Bill to aid transitional homeless

By Oregon Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer,
Press Release,

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) was joined by Reps. Young Kim (CA-40), Robert Garcia (CA-42), and Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) in introducing the Transitional Housing Protection for the Homeless Act (H.R. 9644). The bipartisan proposal redefines the meaning of chronic homelessness in current law to ensure more people experiencing homelessness can access the resources they need to get back on their feet. It would also help transitional housing providers offer more services to those in need.

“To help our homeless population transition into stable housing, we must ensure the floor doesn’t fall out from underneath them while they take concrete steps to get back on track. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan Transitional Housing Protection for the Homeless Act, which builds on my previous efforts to reduce homelessness by protecting and expanding critical resources. This bill would help ensure that our most vulnerable populations receive the comprehensive support they need,” Chavez-DeRemer said.

“Rising housing costs only make life harder for our homeless population to get back on their feet. We must ensure our most vulnerable can receive support,” said Kim. “The Transitional Housing Protection for the Homeless Act aims to bridge the gap in affordable housing and provide hope to those struggling. I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan, commonsense bill and will keep working to support our communities.”

“We must ensure that our most vulnerable community members can get the services they need when moving into temporary housing, which is why we’re expanding the definition of ‘chronically homelessness.’ Experiencing homelessness is already extremely tough, and we need to make sure our government doesn’t let folks slip through the cracks during transition periods. I will always fight to make funding available for those struggling with homelessness,” Garcia said.

“Colorado is facing a housing crisis that has pushed many people into homelessness. Finding temporary housing or accessing transitional housing should not preclude people experiencing homelessness from receiving assistance that can lead to long-term stable housing. This legislation removes bureaucratic hurdles that are preventing people from getting the support they need,” Pettersen said.

The Transitional Housing Protection for the Homeless Act would require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to:

— Update its existing definition of chronic homelessness to include individuals who have experienced homelessness for at least one year — whether continuously or cumulatively within three years — to ensure they are eligible for support services;
— Include individuals residing in transitional housing for fewer than 90 days to be considered chronically homeless if they met the original criteria before entering the program – ensuring short-term residents of transitional housing are not excluded from critical assistance; and
— Make these changes within 180 days of the enactment of this legislation.

The bipartisan proposal is supported by the National Alliance to End Homelessness and Oregon-based organizations Central City Concern, LoveOne, and The Father’s Heart.

“The National Alliance to End Homelessness is pleased to endorse Representative Chavez-DeRemer’s bipartisan bill to amend HUD’s definition of “chronically homeless”, a term meant to identify those with the longest histories of homelessness who also have a disability.  Although considered a priority for HUD’s permanent supportive housing resources, the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness has increased nearly two times between 2016 and 2023. This is the result of more people aging into chronicity because of insufficient homelessness resources and an affordable housing crisis that is causing nearly 19,000 people each week to become homeless for the first time. Under HUD’s current definition of chronically homeless, in addition to having a disability, an individual or head of household would need to have experienced homelessness for the last year continuously or over a period of at least four separate occasions in the last three years totaling one year. The requirement of four separate occasions has inadvertently excluded many people who have been homeless for long periods of time from meeting the definition, making them ineligible for the resources they need most.  Representative Chavez-DeRemer’s bill would revise the definition to remove the requirement of four distinct occasions and instead allow any individual or head of household with a disability that has been continuously homeless for the last year or one year cumulatively over any number of occasions in the last three years to meet the definition. We believe that this change will remove a significant burden both administratively for homeless services providers and will ensure that those with the longest histories of homelessness are not locked out of receiving the help they need.” – National Alliance to End Homelessness

“This change to eligibility language acknowledges the realities of vulnerable folks trying to stabilize without sufficient access to behavioral health and affordable housing. Their path to stability is not linear, and this language allows flexibility to keep folks engaged with the programs intended to assist them.” – Brooke H. Goldberg, J.D.; Public Policy Director, Central City Concern

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