Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Edward Markey (D-MA) introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate on October 30 to strengthen health care and homelessness services coordination. The “Homelessness and Behavioral Health Care Coordination Act” (S.3165) 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. Representative Madeleine Dean (D-PA) has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives (Memo, 2/6).
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.
“The evidence is irrefutable: affordable, accessible homes, linked with voluntary wrap-around services, are the most effective way to end homelessness,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. “I applaud Senator Padilla and Congresswoman Dean for their leadership in reintroducing the Homelessness and Behavioral Health Care Coordination Act, which builds on decades of research, learning, and bipartisan support to expand access to proven solutions to homelessness.”
Read a press release announcing the bill at: https://tinyurl.com/munnnpkm
Read more about the “Homelessness and Behavioral Health Care Coordination Act” at: https://tinyurl.com/y3v87sz4