Congressional Caucus to improve the lives of those experiencing homelessness.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2022
(202)-538-2836
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Cori Bush (MO-01), and Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) have announced the establishment of the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness. The Caucus will act as a dedicated forum for Members of Congress to work toward the common goal of ending homelessness in this country.
“I am proud to reestablish the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness with Reps. Bonamici, Bush and Garcia,” said Rep. Barragán. “The United States is experiencing a national homelessness crisis. In Los Angeles County alone there are over 69,000 people experiencing homelessness. Addressing this serious issue requires collaboration, education, and advocacy to improve the lives of our unhoused community members. The Caucus will help to open dialogue and facilitate important conversations about the best ways to solve this crisis.”
“Housing is vital to a full and meaningful participation in society, but too many people in Oregon and across our country lack a safe and stable place to call home,” said Rep. Bonamici. “I am grateful for the opportunity to reestablish the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness with my colleagues Reps. Barragán, Garcia, and Bush. The caucus will help members find common ground as we pursue humane, research-backed policies to address homelessness.”
“The need for housing is universal, yet over 500,000 people across the country experience being unhoused. This is the result of policy failures, and Congress has a moral responsibility to address the unhoused crisis,” said Rep. Bush. “I am proud to join my colleagues, Representatives Barragán, Bonamici, and Garcia, in re-establishing and co-chairing the Caucus on Homelessness in the 118th Congress. This caucus provides an important forum for leaders in Congress to cultivate ideas and encourage our fellow Members to support legislative solutions to continue to tackle the housing crisis and ultimately solve it once and for all.”
“I am eager to work hard for our nation’s unhoused population as Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness along with Reps. Barragán, Bonamici, and Bush,” said Rep. Garcia. “It has always been one of my top priorities to ensure equitable opportunity for all Americans, regardless of background, financial condition, ability, or housing status. As a Member of the House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, I will dedicate my efforts to finding legislative solutions, advocating for critical funding, and keeping our nation’s most vulnerable people housed. We, as Co-Chairs, will fight for homeless individuals alongside our Caucus Members with the collective goal of eradicating this failure in our system, as we believe that housing is a human right.”
“Homelessness has many causes which cut across many sectors and systems ranging from a nationwide shortage of affordable housing units, bad zoning regimes and rampant NIMBYism to a growing gap between rents and wages and disinvestment in public housing, mental health and substance use programs” said John Threlkeld, Senior Congressional Affairs Manager of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. “Given the complexity of homelessness, the Caucus has a vital role to play in educating lawmakers and their staff, mustering support for more resources, and identifying policy opportunities to address this terrible scourge. Representatives Barragan, Bonamici, Bush, and Garcia have stepped up to lead the Caucus during these challenging times and we are eager to work with the Caucus’ new leadership and help them to expand the Caucus’ expertise and influence.”
The Congressional Caucus on Homelessness aims to analyze the complex factors contributing to homelessness and educate members on the various federal programs vital to serving our unhoused community members. Just as importantly, the caucus will continue its work advocating for funding for these programs and explore the varying policies necessary to secure housing and life-changing services for the nation’s 580,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in the United States.
Current members of the Caucus include Reps. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Troy Carter (LA-02), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Jim Costa (CA-21), Ruben Gallego (AZ-03), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At-Large), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Ted W. Lieu (CA-36), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (MP-At Large), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mark Takano (CA-39), Norma Torres (CA-35), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), David Trone (MD-06), Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Nikema Williams (GA-05).
###
Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Bellflower, Carson, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, Lakewood, Long Beach, Lynwood, Paramount, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, West Carson, and Wilmington. She serves as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Health, Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Minerals Subcommittees.