#NNPA BlackPress
Chairwoman Waters Introduces Bill to End Homelessness in America
NNPA NEWSWIRE — “In the richest country in the world, it is simply unacceptable that we have people living in the streets,” said Chairwoman Waters. “Today, there are over a half million people experiencing homelessness nationwide. Nearly 160,000 of them are children and nearly 38,000 are veterans who we have failed to support after their service to our nation.”
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee, introduced H.R. 1856, the Ending Homelessness Act of 2019, legislation that provides a comprehensive plan to ensure that every person experiencing homelessness in America has a place to call home.
“In the richest country in the world, it is simply unacceptable that we have people living in the streets,” said Chairwoman Waters. “Today, there are over a half million people experiencing homelessness nationwide. Nearly 160,000 of them are children and nearly 38,000 are veterans who we have failed to support after their service to our nation.
“In Los Angeles County, there are over 50,000 people experiencing homelessness, nearly 5,000 of whom are children, and over 3,800 of whom are veterans.
“As Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee, I have made it a top priority to focus on this crisis. That is why I have introduced the Ending Homelessness Act of 2019, which would provide $13.27 billion in new funding over five years to federal programs and initiatives to prevent homelessness.
“It is time for Congress to step up and provide the resources and funding necessary to address this important issue and I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that every American has a safe, affordable place to call home.”
The Ending Homelessness Act of 2019 would appropriate $13.27 billion in mandatory emergency relief funding over five years to several critical federal housing programs and initiatives, providing the resources that these programs need to effectively address the homelessness crisis in America.
This bill includes the following funding amounts over and above what is already annually provided for these existing U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs:
- $5 billion over five years to McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants, which is expected to provide 85,000 new permanent housing units;
- $2.5 billion over five years to for new Special Purpose Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV), which is expected to provide an additional 300,000 housing vouchers and would give preference to those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless;
- $1.05 billion annually in mandatory spending dedicated to the National Housing Trust Fund, which in the first five years of funding is expected to create 25,000 new units affordable to extremely low-income households, with a priority for housing the homeless;
- $500 million over five years in outreach funding to ensure that homeless people are connected to the resources they need and;
- $20 million for states and localities to integrate healthcare and housing initiatives, which provides technical assistance to help state and local governments coordinate their healthcare and housing initiatives that are funded by federal programs.
This bill is supported by the Center for Supportive Housing, Community Solutions, Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, Drug Policy Alliance, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Leading Age, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, National Housing Conference, National Housing Law Project, National Housing Trust, National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Rural Housing Coalition, PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), Public Housing Authority Directors Association, Stewards for Affordable Housing for the Future, and TELACU Residential Management.
Click here to view the legislation, an executive summary, and a section-by-section. Congresswoman Waters first introduced the Ending Homelessness Act in 2016.
Eric Smith
March 26, 2019 at 3:45 PM
Maxine waters is an truly GREAT BLACK WOMAN BLACK by GOD
Beatrice Jones
April 24, 2019 at 12:09 PM
Eric, I’m curious why you think she’s great. She’s against the President who has done more for the black community than any other in 50+ years. Just curious.
Maria
May 26, 2019 at 9:07 PM
Beatrice, what exactly has Trump done more for the Black community than any other in 50+ years. Just curious.
Rocco
June 26, 2019 at 7:34 PM
1. He signed a bill that forgave 300 million in leftover unpaid debts from Katrina.
2. He has implemented the Opportunity Zone program that gives big tax incentives to develop business and infrastructure in low income at risk neighborhoods.
3. Black unemployment has been reduced by 4% down to the lowest in history.
4. Wages for everyone have increased by 3-8% depending on industry. This is the first time in three decades wage increase exceeded cost of living.
5. He signed the first legislation to reform overly punitive sentencing and has pardoned many black people that suffered under Clinton’s 3 strikes rule.
6. Finally, Mr. Trump has brought confidence and real hope to the community by showing them THEY CAN. Do life without endless soul crushing handouts. In a word, dignity and boy oh boy there is so much more coming!!!
These are not all but just some highlights. There is so much the MSM is hoping you won’t find out.
