Housing Promotes Livelihood and Ultimate Success Act of 2025; Housing PLUS Act of 2025
Summary
The Housing PLUS Act of 2025 (H.R. 5618) aims to amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. It focuses on the Continuum of Care program administered by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The bill seeks to ensure that grantees requiring wraparound services or applying preconditions for assistance are not restricted from receiving funds.
Expected Effects
This bill would allow HUD to provide funds to organizations that require supportive services like counseling or addiction treatment. It also allows funding for organizations that require prerequisites like sobriety for occupancy or assistance. The Secretary of HUD must also set aside at least 50% of funds for entities offering wraparound services and report to Congress on compliance.
Potential Benefits
- Increased access to housing for individuals with complex needs through supportive services.
- Flexibility for grantees to implement preconditions for assistance, potentially improving program outcomes.
- Prioritization of wraparound services, addressing holistic needs of individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Enhanced accountability through mandatory reporting to Congress.
- Potential for faith-based organizations to receive funding, expanding the range of service providers.
Potential Disadvantages
- Preconditions like sobriety could exclude some individuals from accessing assistance.
- The 50% set-aside for wraparound services might limit funding for other effective interventions.
- Potential for increased administrative burden due to reporting requirements.
- Risk of funding being directed towards organizations that may not be the most effective or efficient.
- Possible conflicts between faith-based organizations' practices and non-discrimination principles.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the General Welfare Clause of the Constitution, as it aims to address homelessness and provide supportive services. The potential inclusion of faith-based organizations raises questions regarding the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, but the bill does not explicitly favor any particular religion. Congress's power to appropriate funds for specific purposes is derived from Article I, Section 8, which grants them the power to collect taxes and provide for the general welfare of the United States.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).