Smith, Rounds Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Empower States and Communities to Reduce Homelessness

WASHINGTON– U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today introduced the Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act, legislation to cut red tape and create local solutions for addressing homelessness.
“Without a safe, affordable place to live nothing else in your life works – not your job, health, family, or education,”said Smith.“This bipartisan bill makes common sense reforms to federal homelessness programs: cutting red tape for homeless service providers, streamlining and improving federal housing vouchers, reducing administrative burden and modernizing out-of-date software systems. It will reduce homelessness while using taxpayer dollars more efficiently. We know that the best ideas come from those closest to the issues, and that’s why our legislation gives local leaders in Minnesota and across the country the tools and flexibility they need to address homelessness no matter the ZIP code.”
“Despite record levels of federal funding, homelessness continues to rise. It’s clear that a one-size-fits-all approach isn’t working,”said Rounds. “The challenges we face in South Dakota are not the same as those in California or New York. This legislation shifts power back to the states and communities closest to the problem—cutting red tape and enabling local leaders to deliver faster, more effective and more appropriate solutions for the people they serve.”
“At a time when more Americans are facing homeless and there are fewer federal resources available, we must do everything we can to make programs more effective and assist people by connecting them to housing, local health systems, and behavioral health programs that can offer the ongoing, community-based support they need,”said Reed.
“With rising rates of homelessness sweeping across America, nonprofit organizations on the front lines deserve maximum support as they stretch limited donations and funding to provide shelter, food, skills training, addiction recovery and hope to our friends and neighbors who need it most,”Crapo said.“This bipartisan legislation is urgently needed to strengthen the Housing Choice Voucher Program, remove burdensome regulations and better coordinate between diverse agencies serving unhoused individuals.”
BACKGROUND:
As of January 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported approximately 771,480 people experiencing homelessness during the annual point-in-time count. The 2024 count represented an all-time high, which was an 18% increase from 2023. The 2025 point-in-time count results have not been released by HUD.
Specifically, the Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act:
This legislation is endorsed by the Bipartisan Policy Center, National Low Income Housing Coalition, the Council of State Community Development Agencies, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Enterprise Community Partners, Catholic Charities USA and the Mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment.
“BPC Action is proud to endorse the Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act and applauds Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Jack Reed (D-RI) for their bipartisan leadership. The bill’s focus on cutting red tape, streamlining the Housing Choice Voucher program, and improving data coordination aligns closely with the proposals put forth by BPC in its American Housing Act. These practical reforms will help communities more effectively address homelessness and connect people with housing and services,”says Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action.
“Streamlining systems isn’t just good governance—it’s what’s needed to meet the urgent housing needs of people across the country,” said NLIHC President and CEO Renee Willis. “The bipartisan Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act enacts common-sense reforms to improve coordination between government agencies and the private sector, ensuring programs more effectively serve people with the most urgent housing needs.”
A one-pager on the bill can be foundhere. Clickhereto read full bill text.
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