[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 136 (Thursday, September 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SERVICES FOR ENDING LONG-TERM HOMELESSNESS ACT OF 2009

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 24, 2009

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Services for Ending Long-Term Homelessness Act of 2009. The reality is 
that more than a half million Americans do not have a place to call 
home each night, and half of them are without shelter. This bill will 
alleviate the wide-spread problem of chronic homelessness across the 
country.
  According to the Department of Children and Families' most recent 
report, there are 85,907 persons homeless on any given day. At least 2 
million people find themselves homeless at some point each year in our 
country. There isn't nearly enough shelter for these individuals. In 
2007, my home state of Florida alone had 48,000 homeless people, with 
14,900 of them families and 7,691 of them chronic cases.
  Recently, I heard the story of a 25-year-old mother of three in my 
district, who was running out of options--staying at a hotel in Palm 
Beach County after fleeing domestic violence in Miami. As she was 
running out of money, this brave young woman and her young children 
soon would be homeless. But, they were one of the lucky ones. She was 
referred to The Lord's Place residence for homeless families, where she 
now lives with her children. As a leader in my district for chronic 
homelessness solutions, the Lord's Place is a perfect example of the 
types of establishments that would benefit immensely from this 
legislation. In this survivor's words: ``I am here. I am working. I am 
breathing. And I am grateful.''
  Throughout our country, over 100,000 people have nowhere to call home 
for years on end. These are the long-term homeless, who all too often 
also confront mental illness, substance addiction, life-threatening 
illness or other serious health problems. The good news is: this bill 
presents us with an opportunity to put an end to this national crisis 
that hits home for all of us.
  In 2003, the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health 
recommended the development and implementation of a comprehensive plan 
designed to create 150,000 units of permanent supportive housing for 
consumers and families who are chronically homeless. Affordable housing 
alone can't meet the needs for many people with severe mental illness. 
This bill will establish funding for supportive housing, affordable 
housing linked to accessible mental health, substance addiction, 
unemployment, and other support services as necessary. Permanent 
supportive housing is cost-effective, and is the soundest available 
investment of public and private resources to end long-term 
homelessness.
  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. This bill will establish a 
comprehensive grant program to provide supportive housing for 
chronically homeless individuals and families that they so badly need. 
Support services will include mental health services, substance use 
disorder treatment, referrals for medical and dental care, health 
education, and services designed to help individuals make progress 
toward self-sufficiency and recovery. Permanent supportive housing can 
help the chronically homeless stay off the streets, out of hospitals 
and jails, and ultimately help them achieve the stability they need to 
lead healthy lives as productive members of their communities.
  Madam Speaker, it is time we take a stand to put an end to long-term 
homelessness in America. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and 
to support a proven and cost-effective solution to ending chronic 
homelessness.

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