Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, gave the following statement today at a Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development and Insurance virtual hearing entitled, “Housing America: Addressing Challenges in Serving People Experiencing Homelessness.”

Thank you so very much for this subcommittee hearing that you’re doing. And I’m here today to listen to our witnesses. I am absolutely upset and I’m unhappy about the lack of progress that some of our cities are making despite the fact that we’re doing everything we can to get the resources to them. 

I spent six hours out on the street working with the homeless, which was in tents with all the trash, and was able to offer them Project Homekey despite the fact that we were having locals telling us people didn’t want to get off the street. Every one of them accepted getting into hotel rooms for the night and being able to work with whomever in order to transition them to permanent housing. 

And so, I want to hear what these obstacles are because I am not pleased at all. We’ve got move the homeless off the street, and I think we can all do a better job.

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