Secretary Fudge Outlines HUD Actions to Address Reentry Housing Needs and Increase Public Safety

WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge today outlined actions that the Department is taking to improve public safety by addressing the housing needs of returning citizens, including through the recently awarded 70,000 emergency housing vouchers funded by the American Rescue Plan.

In a letter sent to public housing authorities, Continuums of Care, multifamily owners, and HUD grantees, Secretary Fudge clarified that returning citizens who are at-risk of homelessness are among the eligible populations for these emergency housing vouchers and encouraged public housing authorities and their Continuum of Care partners to ensure that eligible returning citizens are given consideration for these vouchers. Secretary Fudge also discussed additional steps that HUD is taking to improve access to housing for returning citizens and people with criminal records.

Secretary Fudge’s letter is tied to the Biden-Harris Administration’s new comprehensive strategy to increase public safety.

“The President and I believe that everyone deserves a second chance and a stable home from which to rebuild their lives. No person should exit a prison or jail only to wind up on the streets,” wrote Secretary Fudge. “To that end, HUD is committed to taking a comprehensive approach to addressing the housing needs of returning citizens and people with criminal records, and by doing so, increasing public safety within our communities. Addressing reentry housing needs also furthers the Biden Administration’s commitment to advancing equity and reversing systemic racism, given the racial disparities evident in the criminal justice system.”

The full text of the letter is below. A pdf copy is available here.

June 23, 2021

Dear Public Housing Authorities, Continuums of Care, Multifamily Owners, and HUD Grantees,

Among my priorities at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is to ensure the public safety of the households, the properties, and the communities that we assist. One of the most important ways that HUD can meet this priority is to ensure that people leaving prisons and jails are supported in their reentry to the community. Research also shows that people who lack stable housing following incarceration face a higher likelihood of rearrest and reincarceration. On the other hand, a stable home can serve as the foundation upon which returning citizens can rebuild their lives, obtain employment, improve their health, and achieve recovery.

Unfortunately, too many people exit prisons and jails in America without a stable home to return to. A significant number of people experiencing homelessness are caught in a revolving door between homelessness and reincarceration. In some communities, the lack of stable housing can also delay a person’s approval for discretionary release from prison, leading people to serve more time behind bars than those with stable housing. Many people face housing denials based on their criminal records years or decades after serving their time, even when their criminal history does not indicate that they present a substantial risk to persons or property.

The President and I believe that everyone deserves a second chance and a stable home from which to rebuild their lives. No person should exit a prison or jail only to wind up on the streets.

To that end, HUD is committed to taking a comprehensive approach to addressing the housing needs of returning citizens and people with criminal records, and by doing so, increasing public safety within our communities. Addressing reentry housing needs also furthers the Biden Administration’s commitment to advancing equity and reversing systemic racism, given the racial disparities evident in the criminal justice system.

The American Rescue Plan provides us with a near-term opportunity to assist people exiting prisons or jails, namely through the nearly 70,000 emergency housing vouchers recently awarded to more than 600 public housing authorities (PHAs) across the country. HUD Notice PIH 2021-15 makes clear that people exiting prisons and jails who are at-risk of homelessness due to their low incomes and lack of sufficient resources or social supports are eligible for these vouchers. Given the significant overlap between recent incarceration history and homelessness, HUD strongly encourages PHAs to work with their Continuum of Care (CoC) partners to ensure that individuals who are at-risk of homelessness after leaving prisons or jails are considered for these vouchers. In the coming weeks, HUD will provide further tools to help communities assess the homelessness risk of people exiting prisons and jails and to create and strengthen referral partnerships between PHAs, CoCs, and corrections agencies for these vouchers.

In addition to leveraging this opportunity through the American Rescue Plan, HUD is taking additional steps to meet the housing needs of returning citizens and to reduce barriers to housing among people with criminal records. This includes:

• Developing additional tools and guidance to assist private landlords, PHAs, and Multifamily housing owners to ensure that their applicant screening and tenant selection practices avoid unnecessarily overbroad denial of housing to applicants on the basis of criminal records that could lead to Fair Housing violations, consistent with the 2016 memo on disparate impact and criminal records;
• Reviewing existing HUD policies and regulations that limit access to housing and HUD assistance among people with criminal conviction histories; and
• Publishing findings regarding best and promising practices on reentry housing, including through HUD’s existing programs and demonstrations like the Juvenile Reentry Assistance Program and the Pay for Success Permanent Supportive Housing Demonstration.

As we take these and other steps to meet the housing needs of returning citizens, I will continue to work closely with the many organizations and entities that help to administer HUD’s programs at the state and local level. By working together, I am confident that we can make significant progress in meeting the housing needs of returning citizens, increase their chances of success, and increase public safety within our communities. I thank you for your partnership in these and other efforts.

