Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009
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| Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009 |
| Short title | HEARTH Act |
| Enacted by | 111th United States Congress |
| Effective date | May 20, 2009 |
| Public law | 111–22 |
| Related legislation | McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 |
Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009 The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009 revised federal policy toward homelessness through reauthorization and consolidation, altering program structures established under the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act and reshaping grant administration under the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Act was enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed during the administration of Barack Obama, intersecting with broader stimulus and social policy debates involving the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and interactions with federal agencies such as the Office of Management and Budget and the Government Accountability Office. The law sought to prioritize rapid re-housing and transitional supports consistent with practices advocated by organizations including National Alliance to End Homelessness, Corporation for Supportive Housing, and Coalition for the Homeless.
Background and Legislative History
Congressional debates leading to passage involved hearings before the United States House Committee on Financial Services and the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, with testimony from representatives of National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, National Coalition for the Homeless, and municipal officials from cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Legislative milestones included markup processes in the United States House of Representatives and floor votes in the United States Senate during the 111th Congress, influenced by advocacy from nonprofit networks such as Pathways to Housing and academic research from institutions like Urban Institute and Brookings Institution. The reauthorization amended provisions of the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act to incorporate findings from program evaluations conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and oversight reports by the Government Accountability Office.
Key Provisions and Program Changes
The Act consolidated several competitive grant programs under a reorganized Continuum of Care framework and created new program definitions and performance measures affecting entities including public housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (United States), and faith-based organizations involved in service delivery. It emphasized rapid re-housing strategies promoted by practitioners at National Alliance to End Homelessness and research centers such as Urban Institute and RAND Corporation, mandated data collection through the Homeless Management Information System, and required adoption of coordinated assessment processes modeled after pilots in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, King County, Washington, and Boston. The statute revised eligible activities for grants to include transitional housing, permanent supportive housing linked to Mental Health Systems and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration approaches, and prevention programs aligned with technical guidance from HUD Exchange.
Implementation and Administration
Administration responsibilities were assigned to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development with oversight roles for the Office of Community Planning and Development and coordination with Veterans Affairs through the Veterans Homelessness Program and initiatives like the HUD-VASH program. Federal implementation drew on guidance documents issued by HUD Exchange and collaboration with state agencies such as the California Department of Housing and Community Development and New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Monitoring involved statutory performance measures and reporting to congressional committees including the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Appropriations, with evaluations by the Government Accountability Office and research by universities like Columbia University and University of California, Los Angeles.
Funding and Appropriations
Appropriations for programs covered by the Act were allocated through annual spending bills considered by the United States Congress and administered in conjunction with formula and competitive grants distributed by HUD. Funding streams intersected with federal programs such as the Community Development Block Grant program administered by HUD, and funding decisions were influenced by fiscal policy debates involving the Office of Management and Budget and appropriations riders from members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. The Act allowed reallocation of funds among Continuum of Care projects and established matching and leverage requirements similar to those used by Department of Health and Human Services grantees.
Impact and Outcomes
Post-enactment evaluations by organizations including National Alliance to End Homelessness, Urban Institute, and academic studies at Harvard University and University of Michigan documented reductions in long-term homelessness in some jurisdictions, particularly where Rapid rehousing and Permanent supportive housing models were scaled. Outcomes varied across metropolitan areas such as Seattle, Houston, and Philadelphia, and among populations served, including Veterans, families, and youth represented by groups like National Center for Homeless Education. Research highlighted improvements in housing stability and cost-effectiveness in some Continuum of Care regions while noting heterogeneity documented by the Government Accountability Office.
Criticisms and Controversies
Critics including the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty and advocacy groups in Los Angeles and Chicago argued that the Act's emphasis on rapid re-housing reduced investment in affordable housing stock and placed burdens on local providers like nonprofit organizations (United States) and public housing authorities. Scholars at New York University and policy analysts at Center on Budget and Policy Priorities raised concerns about measurement of performance metrics and potential incentives to prioritize easier-to-house populations, an issue debated in hearings before the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Legal challenges and disputes over implementation arose in municipal contexts such as San Francisco and Jacksonville, Florida concerning coordination, eligibility, and use of funds.
State and Local Responses
State and local governments adapted through policy actions by agencies such as the California Interagency Council on Homelessness, Texas Homeless Network, and municipal initiatives in Seattle, Denver, and Los Angeles. Local strategies included creation of coordinated entry systems modeled on best practices from King County, Washington and partnerships with providers like Catholic Charities USA and Salvation Army (United States), while cities pursued complementary housing policy reforms involving metropolitan planning organizations and state housing finance agencies such as the New York State Housing Finance Agency. Responses varied, with some jurisdictions leveraging state resources and philanthropic partners like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to expand supportive housing, and others confronting legal, fiscal, and logistical barriers documented by Urban Institute and Government Accountability Office reports.