119-s1667

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1667 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 1667

 To amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to meet the needs 
 of homeless children, youth, and families, and honor the assessments 
 and priorities of local communities.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 May 7, 2025

 Mrs. Britt (for herself and Ms. Alsobrooks) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, 
 Housing, and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to meet the needs 
 of homeless children, youth, and families, and honor the assessments 
 and priorities of local communities.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Homeless Children and Youth Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE ACT.

    (a) In General.--The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 11301 et seq.) is amended--

    (1) in 

section 103 (42 U.S.C. 11302)--
        (A) in subsection

    (a) --
            (i) in paragraph

    (5)
        (A) --
            (I) by striking ``are sharing'' and 
 all that follows through ``charitable 
 organizations,'';
            (II) by striking ``14 days'' each 
 place that term appears and inserting 
 ``30 days'';
            (III) in clause
            (i) , by inserting 
 ``or'' after the semicolon;
            (IV) by striking clause
            (ii) ; and
            (V) by redesignating clause
            (iii) as clause
            (ii) ; and
            (ii) by amending paragraph

    (6) to read as 
 follows:
 ``

    (6) a child or youth defined as homeless under any other 
 Federal program who, without further action by the Department 
 of Housing and Urban Development, has been verified as homeless 
 under any other Federal program by the director, designee of 
 the director, or other person responsible for the 
 implementation of a program established under this Act or any 
 other Federal statute.'';
        (B) in subsection

    (b) , by striking ``fleeing'' and 
 all that follows through the period at the end and 
 inserting the following: ``experiencing or has 
 experienced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual 
 assault, stalking, or human trafficking, or other 
 dangerous or life threatening conditions, which has 
 made it unsafe to remain in their current housing or 
 caused homelessness.''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (f) Other 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section--
 ``

    (1) the term `child or youth defined as homeless under 
 any other Federal program' has the meaning given the term in 
 

section 401; and
 ``

    (2) the term `other Federal statute' has the meaning 
 given the term in 

section 401.
 ``

    (g) Rule of Construction.--If the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development promulgates rules, issues guidance, or sets forth 
conditions in any application, notice of funding availability, or other 
publication or advisory regarding the provisions of this Act, the 
Secretary shall ensure that--
 ``

    (1) any individual defined as `homeless' under subsection

    (a) or

    (b) is eligible for any program or program component 
 under this Act; and
 ``

    (2) all individuals defined as `homeless' under 
 subsection

    (a) proposed to be served by an applicant, and all 
 proposed program components or housing or service models, are 
 given the same priority, points, or weight.'';

    (2) in 

section 401 (42 U.S.C. 11360)--
        (A) in paragraph

    (1)
            (C) --
            (i) by striking clauses
            (ii) and
            (iv) ;
            (ii) by redesignating clauses
            (iii) ,
            (v) ,
            (vi) , and
            (vii) as clauses
            (ii) ,
            (iii) ,
            (iv) , 
 and
            (v) , respectively; and
            (iii) by striking the flush text following 
 clause
            (v) , as so redesignated;
        (B) in paragraph

    (2)
        (A) --
            (i) in clause
            (i) , by striking ``and 
 lives'' and all that follows through 
 ``shelter'' and inserting ``under any provision 
 of 

section 103'';
            (ii) in clause
            (ii) , by striking ``and 
 living or residing in a place not meant for 
 human habitation, a safe haven, or in an 
 emergency shelter continuously'' and inserting 
 ``under any provision of 

section 103''; and
            (iii) in clause
            (iii) --
            (I) by striking ``(or a minor head 
 of household if no adult is present in 
 the household)'' and inserting ``or a 
 minor head of household (if no adult is 
 present in the household),''; and
            (II) by inserting before the period 
 at the end the following: ``, or has 
 child with a disability, as defined in 
 

section 602 of the Individuals with 
 Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
 1401), or an infant or toddler with a 
 disability, as defined in 

section 632 
 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1432)'';
            (C) by striking paragraph

    (7) ;
            (D) by redesignating paragraphs

    (2) through

    (6) as 
 paragraphs

    (3) through

    (7) , respectively;
        (E) by inserting after paragraph

    (1) the following:
 ``

    (2) Child or youth defined as homeless under any other 
 federal program.--The term `child or youth defined as homeless 
 under any other Federal program' means--
 ``
        (A) a homeless child or youth, as defined in 
 

section 725, including any parent or guardian with whom 
 the child or youth is living; and
 ``
        (B) a youth who--
 ``
            (i) is not more than 24 years of age;
 ``
            (ii) cannot live safely with a parent, 
 legal guardian, or relative; and
 ``
            (iii) has no other safe alternative 
 living arrangement.'';
        (F) in paragraph

