119-s2234

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2234 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 2234

To make improvements to the Emergency Solutions Grants and Continuum of 
 Care programs, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 July 9, 2025

Mr. Rounds (for himself, Ms. Smith, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Crapo) introduced 
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 
 on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To make improvements to the Emergency Solutions Grants and Continuum of 
 Care programs, and for other purposes.

 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 ``Reducing Homelessness Through 
Program Reform Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
 ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
        (A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
 Affairs of the Senate; and
        (B) the Committee on Financial Services of the 
 House of Representatives.

    (2) At risk of homelessness.--The term ``at risk of 
 homelessness'' has the meaning given the term in 

section 401 of 
 the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360).

    (3) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
 Department of Housing and Urban Development.

    (4) Homeless.--The term ``homeless'' has the meaning given 
 the term in 

section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
 Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302).

    (5) Public housing agency.--The term ``public housing 
 agency'' has the meaning given the term in 

section 3

    (b) of the 
 United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a

    (b) ).

    (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'', except as otherwise 
 provided, means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANTS 
 PROGRAM.

 

Section 418 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 11378) is amended by striking ``7.5 percent'' and inserting ``10 
percent''.

SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento 
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 et seq.) is amended--

    (1) in 

section 402

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

    (g) )--
        (A) by redesignating paragraph

    (2) as paragraph

    (3) ; and
        (B) by inserting after paragraph

    (1) the following:
 ``

    (2) Time limit on designation.--The Secretary--
 ``
        (A) shall accept applications for designation as 
 a unified funding agency annually or biennially, which 
 designation shall be effective for not more than 2 
 years; and
 ``
        (B) may, on an annual or biennial basis, renew 
 any designation under subparagraph
        (A) .'';

    (2) in 

section 422 (42 U.S.C. 11382)--
        (A) in subsection

    (b) --
            (i) by striking ``The Secretary'' and 
 inserting the following:
 ``

    (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph

    (2) , the 
 Secretary''; and
            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (2) 2-year notification.--Subject to the availability of 
 appropriations, the Secretary may issue a notification of 
 funding availability for grants awarded under this subtitle 
 that provides funding for 2 successive fiscal years, which 
 shall--
 ``
        (A) award funds for the second year of projects, 
 including adjustments under subsection

    (f) , unless the 
 project is underperforming, as determined by the 
 collaborative applicant, and the collaborative 
 applicant applies to replace the project with a new 
 project; and
 ``
        (B) include--
 ``
            (i) the method for applying for and 
 awarding projects to replace underperforming 
 projects in year 2;
 ``
            (ii) the method for applying for and 
 awarding renewals of expiring grants for 
 projects that were not eligible for renewal in 
 the first fiscal year;
 ``
            (iii) the method for allocating any 
 amounts in the second fiscal year that are in 
 excess of the amount needed to fund the second 
 fiscal year of all grants awarded in the first 
 fiscal year;
 ``
            (iv) the method of applying for and 
 awarding grants, which are 1-year transition 
 grants awarded by the Secretary to project 
 sponsors for activities under this subtitle to 
 transition from 1 eligible activity to another 
 eligible activity if the recipient--
 ``
            (I) has the consent of the 
 continuum of care; and
 ``
            (II) meets standards determined 
 by the Secretary;
 ``
            (C) announce by notice the award of second fiscal 
 year funding and awards for new and renewal projects; 
 and
 ``
            (D) identify the process by which the Secretary 
 may approve replacement of a collaborative applicant 
 that is not a unified funding agency to receive the 
 award in the second fiscal year.'';
        (B) in subsection
            (c) (2) --
            (i) by striking ``
        (A) In general.--Except 
 as provided in subparagraph
        (B) , the 
 Secretary'' and inserting ``The Secretary''; 
 and
            (ii) by striking subparagraph
        (B) ; and
            (C) in subsection

    (e) , by striking ``1 year'' and 
 inserting ``2 years'';

