Reed, Dewine Introduce Bill That Would Fight To End Long-Term Homelessness
Reed, Dewine Introduce Bill That Would Fight To End Long-Term Homelessness
APRIL 6, 2005
Bill Seeks to Provide Support Services to the Chronically Homeless
Late yesterday, U.S. Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH) joined with Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Representatives Deborah Pryce (R-OH) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) to introduce companion bills in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives that would provide support services to the homeless. The Services for Ending Long-Term Homelessness Act would provide mental health and substance abuse treatment, general health referrals, life skills training including money management, family support, and other supportive services to individuals and families who are chronically homeless.
"Provid in g affordable hous in g alone is not enough for many chronically homeless people to achieve stability," Senator DeW in e said. "They need flexible, in dividualized support services to susta in hous in g. Nationwide between 200,000 to 250,000 people experience chronic homelessness, in clud in g children. By provid in g these services to the long-term homeless, we can help these individuals achieve the stability they need and give them a chance to lead reward in g, fulfill in g lives."
Senator Jack Reed stated, "SELHA is critical to the development and implementation of more effective strategies to combat chronic homelessness th r ough improved service delivery and coordination across federal agencies serving this population."
"It's one thing to offer someone a place to rest their head. It's another to offer those individuals hope and support to turn their lives around," said Pryce. "SELHA goes beyond the idea of a shelter and becomes a partner in treatment and training. This will help homeless individuals beat their addictions, get a stable job, or realize their potential and worth to society and move them off of the streets for good. And that's our ultimate goal."
"Chronic homelessness is very costly to emergency rooms, psychiatric hospitals, VA hospitals and the criminal justice system," said Eshoo. "This legislation will provide more resources that will reduce these costly expenditures while simultaneously permitting individuals with complex health needs to be housed and begin their journey to a productive life."
The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health recommended the development of a comprehensive plan to facilitate access to permanent supportive hous in g for the chronically homeless. The Services for End in g Long-Term Homeless Act recognizes that it is not enough to just provide affordable hous in g. Permanent supportive hous in g, which in cludes support services, is a proven and cost-effective solution to long-term homelessness. Accord in gly, this bill would provide authorization for fund in g of supportive services in a manner that can be closely coord in ated with fund in g for hous in g out of the Department of Hous in g and Urban Development.
The Services for Ending Long-Term Homelessness Act would also encourage Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to coordinate their efforts, not only with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, but with other Federal departments and agencies in order to develop and provide more effective strategies to combat chronic homelessness.
Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT) are additional original co-sponsors in the Senate. Representative Paul Gillmor (R-OH) is an original co-sponsor in the House.
http://reed.senate.gov/health/SELHAIntro4-6-05.htm