Legislative Updates 
Second Chance Act
For the past several years Congress has worked on a bill, the Second Chance Act, that would provide more resources to states to deal with reentry. The Second Chance Act has been explicitly billed as a “first step” in developing a more effective federal response to the problem of people leaving corrections without adequate support. This bill would reauthorize and revise an existing grant program within the Department of Justice, providing money to states for reentry programs; create a federal interagency task force to study and coordinate policy; commission a number of research projects including a study of barriers in federal policy to successful reentry; and authorize grants from the Justice Department directly to nonprofits for reentry programs.
Housing is a key part of any reentry strategy, and it is addressed in a number of ways in the Second Chance Act:
- Under the state grants program, housing activities are eligible uses of program funds, from providing housing directly to assisting people in securing housing from the private market or other housing programs.
- Another eligible use of funds is strengthening the capacity of prisoners’ families to provide stable living situations.
- Housing is to be addressed in the strategic plan required of each state receiving funding.
- Housing is one of the performance outcomes that each state receiving funding is required to monitor and report to the Justice Department.
Latest News: The U.S. House of Representative passed the Second Chance Act, H.R. 1593 in November 2007 by a strong bipartisan vote of 347 to 62.
On Tuesday, March 11, the U.S. Senate passed the Second Chance Act, S. 1060, by unanimous consent. The bill now awaits the President’s signature.
The Second Chance Act of 2007, H.R. 1593 / S. 1060
This document summarizes the significant features of the Act, including its purpose, key provisions and a listing the bill’s Congressional sponsors.
The Second Chance Act of 2007: House and Senate Side-by-Side Bill Comparison
The Second Chance Act of 2007 is designed to reduce recidivism, increase public safety, and help states and communities better address the growing population of prisoners returning to communities. The bill has been reintroduced in both the House (H.R. 1593) and Senate (S. 1060). This chart summarizes the major provisions of this legislation, and compares the bills as introduced in each chamber.
Explainer: How Much Does the Federal Government Spend on Homelessness?
Answering the question about how much the federal government spends on homelessness should be as simple as summing the total expenditures for homeless assistance programs. Homeless programs, however, do not fit neatly into one federal agency; instead they are spread across several, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Education (ED), and the Department of Labor (DOL).
Second Chance Act (H.R. 1593 / S. 1060) Summary
The Second Chance Act is federal legislation with bipartisan support that aims to reduce recidivism and help states and communities to better address the growing population of prisoners returning to communities.
Policy Book 2006
This policy guide provides information about the most important federal programs, policies, and legislation affecting homelessness. Key housing and homelessness topics are covered including HUD's McKinney-Vento homeless assistance programs, Section 8 housing choice vouchers, and housing programs dedicated to people with HIV/AIDS, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
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This audio conference covered the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.
This video highlights how communities across the country are decreasing homelessness among families. Thanks to the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, it’s yours to use for free. 