    (10)
        (A) , by inserting ``any 
 provision of'' before ``

section 103'';
        (G) by redesignating paragraphs

    (14) through

    (33) as paragraphs

    (15) through

    (34) , respectively;
        (H) by inserting after paragraph

    (13) the 
 following:
 ``

    (14) Other federal statute.--The term `other Federal 
 statute' includes--
 ``
        (A) the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
 5701 et seq.);
 ``
        (B) the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.);
 ``
            (C) the Child Care and Development Block Grant of 
 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.);
 ``
            (D) subtitle N of the Violence Against Women Act 
 of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14043e et seq.);
 ``
        (E) section 330

    (h) of the Public Health Service 
 Act (42 U.S.C. 254b

    (h) );
 ``
        (F) section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
 (42 U.S.C. 1786);
 ``
        (G) the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
 1001 et seq.); and
 ``
        (H) the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.).'';
            (I) in paragraph

    (32) , as so redesignated, by 
 inserting ``children under 5 years of age, youth and 
 young adults between 14 and 24 years of age,'' after 
 ``status, or age),'';
        (J) in paragraph

    (33) , as so redesignated, by 
 inserting ``trafficking,'' after ``victims of''; and
        (K) in paragraph

    (34) , as so redesignated--
            (i) by inserting ``victims of 
 trafficking,'' after ``assist'';
            (ii) by striking ``stalking victims'' and 
 inserting ``stalking''; and
            (iii) by inserting ``trafficking,'' after 
 ``concerning'';

    (3) in 

section 402

    (f) (42 U.S.C. 11360a

    (f) )--
        (A) in paragraph

    (1)
        (B) , by inserting ``considering 
 the prevalence and needs of homeless individuals, as 
 defined under any provision of 

section 103'' after 
 ``involved''; and
        (B) in paragraph

    (3)
            (D) --
            (i) in clause
            (v) , by striking ``and'' at 
 the end;
            (ii) by redesignating clause
            (vi) as clause
            (vii) ; and
            (iii) by inserting after clause
            (v) the 
 following:
 ``
            (vi) the submission of HMIS data to the 
 Secretary on at least an annual basis; and'';

    (4) by inserting after 

section 408 (42 U.S.C. 11364) the 
 following:

``

SEC. 409. AVAILABILITY OF HMIS DATA.

 ``

    (a) In General.--The community-wide homeless management 
information system (in this section referred to as `HMIS') data 
provided to the Secretary under 

section 402

    (f)

    (3)
            (D) 
            (vi) shall be made 
publically available on the internet website of the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development.
 ``

    (b) Required Data.--The data publically available under 
subsection

    (a) shall be updated on at least an annual basis and shall 
include--
 ``

    (1) a cumulative count of the number of homeless 
 individuals and families, as defined under any provision of 
 

section 103;
 ``

    (2) a cumulative assessment of the patterns of assistance 
 provided under subtitles B and C for each geographic area 
 involved;
 ``

    (3) a count of the number of homeless individuals and 
 families, as defined under any provision of 

section 103, that 
 are documented through the HMIS by each collaborative 
 applicant; and
 ``

    (4) a count of the number of homeless women, as defined 
 under any provision of 

section 103 and both unaccompanied and 
 accompanied, including a breakout of the count by--
 ``
        (A) age range;
 ``
        (B) disability; and
 ``
            (C) length of time experiencing homelessness.'';

    (5) in 

section 422 (42 U.S.C. 11382)--
        (A) in subsection
            (c) (1)
        (B) , by striking 
 ``establish'' and inserting ``demonstrate local, needs-
 based''; and
        (B) by striking subsection

    (j) and inserting the 
 following:
 ``

    (j) Rule of Construction.--In awarding grants under subsection

    (a) and releasing a notification of funding availability under 
subsection

    (b) , the Secretary shall--
 ``

    (1) without further action by the Department of Housing 
 and Urban Development, ensure that any individual defined as 
 `homeless' under any provision of 

section 103 is eligible for 
 any program or program component under this Act;
 ``