    (3) in 

section 423

    (a) (42 U.S.C. 11383)--
        (A) in paragraph

    (4) , in the third sentence--
            (i) by striking ``, at the discretion of 
 the applicant and the project sponsor,''; and
            (ii) by inserting ``not more than'' before 
 ``15 years'';
        (B) in paragraph

    (7) , in the matter preceding 
 subparagraph
        (A) , by inserting ``payment of not more 
 than 6 months of arrears for rent and utility 
 expenses,'' after ``moving costs,''; and
            (C) in paragraph

    (10) , by striking ``3 percent'' 
 and inserting ``the greater of $70,000 or 5 percent'';

    (4) in 

section 425 (42 U.S.C. 11385), by adding at the end 
 the following:
 ``

    (f) Adjustment of Costs.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this subsection, and on a biennial basis thereafter, the 
Comptroller General of the United States--
 ``

    (1) shall study the hiring, retention, and compensation 
 levels of the workforce providing the services described in 
 subsection
            (c) , including executive directors, case managers, 
 and front line staff, and examine whether low compensation is 
 undermining program effectiveness;
 ``

    (2) shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
 committees a report on any findings, and to the Secretary any 
 recommendations, as the Comptroller General considers 
 appropriate regarding funding levels for the cost of the 
 supportive services and the staffing to provide the services 
 described in subsection
            (c) ; and
 ``

    (3) in carrying out the study under paragraph

    (1) , may 
 reference the Consumer Price Index or other similar surveys.'';

    (5) in 

section 426 (42 U.S.C. 11386), by adding at the end 
 the following:
 ``

    (h) Inspections.--When complying with inspection requirements for 
a housing unit provided to a homeless individual or family using 
assistance under this subtitle, the Secretary may allow a grantee to--
 ``

    (1) conduct a pre-inspection not more than 60 days before 
 leasing the unit;
 ``

    (2) conduct a remote or video inspection of the unit; and
 ``

    (3) allow the unit to be leased prior to completion of an 
 inspection if the unit passed an alternative Federal inspection 
 within the preceding 12-month period, so long as the unit is 
 inspected not later than 15 days after the start of the 
 lease.''; and

    (6) in 

section 430 (42 U.S.C. 11386d), by adding at the end 
 the following:
 ``
            (d) Costs Paid by Program Income.--With respect to grant amounts 
awarded under this subtitle, costs paid by the program income of a 
grant recipient may count toward the contributions required under 
subsection

    (a) if the costs--
 ``

    (1) are eligible expenses under this subtitle;
 ``

    (2) meet standards determined by the Secretary; and
 ``

    (3) supplement activities carried out by the recipient 
 under this subtitle.''.

    (b) Other Modifications.--

    (1) === Definitions. ===
-In this subsection--
        (A) the terms ``collaborative applicant'' and 
 ``eligible entity'' have the meanings given those terms 
 in 

section 401 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
 Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360); and
        (B) the terms ``Indian tribe'' and ``tribally 
 designated housing entity'' have the meanings given 
 those terms in 

section 4 of the Native American Housing 
 Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 
 U.S.C. 4103).

    (2) Nonapplication of civil rights laws.--With respect to 
 the funds made available for the Continuum of Care program 
 authorized under subtitle C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento 
 Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 et seq.) under the 
 heading ``Homeless Assistance Grants'' in the Department of 
 Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public 
 Law 116-260) and under 

section 231 of the Department of Housing 
 and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2020 (42 U.S.C. 
 11364a), title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 
 2000d et seq.) and title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 
 (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) shall not apply to applications by or 
 awards for projects to be carried out--
        (A) on or off reservation or trust lands for awards 
 made to Indian tribes or tribally designated housing 
 entities; or
        (B) on reservation or trust lands for awards made 
 to eligible entities.

