HR 104 — A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on the cost and effectiveness of current and ongoing Housing First programs across the United States and the potential effectiveness of Housing First programs in this Commonwealth.

PRINTER'S NO.   886

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 104
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, SANCHEZ, WAXMAN, HILL-EVANS, MADDEN,
        KHAN, HOWARD, DEASY, SCHLOSSBERG AND CERRATO, MARCH 10, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
        MARCH 10, 2025


                                 A RESOLUTION
 1   Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
 2      study on the cost and effectiveness of current and ongoing
 3      Housing First programs across the United States and the
 4      potential effectiveness of Housing First programs in this
 5      Commonwealth.
 6      WHEREAS, Housing First is a program focusing on providing
 7   housing to the unhoused, regardless of background, including
 8   typical barriers like substance use disorder status; and
 9      WHEREAS, Housing First programs operate under the belief that
10   housing is an essential first step in recovering from being
11   unhoused; and
12      WHEREAS, Utilizing Housing First programs may be most useful
13   for individuals who are chronically unhoused; and
14      WHEREAS, The risk of being unhoused increases for an
15   individual with a low socioeconomic status, a mental health
16   disorder or a substance use disorder; and
17      WHEREAS, As of 2024, there are 14,088 unhoused individuals in
18   this Commonwealth; and
19      WHEREAS, On average, this Commonwealth has 11 unhoused
 1   individuals for every 10,000 of the general population; and
 2      WHEREAS, Veterans are more likely than the general population
 3   to be unhoused due to a higher risk for traumatic brain injury
 4   or post-traumatic stress disorder; and
 5      WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Education for Children and Youth
 6   Experiencing Homelessness Program, which reduces barriers for
 7   unhoused children to access local public schools, served 46,714
 8   children; and
 9      WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has 16 Continuum of Care districts
10   that receive Federal grants to serve the unhoused and other
11   populations; and
12      WHEREAS, Housing First programs have been implemented in
13   states like Utah and California, as well as cities like Denver,
14   Houston and Seattle; and
15      WHEREAS, Since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, several cities
16   across the country have struggled with providing services to
17   unhoused population and have declared states of emergency to
18   cope with this crisis; therefore be it
19      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
20   State Government Commission to conduct a study on the cost and
21   effectiveness of current and ongoing Housing First programs
22   across the United States and the potential effectiveness of
23   Housing First programs in this Commonwealth; and be it further
24      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission compile
25   a report on the study that, at a minimum, includes the
26   following:
27          (1)   An assessment of the state of the unhoused
28      population in this Commonwealth, including the state of the
29      most at-risk individuals and the individuals who are
30      currently experiencing chronic homelessness.

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 1          (2)   Whether Housing First programs in other locations
 2      across the United States, including California, Salt Lake
 3      City, Utah and New Orleans, Louisiana, have reduced the
 4      chronically unhoused population and the broader unhoused
 5      population.
 6          (3)   Whether the United States Department of Veterans
 7      Affairs' Housing First approach, which supports unhoused
 8      veterans and their families in finding permanent housing, has
 9      reduced the population of unhoused veterans in this
10      Commonwealth.
11          (4)   The cost difference between Housing First programs
12      and traditional shelter-based programs.
13          (5)   The effect of recent events, including the 2020
14      COVID-19 pandemic, increases in the cost of living and the
15      reduction of funding for the Supplemental Nutrition
16      Assistance Program, on the unhoused population.
17          (6)   The effect of children being unhoused on academic
18      performance in schools.
19          (7)   Any other matter regarding the unhoused and Housing
20      First programs that the Joint State Government Commission
21      deems appropriate;
22   and be it further
23      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission be
24   authorized to request information that is not protected from
25   disclosure from State agencies and departments for the study;
26   and be it further
27      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission submit
28   the report with its findings and recommendations no later than
29   18 months after the adoption of this resolution to all of the
30   following:

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1         (1)   The President pro tempore of the Senate.
2         (2)   The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
3         (3)   The Majority Leader of the Senate.
4         (4)   The Minority Leader of the Senate.
5         (5)   The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives.
6         (6)   The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.




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