Bill Overview
Title: Empowering Local Officials to Combat Homelessness Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires every Continuum of Care board to comply with transparency guidelines regarding grant awards and to have on the board at least one member who is the chief executive officer of a local government in the area and at least one member who is a law enforcement officer with jurisdiction in the area. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct oversight of Continuum of Care boards that have violated Continuum of Care grant requirements within the past three years.
Sponsors: Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals experiencing homelessness or utilizing homelessness services
Estimated Size: 582000
- The bill's requirement for transparency in grant dealings by Continuum of Care boards likely impacts service providers associated with homelessness services.
- Continuum of Care boards typically serve the homeless population directly, indicating the primary impact will be on individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Ensuring there is a chief executive officer of a local government on Continuum of Care boards may lead to more alignment between local needs and services provided.
- Involvement of law enforcement officials in board decisions may affect the homeless through potential changes in engagement and safety protocols.
- Global homelessness population estimates range around 150 million, though this is a broad estimate, including both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness as well as different definitions and data collection practices across countries.
Reasoning
- The population of individuals experiencing homelessness in the U.S. was estimated at approximately 582,000 in 2022.
- The policy's focus on transparency and inclusion of local government and law enforcement officials may lead to more effective allocation of resources and potentially better outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness.
- However, the involvement of law enforcement may have mixed effects, as it might lead to increased enforcement actions or changes in the relationship between the homelessness community and law enforcement.
- The policy could also impose additional administrative burdens on service providers, impacting their ability to deliver services effectively.
- The budget allows for adjustments and the introduction of oversight, which could reduce mismanagement of funds and improve service delivery.
- Impact will vary based on each Continuum of Care's current effectiveness and responsiveness to local needs.
Simulated Interviews
Homelessness Services Case Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe increasing transparency and having local leaders on the boards could ensure the funds are used effectively.
- I worry about the involvement of law enforcement; it might lead to more policing rather than supportive services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Local Government Official (Chicago, IL)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might finally give us the tools to direct resources where they're truly needed in our community.
- Bringing law enforcement in might be controversial, but I see the potential for improved coordination.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Volunteer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any transparency into fund management would be beneficial, but it really depends on how it's implemented.
- Our shelter sees the brunt of funding mishaps, so any improvement could make a big difference.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Currently Homeless (Austin, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned that adding law enforcement to the process could mean more police interactions, which isn't always good.
- But, anything that helps the shelters run better is a plus.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 1 |
Law Enforcement Officer (New York, NY)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm looking forward to having a say in these meetings, but our focus will need to be on safety alongside support.
- There's potential here to sync our services better with the needs of the homeless community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 66 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With more clarity on where the money goes, we can make better plans at the community level.
- It's important that this doesn’t just become an avenue for more bureaucracy and delays.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Homeless Advocate (Las Vegas, NV)
Age: 51 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Greater accountability is necessary to ensure funds actually aid those in dire need.
- I'm skeptical about law enforcement's role due to past negative interactions with the community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Non-Profit Director (Boston, MA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's crucial that the funds are distributed equitably based on real local needs.
- The involvement of local leaders is a positive change if they genuinely have community interests at heart.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
City Planner (Denver, CO)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having city officials directly involved with grant decisions is likely to align services with real-time data and needs.
- Streamlined board actions could improve service delivery effectiveness and timeliness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Shelter Director (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased transparency can help us avoid disallowed costs and ensure we receive all possible funds.
- However, the addition of new board members may slow down decision-making processes significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 2: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 3: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 5: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The bill offers potential administrative improvements that could lead to more effective homelessness services by ensuring better governance and transparency.
- Immediate costs are related to administrative changes, but potential savings from improved service efficiency could offset these over time.
- The inclusion of law enforcement might heighten tensions with service providers but could also bring needed safety insights.