[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2937 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2937

To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a grant program to 
    provide supportive services in permanent supportive housing for 
       chronically homeless individuals, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 7, 2004

 Mr. DeWine (for himself and Mr. Reed) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a grant program to 
    provide supportive services in permanent supportive housing for 
       chronically homeless individuals, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Services for Ending Long-Term 
Homelessness Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Nationally, there are approximately 200,000 to 250,000 
        people who experience chronic homelessness, including some 
        families with children. Chronically homeless people often live 
        in shelters or on the streets for years at a time, experience 
        repeated episodes of homelessness without achieving housing 
        stability, or cycle between homelessness, jails, mental health 
        facilities, and hospitals.
            (2) The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health 
        recommended the development and implementation of a 
        comprehensive plan designed to facilitate access to 150,000 
        units of permanent supportive housing for consumers and 
        families who are chronically homeless. The Commission found 
        that affordable housing alone is insufficient for many people 
        with severe mental illness, and that flexible, mobile, 
        individualized support services are also necessary to support 
        and sustain consumers in their housing.
            (3) Congress and the President have set a goal of ending 
        chronic homelessness in 10 years.
            (4) Permanent supportive housing is a proven and cost 
        effective solution to chronic homelessness. A recent study by 
        the University of Pennsylvania found that each unit of 
        supportive housing for homeless people with mental illness in 
        New York City resulted in public savings of $16,281 per year in 
        systems of care such as mental health, human services, health 
        care, veterans' affairs, and corrections.
            (5) Current programs for funding services in permanent 
        supportive housing, other than those administered by the 
        Department of Housing and Urban Development, were not designed 
        to be closely coordinated with housing resources, nor were they 
        designed to meet the multiple needs of people who are 
        chronically homeless.

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF ADMINISTRATOR OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH 
              SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.

    Section 501(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
290aa(d)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (17), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (18), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(19) collaborate with Federal departments and programs 
        that are part of the President's Interagency Council on 
        Homelessness, particularly the Department of Housing and Urban 
        Development, the Department of Labor, and the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs, and with other agencies within the Department 
        of Health and Human Services, particularly the Health Resources 
        and Services Administration, the Administration on Children and 
        Families, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 
        to design national strategies for providing services in 
        supportive housing that will assist in ending chronic 
        homelessness and to implement programs that address chronic 
        homelessness.''.

SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR SERVICES FOR CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN 
              SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

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

       ``PART J--GRANTS FOR SERVICES TO END CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS

