[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 178 (Monday, October 30, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Markey):
  S. 3165. A bill to help persons in the United States experiencing 
homelessness and significant behavioral health issues, including 
substance use disorder, by authorizing a grant program within the 
Department of Health and Human Services to assist State and local 
governments, continuums of care, community-based organizations that 
administer both health and homelessness services, and providers of 
services to people experiencing homelessness, better coordinate health 
care and homelessness services, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the 
Homelessness and Behavioral Health Care Coordination Act of 2023, Which 
I introduced today.
  On any given night in the United States, more than 582,000 people are 
experiencing homelessness. An estimated 20 percent of those 
experiencing homelessness also have a behavioral health condition, 
including substance use disorders. While we know that the primary 
driver of homelessness is the lack of affordable housing units, we know 
that these behavioral and substance use disorders and conditions can 
further exacerbate homelessness.
  In order to ensure that those experiencing these conditions can 
obtain and retain housing, we need to ensure that both housing and 
social service providers have the resources to work together to 
increase access to supportive services. That is why I am proud to 
introduce this bill that would establish a grant program through the 
Department of Health and Human Services that would award 5-year grants 
of up to $500,000 to eligible entities to improve their capacity to 
coordinate culturally competent, trauma-informed behavioral health and 
homelessness services.
  The bill would also create a Federal interagency working group, with 
representatives from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Department of 
Agriculture, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to advise on how to 
carry out the program. The working group would also develop materials 
to facilitate understanding between Agencies offering health services 
and homelessness services.
  I want to thank Representative Madeleine Dean for introducing this 
bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us in taking this key 
step to addressing the homelessness and behavioral health crises.

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