Aid for Homelessness Prevention in Stimulus

Preliminary Provisions Available

February 12, 2009

Barring any changes on the House or Senate floors, the provisions to aid homeless and low-income Americans in the stimulus package are now available as follows:

Homeless Prevention

$1.5 billion to the HUD Emergency Shelter Grant Program

$100 million to the FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Grant Program

Food Assistance

Food stamp benefits will increase by approximately 13%. This increase will phase out over time.

$100 million for formula grants to states for elderly nutrition services, including Meals on Wheels

$150 million for the Emergency Food Assistance Program to purchase commodities for food banks

Education

$70 million for the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program

Disability Payments

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries and veterans receiving disability benefits or pensions from the VA will receive a one-time payment of $250.

Unemployment Benefits

Increases unemployment benefits by $25 per week

Continues the extended unemployment benefits program until December 2009 (the program was due to expire in March 2009).The extended unemployment benefits program provides up to 33 weeks of extended benefits.

Earned Income Credit and Child Tax Credit

Provides additional tax credit to families with three or more children and decreases the marriage penalty for the tax credit

Decreases the annual income required to claim the Child Tax Credit from $8,000 to $3,000

Assistance to Persons Fleeing Domestic Violence

$50 million to the transitional housing program authorized by the Violence Against Women Act to assist individuals and families fleeing from domestic violence