Political Quotes

“I rise to speak in support of the Helping People Experiencing Substance Use Disorder and Homelessness Act, which I introduced today. Housing is a fundamental social determinant of health, and unhoused individuals are often the victims of stark health disparities. Of the more than 580,000 people experiencing homelessness in the United States, an estimated 20 percent have a substance use and/or a mental health disorder. Mental health concerns, including substance use disorders, can cause and exacerbate homelessness. A lack of affordable housing is the primary driver of homelessness, and we are working to address this issue. Another piece of the puzzle is to ensure housing and social service providers have the resources to work together to ensure access to supportive services. That is why I am proud to introduce this bill to provide essential funding and tools for frontline organizations to coordinate health and homelessness services. If enacted, it will create a Federal interagency working group to advise grantees on best practices. The grants will invest in programs to build the capacity necessary to combat the United States' dual homelessness and mental health crises. I want to thank Representative Madeleine Dean for introducing this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us in taking this key step to addressing challenges that have been exacerbated by the COVID- 19 pandemic. ____________________”