P.S. Trump fought Palm Springs to build MaraLago as a non discriminatory club. He insisted his club be the first to accept EVERYONE of all colors. Back then no club existed there that was not segregated if you can believe it. Trump insisted his would be open.
Rickie
June 21, 2019 at 7:23 PM
Is her District prospering yet? If she has not helped her own District over 40 years of Service, how will she help the nation? She in a 4.4 million dollar home.40 years?
MissyT
June 28, 2019 at 7:22 AM
Is her daughter going to be in charge of the money, making big money off taxpayers? And didn’t she and her minions cause this by their spending and resulting high taxes. She doesn’t even LIVE in her DISTRICT. She’s not a rational human and not even educated. She cited that we landed on Mars – never happened. She encouraged people to ‘get in people’s faces’ with whom you disagree – inciting harassment of someone with whom you don’t share the same point of view. She is evil and if you think God sent her, you either have the wrong God or have been brainwashed.
Beth Stinger Beighley
March 26, 2019 at 7:16 PM
Great job Maxine…..may everyone join you n pass this much needed bill…it is a disgrace to have families n homeless people living in the streets where they have no bathing or bathroom facilities….or water to drink or a place to get out of the freezing cold n rain! Shelter is a basic human need!! Much Success in this….may it pass quickly!❤
Mike Hoppe
April 21, 2019 at 7:28 PM
I agree.
Carolyn
June 19, 2019 at 10:50 PM
Question what have Trump done or what he claimed he done how and when
Lawrence William Page
March 26, 2019 at 7:47 PM
Thank You again Maxine. There is a way to solve the problems of poverty, homelessness, most crime, and other negative consequences of the current monetary system. The time has arrived for a universal basic income, universal healthcare, and related services. When people whine about socialism have them read the Preamble to the US Constitution again. Take the time to read both of my articles on the topic.
https://forgingnewparadigms.blogspot.com/2018/12/universal-basic-income-foundation.html
Fran
June 28, 2019 at 3:50 PM
I sure hope you are a taxpayer, because you will be paying 70 to 80 percent taxes, hope you only have a little left to live on
MANINTHEHILLS
April 4, 2019 at 4:56 PM
On the surface, it seems good, but can never work in reality.
And she KNOWS it.
Mary
April 7, 2019 at 9:32 AM
Yes. And stupid people will read the headline not look into how the budget works for it and applaud her not realizing she’s making things worse.
Cakeladee60
April 19, 2019 at 8:55 AM
You’re so right.
JAMES BOURNE
June 2, 2019 at 11:32 PM
Pie in the sky. I totally agree with you. If more attention was given to promoting the traditional family and not this constant cry from society that women can do it on their own, leaving men to question their role, much of this homelessness would not exist. Men, in today’s world, do what they do and then leave, sometimes without even realizing that they’ve been responsible for beginning another life. It is shameful that mostly democrat policies have caused these deficiencies in people’s lives. Everyone with a heart wants to help the homeless. Of course we should have places where they all can rest, eat, bathe, have bathroom facilities, etc. That is not the solution to this problem. Many people, maybe most, provided with a sparse existence would just take it and give up trying. Our welfare system has proven that. Welfare has stolen the drive from people. They don’t dream. They’re angry most of the time. This is just another welfare program that will linger forever. A few will be helped, but most will just take what they’re given and stop dreaming. This massive amount of money could be better spent. Maxine Waters should be voted out of office and someone who wants to help with real solutions should be voted in.
Leckey Harrison
April 6, 2019 at 12:31 PM
I I wonder how this works out with local efforts. Here in Seattle, a LOT of money is spent, and the problem gets worse. So where is all the money going? Now lets add more to it? I haven’t read the bill, but I would ponder the accountability and what they use as proof it’s working.
Mary
April 7, 2019 at 9:31 AM
This is a terrible idea. Less laws would actually help homelessness more than this. She’s giving grant money…ok those are really hard to get and are super political and you need a grant writer. Mandatory spending is never a good idea either- my dad worked in government and they would have to buy new furniture to spend their whole budget so they didn’t lose the money the next year- dumb and wasteful. This whole plan makes no financial sense and doesn’t fix the problem. Having less regulations like making it legal to donate food to people after restaurants are legally required (in some places) to throw it away would be way more effective. Give money to private charities if you want to help not add laws and mandatory spending. If your idea is mandatory…it isn’t a good idea.
