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In fiscal year 2007, Coaltion staff has provided spoken and written testiomony on:

• Senate Bill 424 and House Bill 235- Department of Housing and Community Development -Rental Allowance Program Fund: This bill recommended changes to the existing state rental allowance program that would significantly impact the lives of Marylanders who cannot currently afford the high cost of housing in our communities.
  
  
• Senate Bill 160: Hate Crimes - Expanding Prohibitions and Protected Classes of People: This bill would help to protect our most vulnerable neighbors against hate crimes, adequately punish those who violently attack homeless persons, and bring awareness to this increasingly pressing topic. 
  

In fiscal year 2006:

• Coalition staff testified to recommend essential changes to the Maryland State Senate Bill that would affect the existing state Rental Allowance Program. The Coalition advocated that not only should the state increase the production of affordable housing, but it should fund creative ways to make existing housing affordable to the residents of Maryland with very low incomes.
  
  
• Coalition staff testified at a number of local forums including County Council hearings. We were successful in advocating for $500,000 to fund healthcare for the
  homeless as well as additional funding to create a county-run deep rental assistance program. Beginning in January 2007, the Supportive Housing Rental
  Assistance Program (SHRAP) will provide housing assistance and service coordination for low-income individuals and families with special needs.