    (3) Certification.--With respect to funds made available 
 for the Continuum of Care program authorized under subtitle C 
 of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
 U.S.C. 11381 et seq.) under the heading ``Homeless Assistance 
 Grants'' under 

section 231 of the Department of Housing and 
 Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2020 (42 U.S.C. 11364a)--
        (A) applications for projects to be carried out on 
 reservations or trust land shall contain a 
 certification of consistency with an approved Indian 
 housing plan developed under 

section 102 of the Native 
 American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act 
 (25 U.S.C. 4112), notwithstanding 

section 106 of the 
 Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 
 U.S.C. 12706) and 

section 403 of the McKinney-Vento 
 Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11361);
        (B) Indian tribes and tribally designated housing 
 entities that are recipients of awards for projects on 
 reservations or trust land shall certify that they are 
 following an approved housing plan developed under 
 

section 102 of the Native American Housing Assistance 
 and Self-Determination Act (25 U.S.C. 4112); and
            (C) a collaborative applicant for a Continuum of 
 Care whose geographic area includes only reservation 
 and trust land is not required to meet the requirement 
 in 

section 402

    (f)

    (2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
 Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360a

    (f)

    (2) ).

SEC. 5. AMENDMENTS TO THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM.

 

Section 8

    (o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
1437f

    (o) ) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (5) , by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (C) Exceptions.--Notwithstanding subparagraph
        (A) --
 ``
            (i) a public housing agency may accept a 
 third party income calculation and verification 
 of family income for purposes of this 
 subsection if--
 ``
            (I) the calculation and 
 verification was completed for 
 determination of income eligibility for 
 a Federal program or service during the 
 preceding 12-month period; and
 ``
            (II) there has been no change in 
 income or family composition since the 
 calculation and verification under 
 clause
            (i) ; and
 ``
            (ii) when using prior year income under 
 

section 3

    (a)

    (7)
        (B) , a public housing agency 
 shall use the income of the family as 
 determined by the agency or owner for the prior 
 calendar year or another 12-month period ending 
 during the preceding 12 months, taking into 
 consideration any redetermination of income 
 between the start of such prior calendar year 
 or other 12-month period and the date of the 
 annual review.'';

    (2) in paragraph

    (8) --
        (A) in subparagraph
        (A)
            (iii) --
            (i) in the clause heading, by striking 
 ``for interim period'';
            (ii) in the first sentence--
            (I) by striking ``before'' and 
 inserting ``without performing''; and
            (II) by striking ``has been 
 completed'' and all that follows 
 through ``subparagraph
        (B) ''; and
            (iii) in the second sentence, by striking 
 ``subparagraph
            (D) '' and inserting 
 ``subparagraphs
            (D) and
        (F) '';
        (B) in subparagraph
            (C) , by adding at the end the 
 following: ``This subparagraph shall not apply with 
 respect to a dwelling unit for which the public housing 
 agency relied on an alternative inspection method under 
 subparagraph
        (E) as the initial inspection.''; and
            (C) in subparagraph
        (E) --
            (i) in clause
            (i) --
            (I) by inserting ``
            (I) '' after 
 ``
            (i) '';
            (II) in subclause
            (I) , as so 
 designated, by striking ``and'' at the 
 end; and
            (III) by adding at the end the 
 following:
 ``
            (II) the public housing agency (or other 
 entity pursuant to paragraph

    (11) ) conducted 
 the inspection during the preceding 12-month 
 period when the unit was occupied by a previous 
 tenant assisted under this subsection or was 
 vacant; or
 ``
            (III) the public housing agency--
 ``

    (aa) conducted a pre-inspection 
 not more than 60 days before leasing a 
 unit;
 ``

