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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
homelessness; urging congress; HUD
Purpose
Urges the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (Council) to eliminate certain restrictions in federal housing programs.
Background
HUD was established as a cabinet department by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development Act in 1965 and is the federal agency responsible for national policy and programs that address housing needs that improve and develop communities and enforce fair housing laws. HUD's duties include identifying urban development problems of particular states, metropolitan areas or communities which require interagency or intergovernmental coordination and the administration of federal affordable housing programs (42 U.S.C. § 3532).
The Council is an independent agency within the executive branch, authorized by the U.S. Congress through the federal Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, as amended. The Council is tasked with coordinating the federal response to homelessness and creating a national partnership at every level of government and with the private sector to reduce and end homelessness in the nation while maximizing the effectiveness of the federal government in contributing to the end of homelessness (42 U.S.C. § 11311).
The Continuum of Care Program was created through the federal McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act as amended by the Homeless Emergency Assistance and
Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009. The Continuum of Care Program is
designed to: 1) promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending
homelessness; 2) provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, states,
Indian Tribes or tribally designated housing and local governments to quickly
rehouse homeless individuals, families, persons fleeing domestic violence,
dating violence, sexual assault and stalking and youth while minimizing the
trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness; 3) promote access to and
effective utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and
families; and 4) optimize self-sufficiency among those experiencing
homelessness. The Continuum of Care Program interim rule focuses on regulatory
implementation of the Continuum of Care Program, including the planning process
(24
C.F.R § 578.1; 42
U.S.C
§ 11381).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Urges HUD and the Council to:
a) repeal the Continuum of Care interim rule to provide more flexibility for state and local governments to design housing solutions that are responsive to local conditions;
b) amend the Homeless Management Information System rule to streamline reporting requirements, reduce administrative burdens and allow providers to direct more resources toward client services;
c) eliminate HUD's performance standards and measures to allow local governments and agencies the freedom to set performance indicators that more accurately reflect community needs and goals;
d) rescind housing-first policy mandates to permit flexibility for communities to offer a variety of housing options that meet the diverse needs and preferences of individuals and families experiencing homelessness; and
e) reduce federal standards in the Emergency Solutions Grants Program to better align with local priorities, ensuring that resources are effectively allocated to maximize community impact.
2. Urges the U.S. Congress to:
a) repeal the federal McKinney-Vento Act Amendments of 2009 to decrease restrictive federal mandates and increase state autonomy in addressing homelessness;
b) reduce HUD's role in Permanent Supportive Housing to allow local agencies more freedom in implementing supportive housing options tailored to their specific populations; and
c) shift HUD funding to block grants rather than direct assistance to enable states to have greater flexibility in allocating monies to the areas of greatest need, which allows for a more effective response to homelessness.
3. Directs the Secretary of State to transmit copies of this memorial to:
a) the President of the U.S. Senate;
b) the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives;
c) each Member of the U.S. Congress from Arizona;
d) the Secretary of HUD; and
e) the Executive Director of the Council.
House Action
APPROP 2/19/25 DP 11-7-0-0
3rd Read 3/5/25 32-26-2
Prepared by Senate Research
March 14, 2025
JT/JRM/ci