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A RESOLUTION expressing concern about federal regulatory overreach that 1
adversely affects the housing industry. 2
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Kentucky is committed to addressing 3
homelessness and housing insecurity by ensuring that housing policies and programs 4
uphold accountability and are tailored to the unique needs of local communities; and 5
WHEREAS, the federal government has limited the flexibility of states and local 6
governments to adopt community-specific solutions to homelessness and housing 7
insecurity by imposing complex compliance measures through its Continuum of Care 8
Program interim rule; and 9
WHEREAS, excessive federal regulations on homebuilders, landlords, and housing 10
providers increase construction costs, reduce housing supply, and make homeownership 11
and rental housing less affordable for Kentuckians; and 12
WHEREAS, the federally mandated Homeless Management Information System 13
rule places an undue administrative burden on state and local agencies that reduces the 14
ability for state and local agencies to focus on direct services to the community due to the 15
substantial data collection and reporting requirements; and 16
WHEREAS, the federal requirements under the United States Department of 17
Housing and Urban Development's performance standards and measures have 18
incentivized a one-size-fits-all approach that may not accurately reflect the unique 19
challenges faced by diverse communities or promote innovative, community-based 20
approaches to reducing homelessness; and 21
WHEREAS, federal policy mandates have limited the ability of local service 22
providers to offer a range of housing and service options, which curbs flexibility and 23
hinders efforts to support clients with varying levels of need and readiness for permanent 24
housing; and 25
WHEREAS, current federal standards under the Emergency Solutions Grants 26
Program restrict local agencies from utilizing resources effectively, often leading to 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1465
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misalignment with community-specific priorities and reducing the impact of services 1
provided to the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable populations; and 2
WHEREAS, the 2009 amendments to the McKinney-Vento Act have resulted in a 3
proliferation of federal mandates that limit the Commonwealth’s ability to adapt its 4
approach to the needs of diverse populations experiencing homelessness; and 5
WHEREAS, permanent supportive housing, while essential for many individuals, 6
should not be the sole or primary solution for all experiencing homelessness, and 7
excessive reliance on federal permanent supportive housing standards has constrained the 8
Commonwealth’s capacity to develop diverse housing solutions and funding structures; 9
and 10
WHEREAS, block grant funding would allow the Commonwealth to better 11
leverage United States Department of Housing and Urban Development assistance by 12
granting the state more discretion over the allocation of funds, enabling local agencies to 13
design programs tailored to the specific needs of Kentucky's homeless and housing 14
insecure populations; 15
NOW, THEREFORE, 16
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the 17
Commonwealth of Kentucky: 18
Section 1. This honorable body urges the United States Department of Housing 19
and Urban Development to: 20
(1) Repeal the Continuum of Care interim rule to provide more flexibility for 21
state and local governments to design housing solutions that are responsive to local 22
conditions; 23
(2) Amend the Homeless Management Information System rule to streamline 24
reporting requirements, reduce administrative burdens, and allow providers to direct more 25
resources toward client service; 26
(3) Eliminate performance standards and measures, allowing local governments 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1465
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and agencies the freedom to set performance indicators that more accurately reflect 1
community needs and goals: 2
(4) Rescind housing first policy mandates to permit flexibility for communities to 3
offer a variety of housing options that meet the diverse needs and preferences of 4
individuals and families experiencing homelessness; and 5
(5) Reduce federal standards in the Emergency Solutions Grants Program to 6
better align with local priorities, ensuring resources are effectively allocated to maximize 7
community impact. 8
Section 2. This honorable body urges the United States Congress to advance 9
legislation to: 10
(1) Repeal the 2009 amendments to the McKinney-Vento Act to decrease 11
restrictive federal mandates and increase state autonomy in addressing homelessness; 12
(2) Reduce the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's 13
role in permanent supportive housing programs to allow local agencies more freedom in 14
implementing supportive housing options tailored to their specific populations; and 15
(3) Shift United States Department of Housing and Urban Development funding 16
to block grants rather than direct assistance to enable states to have greater flexibility in 17
allocating funds to areas of greatest need, allowing for a more effective response to 18
homelessness in the Commonwealth. 19
Section 3. The Clerk of the House of Representatives is directed to transmit 20
copies of this resolution to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the 21
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, and each member of Kentucky’s 22
Congressional delegation. 23