Services to End Long Term Homelessness (SELHA)

Date: 1 Feb 2007

Author: National Alliance to End Homelessness

Files:

The Services to End Long-Term Homelessness Act (SELHA) was a legislative initiative, proposed by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Corporation for Supportive Housing, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National AIDS Housing Coalition, and Enterprise, to fund supportive services for the permanent supportive housing necessary to end long-term homelessness. This act targets people who experience long-term or chronic homelessness, specifically people who literally live on the streets and in emergency shelters, who are frequent users of emergency care, who have disabilities and histories of violence that significantly impede their ability to live independently, and who have not responded to other efforts to become stably housed. SELHA would authorize funding for a flexible array of services in permanent supportive housing, focused on helping people move toward recovery and self-sufficiency. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services would administer the program. Services would include mental health and substance abuse assistance, health education and referral, self-sufficiency and case management.