Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009--Continued
Floor Speech
HELPING FAMILIES SAVE THEIR HOMES ACT OF 2009--Continued -- (Senate - May 06, 2009)
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DEFINITION OF HOMELESSNESS
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I thank my colleague Senator Reed for his hard work on this bill. Unfortunately, our homeless shelters and our schools are seeing an increasing number of families and children experiencing homelessness and seeking services. This bill comes at an important time. And I am particularly pleased with the emphasis placed on prevention and rapid rehousing, and efforts to better serve homeless individuals, such as victims of domestic violence.
Mr. President, I would like to inquire of my colleagues Senator Reed and
Chairman Dodd regarding the definition of homelessness in HEARTH Act and amendment No. 1040.
Mr. REED. Certainly, Mr. President.
Mrs. MURRAY. I thank the Senator. As you know, this amendment contains a new definition of homelessness. Homelessness is an issue I have long been concerned about both the immediate consequences of not having housing, as well as the adverse effects it can have on the broader success of children and families. For example, children that experience homelessness are more likely to fall behind in school and to experience social and emotional difficulties that hinder their academic and workplace success. Therefore, the Federal Government not only helps provide housing services for youth and families, but also education services through the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youths program at the Department of Education.
I appreciate the efforts to broaden the definition of homelessness in the HEARTH Act. It is an important step forward. However, I want to ensure that this new definition of homelessness does not inadvertently cause a lapse in services or cause confusion with the definition of homelessness included in the McKinney Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth program.
Is it the Senators' intent that the definition of homelessness in the HEARTH Act, which covers homeless youth as well as families, should ever replace or change the definition of homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youths program at the U.S. Department of Education?
Mr. REED. I thank the Senator for her important question. The definition of homelessness in the HEARTH Act in no way seeks to replace or change the definition of homelessness in any other statute. The definition of homelessness in the Education for Homeless Children and Youths program is critical to ensuring that homeless students have access to supports and services for their success in school. The definition of homelessness in the HEARTH Act does not and should not change or replace that education definition.
Mr. DODD. I would concur with my colleague, Mr. Reed. The definition of homelessness in the HEARTH Act is to apply to matters of housing under the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In fact, the amendment expressly states that the HUD homelessness definition is in no way meant to replace or change the definition of homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youths program.
Mrs. MURRAY. I thank the Senators. I have also worked hard on helping to encourage collaboration between the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Education to ensure the best services possible for homeless youth. Is it the Senators' intent that the Department of Housing and Urban Development should do everything in its power to coordinate with the Department of Education on serving homeless youth, and to ensure that no lapse in services under the Education of Homeless Children and Youths program occurs for students as any new HEARTH Act definition of homelessness is implemented?
Mr. REED. Yes, that is my intent, and it is the intent of the amendment. We continue to work on, particularly with your leadership, encouraging strong communication and coordination between the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Education on the issue of serving homeless youth. It is my intent to continue to encourage that collaboration and to work to the utmost degree, not just to prevent lapses, but to strengthen education services for homeless students while implementing the HEARTH Act.
Mr. DODD. It is also our intent that the Interagency Council on Homelessness provide increased leadership, coordination, and information on this growing issue of children, youth, and families threatened with homelessness. The amendment requires the Interagency Council to develop a government-wide plan to end homelessness, promote State planning efforts, and of course promote interagency cooperation. We will continue to work with the Council to ensure that the needs of families, children, and youth figure prominently in their efforts.
Mrs. MURRAY. This amendment will broaden HUD's definition of homelessness to include a subset of children and youth who meet the definition of homelessness used by other federal statutes. I appreciate the inclusion of these children and believe it is a step in the right direction. In particular, it covers those children and youth who: (1) have experienced a long-term period without living stably or independently in permanent housing; (2) have experienced persistent instability; and (3) who are likely to continue to do so because of disability or other barriers.
Since these concepts, such as the term ``long term period,'' are open to interpretation, is it the Senators' intent that HUD should consider the needs of children and the effects of instability on their developmental and academic progress when developing the regulations for this provision?
Mr. DODD. Yes, the committee recognizes that the expansion of the definition of homelessness to include these children and families was carried out with the intent of addressing the housing needs and challenges of children and youth who are homeless.
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, by including language that acknowledges the various definitions of homeless in other Federal statutes, is it the Senators' intention that HUD funded homeless providers should be encouraged to engage with homeless providers receiving funds from other Federal agencies to utilize their assessments and counsel in making eligibility determinations.
Mr. DODD. Yes. Federal programs must work together to meet the needs of families and unaccompanied youth, and that collaboration should include information needed for eligibility decisions.
Mrs. MURRAY. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the committee on improving services for students. Lastly, I understand that this amendment prohibits the Secretary from requiring that communities conduct actual counts of families and youth who are newly added to the HUD definition in HUD-mandated homelessness counts. Am I correct that this provision does not prohibit the Secretary from requiring communities to provide estimates of those who are newly added to the definition, so that communities may have a better sense of the shelter and housing needs of all families, children, and youth who will be considered homeless by HUD under this legislation?
Mr. REED. Yes, that is the case. We are open to finding ways to quantify the number of individuals and families experiencing housing instability and look forward to working with the Senator and the administration to do so.
I thank the Senator for her questions, and I look forward to working together on improving the prevention of homelessness and the provision of services to homeless individuals and families in order to break the cycle of homelessness.
Mr. DODD. I also thank the Senator for her questions, and I would be happy to continue working on to address the issue of homelessness with her.
Mrs. MURRAY. I thank the Senators, and I look forward to continuing to work on these issues.
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