President’s Budget Invests in Proven Solutions
February 14, 2012
Targeted Homeless Assistance Programs (Budget Authority in Millions of Dollars)
Building on the progress of Opening Doors, President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2013 (FY 2013) Budget Proposal includes a significant funding commitment to implement Opening Doors. This year’s Budget Proposal includes $4.7 billion for targeted homeless assistance funding, a 17% increase over the previously enacted Fiscal Year 2012 Budget.
“The President’s Budget reflects our commitment to funding what works,” said USICH Executive Director Barbara Poppe. “Together we have demonstrated that increased investment combined with strong collaboration and improved targeting leads to reductions in homelessness.”
The President’s FY 2013 Budget Proposal is the second budget developed by USICH member agencies since the release of Opening Doors and is a statement of the Administration’s commitment to preventing and ending homelessness as a national priority.
The 17% increase in targeted homeless assistance funding includes the following:
- Increased strategic investments to implement the HEARTH Act. $330 million increase for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Homeless Assistance Grants, including $286 million for the second year of the revamped Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG).
- Continued expansion of supportive housing for our nation’s Veterans through HUD-VASH. An additional 10,000 HUD-VASH vouchers combined with health care and supportive services to help Veterans exit homelessness.
- Additional funding and focus on prevention and rapid re-housing. $200M expansion of the Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for Veteran Families program—built on best practices developed across the country.
- New investments through the Affordable Care Act to leverage mainstream programs including Medicaid. Additional 5% increase in Department of Health and Human Services targeted homeless assistance programs.
“By continuing to invest in our Homeless Assistance Grants ($2.2 billion) and HUD-VASH ($75 million), we move toward realizing the vision of Opening Doors to finish the job of ending chronic and Veterans homelessness inside of 5 years and set a path to ending family and youth homelessness within the decade,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.
In the midst of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, the nation saw a drop in Veteran homelessness of nearly 12 percent and an overall 2.1 percent decline in homelessness among all populations.
This fact sheet serves as an overview of the targeted homeless assistance programs across the government.
Collaborative Initiative
HUD - Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program
The HUD Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program (HUD-VASH) combines Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance for Veterans experiencinghomelessness with case management and clinical services provided by VA. VA provides these services for participating Veterans at VA Medical Centers and community-based outreach clinics. To date, approximately 38,000 of these vouchers have been awarded to over 300 public housing agencies nationwide, with 10,000 vouchers yet to be awarded in fiscal year 2012. HUD is requesting an additional $75 million (10,000 vouchers) for HUD-VASH in 2013.
In FY 2013, VA will also provide $245 million in case management funding, a 21% increase over FY 2012.
Targeted Homeless Assistance Programs by Department
Department of Education
Education for Homeless Children and Youth
To ensure that all homeless children and youth experiencing homelessness have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education available to other children, the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program provides assistance to States to (1) establish or designate an Office of Coordinator of Education of Homeless Children and Youths; (2) develop and carry out a State plan for the education of homeless children; and (3) make sub-grants to local educational agencies to support the education of children experiencing homelessness.
- FY 2010 - $65.4 million
- FY 2011 - $65 million
- FY 2012 - $65 million
- FY 2013 (proposed) - $65 million
Department of Health and Human Services
Health Care for the Homeless
The purpose of the Health Care for the Homeless Program is to provide primary health care, substance abuse treatment, emergency care with referrals to hospitals for in-patient care services and/or other needed services, outreach services to assist difficult-to-reach people experiencing homelessness in accessing care, and assistance in establishing eligibility for entitlement programs and housing.
- FY 2010 - $171 million
- FY 2011 - $215 million
- FY 2012 - $231 million
- FY 2013 (proposed) - $257 million
Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness
Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness is a formula grant program that provides financial assistance to states to support services for homeless individuals who have serious mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
- FY 2010 - $65 million
- FY 2011 - $65 million
- FY 2012 - $65 million
- FY 2013 (proposed) - $65 million
Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals
The Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals Program in SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment enables communities to expand and strengthen their treatment services for individuals experiencing homelessness with substance abuse disorders, mental illness, or co-occurring substance abuse disorders and mental illness. HHS can award grants of up to five years duration to community-based public or nonprofit entities to provide addiction and mental health services to individuals experiencing homelessness.
