[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 28, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S8198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BURR (for himself and Mr. Reed):
  S. 1523. 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 families, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I join my colleague, Senator Burr, in 
reintroducing the Services for Ending Long-Term Homelessness Act, 
SELHA.
  It is estimated that between 2.5 and 3.5 million Americans experience 
a period of homelessness in a given year. With the current economy, 
with more Americans losing their jobs and their homes, it is likely 
that the total has risen. While the majority of these individuals will 
only be homeless for a brief period of time, a growing segment is 
experiencing prolonged periods of homelessness. Roughly 124,000 
Americans fall under the category of chronically homeless. In my state 
of Rhode Island, approximately ten percent of homeless individuals 
cycle in and out of homelessness.
  In March 2003, former Department of Health and Human Services 
Secretary Tommy Thompson issued a report that defined the issues and 
challenges facing the chronically homeless and developed a 
comprehensive approach to bringing the appropriate services and 
treatments to this population of individuals who typically fall outside 
of mainstream support programs.
  The same year, the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health also 
recommended the development of a comprehensive plan to facilitate 
access to permanent supportive housing for individuals and families who 
are chronically homeless. Affordable housing, alone, is not enough for 
many chronically homeless to achieve stability. This population also 
needs flexible, mobile, and individualized support services to sustain 
them in 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. Numerous studies conducted by 
cities and states across the country demonstrate that supportive 
housing can save local governments between $15,000 and $30,000 that 
would otherwise be spent in publicly funded shelters, hospitals--
including VA hospitals--and prisons. The savings nearly pays for the 
cost of supportive housing and the outcome is much different; indeed it 
is much improved. Permanent supportive housing results in better mental 
and physical health, employment, greater income, fewer arrests, better 
progress toward recovery, self sufficiency, and less homelessness.
  However, funding for supportive services to complement these housing 
efforts continues to be an issue. The legislation we are introducing 
today is critical to the development and implementation of more 
effective strategies to combat chronic homelessness through improved 
service delivery and coordination across federal agencies serving this 
population. It directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration, SAMHSA, to coordinate its Federal efforts with the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, other Federal departments 
that provide supportive housing, and various agencies within HHS that 
provide supportive services.
  This bipartisan measure is designed to help improve coordination and 
ensure access to the range of supportive services that the growing 
number of chronically homeless Americans need to get back on their 
feet. Our bill brings together permanent supportive housing and 
services, the essential tools to enable these individuals to begin to 
take the steps necessary to once again become productive and active 
members of our communities.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues toward passage of this 
legislation.
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