Sponsors (2)
The bill creates a targeted, transparent federal demonstration to connect homeless individuals in select high-need areas to behavioral health care, but its limited geographic eligibility, modest funding, and administrative set-asides constrain scale and exclude many communities that could benefit.
People experiencing homelessness who are served by Continuums of Care in eligible areas can be referred to Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) for mental health and substance use treatment, increasing access to behavioral health services.
Low-income individuals experiencing homelessness: Congress authorizes $50 million over FY2025–2029 to fund a demonstration connecting CoC supportive housing to CCBHC care, providing dedicated federal resources to pilot integrated services.
Taxpayers and program stakeholders: HUD must report to Congress on performance measures and SSI/SSDI receipt for the demonstration, increasing transparency and enabling evaluation of program effectiveness.
Low-income individuals and people with disabilities in many places will be excluded because grants are limited to Continuums of Care in only the five States with the highest per‑capita homelessness and only where a CCBHC is within 50 miles, narrowing geographic reach.
Low-income individuals and taxpayers: The $50 million authorization spread over five years likely supports only a small demonstration (estimated up to ~10 grants), limiting scale and leaving uncertain broader impact without further funding.
Low-income individuals: Requiring HUD to meet program timelines and provide technical assistance permits up to about 10% of funds to be used for administrative/technical support, which could reduce money available for direct services.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes a HUD demonstration to fund up to 10 Continuums of Care to refer people experiencing homelessness to CCBHCs and provides $50M for FY2025–2029.
Creates a HUD demonstration that will award up to 10 grants to eligible Continuums of Care to refer people experiencing homelessness to Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) for behavioral health, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment. The Secretary of HUD must set up the program within 180 days of enactment, limited to Continuums located in one of the five States with the highest per-capita homelessness and within 50 miles of a CCBHC, and a report to Congress is required after the demonstration ends. The bill authorizes $50 million for FY2025–2029, with up to 10% available for technical assistance and for completing the required report.
Introduced January 21, 2025 by Ken Calvert · Last progress January 21, 2025