That it is the sense of the Congress that—
given the severe emotional, health, safety, and financial harm that results from being homeless, the Congress should, without further delay, establish a goal to eliminate homelessness, by 2020 or as soon as possible, for families, women, children, veterans, and those with severe mental and physical challenges;
the Federal Government should, to the maximum extent possible, dramatically expand funding for the rental housing voucher program under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, the Community Development Block Grant program, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the McKinney-Vento homeless assistance program, and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, to allow municipalities and public housing agencies to partner with nonprofit and for-profit housing developers to renovate, construct, and provide affordable housing for all homeless families, women, children, seniors, and the mentally and physically challenged, while creating good-paying jobs for unemployed homeless people and residents who have the skills needed to construct or renovate housing;
legislation should be enacted that provides substantial additional funding to the National Housing Trust Fund, for example, as provided in the Housing Finance Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2013 (S. 1217, as reported in the 113th Congress);
the Federal Government should immediately increase funding for effective job training, child care, apprenticeship opportunities, and local direct hiring job programs, especially for unemployed homeless young adults; and
the Federal Government should promote a “housing first” policy that includes linking housing with supportive services for persons with special needs, and providing permanent housing connected to employment, transportation, and job training programs for American families and individuals who are capable and ready to become tax-paying members of the economic mainstream.