Budget and Appropriations Committee votes 8-6 in favor
Next step is vote by the full senate
Audio and photos are online
The prime Senate sponsors of S2354 are:
The cosponsors of S2354 are:
Robert W. Singer
Barbara Buono
Joseph F. Vitale
Ronald L. Rice
Bob Smith
James Beach
M. Teresa Ruiz
On Thursday May 14, 2009, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved S2354, the County Homeless Trust Fund bill by a vote of 8-6 with one member not voting. This is a very significant step toward providing counties with the resources to end homelessness. The County Homeless Trust Fund bill, sponsored by Senators Dana L. Redd and Brian Stack, will allow counties that have developed plans to have a recurring source of funding that would be dedicated to ending homelessness. The funds must be used for programs that not only are consistent with local plans but also measurably reduce homelessness while demonstrating cost savings over time.
More than sixty people attended the hearing as the event coincided with the Housing and Community Development Network’s Lobby Day.
Senator Dana L. Redd and Senator Brian Stack, the prime sponsors of S2354.
Prior to the vote Senator Redd spoke to advocates participating in Lobby Day. Her inspiring speech made reference to two ideas about the role that we all must play in the campaign to end homelessness. Quoting Maya Angelou she encouraged all of us to “live our lives so we can be a rainbow in someone else’s life.” She then quoted Professor Cornel West on the “deeply democratic idea that ordinary people ordinary people can lead and must be able to participate in the decision making process of the insinuation that regulate their lives.” She challenged the advocates to lead and become engaged so that together we can end homelessness.
We encourage you to listen to the audio of her speech and the testimony at the hearing. In the testimony we specifically recommend listening to the comments by Senators Buono, Redd and Stack. They all spoke eloquently of their commitment to ending homelessness.
The roll call vote on S2354, yes votes are in bold, was:
Buono, Barbara (Chair) – Yes
Sarlo, Paul A. (Vice Chair) – Yes
Bucco, Anthony R. – No
Cunningham, Sandra B. – Not Voting
Haines, Philip E. – No
Karrow, Marcia A. – No
O’Toole, Kevin J. – No
Oroho, Steven V. – No
Pennacchio, Joseph – No
Redd, Dana L. – Yes
Ruiz, M. Teresa – Yes
Stack, Brian P. – Yes
Sweeney, Stephen M. – Yes
Turner, Shirley K. – Yes
Vitale, Joseph F. – Yes
When we prepare our 2009 Legislative Report Card, this will be one of the issues that we will include in the scoring.
These are some of the photos from Lobby Day and the vote.
To view all of the photos click here.
To view a list of those who have endorsed this campaign click here.
For a fact sheet click here or for a description of possible uses and populations to be served click here.
A list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found by clicking here.
Click here to read the testimony at the hearing.
