2012 State Policy Priorities
The Commonwealth of Virginia has set a goal of reducing homelessness by 15 percent by 2013. The state’s leadership on this issue represents an unprecedented opportunity to make real and measurable progress in preventing and ending homelessness for the 45,000 Virginians who experience homelessness every year.
During the 2012 General Assembly Session, VCEH is advocating for two budget amendments that impact homelessness and encapsulate VCEH's two main policy priorities:
1. Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Re-Housing Budget Amendment
• Item 108#2s: Senate Chief Patron: Howell (D); Co-Patron(s): Edwards (D), Wagner (R), Watkins (R) o Will go before Senate Finance Economic Development subcommittee • Item 108#1h: House Chief Patron: Lingamfelter (R); Co-Patron(s): Anderson(R), Carr (D), Comstock (R), Head (R), Herring (D), Loupassi (R), McClellan (D), Tata (R), Villanueva (R) o Will go before House Appropriations Economic Development subcommittee This amendment provides $1,000,000 from the general fund for FY2014 for permanent supportive housing and $500,000 from the general fund for the second year (FY2014) for rapid re-housing. The introduced budget provided these same additional amounts, but in the first year only (2013). This level of funding will help end homelessness for 200 households including children and their families and individuals with severe disabilities. 2. Supportive Services Amendment • Item 315#13s: Senate Chief Patron: Howell (D) o Will go before Senate Finance Health and Human Resources subcommittee • Item 315#5h: House Chief Patron: O’Bannon (R); Co-patron(s): Bell, R (R), Brink (D), Hope (D), Ingram (R), Landes (R), Watts (D) o Will go before House Appropriations Health and Human Resources subcommittee This amendment provides $700,000 from the general fund in the first year (FY2013) to provide community-based behavioral health service for chronically homeless individuals who are not Medicaid eligible to be served in permanent supportive housing. This amendment would provide funding for services to include outpatient care, case management, and supportive residential or assertive community treatment. The average annual per-person cost of these services is between $10,500 and $12,600, based on fiscal year 2011 estimates. Download the handout on the amendments The Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness is aligning our work to partner with local communities and the Commonwealth of Virginia to reduce homelessness. VCEH’s role is to support implementation of the strategies and recommendations included in the state plan and advocate for their enactment, as needed. Over the course of the year, we will consult with our members and local, state, and federal partners to develop additional and/or refine policy and program recommendations.
If you are interested in working with us on state policy advocacy, please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Click the following link to review VCEH's 2012 State Policy Agenda.
