POLICY MATTERS

 A monthly update on policy issues in the fight against homelessness in NYC.
December 2017
Please Join Us For Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day Observance December 21st, the Longest Night of The Year
For most people, the Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year. On this longest, darkest night of the year, communities will observe Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day (HPMD). In New York City, Care for the Homeless will sponsor a HPMD observance for the sixth consecutive year, to be held at Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus, at Flatbush and Dekalb Avenues, in downtown Brooklyn. The event will start with a meal at 4:30 p.m., and the program begins at 5:30 p.m. This event is free and open to everyone. You can see, or download, a flyer for the event here.

Our Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day remembers those who passed away in New York City this year without stable housing. Starting in 1990, HPMD commemorations have spread across North America, with observances now held annually in at least 180 cities. If it were not for HPMD, the deaths of those who passed away while experiencing homelessness would not have been acknowledgement at all.

Our memorial program will include the reading of all the names we have gathered of people who died in New York City without housing this year. Anyone who wants to add a name may do so by sending an email to policy@cfhnyc.org. We will also project the names of these individuals on a screen, a bell will toll, and candles will be lit.

“Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day is a solemn day of remembrance and mourning for people our community has lost”, Care for the Homeless Executive Director George Nashak said. “It’s also a time to reflect on the fact that it doesn’t have to be this way. That we have it within our power to fight, prevent and over time to end homelessness as we know it, and along with it the terrible consequences of chronic homelessness including avoidable premature deaths and suffering.”  

CFH’s program will include a “Wall of Remembrance”, where participants can honor those they have lost in 2017, and other activities led by CFH client leaders, as well as short remarks by community leaders, music and information about fighting homelessness. CFH has partnered this year with Long Island University Brooklyn’s MPA program and Urban Pathways to present the program. Read more here.

We invite your participation! Please feel free to invite others, bring along friends, and  RSVP here.

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Care for the Homeless Health Centers Still Without Federal Funding
On September 30, 2017, as the federal fiscal year ended, authorization for the federal Community Health Center Fund expired – just as authorization for the better-known Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and several other healthcare initiatives did. It’s not that Congress or the President opposes this funding. Actually, health center funding has wide, bi-partisan support. If a bill to reauthorize the Community Health Center Fund gets a vote, we’re confident it will pass. Community Health Centers were invented by the federal government. There have been federally funded community health centers for well over 50 years. The majority of both houses of Congress have already endorsed extending the Fund.

But we’re caught up in the negotiations and overload of issues currently in Washington. Time urgent issues consuming the attention of Congress include the need to pass a budget or continuing appropriations resolution to avoid a government shutdown with a deadline of tomorrow (as we go to press it appears Congress will extend the current Continuing Resolution until December 22, which means another vote on appropriations will be needed before Christmas), tax reform, immigration reform, addressing pressing Affordable Care Act items, and other issues, all scheduled for attention and probably votes in December, and possibly consideration of raising or extending the federal debt limit. These pressing matters could postpone consideration of our Health Center Fund issue. That would be a real calamity for community health centers. So we need your help to ask representatives in the U.S. House and Senate to vote on continuing the Health Center Fund. Read more here.

Care for the Homeless remains hopeful Congress will vote for the Community Health Center Fund, and the President will sign it, before Christmas and before we miss any scheduled Fund payments. CFH has not planned any closures, diminishing of services or layoffs. But no nonprofit operation could sustain a 70% cut in a major source of funding without affecting its services – so we need your help immediately.

Please call your U.S. Representative and your two U.S. Senators and tell them how important it is to extend the Community Health Center Fund. We’re not just asking that Members of Congress support the extension, we’re asking them to tell their leaders this must be voted on and enacted before Christmas to avoid a holiday healthcare catastrophe. There are two measures, one to extend the Fund for 2 years, and one (the CHIME Act) to extend it for 5 years. Of course we prefer the 5-year extension; but the critical thing is that it be extended and that it happen promptly. You can reach your member of Congress at 202-224-3121 or you can find your representatives  here.

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Care for the Homeless Recognizes World AIDS Day, 2017
Client leaders and staff from Care for the Homeless observed World AIDS Day 2017, on December 1 (last Friday), with a program and discussion on AIDS. The theme was remembering those we’ve lost, helping those living with HIV/AIDS, and increasing awareness and reducing stigma. A number of client leaders living with HIV shared their stories. Other client leaders and staff remembered people important to them who they’ve lost to AIDS. The program included displays, poetry readings, a video and a song.

World AIDS Day, observed on December 1 st each year, is a time to stand together against this disease that has killed over 35 million people since it began in 1984. That makes it the worst pandemic in history. Despite tremendous advances in treatment and prevention, there were still a million deaths worldwide this year. There are 36 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS, including a million in the United States, most of whom don’t know they are infected.

We also celebrated the dramatic successes of recent years:
  • New HIV infections in the U.S. have declined by 35% since 2000
  • Deaths in the U.S. are down 48% since 2005
  • In New York City, new diagnosis are down 15% just since 2015, and in 2016 the City had the fewest new HIV cases in the 35 year history of the epidemic here
  • In 2017, for the first time in 35 years, no children were reported born with HIV
  • Most people living with HIV/AIDS who are properly treated can suppress their viral load to the point it is undetectable, and live a long life 
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The Busy Advocate's December Calendar
Thur., Dec. 7th, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Know Your Rights-Legal Clinic by Southwest Brooklyn Tenant Union, an interactive know your rights event for rent stabilized/regulated tenants, 201 Columbia St, Brooklyn, NY 11231. Email Esther to RSVP.

Thur., Dec. 7th, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Addressing Hunger in NYC by Repair the World NYC, an evening of conversations exploring issues of food insecurity in NYC, their root causes, and actions we can take to address hunger in our neighborhoods, 808 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216. Find more info here.

Wed., Dec. 13th, 10:00 a.m., Public Hearing, State Assembly Committee. Immigrant Access to Healthcare Public Hearing, The New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Health, New Americans Task Force, and Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force will hold a public hearing on immigrant access to healthcare. If you would like to testify, you must receive an invitation by emailing Claudia Calhoon to be added to the invite list, Assembly Hearing Room, 250 Broadway, 19th Fl, New York, NY 10007.

Thur., Dec. 21st, Meal begins at 4:30 pm, program begins at 5:30 pm., Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, join us as we commemorate those who passed away this year while experiencing homelessness. Long Island University Brooklyn Luntey Commons (Entrance at Flatbush Ave and Dekalb Ave). Register here.

Mon., Dec. 25th, Merry Christmas.

Mon, Jan. 1st, Happy New Years.
 
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A monthly update on policy issues in the fight against homelessness in NYC.  

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