Homeless Assistance Programs

Homeless Assistance Program Reauthorization – Currently, there are two versions of legislation aimed at reauthorizing the federal homeless assistance grant programs historically known as the McKinney-Vento programs pending in the House and Senate. Each version addresses key aspects of the existing program including, the definition of homelessness and increased homelessness prevention efforts.


  • HEARTH, Housing Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (H.R. 840) was initially introduced by the late Representative Julia Carson in February 2007. McKinney-Vento. The measure is pending in the House Financial Services Committee Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee. The Subcommittee is currently working on efforts to combine components of the HEARTH Act and additional manager’s amendment which would provide prevention and re-housing for people in precarious housing situations, increase resources for rapid re-housing for homeless families, and simplify the funding process for rural areas.

  • CPEHA, Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act was introduced in May 2007 by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Wayne Allard (R-CO)(S. 1518) reauthorizes the federal homeless assistance programs to provide flexibility for communities in designing programs responsive to local need. Among CPEHA’s changes are creation of a new rural housing program and shifting renewals to the housing certificate fund, freeing up funding for more permanent housing. NAHC offered testimony before the Senate Banking Committee on CPEHA during June 2007. The Banking Committee reported the bill in September 2007.