Rounds Introduces Bill to Empower States and Communities to Reduce Homelessness

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) today introduced the Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act, legislation to cut red tape and create local solutions for addressing homelessness.

“Despite record levels of federal funding, homelessness continues to rise. It’s clear that a one-size-fits-all approach isn’t working,” said Rounds. “The challenges we face in South Dakota are not the same as those in California or New York. This legislation takes a conservative approach by shifting power back to the states and communities closest to the problem. This commonsense bill cuts red tape and enables local leaders to deliver faster, more effective and more appropriate solutions for the people they serve.”

“Without a safe, affordable place to live nothing else in your life works – not your job, health, family, or education,” said Smith. “This bipartisan bill makes common sense reforms to federal homelessness programs: cutting red tape for homeless service providers, streamlining and improving federal housing vouchers, reducing administrative burden and modernizing out-of-date software systems. It will reduce homelessness while using taxpayer dollars more efficiently. We know that the best ideas come from those closest to the issues, and that’s why our legislation gives local leaders in Minnesota and across the country the tools and flexibility they need to address homelessness no matter the ZIP code.”

“With rising rates of homelessness sweeping across America, nonprofit organizations on the front lines deserve maximum support as they stretch limited donations and funding to provide shelter, food, skills training, addiction recovery and hope to our friends and neighbors who need it most,” said Crapo. “This bipartisan legislation is urgently needed to strengthen the Housing Choice Voucher Program, remove burdensome regulations and better coordinate between diverse agencies serving unhoused individuals.”

“At a time when more Americans are facing homelessness and there are fewer federal resources available, we must do everything we can to make programs more effective and assist people by connecting them to housing, local health systems, and behavioral health programs that can offer the ongoing, community-based support they need,” said Reed.

BACKGROUND:

As of January 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported approximately 771,480 people experiencing homelessness during the annual point-in-time count. The 2024 count represented an all-time high, which was an 18% increase from 2023. The 2025 point-in-time count results have not been released by HUD. 

Specifically, the Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act:

• Eases the bureaucratic burdens for Continuum of Care organizations by moving the time intensive annual application process for funding to every other year.
• Empowers local communities by cutting federal red tape and allowing homeless service providers to respond more quickly and effectively to local needs.
• Removes unnecessary federal barriers that prevent individuals from accessing housing and support services in a timely manner.
• Makes commonsense reforms to the Housing Choice Voucher Program by streamlining unit inspections, income verification, and allowable uses of funds—reducing waste and inefficiency.
• Study the hiring, retention, and compensation of staff at all levels of homeless service organizations.
• Authorizes specific and targeted funding to upgrade the outdated software used for applications and grant management of the CoC Program. 
• Improves coordination between local healthcare systems, law enforcement, veterans’ programs, and job training services to deliver integrated support and reduce repeat homelessness or justice system involvement.
• Supports better use of data—including advanced tools like artificial intelligence—to making sure resources are going where they are needed most.
• Establish more feedback mechanisms for service providers and people with lived experience of homelessness to advise HUD on the effectiveness of federal homelessness policies and programs.
• Continues the work of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and increases Congressional oversight of the council.

This legislation is endorsed by Eric Kunzweiler, CEO Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership located in Sioux Falls, the Bipartisan Policy Center, National Low Income Housing Coalition, the Council of State Community Development Agencies whose members include the South Dakota Housing Development Authority and South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Catholic Charities USA and the Mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment.

“As a long-standing service provider for HUD homelessness assistance prevention programs, Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership fully supports this bill that eases administrative burdens which would allow us to respond more quickly to the needs of our communities and get families housed quickly in South Dakota,” said Eric Kunzweiler, CEO of Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership located in Sioux Falls.

"BPC Action is proud to endorse the Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act and applauds Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Jack Reed (D-RI) for their bipartisan leadership. The bill’s focus on cutting red tape, streamlining the Housing Choice Voucher program, and improving data coordination aligns closely with the proposals put forth by BPC in its American Housing Act. These practical reforms will help communities more effectively address homelessness and connect people with housing and services,” says Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action.

“Streamlining systems isn’t just good governance—it’s what’s needed to meet the urgent housing needs of people across the country,” said NLIHC President and CEO Renee Willis. “The bipartisan Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act enacts common-sense reforms to improve coordination between government agencies and the private sector, ensuring programs more effectively serve people with the most urgent housing needs.” 

Read the full text of the bill HERE.

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