summary
Introduced
01/27/2015
01/27/2015
In Committee
01/27/2015
01/27/2015
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 information provided to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from a collaborative applicant about project sponsors in a community-wide homeless management information system (HMIS) to be made publicly available on HUD's website in aggregate, non-personally identifying reports, and updated at least annually. 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, amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to broaden the definition of "homeless" to better include children and youth. It modifies how individuals or families who are about to lose their housing, including those who own, rent, or live without paying rent, are identified. For unaccompanied youth and homeless families with children, the bill allows them to be certified as homeless by a director of a program funded under other federal statutes, or by a director of a program funded under this Act or a public housing agency (PHA), which is a local government agency that provides affordable housing. This certification would apply if they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, which includes situations where they are temporarily staying with others due to housing loss or economic hardship, or living in a motel or hotel. The bill also mandates that information about project sponsors collected by collaborative applicants for community-wide homeless management information systems (HMIS) be made publicly available on the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) website in aggregate, non-personally identifiable reports, updated at least annually. Furthermore, when awarding grants for continuum of care programs, HUD will not prioritize specific homeless populations if the applicant demonstrates their project meets identified priorities and is cost-effective. The bill also repeals certain requirements for collaborative applicants, modifies grant selection criteria for national competitions between geographic areas, and requires annual reports to Congress on housing assistance for the homeless to include data from the HMIS reports and from programs funded under other specified federal statutes.
Committee Categories
Housing and Urban Affairs
Sponsors (6)
Dianne Feinstein (D)*,
Tammy Baldwin (D),
Martin Heinrich (D),
Heidi Heitkamp (D),
Rob Portman (R),
Dan Sullivan (R),
Last Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S543; text of measure as introduced: CR S543-544) (on 01/27/2015)
Official Document
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