Legislative Updates 
SAMHSA Homeless Services
The Alliance works in partnership with the Corporation for Supportive Housing, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Enterprise Community Partners, and the National AIDS Housing Coalition, to increase resources available for homeless services administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Efforts are being made to increase federal funding within SAMHSA homeless programs, including 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.
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.
An increase in resources for services is needed to overcome HUD’s preference for funding housing capital needs over services and barriers to mainstream programs, such as Medicaid, welfare, Medicare, and general substance abuse and mental health services funds.
Latest News:
Funding
President Obama's FY 2010 budget proposal called for $75 million for SAMHSA homeless programs, including GBHI. In addition, it requested an increase of $8 million for the PATH program, which would bring total funding to $68 million in FY 2010. Over the coming months, Congress will work on drafting and approving its appropriations bills.
Authorizing SELHA
SELHA has not yet been reintroduced in the 111th Congress. The Alliance and our partners are developing a strategy for moving these proposals forward.
FY 2010 Appropriations: Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Services for Homeless Populations
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.
FY 2010 Appropriations: SAMHSA Homeless Services Programs
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.
FY 2010 President's Budget Rundown
This document provides a brief rundown on funding for homeless and housing programs that were included in President Obama's FY 2010 budget proposal.
Organizations Call for Increased Funding for SAMHSA Homeless Programs
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.
PATH FY2010 Appropriations Recommendation
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.
President's FY 2010 Budget Proposal Chart
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 FAQ
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.
FY 2010 Appropriations: Services for Homeless Populations
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.
Services Funding among Federal Agencies
This one-pager describes how the funding for homeless services is distributed across various federal agencies.
SAMHSA Reauthorization Recommendation
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).
Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
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.
Increasing Federal Funding for Services for Permanent Supportive Housing: Rural Fact Sheet
February 1, 2007
Supportive Housing is Cost Effective
January 19, 2007
2008 Policy Guide
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.
