Senator Padilla addresses homelessness and substance abuse with new bill

The Coordinating Substance Use and Homelessness Care Act of 2022 creates grant program

WASHINGTON (KYMA, KECY) - Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) introduces new bill to help with homelessness and substance abuse crises with a grant program.

The Coordinating Substance Use and Homelessness Care Act of 2022 creates a grant program under the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which gives support to trauma-informed substance use disorder and homelessness services.

“With over half a million people in our country experiencing homelessness, and about 1 in 5 of them having substance abuse or mental health disorders, we must work to better coordinate resources for this vulnerable population,” says Senator Padilla. “This bill is about removing barriers and streamlining health and housing services to more effectively address the homelessness and growing substance abuse crises.”

“We can more holistically support people experiencing homelessness and substance use disorder by strengthening the connections between health and homeless services, giving them a better chance of recovery and remaining stably housed,” Representative Dean mentions.

“I applaud Senator Padilla for introducing the ‘Coordinating Substance Use and Homelessness Care Act,’ which builds on decades of research, learning, and bipartisan support for proven solutions to homelessness,” states Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “The evidence is irrefutable: the most effective way to end homelessness for most people is to provide affordable, accessible homes linked with voluntary wrap-around services, including substance use and other health services. By building our nation’s capacity to bring together housing and healthcare services, this bill can help us more effectively address homelessness.”

The new bill will have a HUD grant program awarding 5-year grants up to $500,000 to eligible entities to improve their culturally competent, trauma-informed substance use disorder and homelessness services that offer support.

Participants need to provide annual reports to HUD to make sure their programs are being efficient no later than 6 years after receiving the grant.

The grant program assists in appointing a coordinator to oversee the overlap in services, improve systems infrastructure and technologies, including Medicaid enrollment and increasing naloxone availability.