The U.S. House Committee on Financial Services’ Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance on February 2 held a hearing, “Housing America: Addressing Challenges in Serving People Experiencing Homelessness.” The hearing addressed systemic challenges to reaching unhoused individuals and explored how the federal government can help ensure all people are safely and stably housed. View a recording of the hearing at: https://tinyurl.com/2p8axahb
Witnesses included Adrienne Bush of the Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky (an NLIHC state partner), Marc Dones of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, Ann Oliva of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Nan Roman of the National Alliance to End Homelessness (and an NLIHC board member), and Harriet McDonald of the Doe Fund.
Subcommittee Chair Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) discussed the impact of the affordable housing crisis on growing rates of homelessness and noted the housing investments in the “Build Back Better Act” would provide crucial relief to people experiencing homelessness and housing instability. “While the causes of homelessness are many, the affordable housing crisis is an accelerant to open flames,” he stated. “Forty percent of people experiencing homelessness are employed but are unable to obtain stable housing. The Build Back Better Act passed by the House in November includes very, very, very important provisions [to address the crisis].”
Much of the hearing focused on Housing First, a proven approach for addressing homelessness that prioritizes access to permanent, stable housing while offering supportive services when needed. Housing First recognizes that stable housing is a prerequisite for effective psychiatric and substance-abuse treatment and for improving quality of life. Once stably housed, individuals are better able to benefit from wrap-around services and more likely to find stable housing and employment and to recover.
“It simply doesn’t matter how many social workers attend to a person’s needs, how many outreach workers are available to connect with our unsheltered neighbors if we don’t have anywhere for them to go,” said Marc Dones. “And that is precisely where we stand today.”
“I became a Housing First advocate because I saw [it] worked,” said Adrienne Bush in response to a question from Representative Mike Barr (R-KY). “It prioritizes choice and opportunity.” In her testimony, Ms. Bush also emphasized that Housing First-informed approaches to ending homelessness also provide supportive services, stating that “unlike the private housing market or many public housing authorities, [Housing First programs] do not screen out applicants based on past involvement in the criminal justice system. They offer housing with case management and connection to employment and other services, tailored to the needs of the household and community. It is the very opposite of a one-size-fits-all approach.”
“Housing First is often misrepresented as meaning ‘housing only’,” said Nan Roman in her testimony. “Nothing could be further from the truth. . . . Housing First programs are based on the premise that people are better able to benefit from services, become employed, and achieve stability if they are receiving services from the safety and security of a home.”
Watch a recording of the hearing at: https://tinyurl.com/2p8axahb
Find the committee memorandum at: https://tinyurl.com/mr3uskcd