WHEREAS, On average, this Commonwealth has 11 unhoused
individuals for every 100,000 of the general population; and
WHEREAS, Veterans are more likely than the general population
to be unhoused due to a higher risk for traumatic brain injury
or post-traumatic stress disorder; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Education for Children and Youth
Experiencing Homelessness Program, which reduces barriers for
unhoused children to access local public schools, served 40,003
children; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has 16 Continuum of Care districts
that receive Federal grants to serve the unhoused and other
populations; and
WHEREAS, Across the United States, there are six cities and
states that have implemented Housing First programs; and
WHEREAS, Since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, several cities
across the country have struggled with providing services to
unhoused population and have declared states of emergency to
cope with this crisis; and
WHEREAS, The Biden Administration seeks to reduce the
unhoused population by 25% by 2025 using Housing First
principles; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct 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; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission compile
a report on the study that, at a minimum, includes the
following:
(1) An assessment of the state of the unhoused
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