Center for Unhoused Individuals

Part B of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Center for Unhoused Individuals

520O.

Center for Unhoused Individuals

(a)

In general

There is established in the Administration a Center for Unhoused Individuals (in this section referred to as the Center) to lead Federal efforts to improve and expand access to mental and behavioral health services for unhoused individuals. The Center shall be headed by a director (in this section referred to as the Director) appointed by the Secretary from among individuals with extensive experience or academic qualifications in the provision of mental and behavioral health services to unhoused individuals. (b)

Duties

The Director of the Center shall— (1)develop and promote policies that expand access to mental and behavioral health services for unhoused individuals; (2)develop and promote policies that support housing services for unhoused individuals that have, or likely have, at least one mental and behavioral health condition; (3)facilitate coordination among— (A)Federal, State, and local entities that serve unhoused individuals; and (B)entities that provide mental and behavioral health services; and (4)provide technical assistance to entities receiving a grant under section 520O–1 regarding the use of Federal funds to best support mental and behavioral health services for unhoused individuals. (c)

Grants and cooperative agreements

In carrying out the duties under subsection (b), the Director may make grants to and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with public and nonprofit private entities. (d)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2029.

520O–1.

Mental and Behavioral Health Response Grants for Unhoused Individuals

(a)

In general

The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall establish a grant program under which the Secretary will award grants to eligible entities to improve mental and behavioral health and housing services for unhoused individuals, including through— (1)the expansion and improvement of mental and behavioral health services for unhoused individuals; and (2)the expansion and improvement of housing services for individuals experiencing, or likely experiencing, mental and behavioral health conditions. (b)

Eligibility

An entity is eligible to receive a grant under this section if such entity is— (1)a State (as defined in section 534); (2)a municipality or other unit of local government; or (3)an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act). (c)

Use of funds

An entity may use funds received through a grant under this section to increase access to mental and behavioral health services for unhoused individuals, including through— (1)expanding access to evidence-based substance use disorder treatment and recovery activities and services for unhoused individuals; (2)increasing access to medication-assisted treatment for unhoused individuals who are also experiencing opioid use disorder; (3)implementing and expanding harm reduction strategies and services through programs that serve unhoused individuals; (4)reducing opioid and synthetic opioid or fentanyl overdose deaths among unhoused individuals; (5)implementing and expanding evidence-based substance use disorder prevention strategies among unhoused individuals; (6)expanding and increasing care coordination for unhoused individuals experiencing a mental and behavioral health condition; (7)expanding access to and increasing the number of health care professionals who treat unhoused individuals experiencing at least one mental and behavioral health condition; (8)establishing and expanding housing programs targeting unhoused individuals experiencing mental and behavioral health conditions; (9)expanding access to mental and behavioral health diagnostic services for unhoused individuals; (10)supporting and expanding the mental and behavioral health care workforce that treats unhoused individuals; and (11)supporting and expanding evidence-based mental health training for non-health care professionals that interface frequently with unhoused individuals, such as law enforcement personnel and first responders. (d)

Allocation

(1)

In general

Of the amount made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall distribute a portion of such amount to eligible entities selected to receive a grant under this section on the basis of a formula developed by the Secretary. (2)

Prioritization

The formula developed by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall prioritize eligible entities located in regions that— (A)experience high rates of homelessness and housing instability; and (B)experience above-average housing costs. (e)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2029.

520O–2.

Definitions

In this subpart: (1)

Mental and behavioral health

The term mental and behavioral health means the health of an individual as it pertains to mental illness, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and substance use disorders. (2)

Unhoused individual

The term unhoused individual has the meaning given the term homeless individual in section 103(a) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.