Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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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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