U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) recently led a congressional call for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to review homeless assistance policies so programs that address the underlying causes of poverty aren’t forced to shutter.
Issa raised concerns about HUD’s use of the Obama administration’s Housing First approach to homeless assistance in a letter to HUD Secretary Ben Carson. U.S. Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE), Andy Barr (R-KY), Randy Hultgren (R-IL), Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Steve Stivers (R-OH) were among the lawmakers who signed the letter.
Housing First emphasizes immediate access to housing and gives homeless assistance priority to providers that offer voluntary rehabilitation or job training services. Independent programs that do not use the Housing First model and require sobriety and participation in work, training or service programs could be forced to close as a result.
“This is one of the worst examples of Washington’s we-know-better-than-you mentality and is just the kind of top-down mandates we need to be rid of,” said Issa, who noted that homelessness in San Diego is among the highest in the nation. “The Housing First approach may work for some, but it isn’t — and can’t be — the answer for all. This misguided policy has caused some of the most effective homeless assistance programs in our district to walk away from the funding they need to help families get back on their feet.”
HUD has eliminated incentives for independent housing programs to administer programs and services that foster accountability or sobriety to address the underlying causes of poverty, the letter states.
“In doing this, the department has effectively used its administrative and regulatory power to impose national priorities on communities, forcing communities and providers to maximize services for certain populations — chronically homeless adults — at the expense of other equally worthy populations — families, youth and children –— and particular program models, regardless of local circumstances, needs or a program’s effectiveness to lift participants out of poverty,” the letter states.
“Communities as a whole, which benefit from having these programs, are now unfortunately and unfairly penalized by the elimination or decline of such programs,” the letter added.
Issa and other lawmakers urged Carson to review HUD policies and to support programs that include families, youth and community-based program models that lead to long-term self sufficiency.
“In order to support these families and their children, we also urge you to end the recommended scoring guidelines that currently punish programs that prioritize work, education and sobriety,” the letter states. “We believe that families have the best opportunity to escape dependence on public assistance when they are supported in their recovery and given education, training and work opportunities.”