Nikki
April 8, 2019 at 7:29 PM
It will take more than money to fix the homeless problem. The mental problems are over whelming and there are few places to accomadate their care.
Itara O'Connell
April 12, 2019 at 7:15 PM
The homeless experiment is over. We need hundreds if not thousands of mental health facilities country-wide that are state of the art, comfortable and well staffed. This is truly a national emergency and should have funding priority. The issue has been – do people have the right to live on the street, dump their trash and excrement where ever they want.I say no. Living on the street is not okay for the mentally ill, families or others and not okay for the community. If you are not able to house yourself, we will make other arrangements.
Michael G Hoppe
April 21, 2019 at 7:29 PM
Ms. Waters is another TRUE AMERICAN HERO!
Fed Up
May 27, 2019 at 9:54 AM
Homeless here in L.A. since 2008. I’m not a drug addict or a drunk or somebody who is mentally ill. I’m a college educated person who reads about 200 books so I’m no moron either. All this homelessness you see around you is all on the Democrats. They have an agenda. And that agenda is to make life in this country so expensive that anybody who is making under 100K a year has to rely on some kind of government assistance to survive. Thousands of homeless people is all part of that plan. Allowing this country to be flooded with illegal immigrants is part of that plan. L.A. has around 1,000,000 illegal immigrants. That is why we have a shortage of apartments in L.A. And that shortage is why all of the landlords here are getting away with price gouging. The rents in L.A. aren’t just expensive anymore. They are way over-priced. I’ve had a lot of jobs in my life where I was making 2 to 300 dollars a day. But these days you need to make around 400 a day just to afford a single apartment in this city. Anything less than that and you’re living with roomates, the government is subsidizing your rent with a Section 8 voucher, or you’re just working your butt off so you can hand over all of your money at the end of the month to your landlord. And if you’re somebody who sees no shame with the government subsidizing your rent you still have to get in line with a bunch of illegal immigrants because if they have a kid who was born here the kid is a U.S. citizen and they qualify for government handouts. The “Progressives” have set this country back over a hundred years. And not 19th Century America either. Welcome to 19th Century Russia where if you weren’t born into the gentry you’re just a serf living on somebody elses’ land. And they’re making sure you stay a serf because as far as they’re concerned whatever you earn during the course of the year is what they’re entitled to for rent.
Stanley Grant
June 3, 2019 at 5:08 AM
EXCELLENT bout time someone stepped up to attempt to end homelessness! Thank God for Congresswoman Waters! Who cares enough to make the first move! God bless her efforts!
Zuma Dogg
June 20, 2019 at 4:34 AM
LOL! Maxine Waters introducing a BILL to end homelessness. Makes everyone feel good. We’re gonna end homelessness!!!! LOL! Except Maxine Waters has been elected official in charge of L.A. district that has fallen into worse homelessness and trash filled streets than most other places in America. Has Maxine Waters not been doing anything about it, until now? She is completely inept and too dumb to have a single toilet fixed. Her people in her district should surround her and shout her down.
Harold Hern
June 21, 2019 at 3:38 PM
I have been homeless for over 9 years .
mary mitchell
June 23, 2019 at 7:17 AM
SHE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR ALONG TIME WHY DIDN’T SHE TRY TO HAVE THIS BILL PASSED BEFORE
T. White
June 25, 2019 at 8:42 AM
Our Country need to rewrite eviction laws, because that’s why we have a large population of homeless people. Most people get a check each month, but because of previous evictions and criminal records they are denied housing. Also, a majority of homeless people have mental illness, and dealing with being homeless makes their mental problems worse. The price of apartments is to high for people who only make minimum wage. That also keeps people from getting an apartment because of the income rule. Someone need to fix this for problem fast. Thanks Mrs.Water! It’s time out for all this hate we need to show love and compassion to make changes that truly help people.
Lisa
June 28, 2019 at 8:07 PM
That must be the HUD definition count. The real count (McKinney Vento) is over 2 million and 35% are CHILDREN. I stronly support this bill and hope everyone here will contact their representatives and urge them to support it. No human should be without a safe, decent place of their own to lay their head.