Legislative Updates 
SAMHSA Homeless Services
There are numerous resources available for homeless services from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). SAMHSA homeless programs include the Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals (GBHI) program, the Treatment Systems for Homeless program, and the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program. In addition, efforts are underway to authorize the Services to End Long-Term Homelessness Act (SELHA), which would fund an array of services in permanent supportive housing.
LATEST NEWS:
On July 24, the House approved $75 million for SAMHSA homeless programs in the FY 2010 appropriations legislation. In addition, the House included $68 million for the PATH program, an increase of $8 million. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the legislation on July 30, which included $75 million for SAMHSA homeless programs and $65 million for the PATH program. The full Senate is expected to vote on the legislation in the coming weeks.
On September 23, SELHA was re-introduced into the House as H.R. 3636. On July 28, SELHA was re-introduced in the Senate as S. 1523. Both bills currently await committee action.
More Information on SAMHSA Homeless Programs
SAMHSA Homeless Services programs provide supportive services — such as mental health, substance use, and health care, and case management — linked to housing. These programs are highly effective and cost-efficient.
For example, years of reliable data and research demonstrate that the most
successful intervention for chronic homelessness links housing assistance to appropriate support services. From 2005 to 2007, the number of chronically homelessness individuals decreased by 28 percent nationwide. Current SAMHSA investments have played a role in this decrease.
The largest obstacle for many communities to continue making progress toward ending homelessness is funding for services. An increase in resources for services is needed to overcome barriers to accessing mainstream programs, such as Medicaid, welfare, Medicare, and general substance abuse and mental health services funds. SAMHSA’s financial support of services in these environments is a critical step on the road to ending homelessness.
Efforts are also underway to authorize the Services to End Long-Term Homelessness Act (SELHA) and to create a System of Care for homeless populations living with mental illness. SELHA would create a new program within SAMHSA to fund an array of services in permanent supportive housing, with a focus on helping people move towards recovery and self-sufficiency. A System of Care for homeless populations would give states, counties, and cities funding to develop, within their existing mental health system, the infrastructure necessary to provide coordinated social services to mentally ill homeless individuals, families, and youth. Programs that link affordable housing with the appropriate level of supportive services are proving to be effective for all homeless populations. However, the largest obstacle for many communities to continue making progress toward ending homelessness is funding the services.
The Services for Ending Long Term Homelessness Act (SELHA)
2009 Policy Guide
Explainer: How Much Does the Federal Government Spend on Homelessness?
FY 2010 Appropriations: SAMHSA Homeless Services Programs
FY 2010 Appropriations: SAMHSA Homeless Services Programs
FY 2010 President's Budget Rundown
Organizations Call for Increased Funding for SAMHSA Homeless Programs
PATH FY2010 Appropriations Recommendation
President's FY 2010 Budget Proposal Chart
SAMHSA Homeless Programs FAQ
FY 2010 Appropriations: Services for Homeless Populations
Services Funding among Federal Agencies
SAMHSA Reauthorization Recommendation
Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
Increasing Federal Funding for Services for Permanent Supportive Housing: Rural Fact Sheet
Supportive Housing is Cost Effective
SELHA would authorize funding for a flexible array of services in permanent supportive housing, focused on helping people move toward recovery and self sufficiency.
This policy guide provides information about the most important federal programs, policies, and legislation affecting homelessness. Key housing and homelessness topics are covered including HUD's McKinney-Vento homeless assistance programs, Section 8 housing choice vouchers, and housing programs dedicated to people with HIV/AIDS, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Answering the question about how much the federal government spends on homelessness should be as simple as summing the total expenditures for homeless assistance programs. Homeless programs, however, do not fit neatly into one federal agency; instead they are spread across several, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Education (ED), and the Department of Labor (DOL).
The National Alliance to End Homelessness joins several other national organizations in requesting that Congress appropriate $120 million in funding in FY2010 for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) homeless programs. These programs fund mental health and substance use treatment services for homeless populations. This one-pager includes a justification for that request and information on the need for sufficient services funding for homeless individuals and families.
SAMHSA Homeless Services Programs, the Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals (GBHI) and Treatment Systems for Homeless programs, provide essential mental health and substance use treatment services needed to help homeless people maintain their housing and make progress toward recovery and self-sufficiency.
This document provides a brief rundown on funding for homeless and housing programs that were included in President Obama's FY 2010 budget proposal.
The Alliance was joined by 140 national, state, and local organizations in signing two letters to Congress and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), calling on them to support both the SOAR (SSI / SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery) initiative and an increase in funding for SAMHSA homeless programs in the FY 2009 Appropriations Bill.
This one-pager provides background information on SAMHSA's Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program. It also explains the Alliance's recommendation that in FY2010 the PATH program receive at least $75 million in appropriations.
This chart provides information about targeted homeless assistance programs included in President Obama's fiscal year (FY) 2010 Budget Proposal, which was released on May 7, 2009. The chart also includes historical appropriations levels from FY 2008 and FY 2009.
SAMHSA homeless programs award grants across the U.S. to improve the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders for those experiencing homelessness. These grants go to community-based public and private nonprofit organizations that provide substance abuse services and mental health treatment for homeless individuals.
This document describes the Alliance’s request for an increase in federal funding for services in homeless programs administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This funding request will help provide mental health substance use treatment and other services necessary for someone to maintain housing such as outreach and engagement, housing retention supports, financial management, intensive case management, assertive community treatment team interaction and income support.
This one-pager describes how the funding for homeless services is distributed across various federal agencies.
This April 2007 document describes the Alliance’s priorities for reauthorizing SAMHSA. The Alliance supports creating a system of care for homeless individuals, families, and youth, as well as authorizing S. 593, the Services to End Long-Term Homelessness Act (SELHA).
The Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program allocates funds by formula to states to serve homeless people with serious mental illness. Eligible services include outreach, screening and diagnosis, habilitation and rehabilitation, community mental health services, substance abuse treatment, case management, residential supervision, and housing.
February 1, 2007
January 19, 2007
