An update from the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy, an independent research
project of the Rockefeller Institute of Government. The public policy research arm of the State
University of New York.

New! Lawmakers Debate Spending on Housing Programs

The U.S. House of Representatives began debate this week on a bill to fund the nation's housing
programs for low-income Americans. The $104 billion fiscal year 2008 Transportation-U.S. Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) appropriations bill is $5.9 billion more than enacted last year and
retains a number of popular housing programs that President George W. Bush had recommended be
reduced or eliminated.

The increased levels of proposed total spending prompted the White House to issue a statement Monday
threatening to veto the bill if enacted by Congress. The President has ruled out any spending bill that
exceeds his fiscal year 2008 budget requests, saying spending must be reduced to eliminate a growing
deficit. But supporters of the legislation said the threat may be nothing more than that, because spending
bills have not been making their way through the Senate this session and the transportation-housing bill
may eventually be rolled into a large omnibus appropriations measure later this year.

Faith-based and community organizations - particularly those active in providing emergency and long-term
shelter, operating soup kitchens, and stimulating housing and business development - are closely watching
how much money HUD will make available for housing and homelessness programs.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Washington Correspondent Anne Farris.

New! 20th Anniversary of Homeless Programs Marks Progress
and Continued Need

One of the nation's primary assistance programs for the homeless turned 20 years old this month,
and the anniversary served as an occasion for White House and Congressional recognition for the role
of faith-based and community organizations in working to reduce homelessness in America.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday adopted a resolution recognizing the 20th anniversary
and the impact of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, calling on Congress and the Bush
Administration to do more to eliminate homelessness. And in the latest in a series of educational
sessions, the White House last week highlighted partnerships formed between federal and local
governments and faith-based and community groups to reduce homelessness.

Not everyone saw the occasion as a time for celebration, however. Advocates for the homeless were
calling the anniversary "bittersweet" because government funding has never been sufficient to meet the
needs of the estimated 3.5 million homeless people in the country, or to foster greater partnership with
nonprofit organizations.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Washington Correspondent Anne Farris.

Click here to read a Roundtable Comparative Case Study on Faith-Based and Secular Programs for
Homeless Families.

Weekly Digest of Federal Grants with Faith-Based and Community
Organization Eligibility

The grant opportunities this week for community and faith-based organizations are through programs
administered by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, Labor, and the U.S.
Agency for International Development.

Potential applicants should be aware that some grant programs require specific technical expertise, or
experience with particular foreign countries.

Click here for the grant digest, compiled by Roundtable Correspondent Allison Sarnoff with Lisa Montiel.

Roundtable Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories

Passion For Justice; New Haven Priest Stands Up For Immigrant Parishioners
Hartford Courant (Connecticut)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6797

Gang Suppression Taking Place at Faith-Based Organizations All Over Fresno
ABC30-TV (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6798

Vacations with a purpose
The Dallas Morning News (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6799

Leveling the Praying Field
Time Magazine

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6800

Democratic candidates trying to reach religious voters
CNN.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6801

Summer Jobs; N.O. draws a steady flow of young volunteers who tackle
tough work with faith and enthusiasm
New Orleans Times-Picayune (Louisiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6802

Local Habitat for Humanity builds with green goals
The Press-Enterprise (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6804

Back on the right path
San Bernardino County Sun (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6805

Offering a common ground; Faith-based nonprofit at The Greene has coffee, counseling and more
Dayton Daily News (Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6806

God '08: Whose, and How Much, Will Voters Accept?
The New York Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6807

Faith-based grant administrator claims Ohio still owes $179,000; Gov. Ted Strickland's
office disputes claim; an investigation and audit is expected to be completed this month.
Dayton Daily News (Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6803

An Evangelical Call on Torture and the U.S.
The New York Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6808

Council told grant to World Changers legal
Sioux City Journal (Iowa)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6809

U.S. Islamic charities feel post 9/11 heat
Washington Post (Washington, DC)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6810

America's Militias; Blurring the Line Between Politics and Faith;
Tom Cruise Takes on Germany Over Scientology
CNN, Anderson Cooper 360

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6776

Amachi summer camp is a place where the 'bigs' mentor 'littles'
The News Courier (Alabama)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6777

Donations enable rescue mission to remain open
The Associated Press State & Local Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6778

Some Katrina volunteers find their help is no longer welcome
The Associated Press State & Local Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6779

Religion in the News
Washington Post (Washington, DC)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6780

State grant intends to spur volunteerism
Munster Times (Indiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6786

For safer city, help former inmates fit into society
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6787

Schools to lean on N.O. community;
Parents, local groups to be asked to help with programs, security
New Orleans Times-Picayune (Louisiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6788

Faith rebuilds house and soul
USA Today

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6790

Tenants Forced Out of Affordable Complex Will Get Aid
Washington Post (Washington, DC)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6791

Buffalo's black churches build on their faith in the inner city: East Side congregations
take the initiative to provide inspiration and capital for economic redevelopment
The Buffalo News (New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6792

A new homeless plan
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6793

UA report paints picture of homeless in state's NW
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Arkansas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6789

Abstinence-only initiatives aren't changing teenage sex habits
Asbury Park Press (New Jersey)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6781

Abstinence Education Faces an Uncertain Future
The New York Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6782

Cut Farm Subsidies, Boost Food Stamps, Religious Leaders Say
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6783

Surgeon General Nominee Grilled on Church Court Rulings
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6784

Faith leaders call for new covenant with American, world farmers:
'House leadership must now begin to address' farm bill, Chane says
Episcopal Life

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6785

Faith group's 'blueprint' aims to aid homeless
The State (South Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6794

Church offers refuge to illegal immigrants
Los Angeles Daily News (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6795

God Not Guns
PBS, Religion and Ethics Newsweekly

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6796