The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, now known as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, was first enacted in 1987 as the first major, coordinated federal response to homelessness. Passed in response to the rapid and dramatic growth of homelessness in the United States during the 1980s, the McKinney Act was originally part of a larger piece of legislation entitled the Homeless Persons’ Survival Act. The Homeless Persons’ Survival Act contained three sections – emergency measures, transitional measures, and long-term solutions.

This site includes:

• A resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing the 20th anniversary of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
• 10 Steps that the federal government can take right now to help end and prevent homelessness.
• A Consensus Statement on Five Fundamentals
• Press coverage from the July 19, 2007 even on Capital Hill where homeless advocates, members of Congress, and formerly homeless persons gathered to mark the 20th anniversary.