    (bb) conducted a remote or video 
 inspection of a unit; or
 ``
            (cc) allowed a unit to be leased 
 prior to completion of an inspection if 
 the unit passed alternative inspection 
 within the preceding 12-month period, 
 so long as the unit is inspected not 
 later than 15 days after the start of 
 the lease; and''; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (23) Use of housing assistance funds for deposits and 
 holding fees.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--A public housing agency may use 
 current and prior year available housing assistance for 
 tenant-based rental assistance under this subsection 
 for--
 ``
            (i) standard security deposits for rent, 
 utilities, and any other deposits allowed by 
 the Secretary that are necessary to lease a 
 dwelling unit under this subsection; and
 ``
            (ii) fees to hold an available dwelling 
 unit under this subsection during the 
 inspection and approval process.
 ``
        (B) Maximum amount.--The maximum amount a public 
 housing agency may provide to or on behalf of a family 
 under clause
            (i) or
            (ii) of subparagraph
        (A) is the 
 equivalent of 1 month's rent of the selected unit for 
 each of the purposes under those clauses.
 ``
            (C) Allocation baseline.--Any funds used for the 
 purposes described in subparagraph
        (A) shall be part of 
 the allocation baseline for tenant-based contract 
 renewals.
 ``
            (D) Cap.--The Secretary shall establish a cap to 
 limit the percentage of funds made available under a 
 housing assistance payment contract that a public 
 housing agency may use for the purposes described in 
 subparagraph
        (A) .''.

SEC. 6. TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES.

    (a) E-Snaps System.--

    (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
 the Secretary $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, in addition to 
 amounts otherwise available, to remain available until 
 expended, for information technology upgrades to the E-Snaps 
 system used to support the program application and awards 
 process under subtitle C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento 
 Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 et seq.).

    (2) Development process.--In the development process of 
 upgrading the E-Snaps system described in paragraph

    (1) , the 
 Secretary shall--
        (A) focus on the needs of users of the E-Snaps 
 system, meaning grant recipients and other relevant 
 stakeholders, and take into consideration, to the 
 extent practicable--
            (i) the guidelines outlined in the U.S. Web 
 Design Standards maintained by the General 
 Services Administration and the Digital 
 Services Playbook and TechFAR Handbook for 
 Procuring Digital Services Using Agile 
 Processes; and
            (ii) the relevant successor documents or 
 recommendations of such guidelines;
        (B) use modern, relevant privacy- and security-
 enhancing technology; and
            (C) plan for the ongoing operations and maintenance 
 of the system and product to ensure its ongoing 
 capability.

    (3) Nonapplication of the paperwork reduction act.--
 Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, 
 shall not apply to any aspect of the development process 
 described in paragraph

    (2) .

    (b) Expansion of Working Capital Fund for Information Technology 
Services.--

Section 7

    (f) of the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3535

    (f) ) is amended--

    (1) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the 
 following:
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Secretary''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (2) Working capital fund information technology 
 activities.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The authorized services of the 
 working capital fund established under paragraph

    (1) (in this paragraph referred to as the `Fund') shall 
 include the activities described in this paragraph for 
 information technology, which shall be managed by the 
 Chief Information Officer of the Department under the 
 overall Fund management of the Office of the Chief 
 Financial Officer.
 ``
        (B) Activities.--The Fund shall be used for 
 recurring and nonrecurring expenses relating to 
 information technology needs of the Department, 
 including services, products, upgrades, modernization, 
 and maintenance needs and projects, for the purposes of 
 meaningfully improving digital service and program 
 delivery and customer experience.
 ``
            (C) Transfers and deposits.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--The Fund shall include 
 unobligated balances of expired discretionary 
 funds appropriated in fiscal year 2025 or any 
 succeeding fiscal year from the general fund of 
 the Treasury to the Department of Housing and 
 Urban Development, which may be transferred, 
 not later than the end of the fifth fiscal year 
 after the last fiscal year for which such funds 
 are available for the purposes for which they 
 were appropriated, into the Fund for use under 
 this paragraph.
 ``
            (ii) Salaries and expenses.--Of the 
 amounts made available for salaries and 
 expenses in a fiscal year, excluding amounts 
 made available under the heading `Office of 
 Inspector General', a total of up to 
 $10,000,000 may be transferred to the Fund for 
 use under this paragraph.
 ``
            (iii) Availability.--Amounts transferred 
 to or deposited in the Fund under this 
 subparagraph shall be available until expended, 
 in addition to such other funds as may be 
 available for the activities described in 
 subparagraph
        (B) , subject to approval by the 
 Office of Management and Budget.''.