    (2) ensure that homeless populations proposed to be 
 served by the applicant, and proposed program components or 
 housing or service models, are not awarded different priority, 
 points, or weight; and
 ``

    (3) ensure that scoring is based primarily on the extent 
 to which the applicant demonstrates that the project and 
 program components--
 ``
        (A) would meet the priorities identified in the 
 plan submitted under 

section 427

    (b)

    (1)
        (B) ; and
 ``
        (B) are cost-effective in meeting the overall 
 goals and objectives identified in that plan.'';

    (6) in 

section 424
            (d) (42 U.S.C. 11384
            (d) ), by striking 
 paragraph

    (5) ;

    (7) in 

section 425
            (c) (42 U.S.C. 11385
            (c) ), by striking 
 ``and
        (G) providing'' and inserting ``
        (G) providing 
 transportation to employment, early care and education 
 programs, career and technical education programs, and health 
 and mental health care services, and
        (H) providing'';

    (8) in 

section 426

    (b) (42 U.S.C. 11386

    (b) )--
        (A) in paragraph

    (4) , by amending subparagraph
            (D) to read as follows:
 ``
            (D) in the case of programs providing housing or 
 services to families or youth, they will designate a 
 staff person to be responsible for ensuring that 
 children and youth being served in the program are--
 ``
            (i) enrolled in school and connected to 
 appropriate services in the community, 
 including Head Start, services provided under 
 part C of the Individuals with Disabilities 
 Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), 
 programs authorized under the Child Care and 
 Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
 9858 et seq.), career and technical education, 
 and services provided by local educational 
 agency liaisons designated under subtitle B of 
 title VII of this Act; and
 ``
            (ii) in the case of an unaccompanied 
 youth, as defined in 

section 725, informed of 
 their status as an independent student under 
 

section 480 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv) and receive verification of 
 such status for purposes of the Free 
 Application for Federal Student Aid described 
 in 

section 483 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1090); 
 and'';
        (B) in paragraph

    (6) , by inserting ``the actual 
 compliance with the certifications required under 
 paragraph

    (4) and'' after ``Secretary''; and
            (C) in paragraph

    (7) --
            (i) by inserting ``and youth'' after 
 ``needs of children'';
            (ii) by inserting ``or unaccompanied 
 youth'' after ``when families'';
            (iii) by inserting ``and unaccompanied 
 youth'' after ``with children''; and
            (iv) by striking ``such children's'' and 
 inserting ``such children and youth's'';

    (9) in 

section 427

    (b) (42 U.S.C. 11386a

    (b) )--
        (A) in paragraph

    (1) --
            (i) in subparagraph
        (A) --
            (I) in clause
            (vi) , by adding 
 ``and'' at the end;
            (II) in clause
            (vii) , by striking 
 ``and'' at the end; and
            (III) by striking clause
            (viii) ;
            (ii) in subparagraph
        (B) --
            (I) by amending clause
            (iii) to 
 read as follows:
 ``
            (iii) how the recipient will collaborate 
 with local educational agencies, early care and 
 education programs, and institutions of higher 
 education to assist in the identification of 
 and services to youth and families who become 
 or remain homeless, including the steps the 
 recipient will take to inform youth and 
 families of their eligibility for services 
 under part B of subtitle VII of this Act, the 
 Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), the 
 Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 
 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.), and the Higher 
 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et 
 seq.);''; and
            (II) by striking clause
            (v) and 
 inserting the following:
 ``
            (v) how the recipient will ensure the 
 full implementation of the certifications and 
 agreements described in paragraphs

    (4)
            (D) and

    (7) of 

section 426

    (b) ;'';
            (iii) in subparagraph
            (C) 
            (i) , by inserting 
 ``and appropriate'' after ``rapid''; and
            (iv) by striking subparagraphs
        (F) and
        (G) and inserting the following:
 ``
        (F) for communities that establish and operate a 
 centralized or coordinated assessment system, the 
 extent to which that system--
 ``
            (i) ensures that individuals who are most 
 in need of assistance receive it in a timely 
 manner;
 ``
            (ii) in assessing need under clause
            (i) , 
 uses separate, specific, age-appropriate 
 criteria for assessing the safety and needs of 
 children under 5 years of age, school-age 
 children, unaccompanied youth and young adults 
 between 14 and 24 years of age, and families 
 that are unrelated to the criteria through 
 which an individual qualifies as `homeless' 
 under 