- FY 2010 - $43 million
- FY 2011 - $42 million
- FY 2012 - $42 million
- FY 2013 (proposed) - $42 million
Services in Supportive Housing Grants
The Services in Supportive Housing Program in SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services was created to help prevent or reduce chronic homelessness by funding services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness while living with severe mental illness or co-occurring mental and substance disorders. The program addresses the need for treatment and support service provision to individuals and families.
- FY 2010 - $32 million
- FY 2011 - $33 million
- FY 2012 - $33 million
- FY 2013 (proposed) - $33 million
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Program funds over 740 public, community and faith-based organizations through three grant programs that serve the runaway and homeless youth population:
Basic Center Program
The Basic Center Program establishes or strengthens locally controlled, community and faith-based programs that address the immediate needs of runaway and homeless youth and their families. Basic Centers provide youth with temporary emergency shelter, food, clothing and referrals for health care. Other types of assistance provided to youth and their families may include individual, group, and family counseling, recreation programs, and aftercare services for youth once they leave the shelter. Grants can also be used for outreach activities targeting youth who may need assistance.
Transitional Living Program
The Transitional Living Program provides shelter, skills training and support services to homeless youth between the ages of 16 and 22 for a continuous period generally not exceeding 540 days, or in exceptional circumstances 635 days. Youth are provided with stable, safe living accommodations and services that help them develop the skills necessary to move to independence. Living accommodations may be host family homes, group homes or supervised apartments.
Street Outreach Program
The Street Outreach Program provides educational and prevention services to runaway and street youth who have been subject to, or are at risk of, sexual exploitation or abuse. The program works to establish and build relationships between street youth and program outreach staff in order to help youth leave the streets.
- FY 2010 - $115.6 million
- FY 2011 - $115 million
- FY 2012 - $115 million
- FY 2013 (proposed) - $115 million
Department of Homeland Security
Emergency Food and Shelter Program
The Emergency Food and Shelter Program helps meet the needs of people experiencing hunger or homelessness throughout the United States and its territories by allocating funds for the provision of food and shelter. The program is governed by a National Board, chaired by FEMA, and comprised of representatives from American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, Jewish Federations of North America, Salvation Army, and United Way Worldwide.
- FY 2010 - $200 million
- FY 2011 - $120 million
- FY 2012 - $120 million
- FY 2013 (proposed) - $100 million
Department of Housing and Urban Development
In 2013, HUD requests $2.231 billion to support programs designed to prevent and end homelessness. This represents an increase of $330 million over the FY 12 enacted amount, which will fund the increased competitive renewal demand in 2013 in addition to the funding necessary to meet the new HEARTH requirements and to continue implementation of Opening Doors.
However, this request does not fully fund HEARTH as authorized, which HUD estimates would cost nearly $4.4 billion (including meeting the new 30 percent permanent supportive housing requirement). The Administration proposes a budget that funds each of the priority areas identified in HEARTH, but the Emergency Solutions Grant and Rural Housing Stability programs are not funded at the fully authorized levels.
The requested funds can be categorized via the HEARTH Act authorized programs and eligible activities as follows:
Emergency Solutions Grants: $286 million
The Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG), implemented for the first time in FY 2011, includes funds for a variety of life-saving activities in addition to newer interventions like rapid re-housing and homelessness prevention that have proven to be successful in many communities at preventing and ending homelessness. Fiscal year 2013 is the first time since 2009 that communities do not have the resources that were made available to them as part of the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), and ESG will be an essential component of continuing the program infrastructure that was started via HPRP. Without ESG funds, many communities will end rapid re-housing or homelessness prevention projects that had positive outcomes. In fact, ESG requires grantees to use at least 40 percent of their funds on these activities so that these new and successful programs can continue.
Continuum of Care Program: $1.94 billion
- Renewal of existing projects: $1.91 billion
- New permanent supportive housing and CoC planning: $22 million
- Homeless Management Information System: $8 million
The Continuum of Care Program (CoC) is HUD’s largest and broadest targeted program to serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness. It also provides the infrastructure for the implementation of a comprehensive planning approach, data collection and analysis, and performance measurement. CoCs have the dual role of planning and operating programs, and using data collected through Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) to inform planning decisions and track performance at both the project and systems levels. Eligible activities include CoC planning; acquisition, rehabilitation, and new construction for capital projects; leasing; rental assistance; housing operations; HMIS; supportive services; and administration.
- FY 2010 - $1.865 billion
- FY 2011 - $1.901 billion
- FY 2012 - $1.901 billion
- FY 2013 (proposed) - $2.231 billion
For more information about HUD's Budget request see: http://portal.h