SEC. 7. IMPROVING COORDINATION BETWEEN HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AND 
 SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

    (a) Report by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and 
Medicine.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development shall seek to enter into an agreement 
with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to 
conduct and submit to the appropriate congressional committees an 
evidence-based, nonpartisan analysis that--

    (1) reviews the research on linkages between health care 
 and homelessness and analyzes the effect of greater 
 coordination and partnerships between health care 
 organizations, mental health and substance use disorder and 
 substance use disorder service providers, and housing service 
 providers, including possible cost-savings of providing greater 
 access to health services, recovery housing, or housing-related 
 supportive services for individuals experiencing chronic 
 homelessness and other types of homelessness; and

    (2) includes policy and program recommendations for 
 improving access to health care and housing, health care and 
 housing outcomes, possible cost-savings and efficiencies, and 
 best practices.

    (b) Demonstration Authority.--

    (1) In general.--Subtitle A of title IV of the McKinney-
 Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360 et seq.) is 
 amended by adding at the end the following:

``

SEC. 409. DEMONSTRATION AUTHORITY.

 ``

    (a) 

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

    (1) Covered recipient.--The term `covered recipient' 
 means a recipient of assistance under this title.
 ``

    (2) Healthcare organization.--The term `healthcare 
 organization' means a provider of physical or behavioral 
 healthcare, including--
 ``
        (A) a hospital;
 ``
        (B) a community health center;
 ``
            (C) a provider of substance use or mental health 
 services; and
 ``
            (D) a provider of public health services and 
 initiatives, which may include area agencies on aging.
 ``

    (3) Housing provider.--The term `housing provider' means 
 an entity, including a grant recipient under subtitle B or C of 
 this title, a public housing agency (as defined in 

section 3 of 
 the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a)), or a 
 federally funded organization or a nonprofit organization, 
 providing housing services, including rapid re-housing, 
 transitional housing, housing choice vouchers, and housing-
 related supportive services to individuals experiencing or at 
 risk of homelessness.
 ``

    (b) Authority.--The Secretary may establish demonstration 
projects or partnerships that involve collaboration between housing 
providers and healthcare organizations to provide housing-related 
supportive services, such as housing navigation, placement, financing, 
and casework, or improve access to health services for homeless 
individuals or those at risk of homelessness, including--
 ``

    (1) assistance in coordinating data systems with the 
 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (Public Law 
 104-191); and
 ``

    (2) projects or partnerships that are aimed at serving 
 individuals--
 ``
        (A) who are homeless, chronically homeless, or at 
 risk of homelessness; and
 ``
        (B) with--
 ``
            (i) a high-use of emergency services or 
 emergency departments;
 ``
            (ii) chronic disabilities, including 
 physical health or mental health conditions;
 ``
            (iii) substance use disorders;
 ``
            (iv) serious mental illness; or
 ``
            (v) other severe service needs.
 ``
            (c) Report.--
 ``

    (1) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In 
 this subsection, the term `appropriate congressional 
 committees' means--
 ``
        (A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
 Affairs of the Senate; and
 ``
        (B) the Committee on Financial Services of the 
 House of Representatives.
 ``

    (2) Requirement.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
 of enactment of this Act, and every 4 years thereafter, the 
 Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
 committees a report on each demonstration project or 
 partnership established under this section.''.

    (2) 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. Demonstration authority.''.

SEC. 8. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS.

    (a) Advisory Committee on Homelessness.--

    (1) In general.--Subtitle A of title IV of the McKinney-
 Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360 et seq.), as 
 amended by this Act, is amended by adding at the end the 
 following:

``

SEC. 410. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS.

