Barr proposes reform of federal Housing First homelessness policy

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) on Nov. 18 sponsored legislation that would reform the federal Housing First policy, an approach used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to quickly connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to permanent housing without preconditions and barriers to entry, such as sobriety, treatment or service participation requirements.

“We need to abandon HUD’s exclusive reliance on Housing First in favor of an all-hands-on deck approach to end homelessness in the United States,” Rep. Barr said during a press conference at the House Triangle on Thursday. “The Housing PLUS Act will ensure that HUD grant funding is reaching providers who are helping people transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency, without unneeded restrictions.”

Rep. Barr unveiled the Housing Promotes Livelihood and Ultimate Success (Housing PLUS) Act, H.R. 6018, with four original GOP cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI), to end HUD’s exclusive reliance on the Housing First approach, which a 2020 U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) report found has not worked. 

“Congressman Barr realizes what Congress has been doing regarding homelessness has not been working, and his Housing PLUS Act would start to address the issues by encouraging wraparound services to address the true root causes of homelessness,” said Robert Marbut, former director of USICH. “I thank Congressman Barr for his leadership on this critical issue.”

Specifically, under H.R. 6018, HUD could not prohibit, limit or otherwise restrict award of Continuum of Care (CoC) funds to providers because they require wraparound services, such as addiction treatment or job counseling, or because they are faith-based organizations, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Barr’s office.  

H.R. 6018 also would direct the HUD Secretary to allocate no less than 30 percent of CoC funding to recipients that provide, or facilitate access to, wraparound services, the summary says.

“Housing First prevents providers who require wraparound services from receiving federal funds to curb homelessness in our communities,” said Rep. Barr.  “These wraparound services are oftentimes necessary to ensuring a person can safely and fully attain permanent housing on their own.” 

The Texas Public Policy Foundation also supports the legislation, which has been referred to the U.S. House Financial Services Committee for consideration.