Watch the Speech: HUD Secretary Donovan on Homelessness

categories: Advocacy, Government, Local Policy, NAEH, Obama Administration, Policy, service providers, USA

Published September 10, 2009 @ 05:43AM PT

On July 30th, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan addressed the attendees of the National Conference to End Homelessness in Washington, D.C.

You've read the live blog, but now -- thanks to the National Alliance to End Homelessness -- you can watch the entire speech.

If you work with homeless people, have experienced homelessness, been on the verge of experiencing homelessness, or believe homelessness is unacceptable - I urge you to take 30 minutes and watch these remarks. This, my friends, is how the issue of homelessness is being framed and dealt with nationally by our federal policy-makers.

I was inspired by the Secretary's remarks. Advocates who were present were encouraged. But the real question is -- what do you think?

Image from the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

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Comments (4)

I am not trying to make this about myself because I know I am not the only person who is fighting for their home now-a-days. Today is the day that I have to step into a court room full of over 175 people just to get my 5 minutes and to hear what the judge will say today. Today on 9/11/2009 is the day that my husband and I find out either the best news of our lives or we find out the worst news of our lives. Today I get to walk out of the door of our home to have to turn around and come back knowing that I will not have a place to live or I will have a place to live. With no credit, medical bills up the ying yang, and every other bill imaginable. We have to turn around and come back to the house that once looked like a warm and inviting place to a place that seems gloomy and dark. I drive down the road and see numerous houses with stuff to the curb because people have been kicked out to the streets, where do you go from there? Just to rent in the state of Florida and I am sure in many other states you have to come up with all this money to move in. Well guess what we don't have the money... I see other people living on the streets, cars, or wherever and now more than ever I am scared to death. This helps me vent to what I need to get out of my system. Today is either the new beginning or the end of the rest. I will not go down without giving a fight until the very last minute, I will not go down knowing that I didn't give my all to what we all believe in! As they say "the American Dream" our American Dream was to get married buy a home, get my husband out of the military and start our family... Now I sit and wait to watch the state of Florida get another home to add to their list and maybe somebody else can step up and buy my home for less than what I did..... This is sad and anyone who is going through this I give all credit because it is one of the most heart wrenching things that one can go through and deal with in life. Now to find a place to go with my animals and my husband a box, a house, a car?

Posted by Amanda Helmick on 09/11/2009 @ 08:00AM PT
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I watched the webcast yesterday via the alliance link and i feel as though Donovan will bring forth what we have been lacking to tackle in the void considered between the rental housing aspect and the approach that considers mortgage terms and a privatized indidvidual approach towards affordable housing and home-ownership.

In his address, Donovan was firm and confident with the conditions that are currently to be faced and brings forth the appeal of having the ability to deak with the problems that we face as a nation when the issues regarding affordable housing is presented. In him we should see change towards the practice.

Posted by Aaron Shaw on 09/11/2009 @ 08:28AM PT
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I don't think so much that it is a worry of the affordable housing, that should be already considered. I tell you that I think the whole situation is very upsetting because today I step into court with my husband, mind you that there was supposed to be 190 people and only about 15 showed for their hearing, give me a fighting chance, instead I have 60 days to "try" to get something worked out with the mortgage company and then if we don't get anything figured out guess what you have 70 days to vacate the property than what are they going to do? Let the house stay empty just like the rest of them on the block so more people can come in and vandalise the home.. Nice going on helping people with the American dream.... I really do say I am so happy with the way this whole thing has completely worked out. Here let me help you with the situation by making it worse and not let you stay in your home and then when we sell it to some big head person who makes more than I do... Hopefully you will enjoy that wonderful that I did call home at one point and time...

Posted by Amanda Helmick on 09/11/2009 @ 06:09PM PT
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What does solving family homelessness for kids and communities look like? Check out the documentary about one community in America and the people in it who are solving family homelessness.

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=606A3D1DA49C4609

Posted by NORTH COUNTY SOLUTIONS FOR CHANGE on 09/15/2009 @ 04:06PM PT
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Author

Shannon has worked in homeless shelters and service organizations in San Francisco, the Triangle region of North Carolina, and currently in the greater Boston area. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.