Read on Twitter
The House #COVID19 relief proposal would make significant strides toward addressing and preventing major increases in #homelessness due to the public health and economic crisis. https://www.cbpp.org/press/statements/greenstein-pelosi-package-would-provide-essential-support-for-economy-relief-to
This thread explains what’s on the table.
This thread explains what’s on the table.
The bill includes $11.5b to help people who are currently without a home. This will help service providers reconfigure shelters, deliver health services to people living on the street, & pay for temporary housing in hotels & motels. #COVID19 https://endhomelessness.org/resource/estimated-emergency-and-observational-quarantine-bed-need-for-the-us-homeless-population-related-to-covid-19-exposure-by-county-projected-hospitalizations-intensive-care-units-and-mortality/
To prevent #homelessness, the bill includes $100b in short- and medium-term assistance to help people in people with very low incomes pay rent, utilities, etc. so they don’t lose their homes at this critical time. #COVID19
To help those who need assistance longer, the bill includes $4b for housing vouchers. $1b of this will allow 100,000 people to transition from shelters & temporary housing, avoid evictions, or escape harmful living conditions. #COVID19
This will be particularly important to protect people who will need help beyond the next year or two. #COVID19
Housing vouchers are highly effective at reducing #homelessness, housing instability, & overcrowding. But, due to limited funding, only 1 in 4 likely eligible households receive this assistance. #COVID19 https://www.cbpp.org/research/housing/research-shows-rental-assistance-reduces-hardship-and-provides-platform-to-expand
Resources like housing vouchers & shorter-term rental assistance that reach the people who need them have a positive impact for marginalized pops. who are often over-represented in the homeless system due to the harmful effects of racism & discrimination. https://endhomelessness.org/resource/racial-disparities-homelessness-united-states/
100,000 vouchers won’t address the entire longer term need & we recommend more funding be made available in the final bill to help at least 500,000 people, but this is a good first step. #COVID19 https://www.cbpp.org/blog/urgent-need-for-more-housing-vouchers-other-rental-assistance-amid-pandemic
And, the House #COVID19 bill includes other proposals like a new emergency aid funding through the Social Services Block Grant and a boost to SNAP funding which will help people with the fewest resources meet their basic needs & avoid serious hardships.
The pandemic and resulting economic downturn have made it crystal clear that housing is essential to everyone’s health and safety. Both during and after this crisis, we should do all we can to prevent and end homelessness. #COVID19
And here’s more detail on the HEROES Act and the need for housing vouchers to help people stabilize during this health and economic crisis from @CenterOnBudget’s Will Fischer. https://www.cbpp.org/blog/house-bill-provides-vital-housing-aid-but-more-vouchers-needed
