Representative Madeleine Dean (D-PA) reintroduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives on February 2 to help people experiencing homelessness and behavioral health issues, including substance use disorder, access critical supportive services. The “Homelessness and Behavioral Health Care Coordination Act” (H.R.773) would authorize a grant program within HUD to help state and local governments, tribal entities, public housing agencies, and Continuums of Care better coordinate services for behavioral health, including substance use disorder and homelessness. NLIHC has endorsed the bill.
More than 580,000 people experience homelessness on any given night, and approximately 17% of the total homeless population suffers from chronic substance use disorder. The Homelessness and Behavioral Health Care Coordination Act would break down barriers between the homelessness and healthcare systems to help people experiencing homelessness receive streamlined services, including substance use and other health services. The bill would award five-year grants of up to $500,000 to help eligible entities improve homelessness system infrastructure and technologies and increase the availability of Naloxone, a medication used to treat the effects of opioid overdose.
“I applaud Congresswoman Madeleine Dean for introducing the Homelessness and Behavioral Health Care Coordination Act, which builds on decades of research, learning, and bipartisan support for proven solutions to homelessness,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. “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.”
The bill is cosponsored by Representative Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) is leading a companion bill in the Senate.
Read a press release announcing the bill at: https://bit.ly/3HW2sUr
Read more about the “Homelessness and Behavioral Health Care Coordination Act” at: https://bit.ly/40mXJ5z