Sincerely,

Marcia L. Fudge

https://www.africanamericanreports.com/2021/06/secretary-fudge-outlines-hud-actions-to.html

Martin Luther King III, Al Sharpton to hold nationwide march against voter suppression

Martin Luther King III and Al Sharpton will hold a nationwide march against voter suppression on Aug. 28 — the 58th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington.

The event, dubbed the “March On for Voting Rights,” comes as legislatures across the country move to tighten up voting rules.

Demonstrations are planned in Atlanta, Houston, Miami and Phoenix — cities in GOP-led states that have passed controversial voting reform measures since the 2020 election.

There will also be a march in Washington, D.C. to call for passage of federal voting rights legislation.

The march is being held in partnership with Martin Luther King, Jr’s Drum Major Institute, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Sharpton’s National Action Network, and the Future Coalition.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Early results show Adams leading NYC mayoral primary

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams has taken an early lead in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary as votes continue to be tallied in a race that will be determined by ranked choice.

Adams had taken 30.9 percent of the vote in the first round with 88 percent of ballots tallied as of 11:23 p.m. ET. He led civil rights lawyer Maya Wiley with 21.7 percent and former New York City Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia with 20.5 percent. Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang came in fourth with 11.7 percent and conceded the race Tuesday evening.

Voters will likely be kept waiting for a winner to be declared until next month as the race’s ranked choice voting system plays out. Observers have speculated that a winner may not be formally declared until mid-July.

New York City is experimenting with ranked-choice voting for the first time in its history. Under the system, which has been used in San Francisco but few other major metropolitan areas, voters can rank their top five choices. Should no candidate win an outright majority, votes for subsequent picks are reallocated until one contender gets more than 50 percent of the vote.

[SOURCE: THE HILL

Maxine Waters: Trump campaign should be investigated for role in Jan. 6 insurrection

Maxine Waters took to Twitter to ask that the Trump campaign be investigated for a possible role in the January 6 insurection:

We need to investigate who funded the January 6 rally, who helped pay to bus people into Washington, D.C., the role of shell companies, and so much more.

If Republicans have nothing to hide, then let’s investigate and follow the money through a January 6 Commission now!

Take a look at all of the people listed on the National Park Service permit for the January 6 rally that led to the attack on the Capitol. It should be concerning that FEC reports show the Trump Campaign, at some point, paid over $2.7 MILLION to people who helped organize Jan. 6!

Hillside NJ host 2nd annual Juneteenth flag raising

On this past Juneteenth, which was the first to be celebrated as a federal holiday, the small town of Hillside, NJ, (which borders Union, Elizabeth, Irvington and Newark) held its second annual Juneteenth flag raising ceremony.

This is especially noteworthy as Hillside was a town that did not segregate its schools until the mid 1980s, and where Black residents, especially its Black students, couldn’t be on the "other side of the bridge" after a certain time of the day.

The event was organized by Hillside Council Vice-President George Cook who is African American, and has lived in Hillside since 1974.

During a brief speech Cook said that although making Juneteenth a federal holiday is nice that there was work to do when it came to police reform, voting rights, and social justice. He also added that we could still appreciate and celebrate Juneteenth while continuing the fight for all of those issues.

Cook also said that it was important for events like this to continue to educate the public as to what Juneteenth is.

"It's not the job of the school system to teach our children about Juneteenth, it's our job to make sure they know about it."

The event included an opening prayer from Rev. Cherrena Del-Rawles, remarks from Councilman Cook's sister and Hillside school board president, Kim Cook, a reading of the history of Juneteenth by Hillside 6th grader Khairi Miller, a Juneteenth poem read by recent Hillside graduate Douglas Nelson, and Hillside resident Sherrill Smith singing "Lift Every Voice" as the Juneteenth Flag was raised by several Hillside children.

Cook wanted to especially thank his wife, Quanda and his daughter, Brittany, who helped a lot behind the scenes, his sister Kim Cook for her crucial help setting up the event, and Hillside Democratic chair for helping with the advertising and planning the event.

Several state, county, and local officials attended the event:

NJ state senator Joe Cryan, Assemblyman Jamel C. Holley, County Commissioner Rebecca Williams , County Commissioner Angela R. Garretson, County Commissioner Andrea Staten, Councilman Donald DeAugustine , Councilwoman Nancy Mondella, Councilwoman Andrea Hyatt, School board President Kim Cook, school board member Joyce Simmons, and several Hillside Democratic Committee district leaders.