Comment Submitted by Cassandra Glass, Homeless Families Foundation

I can't stress enough that the new proposed HUD guidelines will create a significant increase of long-term homeless individuals in this country. Unless HUD is also proposing longer term shelter programs (lasting for 12months or more) then virtually none of the clients our agency serves will have access to supportive housing. As we all know, supportive housing is intended for those with severe, chronic and disabling mental or physical health problems. To allow those individuals who need the most care and protection to wait even longer for stable housing will increase several things: 1. Increased numbers of homeless living in camps or on the streets. 2. An increase in private housing evictions that client will rack up on their FABCO, thereby making them ineligible for some income-based housing. 3. Longer Metropolitan/Section 8 housing lists. 4. Greater probability for these individuals to engage in high risk behaviors like accessing substandard housing and not accessing appropriate health resources needed to control their disability. 5. Increased number of FCCS referrals for parents that cannot access safe housing for their children. 6. Increase in recidivism for all local shelters. Many other concerns are bound to arise beyond this but that’s just what I have thought of off the top of my head in the last several minutes! Please consider NOT making these changes, they will not be as benefical to this very vulnerable population as you may think.