Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Introducing Legislation to Help Families and Youth Experiencing Homelessness During COVID-19 Pandemic
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Committee, joined Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), andKyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) in introducing the Emergency Family Stabilization Act, bipartisan legislation to address the unique needs of underserved populations that are facing homelessness amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As the Chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, I have championed funding for efforts to assist our state’s most vulnerable citizens with additional resources and promote their health, independence, and overall wellbeing. Homeless families and individuals are among the populations at the highest risk of COVID-19. During this uncertain time, we must help ensure that they receive the support they need to stay safe and healthy,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill would help state agencies and local organizations as they continue to work to meet the needs of homeless families and children throughout our country.”
“I would like to thank Sen. Collins for her diligent work to fine tune the Emergency Family Stabilization Act to best meet the needs of Maine youth and families during this time of crisis,”said Chris Bicknell, Executive Director of New Beginnings Inc. in Lewiston. “This is an important piece of legislation that will provide funding for rural communities to provide critical supports to youth and families who are experiencing homelessness or who are doubled up in other housing. In a rural state like Maine this flexibility will allow providers to make a real and significant impact on the lives of youth, children and families who have been most severely impacted by the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Emergency Family Stabilization Act would authorize $800 million to create a new Emergency Family Stabilization Fund, which would be overseen by the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide flexible funding for community-based organizations to meet the unique needs of children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. Specifically, the legislation aims to provide emergency funding to underserved populations and areas, including in rural and tribal communities, who continue to see long-term repercussions of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Eligible uses of funds would include:
- Health and safety needs, including PPE, food, hygiene supplies, and mental health services
- Housing-related needs, such as eviction prevention, utility payments, motel stays, and housing placement assistance
- Transportation assistance
- Emergency child care
- Communications and connectivity needs
- Education, training, and employment-related needs
- The particular needs of pregnant women and children birth to age five
- Staffing for outreach and case management
- Services and supports to meet the particular needs of survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or trafficking
- Assistance in accessing Economic Stimulus Payments, unemployment compensation, and other benefits provided by federal, state, and local governments
- The particular needs of unaccompanied homeless youth and young families
For more information on the Emergency Family Stabilization Act, click HERE to read the full text, click HERE for a fact sheet, and click HERE for a section-by-section.
