On April 24, Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) introduced H.Con.Res.119, a concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that involuntary homelessness for families, women, and children in America should be eliminated. The resolution is cosponsored by Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA).

The resolution calls on the federal government to eliminate homelessness for families, women, and children; provide adequate funding for Section 8 vouchers, the Community Development Block Grant program, and the HOME Investment Partnerships program; provide the $1 billion requested in the President’s FY13 budget request for the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF); and move towards a “housing first” policy for homeless assistance programs.

Many statistics and findings are included in the purpose of the resolution. NLIHC is credited with providing data on the need for public housing and Section 8 vouchers and the mismatch between the 10 million extremely low income renter households and the 6.5 million housing units affordable to them. Additionally, the resolution uses figures from NLIHC on the NHTF, stating that every $10 billion spent on the NHTF will create 122,000 new jobs for construction and 30,000 ongoing jobs for the operation of the rental housing.

Other groups referenced in the resolution include Doorways for Women and Families, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the National Center on Family Homelessness, the United States Conference of Mayors and the National Coalition for the Homeless.

H.Con.Res.119 has been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.