SB 110-14: National Hostel Program Act (Passed)

[Senator-elect Spark]

National Hostel Program Act

Senate Bill
to reduce homelessness and to provide resources to local government

Section 1. Title

This Act shall be called the National Hostel Program Act

Section 2. Definitions

A. Homelessness shall be defined as living in housing that is below the minimum standard or lacks secure tenure. People can be categorized as homeless if they are: living on the streets (primary homelessness); moving between temporary shelters, including houses of friends, family and emergency accommodation (secondary homelessness); living in private boarding houses without a private bathroom or security of tenure (tertiary homelessness).

Section 3. National Hostel Program

A. The Department of Housing and Urban Development shall establish the National Hostel Program, which shall be administered by the Office of Public and Indian Housing.

B. The Office of Public and Indian Housing shall use annually appropriated monies for the National Hostel Program to-

1. Purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire hostels, motels, inns, and other such similar buildings for the housing of homeless persons.

2. Establish intergovernmental agreements with municipalities, counties, law enforcement, and other such government entities for the purposes of identifying and housing homeless persons.

3. Cooperate with local law enforcement on enforcement of local ordinances and applicable statute.

4. Provide at least 30 days of published community notice and public comment period upon the acquisition of shelters for use of housing homeless persons.
a. Community notices published by the Department must be available online.
b. The Department shall hold a virtual hearing at the end of the 30-day public comment period.

5. Establish contractors or agreement with local businesses, community organizations, and/or local government for the provision of services free of charge to homeless persons participating in the National Hostel Program, including but not limited to:
a. Food and drinking water
b. Electricity
c. Sanitation, including personal hygiene products
d. Counseling and mental health services
e. First aid
f. Banking services
g. Career guidance
h. Laundry
i. Dental and vision care

C. The Department shall adhere to all relevant state statute and local regulations during the acquisition process.

D. The Department shall administer the National Hostel Program in conjunction with local and state governments. The Department may use appropriated monies to establish contracts with local and state agencies for the purposes of administration of properties acquired under the National Hostel Program.

E. The Department shall conduct an annual audit into properties acquired by the National Hostel Program.

F. The Department shall report any deficiencies or concerns identified under annual audit to Congress.

G. The Department may sell, lease, or otherwise relinquish ownership of properties acquired under the National Hostel Program.

H. The Department shall establish eligibility criteria for the National Hostel Program that is consistent with Department rulemaking and applicable statute.

Section 4. Appropriations

A. The Department of Housing and Urban Development shall receive $7.5 billion in FY 2023 appropriations for the establishment of the National Hostel Program.

B. The Department of Housing and Urban Development shall receive $7.5 billion in FY 2024 appropriations for the establishment of the National Hostel Program.

Section 5. Enactment

A. This bill shall come into effect on October 1, 2022.

Sponsor: Devout Centrist
Status: Debating

The gentleman from Arizona is recognized.

[Devout Centrist]

Right, so this Act creates a national system of hostels, designed to keep the homeless and indigent off the streets in the short term. The idea here is to provide regional and local government with another tool to combat homelessness *right now* rather than waiting on more housing or shelter construction to be completed.

[SevenEleven]

This is going to be an ineffective money sink.

[Devout Centrist]

This is going to be an ineffective money sink.

The goal is for this to be first option to get people off the streets quickly, rather than waiting on availability from traditional shelters or housing. It also gives local governments a first ‘point of contact’ to place people before moving them to a facility that better suits their needs.

[SevenEleven]

This is going to be an ineffective money sink.

The goal is for this to be first option to get people off the streets quickly, rather than waiting on availability from traditional shelters or housing. It also gives local governments a first ‘point of contact’ to place people before moving them to a facility that better suits their needs.

They already do this in Los Angeles, it's been a complete disaster.

[Devout Centrist]

They already do this in Los Angeles, it's been a complete disaster.

From my understanding, Project Room Key hasn’t worked because acquisitions have been less than stellar, and the County is starting to phase out the program as it stands. That coupled with a negligible increase in housing supply hasn’t helped the situation.

The goal of this bill is to provide a sort of dedicated support from the Federal government so that regional and local governments can use the savings to fund more housing construction.

[Saint Milei]

Ineffective. Did regional governments request this??

[Devout Centrist]

Ineffective. Did regional governments request this??

Cost effective. And no, this is meant to improve upon legislation introduced during the previous Congress.

[Mr. Reactionary]

I have a proposed amendment to Section 4

...

Section 4. Appropriations

A. The Department of Housing and Urban Development shall receive $7.5 billion in FY 2023 appropriations for the establishment of the National Hostel Program.

B. The Department of Housing and Urban Development shall receive $7.5 billion in FY 2024 appropriations for the establishment of the National Hostel Program.

C. Any money appropriated herein shall be redirected from those monies authorized to be appropriated by the Social Housing Act for such fiscal year.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Senators have 24 hours to object to the amendment or it shall become adopted.

[Devout Centrist]

Without objection.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Bringing this bill to a final vote lasting 96 hours.

[West_Midlander]

Abstain

[WD]

Aye

[Devout Centrist]

Aye

[rpryor03]

Aye

[Senator-elect Spark]

Aye

[FT-02 Senator A.F.E. 🇵🇸🤝🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦]

Aye

[Utah Neolib]

Aye

[S019]

Aye

[SevenEleven]

Nay.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Aye

[AGA]

Aye

[Senator-elect Spark]

Final vote

AYE: WD, Devout Centrist, rpryor, Spark, AFE, Utah, S019, Mr. R, AGA (9)
NAY: Sev
ABSTAIN: WM (1)

In a 9-1-1 vote of the Atlasian Congress assembled, this bill passes.

x Spark

[West_Midlander]

You should note who is not voting on each bill