Overhead view of Sacramento

Rep. Doris Matsui Supports Plan to Keep Americans in Their Homes, Provides Money for Sacramento's Homeless

October 4, 2017
Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 19, 2009

CONTACT: Alexis Marks or Mara Lee
(202) 225-7163

Rep. Doris Matsui Supports Plan to Keep Americans in Their Homes, Provides Money for Sacramento's Homeless

Legislation That Passed House Today Will Provide Real Relief for Local Homeowners and $2.2 Billion for Homelessness Prevention and Services

Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-05) voted today in favor of legislation to assist Sacramento homeowners facing the threat of foreclosure. The legislation also includes $2.2 billion to help communities provide housing and services for homeless individuals and families as a result of the current economic crisis. The Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, S. 896, will help those areas of the country hit hardest by the economic crisis, including Sacramento.

"Sacramento has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country. The approval of this bill will ease the process and remove restrictions for struggling homeowners to qualify for the andlsquo;Hope for Homeowners' foreclosure prevention program that Congress created last year," stated Representative Matsui.

The bill reauthorizes the McKinney-Vento Act to provide $2.2 billion for targeted homelessness assistance grant programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It also increases current levels of funding for homelessness assistance grants by $600 million, as well as provides local communities with greater flexibility to spend money on preventing homelessness.

This important piece of legislation expands the definition of homelessness in order to help families on the verge of becoming homeless. And for the first time in 20 years, would reauthorize federal homelessness aid programs. Additionally, the legislation would provide up to $440 million to be used to serve people who are not homeless yet, but are at risk of homelessness.

"Today we are attacking the root cause of our current economic problems by providing assistance for Americans are struggling to make ends meet," said Congresswoman Matsui. "This bill provides critical funding to help our communities provide shelter and care for those who have found themselves homeless or in difficult situations in recent months."

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