1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Homelessness and Behavioral Health Care Coordination Act of 2023 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The United States has a homelessness crisis, with more than 582,000 people experiencing homelessness on a single night according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress. (2) While the lack of affordable housing is the primary driver of homelessness, behavioral health conditions, including substance use disorder, can exacerbate homelessness and can also be a consequence of homelessness. (3) Research shows that people experiencing homelessness have higher rates of substance use disorder than people with housing stability. Some people who experience homelessness use substances to cope with the trauma and deprivations of their circumstances, but substance use disorder frequently makes it more difficult for people experiencing homelessness to secure permanent housing. (4) Many individuals with substance use disorder who experience homelessness have co-occurring illnesses. The combined effect of physical illness, mental illness, and lack of housing results in higher mortality rates for individuals experiencing homelessness. (5) Safely and securely housing individuals who are experiencing both homelessness and behavioral health issues, including substance use disorder, often requires supportive services and close coordination between housing and social service providers, in addition to low-barrier, affordable housing. Subsidized housing is critical, but not enough—access to additional voluntary person-centered supportive services is needed. (6) It is imperative that when people experiencing homelessness choose to seek help that housing as well as health care and person-centered supportive services be coordinated, particularly given their acute needs and the significant costs incurred by communities for law enforcement, correctional, and emergency department care for failing to do so. (7) While