Research Piece #2

Street Sense: Where the Washington area's poor and homeless earn and give their two cents, is a newspaper published to highlight issues of homelessness and poverty, specifically in the District. Some of the articles are written by members of the homeless population themselves. I picked up this paper from a homeless man in DC who was selling it outside of the CVS in Tenleytown. He was really greatful that I purchased the paper and took the time to speak with him in the middle of my day. He wished me a happy day, and told me that him and the rest of the homeless people in the area just want their voices to be heard.

This is an article in Street Sense that I wanted to use for our 2nd piece of research:
"Millions in Cuts to Aid Part of President's Budget Plan"
On Feb. 4, 2008, President Bush announced his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2009, which, if adopted, could lead to significant funding cuts at some programs designed to help homeless and low-income men and women.

The Emergency Food and Shelter program:
Bush proposed cutting $53 million, or a little more than a third of the funding of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Food and Shelter program. That program provides shelter, eviction prevention and food assistance to homeless people in the case of emergency.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program:
In the president's budget, funding for LIHEAP would be cut by $570 million, a 22% drop from last year's levels. LIHEAP provides money to low-income homeowners to help them pay for home heating and cooling costs.

Substance abuse and mental health services:
The president's 2009 budget proposed cutting $19 million from mental health and substance-abuse treatment and prevention programs.

Housing for the elderly and persons with disabilities:
These programs, which provide very low-income seniors and persons with disabilities with housing and other opportunities would lose more than $270 million under the president's proposed budget.

Job training:
The president's budget proposed cutting funding for employment and career centers from $820 million in 2007 to just $29 million in 2009. The budget would also reduce funding for job-training and employment services

Housing programs:
Bush proposed to cut public housing funds by $415 million from last year's levels, including $4.1 million from DC.


This article really stood out to me because it is especially relevant with our statement that DC's homeless are the lost demographic. Bush's budget cuts are thoughtless and prove that few recognize the need to help the homeless people in DC. With this upcoming election, it is especially important for the homeless people to vote and express their opinions when they are being effected so heavily.