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.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · October 30, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5231)
This bill establishes a federal grant program within the Department of Health and Human Services to help coordinate healthcare and homelessness services for people experiencing homelessness who have behavioral health issues like mental illness or substance use disorder. The program would award competitive grants of up to $500,000 each for five years to eligible entities including government agencies, nonprofit organizations, public housing authorities, and tribal organizations that are designated by local continuums of care. Grant funds can only be used to build coordination capacity, such as hiring system coordinators, improving technology infrastructure, and enhancing connections between health and homelessness service providers, but cannot be used to directly pay for healthcare or rent. The bill authorizes $20 million annually from fiscal year 2023 through 2028, with at least five percent reserved for tribal entities, and requires grantees to report annually on outcomes such as whether clients were housed, enrolled in treatment, and had improved health outcomes.
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