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Spotlight On... President Names HUD Secretary NomineeOn Friday, April 18, President Bush announced he was nominating Steve Preston, Administrator of the Small Business Administration, to take over as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Preston was sworn in as head of the Small Business Administration in July 2006 following unanimous confirmation by the Senate. During his tenure, Administrator Preston managed loan guarantee programs similar in structure to those run by the HUD, and he has made those programs run more effectively. If confirmed by the Senate, Preston would replace Alphonso Jackson, who recently resigned amid a criminal investigation and allegations of political favoritism. Fact Sheet: Steve Preston
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Hill Update
House to Hold Hearings on Project-Based Section 8
This Wednesday, April 23, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development will hold two hearings on HUD's Project-Based Section 8 program. The first, "Challenges of the Project-Based Section 8 Program," will be at 10:00 am and include testimony from the National Affordable Housing Management Association and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. The second hearing, "Status of the Project-Based Section 8 Program," will be at 1:00 pm and feature testimony from Brian Montgomery, Commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration. Both hearings will be in Room 2358-A of the Rayburn House Office Building.
Senate Holds Hearing on SEVRA
Last Wednesday, April 16, the Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee held a hearing on S. 2684, the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2008 (SEVRA). In general, all
witnesses testified in support of the bill. The House passed a similar bill last summer.
Foreclosure Legislation Introduced in House
Last week Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity of the House Financial Services Committee, introduced H.R. 5818, the Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008. The bill, which is the latest version of a House bill to address the mortgage foreclosure crisis, would provide $15 billion in loans and grants to purchase foreclosed properties for both home ownership and rental housing. A portion of the grants would go to support extremely low income individuals in rental housing.
In addition, advocates are currently working to secure a one-time appropriation of $300 million for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which is a FEMA program, in order to prevent homelessness from foreclosures. Advocates are working to get this provision included in foreclosure legislation.
New York Times last week highlighted a class-action lawsuit against the Oklahoma Department of Human Services for failures in the state's foster care system. Federal data shows that Oklahoma consistently has one of the worst records in the country of documented abuse of children in foster or group homes. The lawsuit, filed by Children's Rights, an advocacy organization, and several lawyers, says that frequent moves, extended stays in overcrowded shelters, and abuse in foster and group homes has exposed many children to lasting psychological damage, including an inability to form emotional bonds. The article highlighted the story of 18 year-old Sasha Gray, who was placed in Oklahoma's foster care system at age 4. Sasha moved from emergency shelters to group homes to foster homes to psychiatric wards forty-two times in her 14 years in the system. Child advocates have historically used the federal courts to bring about change and to push for an overhaul of the child welfare system and such suits have brought major improvements, according to the New York Times article. State officials are fighting the suit, saying that all systems have strengths and weaknesses. They are citing their high adoption rate for foster children as a success.
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Legislative Updates 
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This audio conference covered the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.
This video highlights how communities across the country are decreasing homelessness among families. Thanks to the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, it’s yours to use for free. 
Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy.