By Eugene T. Lowe
September 24, 2007

The Senate Banking Committee, Chaired by Senator Chris Dodd (CT), passed the “Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act” S. 1518 September 19. With the goal of making HUD’s homeless programs more flexible, performance-based, and accountable to prevent and end homelessness, the legislation calls for an increase in homelessness funding of $700 million over FY07. The bill authorizes $2.2 billion for Homelessness Assistance Programs for FY2008. Senator Jack Reed (RI), who introduced the bill along with Senator Wayne Allard (CO) said: “It has been 20 years since the enactment of the Steward B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, and we have learned a lot about the problem of homelessness since then. This legislation is going to put some of those best practices and proposals into action and help communities break the cycle of repeated and prolonged homelessness.”

Specifically, S.1518 consolidates HUD’s three major competitive homeless programs — Supportive Housing Program, Shelter Plus Care, and the Moderate Rehabilitation/Single Room Occupancy – into the Community Homeless Assistance Program. The consolidation would reduce the administrative burden and allow communities to be more flexible and creative in addressing homelessness. In addition, the Emergency Solutions Grant Program is expanded to 20 percent of the homeless assistance funding. Senator Reed said: “In particular, I am pleased with the new “Emergency Solutions Grant.” This block grant program will allow 20% of the overall funding (approximately $440 million) to go to cities and states to better prevent and reduce homelessness.”

One major provision of the legislation is the modification in the definition of chronic homelessness to include families with children where the family meets all the other requirements of the definition (homeless in a place not meant for human habitation or in an emergency shelter for one year continuously or for four times in the past three years and having a head of household with a severe disability).

S. 1518 now moves to the full Senate where it is hoped that passage will come through Unanimous Consent.