Houston, TX—Today, together with her colleagues Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) and Congressman Al Green (TX-09), Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) accompanied U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge in Houston as she announced a $2.9 billion HUD initiative with a $45 million award for the Houston area to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness move into permanent housing with access to supportive services.  Congresswoman Fletcher joined Secretary Fudge and her colleagues for a visit to U.S. Vets, where they visited with veterans, and later in the day at American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) Senior Housing, where they met with seniors, to discuss the essential support provided by HUD and how the federal government can continue to support our communities. 

“Every person deserves the opportunity to live with dignity and independence,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “Today, Secretary Fudge demonstrated her commitment and the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to our veterans and our seniors to have not only housing but homes.  I am grateful for her leadership and a strong partnership between HUD and our local organizations to ensure meaningful housing assistance for those in need in our community.”

In December 2020, Congress passed H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which appropriated $2.6 billion in Continuum of Care Competition awards for roughly 7,000 local homeless housing and service programs across the United States.  Congresswoman Fletcher voted for the bill, and HUD allocated $45 million for Houston area Continuum of Care to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness move into permanent housing with access to supportive services, with the overarching goal of long-term stability.