Senator Johnson Introduces Bill to Fight Crime, Drug Use in Public and Indian Housing

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today introduced legislation to reauthorize funding for the Public and Indian Housing Crime and Drug Elimination Program (PIHDEP). The bill will help fund public and Indian housing entities to battle crime and drug use in partnership with their local law enforcement.

“This effective program eliminated by the previous Administration left public and Indian housing without important resources,” said Johnson. “This bill would allow local communities to develop programs to better fight drug use and drug-related crime. I’m proud to introduce this bill and will continue to fight to provide critical funding for public and Indian housing in South Dakota and across the country.”

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The Public and Indian Housing Crime and Drug Elimination Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 would authorize Fiscal Year (FY) 2009-2011 grants and direct payments to those public housing authorities (PHAs), tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs), and Indian housing authorities (IHAs) seeking to eliminate crime and drug problems. Funding will be used in concert with local law enforcement agencies to combat drug problems through rehabilitation, relapse prevention, drug discouragement through education, capital improvements, and improved security.

Additionally, no less than 2% of all funds appropriated will be set-aside for the Office of Policy Development and Research so that it may evaluate the drug and violence elimination strategies implemented by the qualifying public and Indian housing entities.

From 1989 to 2001, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provided grants and direct payments to PHAs, TDHEs, IHAs through the PIHDEP. The program successfully enabled qualifying agencies to address and eliminate drug use and drug-related crime around public and Indian housing.

Under the Bush Administration, the program was zeroed out from the HUD budget since FY 2002 despite reauthorization attempts by members of the 107th-110th Congresses.

Source: Senator Tim Johnson