``SEC. 596. GRANTS FOR SERVICES TO END CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Grants.--The Secretary shall make grants to entities 
        described in paragraph (2) for the purpose of carrying out 
        projects to provide the services described in subsection (c) to 
        chronically homeless individuals in permanent supportive 
        housing.
            ``(2) Eligible entities.--For purposes of paragraph (1), an 
        entity described in this paragraph is--
                    ``(A) a State or political subdivision of a State, 
                an Indian tribe or tribal organization, or a public or 
                nonprofit private entity, including a community-based 
                provider of homelessness services, health care, 
                housing, or other services important to individuals 
                experiencing chronic homelessness; or
                    ``(B) a consortium composed of entities described 
                in subparagraph (A), which consortium includes a public 
                or nonprofit private entity that serves as the lead 
                applicant and has responsibility for coordinating the 
                activities of the consortium.
    ``(b) Priorities.--In making grants under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall give priority to applicants demonstrating that the 
applicants--
            ``(1) target funds to individuals or families who--
                    ``(A) have been homeless for longer periods of time 
                or have experienced more episodes of homelessness than 
                are required to meet the definition of chronic 
                homelessness under this section;
                    ``(B) have high rates of utilization of emergency 
                public systems of care; or
                    ``(C) have a history of interactions with law 
                enforcement and the criminal justice system;
            ``(2) have greater funding commitments from State or local 
        government agencies responsible for overseeing mental health 
        treatment, substance abuse treatment, medical care, and 
        employment (including commitments to provide Federal funds in 
        accordance with subsection (d)(2)(B)(ii)); and
            ``(3) will provide for an increase in the number of units 
        of permanent supportive housing that would serve chronically 
        homeless individuals in the community as a result of an award 
        of a grant under subsection (a).
    ``(c) Services.--The services referred to in subsection (a) are the 
following:
            ``(1) Services provided by the grantee or by qualified 
        subcontractors that promote recovery and self-sufficiency and 
        address barriers to housing stability, including but not 
        limited to the following:
                    ``(A) Mental health services, including treatment 
                and recovery support services.
                    ``(B) Substance abuse treatment and recovery 
                support services, including counseling, treatment 
                planning, recovery coaching, and relapse prevention.
                    ``(C) Integrated, coordinated treatment and 
                recovery support services for co-occurring disorders.
                    ``(D) Health education, including referrals for 
                medical and dental care.
                    ``(E) Services designed to help individuals make 
                progress toward self-sufficiency and recovery, 
                including benefits advocacy, money management, life-
                skills training, self-help programs, and engagement and 
                motivational interventions.
                    ``(F) Parental skills and family support.
                    ``(G) Case management.
                    ``(H) Other supportive services that promote an end 
                to chronic homelessness.
            ``(2) Services, as described in paragraph (1), that are 
        delivered to individuals and families who are chronically 
        homeless and who are scheduled to become residents of permanent 
        supportive housing within 90 days pending the location or 
        development of an appropriate unit of housing.
            ``(3) For individuals and families who are otherwise 
        eligible, and who have voluntarily chosen to seek other housing 
        opportunities after a period of tenancy in supportive housing, 
        services, as described in paragraph (1), that are delivered, 
        for a period of 90 days after exiting permanent supportive 
        housing or until the individuals have transitioned to 
        comprehensive services adequate to meet their current needs, 
        provided that the purpose of the services is to support the 
        individuals in their choice to transition into housing that is 
        responsive to their individual needs and preferences.
    ``(d) Matching Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--A condition for the receipt of a grant 
        under subsection (a) is that, with respect to the cost of the 
        project to be carried out by an applicant pursuant to such 
        subsection, the applicant agree as follows:
                    ``(A) In the case of the initial grant pursuant to 
                subsection (i)(1)(A), the applicant will, in accordance 
                with paragraphs (2) and (3), make available 
                contributions toward such costs in an amount that is 
                not less than $1 for each $3 of Federal funds provided 
                in the grant.
                    ``(B) In the case of a renewal grant pursuant to 
                subsection (i)(1)(B), the applicant will, in accordance 
                with paragraphs (2) and (3), make available 
                contributions toward such costs in an amount that is 
                not less than $1 for each $1 of Federal funds provided 
                in the grant.
            ``(2) Source of contribution.--For purposes of paragraph 
        (1), contributions made by an applicant are in accordance with 
        this paragraph if made as follows:
                    ``(A) The contribution is made from funds of the 
                applicant or from donations from public or private 
                entities.
                    ``(B) Of the contribution--
                            ``(i) not less than 80 percent is from non-
                        Federal funds; and
                            ``(ii) not more than 20 percent is from 
                        Federal funds provided under programs that--
                                    ``(I) are not expressly directed at 
