The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Taylor Materio 202-662-1530 x227; taylor@nlihc.org

Foreclosures Lead to Homelessness for Many, Joint Report Finds

WASHINGTON

Nearly 80% of homeless
service and advocacy agencies report that at least some of their clients became
homeless as a result of a foreclosure, and one in five estimate that more than
40% of their clients became homeless because of a foreclosure. These data are
among the results of a nationwide survey of local homeless providers conducted
by national housing and homeless organizations and released as a joint report
by the National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Low Income Housing Coalition
(NLIHC), the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the National Health Care
for the Homeless Council, and other national organizations.

The report, titled Foreclosure to Homeless 2009: The Forgotten Victims
of the Subprime Crisis
, will be released at a press conference on
Friday, June 26. Details are below.

The findings of the
report are based on the survey responses of 178 local homeless service
providers from all regions of the country. Respondents were asked to report the
numbers of their clients who became homeless as a result of foreclosure, as
well as about the coping strategies of families and the services and
protections available to evicted families at the state and local levels.

The report also examines
related factors that contribute to foreclosures and homelessness, including
health care costs and whether or not the family has access to legal assistance.
In addition, policy recommendations that would assist both homeowners and
renters facing foreclosures are provided. An appendix lists survey questions
and the names of local service providers that responded.

"The results of
this survey make clear that foreclosures are a major factor in the increase of
homelessness in the United
States," NLIHC President Sheila Crowley said.

Sponsoring organizations
of the report are: National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Health
Care for the Homeless Council, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the
National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, the National Law Center
on Homelessness & Poverty, NLIHC, and the National Policy and Advocacy
Council on Homelessness.

Press
Conference

What:
Release of Foreclosure to Homelessness 2009:
The Forgotten Victims of the Subprime Crisis

When:
Friday, June 26 at 9:30 am

Where:
Hyatt Regency Washington Hotel on Capitol Hill, Regency Ballroom. 400 New Jersey Ave, NW, Washington, DC

Scheduled
speakers:

  • U.S.
    Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN)
  • John Lozier, Executive Director, National Health Care for the Homeless Council
  • Donna Smith, Community Organizer, California
    Nurses Association. Her story was featured in the movie Sicko.
  • John Parvensky, President, National Coalition for the Homeless, and Executive
    Director, Colorado
    Coalition for the Homeless
  • Additional representatives of collaborating national homeless organizations

A question-and-answer
period will immediately follow the presentation in the hotel's Bunker Hill room.

The report will be made
available at www.nlihc.org following the press
conference.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to ending America's affordable housing crisis. Established in 1974 by Cushing N. Dolbeare, NLIHC educates, organizes and advocates to ensure decent, affordable housing within healthy neighborhoods for everyone. NLIHC provides up-to-date information, formulates policy and educates the public on housing needs and the strategies for solutions.