[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 18, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H2707]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE STATE OF HOMELESSNESS IN AMERICA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Maxine Waters) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. MAXINE WATERS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise because I am 
deeply concerned about the homelessness crisis that is plaguing our 
country.
  Homelessness affects the very fabric of our communities, and it 
degrades the values upon which our country was built. Every American 
has the right to safe, decent, and affordable housing; but according to 
the latest estimates, nearly 600,000 Americans are currently homeless, 
over 83,000 of whom are chronically homeless and nearly 130,000 of whom 
are children who are under the age of 18, and these numbers are 
increasing in some of our major cities. Sadly, in my own hometown, in 
Los Angeles, homelessness increased by a staggering 20 percent between 
2014 and 2015, and it continues to rise.
  But this is not just about the numbers. When I visit our homeless 
neighbors on Skid Row in Los Angeles, I see how these Americans are 
facing chronic mental and physical problems that make it even harder to 
rehabilitate their lives. When I speak to families that are dealing 
with homelessness, I see the toll this housing insecurity is taking on 
their children, who can't concentrate in school because they are 
sleeping in cars at night.
  There is a solution to this problem, Mr. Speaker. We just need the 
political will and resources. That is why earlier this year I 
introduced comprehensive legislation to provide the resources we need 
to truly end homelessness in America.
  My bill, H.R. 4888, the Ending Homelessness Act of 2016, would 
provide over $13 billion over 5 years to strengthen programs and 
initiatives that will help us end homelessness in this country. The 
money will help to create approximately 410,000 units of housing to end 
homelessness for the estimated 407,000 homeless households in the 
country. This includes permanent supportive housing for the chronically 
homeless, for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher units, and deeply 
affordable units through the National Housing Trust Fund.
  My bill would also provide the resources to increase the number of 
outreach workers on the streets, working with homeless populations. 
Furthermore, my bill would provide technical assistance to help States 
and localities align their health and housing systems.
  Mr. Speaker, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has 
reported that major progress toward ending homelessness in this country 
has virtually stalled without new funding. So there is a real need to 
invest in our Federal housing programs and to support our local service 
providers who are on the streets helping the homeless every day.
  Passing H.R. 4888 would be an investment that would pay dividends in 
the long run. Research has shown that when we provide housing to 
chronically homeless individuals, the cost to the taxpayer is 
significantly less than if we allowed them to remain homeless. For 
example, Los Angeles County's Project 50 found that providing permanent 
supportive housing to 50 chronically homeless individuals saved the 
county close to $250,000 over 2 years. Similar results have been found 
in other major cities as well as in small cities and in rural areas 
alike.
  But this isn't just about the cost or the savings, Mr. Speaker. It is 
about recognizing the crisis that we face as a Nation and having an 
honest conversation about what we really need to do to put an end to 
homelessness.
  We are the richest country in the world, and every person should have 
access to safe, decent, and affordable housing. This should be a 
bipartisan issue. We must, all of us, Democrats and Republicans, work 
together to finally end homelessness in this country once and for all.
  Mr. Speaker and Members, I will be on this floor every chance I get 
to force the real debate and the real conversation about this crisis 
that we are confronted with in America. We cannot continue to walk past 
homeless, helpless, mentally ill, physically ill homeless people on the 
streets and pretend we don't see them. They are there. It is 
unconscionable that we allow this homelessness to continue to grow and 
to be on our streets.
  In Los Angeles, when you go to so-called Skid Row, we have people on 
the streets who are lined all the way up to the steps of City Hall.
  Elected officials, ministers, community organizations, let's get 
together with our legislators, let's pass H.R. 4888, and stop the 
homelessness in America.

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