1.This Act may be cited as the
Services for Ending Long-Term
Homelessness Act
.
2.Congress makes the following
findings:
(1)Nationally, on any given night, there are
approximately 124,000 people who are experiencing 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)In 2003, 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.
Since the Commission made the recommendations, approximately 60,000 units of
permanent supportive housing have been developed and currently another 30,000
are under development. However, funding for the services continues to be an
ongoing problem even with respect to existing service providers.
(3)By implementing
permanent supportive housing, communities are making progress toward ending
chronic homelessness.
(4)Permanent supportive housing is a proven
and cost-effective solution to chronic homelessness. A 2007 study, of progress
in Portland, Oregon in ending chronic homelessness, found that the city and
county saved $15,000 per person involved per year by housing chronically
homeless individuals. Also, a 2009 study in Seattle illustrated that one
program saved $29,388 per person involved per year by implementing permanent
supportive housing.
(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.
3.Duties of
Administrator of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
AdministrationSection 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 & 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.
.
4.Grants for services
for chronically homeless individuals and families in supportive
housing
(a)Title V of the
Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C.
290aa et seq.), as amended by subsection (b), is amended by
adding at the end the following:
KGrants for
Services to end chronic homelessness
597.Grants for Services
to end chronic homelessness
(a)
(1)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 (d) to chronically homeless individuals
and families in permanent supportive housing.
(2)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 and families who are
chronically homeless; 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 fiscal management, project management, and coordinating the
activities of the consortium.
(b)In making grants under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall give priority to applicants demonstrating that the
applicants—
(1)target the services described in subsection
(d) and related 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 be
individuals or families who are chronically homeless;
(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 use disorder treatment, medical care, and employment
(including commitments to provide Federal funds in accordance with subsection
(e)(2)(B)(ii));
(3)will provide for an increase in the number
of units of permanent supportive housing that would serve chronically homeless
individuals and families in the community as a result of an award of a grant
under subsection (a); and
(4)have demonstrated experience providing
services to address the mental health and substance use disorder problems of
chronically homeless individuals and families living in permanent supportive
housing settings.
(c)The Secretary
shall ensure that consideration is given to geographic distribution (such as
urban and rural areas) in the awarding of grants under subsection (a).
(d)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 the following:
(A)Mental health services, including treatment
and recovery support services.
(B)Substance use disorder 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 and
families 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.
(I)Coordination or partnership with other
agencies, programs, or mainstream benefits to maximize the availability of
services and resources to meet the needs of chronically homeless individuals
and families living in supportive housing using cost-effective approaches that
avoid duplication.
(J)Data collection and measuring performance
outcomes as specified in subsection (k).
(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.
(e)
(1)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 agrees as follows:
(A)In the case of the initial grant pursuant
to subsection (j)(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 (j)(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)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 (d) 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 contributedContributions 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).
(f)A condition for the
receipt of a grant under subsection (a) is that the applicant involved agree
that not more than 10 percent of the grant will be expended for administrative
expenses with respect to the grant. Expenses for data collection and measuring
performance outcomes as specified in subsection (k) shall not be considered as
administrative expenses subject to the limitation in this subsection.
(g)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
(d) to homeless individuals or families who are not chronically homeless
individuals or families.
(h)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.
(i)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 2 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 use disorder, or other services that will be delivered by the
project.
(2)There is a mechanism for determining
whether residents of permanent supportive housing are chronically homeless
individuals or families. 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 individuals and families who have been chronically
homeless, to verify that an individual or family is chronically
homeless.
(3)The applicant participates in a local,
regional, or statewide homeless management information system.
(j)Duration of
initial and renewal grants; additional provisions regarding renewal
grants
(1)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 5 years.
(B)In the case of a subsequent grant (referred
to in this subsection as a renewal grant
), the period of
payments shall not be more than 5 years.
(2)Annual
approval; availability of appropriations; number of grantsThe 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)Compliance with
minimum standardsA 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.
