[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 124 (Thursday, July 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4928-S4929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Klobuchar, 
        Mr. Padilla, Ms. Rosen, Mrs. Shaheen, and Ms. Smith):
  S. 2357. A bill to fight homelessness in the United States by 
authorizing a grant program within the Health Resources and Services 
Administration for housing programs that offer comprehensive services 
and intensive case management for homeless individuals and families; to 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the 
``Fighting Homelessness with Services and Housing Act,'' which would 
establish a new Federal grant program to increase support for 
comprehensive services paired with housing to address our Nation's 
current homelessness crisis.
  As we have seen with the growing diversity of our homeless 
populations--families with children, veterans, individuals with mental 
health conditions and struggling with addiction, people who simply 
could not keep up with increases in rent--our Nation's homelessness 
crisis is not going to simply resolve itself on its own.
  According to the most recent data available from the U.S. Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, there are more than 580,000 homeless 
individuals and families in the United States. More than 25 percent of 
this population is in California, with approximately 161,548 homeless 
people sleeping on the streets on any given night.
  In a Nation as prosperous as ours, we can and we must do better, 
especially as we address this crisis in the aftermath of the 
coronavirus pandemic. Our city, County, State, and Federal governments 
must work hand-in-hand with the non-profit and private sectors to 
establish collaborative efforts to significantly address the issue of 
homelessness.
  The good news is that we have seen a model that works: supportive 
housing, which helps meet homeless individuals and families where they 
are. This approach can help stabilize an individual or family and 
change their life. Supportive services such as mental and physical 
health care, substance abuse

[[Page S4929]]

treatment, education and job training, and life skills such as 
financial literacy are critical components. Paired with intensive case 
management, supportive housing models make a difference.
  One success story is the Downtown Women's Center in Los Angeles. This 
shelter allows homeless and formerly homeless women to transform their 
lives through a combination of permanent, supportive housing and 
workforce development. This would not be possible without the Center's 
partnerships with the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County 
Department of Health, and other critical stakeholders. I've visited the 
Center and encourage my colleagues to do the same to see why this model 
works.
  It is imperative that we support State and local efforts, as well as 
nonprofit service providers, as they work to get people into housing to 
both mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and address their long-term 
needs.
  Without a doubt, it will take a significant investment to solve the 
current homelessness crisis. That is why I am introducing the 
``Fighting Homelessness with Services and Housing Act,'' which would 
authorize a new Federal funding stream of $1 billion per year, subject 
to annual appropriations. Grantees must serve individuals or families 
who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless by providing housing 
paired with a comprehensive set of services and must provide a 25 
percent match for any Federal funds received.
  Because each individual and every community is unique, the grant 
program created by this bill would be flexible in order to work in any 
region or for any homeless population.
  This bill supports the great work already being done across the 
Country, allowing local governmental entities and non-profit 
organizations to expand their capacity and ensure a greater reach by 
putting Federal dollars where they will make the most effective impact.
  This legislation is supported by a wide coalition of local 
governments, housing, health, and child welfare organizations, 
including the Mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment, National 
Alliance to End Homelessness, Corporation for Supportive Housing, 
National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, National 
Low Income Housing Coalition, and the NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social 
Justice.
  I hope my colleagues will join us in supporting the bill and moving 
it through the Senate, especially as we continue to contend with the 
increase in homelessness amid the coronavirus pandemic.
  Thank you, Mr. President, I yield the floor.
                                 ______