Homeless Advocates are worried about the qualifications of Ben Carson to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This agency sends over $2 Billion dollars out to fund shelters and housing for homeless people. They do not provide cost of living increases and have piled on more and more requirements to get these funds. Cleveland receives around $28 million to provide help to homeless people. 80% of these dollars go to permanent supportive housing and the crumbs go to emergency services. In the last 10 years, Cleveland lost 444 beds with this year the Salvation Army PASS program closing. We have extreme crowding at the Women's shelter and regular overflow at the Men's and Women's Shelter. Any further cuts in the shelters will result in more homeless deaths which was the highest in 30 years while the County was championing a reduction in homelessness.
Senator Brown's voted in favor of the nomination and sent out a press release on why (below). Carson passed the Senate with a 58 for and 41 against. He would not have passed under the old rules which required a 60 vote majority, but things have changed in Washington. Senator Brown has voted against 10 cabinet and administrative members so far. The Senator also posted the responses to the questions he asked Dr. Carson. We will post the questions that are relevant to our population in a subsequent post. It is interesting that the Senator sent out so much detail on why he voted in favor of a nominee. This is typically something done in responding to why a Senator is voting against a nominee.
Brian Davis
Posts reflect the opinion of those who sign the entry.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) - ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs – released the following statement after the committee approved Ben Carson’s nomination, which now goes to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.
“Dr. Carson is not the nominee I would have chosen to lead HUD, due to both his lack of experience and his and his often troubling public statements over the last three years. But despite my reservations, and my disagreements with some of his positions, I will give Dr. Carson the benefit of the doubt based on commitments he has made to me in person and to this Committee in his testimony and written responses. This includes Dr. Carson’s promises to address the scourge of lead hazards that threaten the health and futures of children in Ohio and nationwide; uphold the Fair Housing Act and the housing rights of LGBTQ individuals; and advocate for rental assistance, investment to end homelessness, and including housing in the president’s infrastructure plan. I will do everything in my power to hold Dr. Carson accountable for making good on his promises.”
Carson submitted written responses (http://www.brown.senate.gov/download/carson-response-to-brown-qfr) to Brown’s questions for the record to clarify and supplement the nominee’s testimony before the Banking Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 12.
Click here (http://www.banking.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/democratic-press-releases?ID=25663E44-DA87-4032-9F47-8772F346EC77) for Brown’s opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, at Carson’s confirmation hearing. The webcast of Carson’s confirmation hearing is available here (http://www.banking.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/hearings?ID=71EDE1AD-9AB5-4BAE-8AF4-C6E26C3DF6A5).