Congresswoman Maxine Waters’s legislation, Expediting Emergency Rental Assistance to Renters and Landlords of 2021, was amended after a committee hearing where Diane Yentel, President and CEO, National Low Income Housing Coalition, recommended all vouchers be given to only some people considered homeless under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) different categories of homelessness.
HUD’s policies and priorities related to their four different categories of homelessness have been widely criticized because they do not match the reality of homelessness in all communities nationwide. Under Yentel’s recommendations, the only people that would be eligible for vouchers are those considered homeless under HUD Category 1 (individuals living on the streets, in shelters, or institutions) and Category 4 (fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence). This recommendation leaves out categories 2 (those at imminent risk of homelessness) and 3 (those homeless under other federal definitions of homelessness). These exclusions would disproportionately impact children, youth, and families who experience more invisible forms of homelessness, such as temporarily staying with others or staying in a motel.
“The $46 billion for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) included in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) provides an opportunity to support all people experiencing homelessness, including youth and families. For over a decade, advocates have said the HUD homelessness assistance did not have enough money to prioritize and include youth and families experiencing invisible homelessness. Now, with the influx of $46 billion, advocates still seek to exclude our nation’s most under-resourced and vulnerable youth and families. It is clear that lack of funding is not the issue, but rather a deliberate choice to exclude our children and young people.”
This exclusionary policy for vouchers must not become law. Further, HUD’s existing homelessness policies should be amended to include all of our youth and families. Passing the Homeless Children and Youth Act would be a critical first step to making the policy change needed.
If all federal agencies, including HUD, do not adopt policies that support the needs of children and youth, homelessness – including “chronic” homelessness – will be perpetuated indefinitely (1).
1 Questions and Answers About Expanding HUD’s Definition of Homelessness. (n.d.). NCDSV.Org. http://www.ncdsv.org/images/QandAAboutExpandingHUDsDefofHomelessness.pdf