income households are in the midst of a housing and financial crisis. Without a meaningful response from the federal government, homelessness will inevitably increase.

We have a unique opportunity to gain new resources for important housing and prevention strategies. Congress and the incoming Obama Administration are crafting legislation right now aimed at economic recovery and stability.
Please join us in calling on them to invest in key programs to prevent future spikes in homelessness and refuel local efforts to end homelessness.*

Action Needed

Ask your Senators and Representatives to prevent increases in homelessness by urging the leadership to include in an economic package:

  • $2 billion for the Emergency Shelter Grant Program for preventing and ending homelessness,
  • $10 billion for the National Housing Trust Fund over two years, and
  • $3.6 billion for 400,000 Section 8 vouchers over two years.

1) Make a phone call - Call or email the staff person who works on housing issues

2) Write a letter and fax it to your Members of Congress' offices, copying the relevant staff person.

District 12
The Honorable Rush Holt

DC Address:
United States House of Representatives
1019 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3012

DC Phone: 202-225-5801
DC Fax: 202-225-6025

Email Address: http://holt.house.gov/contact.shtml
WWW Homepage: http://holt.house.gov/

Housing Staff Contact:
Christopher Hartman: Christopher.Hartman@mail.house.gov

District Office:
50 Washington Road
West Windsor, NJ 08550-1012

Voice: 609-750-9365
FAX: 609-750-0618


District 4
The Honorable Christopher H. Smith

DC Address:
United States House of Representatives
2373 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3004

DC Phone: 202-225-3765
DC Fax: 202-225-7768

Email Address: http://chrissmith.house.gov/zipauth.html 
WWW Homepage: http://chrissmith.house.gov/

Housing Staff Contact:
Dave Kush: david.kush@mail.house.gov

District Offices:
1540 Kuser Road, Suite A-9
Hamilton, NJ 08619

Voice: 609-585-7878
FAX: 609-585-9155


NJ Senator
The Honorable Robert Menendez

DC Address:
United States Senate
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-3003

DC Phone: 202-224-4744
DC Fax: 202-228-2197

Email: http://menendez.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm 
WWW Homepage: http://menendez.senate.gov/

Housing Staff Contact:
Emma Palmer

District Offices:
One Gateway Center, 11th Floor
Newark, NJ 07102

Voice: 973-645-3030
Fax: 973-645-0502


NJ Senator
The Honorable Frank Lautenberg

DC Address:
United States Senate
324 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-3002

DC Phone: 202-224-3224
DC Fax: 202-228-4054

Email Address: http://lautenberg.senate.gov/contact/ 
WWW Homepage: http://lautenberg.senate.gov/

Housing Staff Contact:
Julie Wilcoxl: Julie_wilcox@lautenberg.senate.gov
Ian Grudman: ian_grudman@lautenberg.senate.gov

District Offices:
One Gateway Center, 23rd Floor
Newark, NJ 07102
Voice: 973-639-8700
FAX: 973-639-8723

7th District, NW of Mercer
The Honorable Leonard Lance

DC Address:
United States House of Representatives
114 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3007

DC Phone: 202-225-5361
DC Fax: 202-225-9460

Email: https://forms.house.gov/lance/contact-form.shtml 
WWW Homepage: http://lance.house.gov/

Housing Staff Contact:
Not assigned

District Office:
45 Mountain Boulevard, Building D Suite 1
Warren, NJ 07059

Voice: 908-757-7835
FAX: 908-757-7841


6th District, NE of Mercer
The Honorable Frank Pallone, Jr.

DC Address:
United States House of Representatives
237 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3006

DC Phone: 202-225-4671
DC Fax: 202-225-9665

Email: http://www.house.gov/pallone/contact.shtml
WWW Homepage: http://www.house.gov/pallone/

Housing Staff Contact:
Tuley Wright: tuley.wright@mail.house.gov 

District Offices:
Kilmer Square
67/69 Church Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1242

Voice: 732-249-8892
FAX: 732-249-1335

504 Broadway
Long Branch, NJ 07740 Voice: 732-571-1140
FAX: Not Currently Available

South of Chris Smith


3rd District
The Honorable John Adler

DC Address:
United States House of Representatives
1223 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3003

DC Phone: 202-225-4765
DC Fax: 202-225-0778

Email: https://forms.house.gov/adler/contact-form.shtml
WWW Homepage: http://adler.house.gov/ 

District Office:
247 Main Street
Toms River, NJ 08753

Voice: 732-914-2020
FAX: 732-914-8351

Possible Talking Points for a phone call or a letter:

Personalize the following talking points to make your case.

  1. I am calling on behalf of (Org.) to ask (Senator/Representative ______) to urge the leadership to include measures in the economic recovery package to help prevent a surge of homelessness in (City).
     
  2. Research suggests that the potential rise in poverty could cause homelessness to increase by about 800,000 people a year for the next two years.
     
  3. Spikes in homelessness can be prevented by making investments in prevention activities and affordable housing.
     
  4. Specifically the package should include:
    1. $2 billion to the homelessness prevention component of the Emergency Shelter Grant program
    2. This money will prevent 400,000 households from becoming homeless or rapidly re-house those who may lose their housing.
    3. Funding for 400,000 new housing choice vouchers over two years to provide the lowest income households with rent assistance.
    4. $10 billion for the National Housing Trust Fund over two years to rehabilitate or build
    5. 100,000 rental homes for the lowest income households.
  5. Funding for homelessness prevention is needed right away and spending could begin almost immediately.
     
  6. Provide as much local information as possible. For example:
    1. Give local data on the rise in foreclosures, unemployment, or homelessness.
    2. Tell a story about a family suffering the effects of the current economic situation.
    3. Describe how state/local budget cuts or an increase in need has impacted your ability to address homelessness in your community.
    4. Describe any projects or initiatives that have stalled because of the financial crisis.
       
  7. Talk about your community’s success in homelessness prevention and / or Section 8 vouchers to prevent and end homelessness in (City) and what you would be able to accomplish with more.

For More Information
Please Contact: Herb Levine, Executive Director at hlevine@merceralliance.org or 609-844-1006.

 

Designed and Maintained by: 4M Web Design