[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 99 (Thursday, June 13, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    REINTRODUCING THE SERVICES FOR ENDING LONG-TERM HOMELESSNESS ACT

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 13, 2019

  Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the Services 
for Ending Long-Term Homelessness Act, legislation that will help our 
nation address the long-term homelessness crisis.
  Since the first Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End 
Homelessness was launched in 2010, rates of homelessness among 
veterans, families, and chronically homeless individuals have fallen 
significantly. Our country has successfully taken thousands of 
individuals and families off the streets. Unfortunately, last year, the 
homeless population in the United States increased for the second year 
in a row since the inception of the Federal Strategic Plan. According 
to the annual U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 
Point in Time count, there were about 88,484 chronically homeless 
individuals and 8,429 people in households with children, for a total 
of 96,913 chronically homeless.
  Allowing men, women, and children to live on the streets is not a 
standard America should be willing to accept. Unstable housing impacts 
the lives of millions of Americans every year and addressing this 
problem forthrightly, as this bill does, will help get chronically 
homeless individuals and families off the streets. I ask that you join 
me in prioritizing these efforts to combat long-term homelessness in 
our country.
  Madam Speaker, this important legislation addresses our country's 
homelessness problem in the following ways:
  Requires the Secretary of HHS to design national strategies for the 
establishment of supportive housing services and programs to assist in 
ending chronic homelessness and to implement programs that address 
chronic homelessness.
  Requires the Secretary of HHS to make matching grants to eligible 
entities to provide services promoting recovery and self-sufficiency 
and augment the HUD-administered McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance 
Grants.
  Requires the Secretary of HHS to report performance outcome data on 
the projects carried out under the Act.
  Madam Speaker, as you know, the most recent data available shows us 
that more than a quarter of those currently living without permanent 
shelter are chronically homeless. We must continue to invest in the 
needs of these vulnerable and marginalized members of society, which 
will result in healthier, safer, and more productive communities.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in working to end homelessness across 
our nation by supporting this important piece of legislation.

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