 ``

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development (in this section referred to as the 
`Department') the Advisory Committee on Homelessness (in this section 
referred to as the `Committee').
 ``

    (b) Membership.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Committee shall consist of not less 
 than 10 and not more than 15 members jointly appointed by the 
 Secretary and the Executive Director of the United States 
 Interagency Council on Homelessness (in this section referred 
 to as the `Executive Director') from among the following:
 ``
        (A) Individuals who have experienced or are 
 currently experiencing homelessness.
 ``
        (B) A representative of or advocate for people 
 experiencing homelessness.
 ``
            (C) A community-based provider of services for 
 people experiencing homelessness.
 ``
            (D) A provider of or expert in affordable housing 
 or permanent housing services.
 ``
        (E) A provider of or expert in health care for 
 people experiencing homelessness.
 ``
        (F) A provider of mental health, substance use 
 disorder, or wraparound services.
 ``
        (G) A provider of job training and employment 
 assistance programs or services.
 ``
        (H) A representative of a federally-recognized 
 Indian tribe who has experience in Tribal housing and 
 homelessness services.
 ``
            (I) An individual representing local government 
 or local law enforcement.
 ``
        (J) Such other organization, group, or 
 stakeholder as the Secretary and Executive Director 
 consider appropriate.
 ``

    (2) Ex-officio members.--The Committee shall include, as 
 ex officio members--
 ``
        (A) the Secretary, or a representative thereof, 
 and the Executive Director, or a representative 
 thereof;
 ``
        (B) the Secretaries, or representatives thereof, 
 of--
 ``
            (i) Health and Human Services;
 ``
            (ii) Agriculture;
 ``
            (iii) Education;
 ``
            (iv) Veterans Affairs;
 ``
            (C) the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human 
 Services for Mental Health and Substance Use, or a 
 representative thereof;
 ``
            (D) the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
 or a representative thereof; and
 ``
        (E) such other ex officio members as the 
 Secretary and the Executive Director consider 
 appropriate.
 ``

    (3) Period of appointment; vacancies.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The Secretary and Executive 
 Director shall determine the terms of service of the 
 members of the Committee, except that--
 ``
            (i) a term of service may not exceed 4 
 years; and
 ``
            (ii) the Secretary may reappoint any 
 member for additional terms of service.
 ``
        (B) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Committee--
 ``
            (i) shall not affect the powers of the 
 Committee; and
 ``
            (ii) shall be filled in the same manner 
 as the original appointment.
 ``
            (c) Meetings.--
 ``

    (1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 6 months after the 
 date on which all members of the Committee have been appointed, 
 the Committee shall hold the first meeting of the Committee.
 ``

    (2) Frequency.--The Committee shall meet at the call of 
 the Chairperson.
 ``

    (3) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Committee 
 shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may 
 hold hearings.
 ``
            (d) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The Committee shall select 
a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of the 
Committee.
 ``

    (e) Best Practices.--The Secretary and the Executive Director 
shall implement strategies and activities associated with best 
practices of incorporating advisory groups of people with lived 
experience, this may include--
 ``

    (1) orientation and training for Committee members on the 
 work of the Secretary, the United States Interagency Council on 
 Homelessness, and relevant agencies;
 ``

    (2) training and professional development on best 
 practices for effective engagement with the lived experience 
 advisory group for involved staff for the Department; and
 ``

    (3) strategies to reduce barriers to participation for 
 individuals with lived experience of homelessness.
 ``

    (f) Duties of the Committee.--
 ``

    (1) Advice to secretary and executive director.--
 ``
        (A) Consultation.--The Secretary and the 
 Executive Director shall consult with and seek the 
 advice of the Committee on a regular basis with respect 
 to policy, programs, and initiatives related to 
 homelessness.
 ``
        (B) Activities.--In providing advice to the 
 Secretary and Executive Director under this subsection, 
 the Committee, drawing from their own independent 
 judgement, shall--
 ``
            (i) assemble and review information 
 relating to the needs, experiences, and 
 expertise of people experiencing homelessness;
 ``
            (ii) provide an on-going assessment of 
 the effectiveness of the policies, programs, 
 and services of the Department in assisting 
 people experiencing homelessness and creating 
 interim, transitional, and permanent housing 
 opportunities;
 ``
            (iii) provide on-going advice on the most 
 appropriate, effective, and dignified means of 
 assisting all populations of people 
 experiencing homelessness; and
 ``
            (iv) provide on-going insights for 
 departments, policies, and programs across the 
 Federal Government that serve people 
 experiencing homelessness.
 ``

