The House Financial Services Committee passed several bills that would expand housing assistance for communities vulnerable to housing insecurity or homelessness. The “Tribal Access to Homeless Assistance Grants Act of 2019” (H.R. 4029) passed the Committee unopposed on September 18, and the “Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act of 2019” (H.R. 4300) and “Homeless Assistance Act of 2019” (H.R. 4302) passed the Committee unanimously in a recorded vote on September 20.
Representatives Denny Heck (D-WA) and Sean Duffy (R-WI) introduced on July 25 the “Tribal Access to Homeless Assistance Grants Act,” which aims to address homelessness among Native Americans living on tribal lands (see Memo, 7/29). The bill would allow Tribes and tribally designated housing entities to participate fully in the Continuum of Care system, which they are currently unable to do. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) are the sponsors of a companion bill (S. 2282) of the same name.
Representatives Madeline Dean (D-PA), Michael Turner (R-OH), Karen Bass (D-CA), and Steve Stivers (R-OH) introduced the “Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act” on September 12 (see Memo, 9/16). The bill would expand HUD’s allocation of Family Unification Program (FUP) vouchers for youth aging out of foster care, improve FUP voucher accessibility, and allow vouchers to be administered when needed, subject to funding.
Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) introduced the “Homeless Assistance Act” on September 12. The bill aims to streamline how people at risk of or experiencing homelessness receive housing and other supportive services by authorizing public housing agencies (PHAs) to share relevant client information with local government entities and nonprofit organizations. PHAs would be responsible for ensuring client privacy is protected, and the purpose of sharing information would be limited to connecting clients to housing and supportive services.
Learn more about the “Tribal Access to Homeless Assistance Grants Act” at: https://bit.ly/2kHjoq6
Learn more about the “Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act” at: https://bit.ly/2miRX69
Learn more about the “Homeless Assistance Act” at: https://bit.ly/2ktvEdG
Watch a recording of the Committee vote at: https://bit.ly/2kpIvxh