(B)The maximum amount of a renewal grant under
this subsection for an applicant shall not exceed an amount equal to 75 percent
of the amount of Federal funds provided to the applicant in the final year of
the initial grant period.
(k)Strategic
performance outcomes and reports
(1)The Secretary shall,
as a condition of the receipt of grants under subsection (a), require grantees
to provide data regarding the performance outcomes of the projects carried out
under the grants. Consistent with the requirements and procedures established
by the Secretary, each grantee shall measure and report specific performance
outcomes related to the long-term goals of increasing stability within the
community for individuals and families who have been chronically homeless, and
decreasing the recurrence of periods of homelessness.
(2)The performance
outcomes described under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to
individuals and families who have been chronically homeless—
(A)improvements in housing stability;
(B)improvements in employment and
education;
(C)reductions in problems related to substance
use disorders;
(D)reductions in problems related to mental
health disorders; and
(E)other areas as the Secretary determines
appropriate.
(3)Coordination
and consistency with other homeless assistance programs
(A)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)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)A grantee shall submit an annual report to
the Secretary that—
(A)identifies the grantee’s progress toward
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 and families who have been chronically
homeless.
(l)Training and
technical assistanceThe
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).
(m)Biennial
reports to CongressNot later
than 2 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 appropriate committees of Congress a report on projects under
subsection (a) that—
(1)includes a summary of information received
by the Secretary under subsection (k);
(2)describes how the services provided under
each such project are coordinated with State and local social service programs
and homelessness assistance programs, and services provided by the Department
of Veterans Affairs and other relevant Federal agencies; and
(3)includes an evaluation of the manner in
which funds are used under such projects, and the effectiveness of such
projects in ending long-term homelessness and improving outcomes for
individuals with mental illness or substance use disorder problems.
(n)For purposes of this section:
(1)
(A)The term
chronically homeless, used with respect to an individual or
family, means an individual or family who—
(i)is homeless;
(ii)has been homeless continuously for at least
1 year or has been homeless on at least 4 separate occasions in the last 3
years; and
(iii)has an adult
head of household (or a minor head of household if no adult is present in the
household) with a diagnosable substance use disorder, a serious mental illness,
a developmental disability (as defined in section 102 of the Developmental
Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002)), post
traumatic stress disorder, a cognitive impairment resulting from a brain
injury, or a chronic physical illness or disability or the co-occurrence of 2
or more chronic physical illnesses or disabilities.
(B)An individual shall be considered to be chronically
homeless if such individual—
(i)resides in an
institutional care facility, including a jail, substance use disorder or mental
health treatment facility, hospital, or other similar facility;
(ii)has resided in a
facility described in clause (i) for fewer than 90 days; and
(iii)met all of the
requirements described in subparagraph (A) prior to entering that
facility.
(2)The term homeless means living
or residing in a place not meant for human habitation, in a safe haven, or in
an emergency homeless shelter.
(3)Permanent
supportive housing
(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 permanent housing funded or assisted through title IV of the
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11361 et seq.) and section 8
of the United States Housing Act of
1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f).
(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.
(4)Substance Use
Disorder ServicesThe term substance use disorder,
used with respect to services, has the meaning given the term substance
abuse services in section 330(h)(5)(C).
(o)
(1)Authorization
of appropriationsFor 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 2010 through
2014.
(2)Allocation for
training and technical assistanceOf the amount appropriated under paragraph
(1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary may reserve not more than 3 percent for
carrying out subsection
(l).
.
(b)Technical
amendments to Public Health Service ActTitle V of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa et seq.) is amended by—
(1)redesignating
part G, as added by section 144 of the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of
2000, as part J; and
(2)redesignating
sections 581 through 584, as added by section 144 of such Act, as sections 596
through 596C, respectively.
(c)Effective on the effective date described in section
1503 of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act
of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 11302 note), section 597(n)(3)(A) of the Public Health
Service Act, as added by subsection (a), is amended by striking (42
U.S.C. 11361 et seq.)
and inserting (42 U.S.C. 11360 et
seq.)
.