National program that was the first federal legislation that provided federal dollars to homeless shelter programs, among other programs.

The McKinney Act originally had over a dozen programs providing a wide array of services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.  Programs included the Continuum of Care Programs: the Supportive Housing Program, the Shelter Plus Care Program, and the Single Room Occupancy Program, as well as the Emergency Shelter Grant Program. The eight parts of the act are described below:

• Title I provides a definition of homelessness.

• Title II established the Interagency Council on the Homeless, an independent agency within the Executive Branch.

• Title III authorized the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

• Title IV authorized emergency shelter and transitional housing programs, including the Emergency Shelter
  Grant program, the Supportive Housing Demonstration Program, Supplemental Assistance for
  Facilities to Assist the Homeless, and Section 8 Single Room Occupancy Moderate
  Rehabilitation.

• Title V requires federal agencies to identify and make available surplus federal property, for use by states, local governments, and nonprofit agencies to assist individuals experiencing homelessness.

• Title VI authorized several programs administered by the Department of Health and Human
  Services to provide health care services to homeless persons

• Title VII authorized four programs: the Adult Education for the Homeless Program and the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program, the Job Training for the Homeless Demonstration Program, and the Emergency Community Services Homeless Grant Program

• Title VIII amends the Food Stamp program to help those exercising homeless access the program, and also expands the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program.

For more on Homeless prevention programs, click here.

For the text of the bill, click here.

Endnotes 

1. https://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/McKinney.pdf