CUOMO SAYS COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDY DOCUMENTS NEED FOR HOMELESS INITIATIVES PROPOSED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON

NOTE: Columbia University is releasing results of its survey of homeless families with specific data for these 10 cities: ATLANTA, CHICAGO, DALLAS, MILWAUKEE, NEW YORK CITY, OKLAHOMA CITY, SALEM-EUGENE (OREGON), SAN ANTONIO, SAN FRANCISCO, and SOUTH BEND (INDIANA). Information on the survey is available by calling 212-529-5252.

WASHINGTON - A study of homeless families across the nation that was released today by Columbia University documents the need for new initiatives President Clinton has proposed to help more homeless Americans get housing and become self-sufficient, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo said.

"President Clinton's economic policies have brought new opportunity to millions of our people, but homeless Americans remain only spectators to the wave of prosperity sweeping across our nation," Cuomo said. "The President's budget will enable more homeless families and individuals to turn around their lives, get jobs, get homes, and become participants in the American Dream."

President Clinton's proposed budget calls for $958 million for homeless grants in the 1999 fiscal year - combined with $192 million for 34,000 rental assistance vouchers for homeless people - for a total of $1.15 billion.

The President's requested homeless budget represents a nearly 40 percent increase over this year's enacted funding of $823 million. If enacted, the 1999 funding level would be the highest in history. Besides providing housing for homeless Americans, the President's homeless budget would fund a range of services, including education, job training, and substance abuse treatment.