                                services for homeless individuals, but 
                                whose purposes are broad enough to 
                                include the provision of a service or 
                                services described in subsection (c) as 
                                authorized expenditures under such 
                                program; and
                                    ``(II) do not prohibit Federal 
                                funds under the program from being used 
                                to provide a contribution that is 
                                required as a condition for obtaining 
                                Federal funds.
            ``(3) Determination of amount contributed.--Contributions 
        required in paragraph (1) may be in cash or in kind, fairly 
        evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services. Amounts 
        provided by the Federal Government, or services assisted or 
        subsidized to any significant extent by the Federal Government, 
        may not be included in determining the amount of non-Federal 
        contributions required in paragraph (2)(B)(i).
    ``(e) Administrative Expenses.--A condition for the receipt of a 
grant under subsection (a) is that the applicant involved agree that 
not more than 6 percent of the grant will be expended for 
administrative expenses with respect to the grant.
    ``(f) Certain Uses of Funds.--Notwithstanding other provisions of 
this section, a grantee under subsection (a) may expend not more than 
20 percent of the grant to provide the services described in subsection 
(c) to homeless individuals who are not chronically homeless.
    ``(g) Application for Grant.--A grant may be made under subsection 
(a) only if an application for the grant is submitted to the Secretary 
and the application is in such form, is made in such manner, and 
contains such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary 
determines to be necessary to carry out this section.
    ``(h) Certain Requirements.--A condition for the receipt of a grant 
under subsection (a) is that the applicant involved demonstrate the 
following:
            ``(1) The applicant and all direct providers of services 
        have the experience, infrastructure, and expertise needed to 
        ensure the quality and effectiveness of services, which may be 
        demonstrated by any of the following:
                    ``(A) Compliance with all local, city, county, or 
                State requirements for licensing, accreditation, or 
                certification (if any) which are applicable to the 
                proposed project.
                    ``(B) A minimum of two years experience providing 
                comparable services that do not require licensing, 
                accreditation, or certification.
                    ``(C) Certification as a Medicaid service provider, 
                including health care for the homeless programs and 
                community health centers.
                    ``(D) An executed agreement with a relevant State 
                or local government agency that will provide oversight 
                over the mental health, substance abuse, or other 
                services that will be delivered by the project.
            ``(2) There is a mechanism for determining whether 
        residents are chronically homeless. Such a mechanism may rely 
        on local data systems or records of shelter admission. If there 
        are no sources of data regarding the duration or number of 
        homeless episodes, or if such data are unreliable for the 
        purposes of this subsection, an applicant must demonstrate that 
        the project will implement appropriate procedures, taking into 
        consideration the capacity of local homeless service providers 
        to document episodes of homelessness and the challenges of 
        engaging persons who have been chronically homeless, to verify 
        that an individual or family meets the definition for being 
        chronically homeless under this section.
            ``(3) The applicant participates in a local, regional, or 
        statewide homeless management information system.
    ``(i) Duration of Initial and Renewal Grants; Additional Provisions 
Regarding Renewal Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the 
        period during which payments are made to a grantee under 
        subsection (a) shall be in accordance with the following:
                    ``(A) In the case of the initial grant, the period 
                of payments shall be not less than three years and not 
                more than five years.
                    ``(B) In the case of a subsequent grant (referred 
                to in this subsection as a `renewal grant'), the period 
                of payments shall be not more than five years.
            ``(2) Annual approval; availability of appropriations; 
        number of grants.--The provision of payments under an initial 
        or renewal grant is subject to annual approval by the Secretary 
        of the payments and to the availability of appropriations for 
        the fiscal year involved to make the payments. This subsection 
        may not be construed as establishing a limitation on the number 
        of grants under subsection (a) that may be made to an entity.
            ``(3) Additional provisions regarding renewal grants.--
                    ``(A) Priority in making grants.--In making grants 
                under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority 
                to renewal grants.
                    ``(B) Compliance with minimum standards.--A renewal 
                grant may be made by the Secretary only if the 
                Secretary determines that the applicant involved has, 
                in the project carried out with the grant, maintained 
                compliance with minimum standards for quality and 
                successful outcomes for housing retention, as 
                determined by the Secretary.
                    ``(C) Amount.--The maximum amount of a renewal 
                grant under this subsection shall not exceed an amount 
                equal to--
                            ``(i) 75 percent of the amount of Federal 
                        funds provided in the final year of the initial 
                        grant period; or
                            ``(ii) 50 percent of the total costs of 
                        sustaining the program funded under the grant 
                        at the level provided for in the year preceding 