section 103;
 ``
            (iii) is accessible to unaccompanied 
 youth and homeless families;
 ``
            (iv) diverts individuals to safe, stable, 
 age-appropriate accommodations; and
 ``
            (v) includes affordable housing 
 developers, youth service providers, early 
 childhood programs, local educational agencies, 
 and mental health organizations; and
 ``
        (G) such other factors as the Secretary 
 determines to be appropriate to carry out this subtitle 
 in an effective and efficient manner, except that such 
 factors may not have the effect of prioritizing or 
 weighting, unless justified by local data or 
 information contained in a plan submitted under 
 subparagraph
        (B) --
 ``
            (i) any service with respect to a 
 specific subpopulation of homeless individuals 
 over another; or
 ``
            (ii) any program component or housing or 
 service model over another.''; and
        (B) by amending paragraph

    (3) to read as follows:
 ``

    (3) Homelessness counts.--The Secretary shall require 
 that communities that conduct an annual count of homeless 
 people shall count all homeless individuals identified and 
 reported by any program funded under any provision of this Act 
 or any other Federal statute.'';

    (10) in 

section 428 (42 U.S.C. 11386b)--
        (A) in subsection

    (a)

    (1) --
            (i) by striking ``disabilities and'' and 
 inserting ``disabilities,''; and
            (ii) by inserting ``, and homeless families 
 where a child has a disability'' before the 
 period at the end;
        (B) in subsection
            (d) --
            (i) in paragraph

    (1) , by inserting 
 ``promoting'' before ``independent''; and
            (ii) by striking paragraphs

    (2) and

    (3) and 
 inserting the following:
 ``

    (2) Prohibition.--The Secretary shall not provide bonuses 
 or other incentives under paragraph

    (1) that have the effect of 
 prioritizing or weighting, unless justified by local data or 
 information contained in a plan submitted under 

section 427

    (b)

    (1)
        (B) --
 ``
        (A) any service with respect to a specific 
 subpopulation of homeless individuals over another; or
 ``
        (B) any program component or housing or service 
 model over another.
 ``

    (3) Rule of construction.--For purposes of this 
 subsection, activities that have been proven to be effective at 
 reducing homelessness generally or reducing homelessness for a 
 specific subpopulation include any activity determined by the 
 Secretary, after providing notice and an opportunity for public 
 comment, to have been proven effective at--
 ``
        (A) reducing homelessness generally;
 ``
        (B) reducing homelessness for a specific 
 subpopulation;
 ``
            (C) reducing homelessness in a community for 
 populations overrepresented in any counts conducted in 
 that community under 

section 427

    (b)

    (3) ; or
 ``
            (D) achieving homeless prevention, reducing 
 recidivism, and promoting self-sufficiency and 
 independent living.
 ``

    (4) Encouraging local success and innovation.--In 
 providing bonuses or incentives under paragraph

    (1) , the 
 Secretary shall seek to encourage the implementation of proven 
 strategies and innovation in reducing homelessness among the 
 local priority populations identified in the plan submitted by 
 an applicant under 

section 427

    (b)

    (1)
        (B) . The Secretary shall 
 not implement bonuses or incentives that promote a national 
 priority established by the Secretary.''; and
            (C) by striking subsection

    (e) ; and

    (11) by amending 

section 434 (42 U.S.C. 11388) to read as 
 follows:

``

SEC. 434. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

 ``

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual 
report, which shall--
 ``

    (1) summarize the activities carried out under this 
 subtitle and set forth the findings, conclusions, and 
 recommendations of the Secretary as a result of the activities;
 ``

    (2) include, for the year preceding the date on which the 
 report is submitted--
 ``
        (A) data required to be made publically available 
 in the report under 

section 409; and
 ``
        (B) data on programs funded under any other 
 Federal statute; and
 ``

    (3) provide information on--
 ``
        (A) the extent to which the data collected under 
 

section 427

    (b)

    (3) may be duplicative; and
 ``
        (B) the policies and practices employed to 
 account for such duplication, where applicable, to 
 ensure an accurate point-in-time count.
 ``

    (b) Timing.--A report under subsection

    (a) shall be submitted not 
later than 4 months after the end of each fiscal year.''.

    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents in 

section 101

    (b) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
11301 note) is amended by inserting after the item relating to 

section 408 the following:

``

Sec. 409. Availability of HMIS data.''.
 <all>