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Citizen testimony prompts passage of homelessness study bill; committee sends TACIR report request to calendar
Summary
Senate Bill 871 tasks the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR) with studying homelessness and making recommendations to the General Assembly; the committee heard brief public testimony from a citizen describing barriers to housing and service access.
Senate Bill 871 requires the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR) to study the state's continuum of care for people experiencing homelessness and to submit recommendations to the General Assembly. Sponsor Senator Hensley told the committee the study will use existing resources and produce a report for lawmakers.
The committee heard a brief public comment from Bethany Cherino, who described persistent barriers she has encountered while trying to find stable housing and services for people who are homeless. "I'm trying to be a voice for those who don't have a voice," Cherino said. She described local school-system counts and McKinney-Vento identifications: "In Murray County we have 86 children who are in public school, who are identified as homeless," she told the committee, and urged more coordinated state action.
Senator Hensley said the bill would ask TACIR to use existing staff to prepare recommendations and that the committee could use the report to inform future legislation. The committee adopted the date amendment, accepted the testimony, and approved the bill by roll call (9 ayes); the bill goes to the calendar.
