summary
Introduced
01/27/2015
01/27/2015
In Committee
04/29/2015
04/29/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017
01/03/2017
Introduced Session
114th Congress
Bill Summary
Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2015 Amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to redefine "homeless," "homeless individual," or "homeless person." Modifies requirements relating to an individual or family who will imminently lose their housing, including housing they own, rent, or live in without paying rent. Revises criteria for unaccompanied youth and homeless families with children and youth defined as homeless under other federal statutes to require that they: are certified as homeless by the director or designee of a program funded under any other federal statute; or have been certified by a director of a program funded under this Act or a director of a public housing agency (PHA) as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, which shall include: (1) temporarily sharing the housing of another person due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or other similar reason; or (2) living in a room in a motel or hotel. Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to: (1) aggregate and publicly report information from a collaborative applicant about project sponsors in a community-wide homeless management information system (HMIS), and (2) ensure that any public report does not contain personally identifiable information. Prohibits the Secretary, in awarding grants for continuum of care programs, from considering or prioritizing the specific homeless populations intended to be served by the applicant if the applicant demonstrates that the project: (1) would meet the priorities identified in the applicant's plan, and (2) is cost-effective in meeting the overall goals and objectives identified in that plan. Repeals certain requirements regarding collaborative applicants. Modifies requirements for selection criteria for the award of grants through a national competition between geographic areas. Requires annual reports to Congress on housing assistance for the homeless to include data: (1) required to be made publicly available in the HMIS report, and (2) on programs funded under other specified federal statutes.
AI Summary
This bill, the Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2015, aims to broaden the definition of "homeless" under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to better include children and youth. It modifies the criteria for individuals or families who are about to lose their housing, including those who own, rent, or are staying with others without paying rent. The bill also revises how unaccompanied youth and homeless families with children are identified as homeless under other federal laws, allowing certification by directors of programs funded by those laws or by directors of programs funded under this Act or public housing agencies (PHAs), which are local government entities that manage public housing. This certification would apply if they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, which now explicitly includes temporarily staying with others due to housing loss or economic hardship, or living in a motel or hotel room. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) collect and publicly report data from community-wide homeless management information systems (HMIS), ensuring no personally identifiable information is shared. When awarding grants for "continuum of care" programs, which are coordinated networks of housing and services for the homeless, HUD can no longer prioritize specific homeless populations if the applicant proves their project aligns with their plan's priorities and is cost-effective. The bill also removes certain requirements for collaborative applicants, adjusts grant selection criteria for national competitions, and requires annual reports to Congress on housing assistance for the homeless to include HMIS data and data from programs funded under other federal statutes.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry, Education
Sponsors (14)
Steve Stivers (R)*,
Robert Brady (D),
G. Butterfield (D),
Katherine Clark (D),
Rodney Davis (R),
Peter DeFazio (D),
John Delaney (D),
David Loebsack (D),
Zoe Lofgren (D),
Jim McDermott (D),
Mark Pocan (D),
Mike Quigley (D),
Louise Slaughter (D),
Timothy Walz (D),
Last Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. (on 04/29/2015)
Official Document
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