Federal Policy Brief | 1 Jul 2011

Author: National Alliance to End Homelessness

Files: PDF | 101 KB | 1 page

FY 2012 Appropriations Request

Provide $100 million in SAMHSA homeless programs for essential mental health and substance use treatment services. These grants help chronically homeless families and individuals acquire and maintain permanent supportive housing. In addition, SAMHSA also funds other housing programs targeted to homeless and at-risk families, youth, and individuals.

The President’s FY2012 budget request included $89 million, a $12 million increase from FY 2010. This increase includes funding for the HUD/HHS Housing and Services for Homeless Persons Demonstration Initiative. Our $100 million ask would allow this initiative to move forward and provide approximately 20 new services grants targeted to ending homelessness.

Justification

On any given night, according to 2009 data, 656,129 people are homeless, and 17 percent of these individuals are defined as chronically homeless. Years of reliable data and research demonstrate that, for families and individuals with complex needs, the most successful intervention for ending and preventing homelessness is linking housing to appropriate support services. Although there is a need for more affordable housing, funding the supportive services is even more difficult. The Department of Health and Human Services 2007 report entitled Strategic Action Plan on Homelessness broadened HHS’ focus to include all homeless populations and their need for services.

SAMHSA homeless programs fill a gap created by a preference of HUD to fund housing capital need. Therefore, HHS must take responsibility, appropriately so, to fund the critically important services that are necessary for programs to be effective. In the last competition conducted by SAMHSA, the agency received over 500 qualified applications, of which the agency was only able to fund 68. The interest and capacity of providers to put these federal dollars to work and end homelessness for thousands of homeless individuals and families should demonstrate to Congress a clear mandate to significantly increase funding for SAMHSA’s homeless programs.

The current FY 2010 funding level of SAMHSA homeless programs is $77 million. This is divided between two accounts: $34 million within the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and $43 within the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). The President’s proposal would increase CMHS by $7.446 million and CSAT by $4.610 million.

HUD/HHS Housing and Services for Homeless Persons Demonstration Initiative

The President’s 2012 budget proposal again includes a demonstration program to more effectively and efficiently provide communities with both the housing and services funding needed to end homelessness. This is a HUD/HHS partnership creating two demonstration programs: one that couples Housing Choice Vouchers with TANF and Department of Education resources targeted to families, and a second targeted to chronically homeless populations that partners Housing Choice Vouchers with services funding by Medicaid and SAMHSA. The Medicaid and TANF elements are mandatory spending and do not require an appropriations amount. However, the HUD vouchers and SAMHSA’s contribution must be appropriated.

We are thrilled with the support that this initiative has garnered from all parties in Congress and the Administration, as it recognizes that the federal government can help communities more efficiently couple housing and services funding. We ask Congress to appropriate the necessary funds.