The U.S. House Committee on Financial Services approved two bills addressing homelessness on May 18: the “Flexibility in Addressing Rural Homelessness Act” (H.R. 7196) and the “Coordinating Substance Use and Homelessness Care Act of 2022” (H.R. 7716). Representatives Cindy Axne (D-IA) and Frank Lucas (R-OK) introduced the “Flexibility in Addressing Rural Homelessness Act” on March 24 (see Memo, 3/28). The bill, passed on a voice vote, would allow Continuums of Care (CoCs) in rural areas to operate with more flexibility in spending homelessness funding provided through the “McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.” Representative Madeleine Dean (D-PA) introduced the “Coordinating Substance Use and Homelessness Care Act” on May 11. The bill would create a $20 million per year capacity-building grant for state and local governments, tribal entities, public housing agencies, and CoCs to better coordinate healthcare and homelessness services. The bill passed by a vote of 27 to 22. NLIHC has endorsed both bills.
“I applaud Congresswoman Madeleine Dean for introducing the ‘Coordinating Substance Use and Homelessness Care Act’, which builds on decades of research, learning, and bipartisan support for proven solutions to homelessness,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel in a press release addressing the bill. “The evidence is irrefutable: the most effective way to end homelessness is to provide affordable, accessible homes linked with voluntary wrap-around services, including substance use and other health services. By building our nation’s capacity to bring together housing and healthcare services, this bill can help us more effectively address homelessness.”
Committee members debated two amendments to the “Coordinating Substance Use and Homelessness Care Act.” Congressman French Hill (R-AR) introduced an amendment to reduce the amount of grant funding allowable for hiring system coordinators and addressing administrative costs. The amendment failed on a vote of 22 to 27. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) introduced an amendment to require at least 50% of grant funding to be distributed to nonprofits that do not receive CoC funding and that require individuals to meet prerequisites such as sobriety or job training in order to receive housing services. Congressman Barr’s amendment failed on a vote of 22 to 27.
House Financial Services Committee Chair Maxine Waters (D-CA) opposed both amendments and spoke in support of the bills and of Housing First, a proven model for addressing homelessness that prioritizes access to safe, stable housing with voluntary services as needed to ensure long-term housing stability. Chair Waters cited President George W. Bush’s adoption of the Housing First approach, which helped spur a 30% reduction in homelessness from 2005 to 2007. Chair Waters noted homelessness increased when the Trump administration failed to make housing investments and when elected officials vilified those experiencing homelessness. “Housing is a necessary platform for achieving other successful outcomes, whether it be unemployment, sobriety, or something else,” she said. “Preconditions [to housing] are counterproductive.”
Read a press release announcing the “Flexibility in Addressing Rural Homelessness Act” at: https://bit.ly/3izvImz
Read a press release announcing the “Coordinating Substance Use and Homelessness Care Act of 2022” at: https://bit.ly/380MwkB