                        the year for which the renewal grant is being 
                        awarded;
                as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(j) Strategic Performance Outcomes and Reports.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, as a condition of 
        the receipt of grants under subsection (a), require grantees to 
        report data regarding the performance outcomes of the projects 
        carried out pursuant to such subsection. Consistent with the 
        requirement of the preceding sentence, each applicant shall 
        measure and report specific performance outcomes related to the 
        long-term goals of increasing stability within the community 
        for individuals who have been chronically homeless, and 
        decreasing recurrence of periods of homelessness.
            ``(2) Performance outcomes.--The performance outcomes 
        identified by a grantee under paragraph (1) shall include, with 
        respect to individuals who have been chronically homeless, 
        improvements in--
                    ``(A) housing stability;
                    ``(B) employment and education;
                    ``(C) problems related to substance abuse;
                    ``(D) participation in mental health services; and
                    ``(E) other areas as the Secretary determines 
                appropriate.
            ``(3) Coordination and consistency with other homeless 
        assistance programs.--
                    ``(A) Procedures.--In establishing strategic 
                performance outcomes and reporting requirements under 
                paragraph (1), the Secretary shall develop and 
                implement procedures that minimize the costs and 
                burdens to grantees and program participants, and that 
                are practical, streamlined, and designed for 
                consistency with the requirements of the homeless 
                assistance programs administered by the Secretary of 
                Housing and Urban Development.
                    ``(B) Applicant coordination.--Applicants under 
                this section shall coordinate with community 
                stakeholders, including participants in the local 
                homeless management information system, concerning the 
                development of systems to measure performance outcomes 
                and with the Secretary for assistance with data 
                collection and measurements activities.
            ``(4) Report.--A grantee shall submit an annual report to 
        the Secretary that--
                    ``(A) identifies the grantee's progress towards 
                achieving its strategic performance outcomes; and
                    ``(B) describes other activities conducted by the 
                grantee to increase the participation, housing 
                stability, and other improvements in outcomes for 
                individuals who have been chronically homeless.
    ``(k) Training and Technical Assistance.--The Secretary, directly 
or through awards of grants or contracts to public or nonprofit private 
entities, shall provide training and technical assistance regarding the 
planning, development, and provision of services in projects under 
subsection (a).
    ``(l) Biennial Reports to Congress.--Not later than two years after 
the date of the enactment of the Services for Ending Long-Term 
Homelessness Act, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Congress a report on projects under subsection (a) that includes 
a summary of information received by the Secretary under subsection 
(j), and that describes the impact of the program under subsection (a) 
as part of a comprehensive strategy for ending long term homelessness 
and improving outcomes for individuals with mental illness and 
substance abuse problems.
    ``(m) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
            ``(1) The term `chronically homeless' means an individual 
        or family who--
                    ``(A) is currently homeless;
                    ``(B) has been homeless continuously for at least 
                one year or has been homeless on at least four separate 
                occasions in the last three years; and
                    ``(C) has an adult head of household with a 
                disabling condition, defined as a diagnosable substance 
                use disorder, serious mental illness, developmental 
                disability, or chronic physical illness or disability, 
                including the co-occurrence of two or more of these 
                conditions.
            ``(2) The term `disabling condition' means a condition that 
        limits an individual's ability to work or perform one or more 
        activities of daily living.
            ``(3) The term `homeless' means sleeping in a place not 
        meant for human habitation or in an emergency homeless shelter.
            ``(4)(A) The term `permanent supportive housing' means 
        permanent, affordable housing with flexible support services 
        that are available and designed to help the tenants stay housed 
        and build the necessary skills to live as independently as 
        possible. Such term does not include housing that is time-
        limited. Supportive housing offers residents assistance in 
        reaching their full potential, which may include opportunities 
        to secure other housing that meets their needs and preferences, 
        based on individual choice instead of the requirements of time-
        limited transitional programs. Under this section, permanent 
        affordable housing includes but is not limited to permanent 
        housing funded or assisted through title IV of the McKinney-
        Vento Homeless Assistance Act and section (8) of the United 
        States Housing Act of 1937.
            ``(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term 
        `affordable' means within the financial means of individuals 
        who are extremely low income, as defined by the Secretary of 
        Housing and Urban Development.
    ``(n) Funding.--
            ``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--For the purpose of 
        carrying out this section, there are authorized to be 
        appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the 
        fiscal years 2005 through 2009.
            ``(2) Allocation for training and technical assistance.--Of 
        the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, 
        the Secretary may reserve not more than 3 percent for carrying 
        out subsection (k).''.
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