WASHINGTON, DC. Twenty years after Congress enacted and President Ronald Reagan signed into law the then-named Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (now McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act), the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee today convened a hearing on new proposals to reauthorize the homeless programs in the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. The legislative proposal (S. 1518), introduced in May by Senators Jack Reed (RI) and Wayne Allard (CO) is the "Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act." Senators and witnesses acknowledged both the timeliness of reauthorization efforts and strong consensus on common goals of program consolidation, housing emphasis, flexibility, and performance.

Acting Committee Chair Jack Reed convened the hearing and was one of eleven Senators to participate, including Committee Ranking Member Richard Shelby (AL). Senator Reed noted that the lessons learned over the last twenty years were an important focus for the new proposals, which includes goals of preventing and ending homelessness. Senator Reed noted his strong Committee partnership across several years with Senator Allard, Senate staff, and with many others which resulted in the development and introduction of the bill. Senator Reed observed that Federal action is needed because the cost of homelessness is so great in so many parts of the community.

Senator Allard underscored the importance of the bill's focus on outcomes and the leadership of Denver's Mayor John Hickenlooper in developing a strong 10-Year Plan and local public and private sector partnerships that have achieved a recently reported 36% decrease in chronic homelessness.

Senator Mel Martinez (FL), former HUD Secretary and first Chair of the revitalized United States Interagency Council on Homelessness in 2002, recalled the creation of the Administration's goal to end chronic homelessness and his pride in the accomplishments of the Interagency Council as it has constellated the National Partnership of 20 Federal agencies, 49 Governors, and more than 300 Mayors and County Executives partnered through 10-Year Plans. The Senator noted the importance of the seven years' of increased targeted federal resources for homelessness to the new results being reported from cities around the country where Mayors can now document decreased numbers of people experiencing homelessness long-term.

HUD Deputy Secretary Roy Bernardi affirmed the importance of moving forward with the consensus on consolidation of the homeless programs, which HUD is pursuing in its own legislative consolidation proposal which also seeks to increase flexibility and simplify program administration through measures such as a single match level. DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, who told the Senators that ending homelessness in the nation's capital is a major priority, noted the city's recent 6.5% decrease in chronic homelessness and the importance of the Housing First emphasis in the city's 10-Year Plan and the city's cabinet-level interagency council. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin noted her city's partnership in a 10- Year Plan that now includes eight jurisdictions. She described the city's $22 million homeless bond issue and $30 million philanthropic investment made into the plan, pointing out the important roles of research and partnership with the business and civic community. Mayor Franklin highlighted the importance of the U. S. Interagency Council's leadership and guidance in the development and implementation of Atlanta's Plan.

National Alliance to End Homelessness President Nan Roman, who played a key role in development of the Senate proposal, told the Senators: "The issue in reauthorization, then, is not what must be done, because everything must be done. The issue is achieving the right mix - how much of everything to do. And further it is how to improve outcomes in such as way as to build confidence in the system and attract new support and resources, public and private."

Also testifying were: Housing Assistance Council Executive Director Moises Loza, National AIDS Housing Coalition Board member Linda Glassman, National Network to End Domestic Violence Board Member Carol Gundlach, and State of Utah Department of Community and Culture, Division of Housing and Community Development, Homeless Task Force Director Lloyd Pendleton.

Mr. Pendleton pointed to his state's dramatic change in approach to homelessness over the last five years, identifying key elements as the leadership of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor and creation of the State's Interagency Council, Utah's 10-Year Plan and support for twelve regional plans, development of data, increased funding, and leadership from both the Interagency Council and National Alliance.

Other Senators participating in the hearing were Daniel Akaka (HI), Robert Bennett (UT), Sherrod Brown (OH), Robert Casey (PA), Mike Crapo (ID), Robert Menendez (NJ), and John Sununu (NH). Senators and witnesses also credited the work of key staff, especially Kara Stein of Senator Reed's office and Tewana Wilkerson of Senator Allard's office, with the important aspects of the bill's steady development.

Under the legislation, HUD would be required to provide incentives for communities to use proven research based strategies to end homelessness.The bill identifies the strategies as including permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals and families; rapid rehousing programs for families; and other research- based strategies that HUD, after public comment, determines are effective. The legislation outlines a set of performance measurements - emphasizing reductions in incidence, length, and repeat occurrences of homelessness - for designating "high-performing communities" who would be rewarded with additional flexibility. Several existing HUD homeless programs would be consolidated into a new Community Homeless Assistance program. Consolidation has been sought by the Administration to increase flexibility and local decision- making, and reduce administrative burdens. The bill would add new provisions for the HUD response to homelessness including prevention assistance and more flexible assistance and streamlined application process for rural communities.

Authorization for the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness would be extended through 2012 and the bill puts into statute the Council's mission " to develop and coordinate the implementation of a national strategy to prevent and end homelessness while maximizing the effectiveness of the Federal Government in contributing to an end to homelessness . . . "

Other bill provisions include: promoting community- wide commitment to ending homelessness through a requirement for a "collaborative applicant"; 30% of total funds available nationally to be allocated for permanent housing for individuals with disabilities or families headed by a person with disabilities; and a minimum 10% of overall funds for permanent housing for families with children. Leasing, rental assistance, and operating costs of permanent housing programs would be renewed non-competitively for one year at a time through the Section 8 housing voucher account, provided that the applicant demonstrates need and compliance with appropriate standards.

Pictured here are (top, left to right): Senators Reed, Shelby, and Martinez; and (bottom, left to right): HUD Deputy Secretary Bernardi, Mayor Fenty, and Mayor Franklin.

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