[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5387]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          NATIONAL COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS 30TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I would like to recognize the National 
Coalition for the Homeless, an outstanding organization of activists, 
advocates, and community and faith-based service providers working to 
end homelessness in America. This year, the coalition celebrates its 
30th anniversary, marking three decades of triumphs and challenges in 
defense of our Nation's most vulnerable individuals and families.
  During the 1970s and 1980s, homelessness was thrust into the national 
spotlight as a growing problem. Structural changes in the economy, 
exacerbated by some tough economic downturns, thrust thousands of men, 
women, and children onto the streets, living without shelter. Out of 
concern for the rights of this vulnerable population, a group of State 
and local homeless coalitions gathered together and established the 
National Coalition for the Homeless in 1982. In these last 30 years, 
the National Coalition for the Homeless has been at the forefront of 
the fight against homelessness. The coalition's advocacy and passion 
have helped define housing policy for the disenfranchised in America.
  Through creative initiatives and outspoken advocacy, the coalition 
played an instrumental role in passage of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
Assistance Act, the first comprehensive legislation to address the 
issue of homelessness in our country. Most recently, the coalition has 
spearheaded advocacy for the Hate Crimes Against the Homeless 
Statistics Act, a bill that would include crimes against the homeless 
in the crime data the Department of Justice collects. I was a member of 
the Senate Judiciary Committee during the 111th Congress and I was a 
proud sponsor of this bill. Homeless people are particularly vulnerable 
targets for acts of humiliation and violence. I believe more needs to 
be done to protect those who can't protect themselves. I am proud to 
report Maryland was a pioneer in extending hate crime protections to 
homeless people.
  I have been concerned about homelessness for a long time. I believe 
having adequate shelter is a human right. A home provides safety from 
the elements and random acts of violence. It is a place where 
possessions and items as fundamental as medications can be kept safely. 
Yet, homelessness persists as one of our Nation's most pressing social 
problems and has grown more challenging in the wake of the housing 
market collapse and the return of veterans from the wars in Iraq and 
Afghanistan. As we continue to recover from the economic downturn, it 
is imperative that the Nation not lose ground in the struggle against 
homelessness, especially among Americans who have lost jobs through no 
fault of their own, those homeowners and families who are struggling 
due to the ongoing foreclosure crisis, and our veterans.
  I applaud the courage of the members and volunteers of the National 
Coalition for the Homeless. Their selfless striving to end homelessness 
in America has changed the lives of thousands and thousands of our 
fellow Americans, even when so many others have averted their gaze. I 
hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating the National 
Coalition for the Homeless on 30 years of service to our communities 
and in rededicating ourselves to work with the coalition on ending the 
tragedy and scourge of homelessness in the richest nation on Earth.

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