Bill > HR2479

This bill aims to address youth homelessness by creating an entitlement program for housing choice vouchers (HCVs) specifically for young people aged 18-30 or emancipated minors. Recognizing that approximately 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness annually, with disproportionate impacts on Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, and youth of color, the bill seeks to remove systemic barriers to housing assistance. Starting in fiscal year 2027, eligible youth households would be entitled to rental assistance, with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) encouraged to create regional consortia to administer the program. The bill mandates that public housing agencies provide support services like job-skill training, education assistance, legal services, and safety planning, though youth are not required to use these services. The legislation also aims to protect participants by ensuring housing choice flexibility, providing an ombudsman for mediation, protecting privacy, and preventing discrimination based on immigration status. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to improve language access for individuals with limited English proficiency by creating a housing information resource center and establishing translation services. The ultimate goals are to reduce housing instability, poverty, and the cycles of homelessness that disproportionately affect young people.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2479/all-info