Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2008
HOMELESS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND RAPID TRANSITION TO HOUSING ACT OF 2008 -- (House of Representatives - October 02, 2008)
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Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to start out by giving sincere thanks to everyone who has been involved in this issue. It has really been a struggle arriving at this point because the ability to determine who is exactly homeless has such infinite proportions that it has been very difficult to come to an agreement. However, the substance of this bill, the majority of the players support this on all sides of the debate. That would be on both sides of the aisle and in both Chambers.
But an enormous amount of thanks is due to certain people. I'm especially grateful to our chairman, Barney Frank; Chairwoman Waters; Representative Andre Carson; Representative Geoff Davis; and, of course, my very good friend and colleague, Representative Judy Biggert; and their staffs, who have done a tremendous deal of work on this bill; and all of the advocates who have worked so patiently with us.
But we wouldn't be here today, Mr. Speaker, if it weren't for the outstanding work of our dear departed colleague, my dear late friend, Representative Julia Carson of Indiana, who worked so hard on this issue for so many years and whose work has brought us to where we are today.
We need to keep in mind the enormous scope of this problem in light of the housing rescue issue that we are dealing with here in this House either tonight or tomorrow. This credit crisis hits the poorest among us. We are expecting no less than 6 1/2 million foreclosures in the next few years, and these families, of course, are at grave risk of becoming homeless. Whether they're doubled up with a family member, sleeping in a shelter, or spending the nights on the street, our cities and towns are due to face a tidal wave of people in need. At the same time, we know that 1.6 million people already experience homelessness at some point in a given year.
The mobility of kids due to housing insecurity and the education they receive is another huge problem. It is nearly impossible for a child to receive a quality education when they aren't sure where they'll be sleeping at night or even which school they will be attending in the morning. I think about the at-risk status of families and children in my own district, where 80 percent of the kids in our school system are eligible for free or reduced lunch. This bill provides a great deal of support for these families.
First, we expand HUD's definition of homelessness. This bill includes all families who are due to lose their current housing within a 14-day period because they're doubled up or because they've received a notice that they must move. We have doubled the amount of time that HUD currently recognizes these families under that standard from 7 days to 14 days. This bill specifically clarifies that anyone fleeing a domestic violence situation is homeless. We provide double funding for the Emergency Solutions Program, up to 20 percent of all funds, and then require that at least half of that money be spent on so-called homelessness prevention activities, which would be those who are ``couch surfing,'' that is, they are spending the night from couch to couch; they're doubled up; or otherwise fall outside of HUD's current definition. We also provide localities with additional flexibility to use up to 10 percent of their continuum of care funding to serve doubled-up families. Finally, we have provisions to include children and their families who are defined as homeless under other Federal statutes.
This bill is not perfect, but few pieces of legislation are.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE,
Washington, DC, October 1, 2008.
Hon. Barney Frank,
Chairman, Committee on Financial Services,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Frank: I write regarding H.R. 840, the ``Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2007''. The bill includes provisions concerning grants to provide health services to homeless individuals.
The Committee on Energy and Commerce has a jurisdictional interest in such provisions. I support H.R. 840 and do not intend to seek a sequential referral of the bill. My understanding is that you acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Committee, and you agree with me that my decision to forgo a sequential referral does not in any way prejudice the Committee with respect to any of its jurisdictional prerogatives, including the appointment of conferees, on this bill or similar legislation in the future.
I request that you send a letter to me confirming my understanding regarding the bill, and that you include our letters on this matter in the Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the House floor. I appreciate your cooperation.
Sincerely,
John D. Dingell,
Chairman.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES,
Washington, DC, October 1, 2008.
Hon. John D. Dingell,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter concerning H.R. 840, the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2008. This bill was introduced on February 6, 2007, and was referred to the Committee on Financial Services. The bill was ordered reported by the Committee on Financial Services on July 31, 2008.
I am pleased to confirm our agreement on this bill. I recognize that certain provisions in the bill fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce under rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives. However, I appreciate your willingness to forgo action in order to allow the bill to come to the floor expeditiously. I agree that your decision will not prejudice the Committee on Energy and Commerce with respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on this or similar legislation.
I will include this exchange of correspondence in the Congressional Record. Thank you again for your cooperation in this important matter.
Barney Frank,
Chairman.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
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