    (2) Additional activities.--The Committee shall--
 ``
        (A) primarily review the continuum of 
 homelessness and homelessness prevention services 
 provided by the Department and assess new policies, 
 programs, and procedures related to homelessness 
 resources, supportive services, and prevention, 
 including--
 ``
            (i) identifying recommendations to 
 address programmatic gaps and barriers to 
 effectively serving the full demographic and 
 geographic spectrum of people experiencing 
 homelessness and at risk of homelessness;
 ``
            (ii) uplifting best practices, innovative 
 solutions, efficiencies, and local policy 
 initiatives for consideration by the 
 Department, as well as identifying successes 
 within the policies and programs of the 
 Department; and
 ``
            (iii) identifying opportunities for 
 increased liaison by the Department with 
 nongovernmental organizations, State and local 
 governments, and individual groups providing 
 services to homeless populations;
 ``
        (B) advise agency partners within the United 
 States Interagency Council on Homelessness to 
 strengthen coordination of all services involved in 
 addressing needs of people experiencing homeless, 
 including by--
 ``
            (i) identifying recommendations to 
 strengthen the accessibility and efficacy of 
 Federal programs and policies that serve people 
 experiencing homelessness; and
 ``
            (ii) identifying areas for increased 
 streamlining, flexibilities, efficiency, and 
 synchronization under existing laws and 
 policies to promote effective coordination of 
 Federal agencies with State and local agencies 
 addressing homelessness; and
 ``
            (C) perform such other functions as the 
 Secretary, the Executive Director, and Committee 
 members may direct.
 ``

    (g) Powers of Committee.--
 ``

    (1) Hearings.--The Committee may hold such hearings, sit 
 and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and 
 receive such evidence as the Committee considers advisable to 
 carry out this section.
 ``

    (2) Information from federal agencies.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The Committee may secure 
 directly from a Federal department or agency such 
 information as the Committee considers necessary to 
 carry out this section.
 ``
        (B) Furnishing information.--On request of the 
 Chairperson of the Committee, the head of the 
 department or agency shall furnish the information to 
 the Committee.
 ``

    (3) Postal services.--The Committee may use the United 
 States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions 
 as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
 ``

    (4) Donations.--The Committee may accept, use, and 
 dispose of donations of services or property.
 ``

    (h) Committee Personnel Matters.--
 ``

    (1) Compensation of members.--A member of the Committee 
 who is not paid by their employer while attending and 
 participating in activities of the Committee may receive 
 compensation at a rate established by the Secretary and 
 Executive Director and in accordance with guidance of the 
 Department on best practices for compensating people with 
 expertise based on their lived experience of homelessness.
 ``

    (2) Travel expenses.--A member of the Committee who is 
 not paid by their employer while attending and participating in 
 activities of the Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, 
 including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized 
 for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of 
 title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or 
 regular places of business in the performance of services for 
 the Committee.
 ``

    (3) Executive director and staff.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The Secretary shall detail a 
 staff member of the Department of Housing and Urban 
 Development to serve as executive director of the 
 Committee and such other additional personnel as may be 
 necessary to enable the Committee to perform its 
 duties, except that the appointment of an executive 
 director shall be subject to confirmation by the 
 Committee.
 ``
        (B) Detail of government employees.--A Federal 
 Government employee may be detailed to the Committee 
 without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without 
 interruption or loss of civil service status or 
 privilege.
 ``

    (4) Procurement of temporary and intermittent services.--
 The Chairperson of the Committee may procure temporary and 
 intermittent services under 

section 3109

    (b) of title 5, United 
 States Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the 
 daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for 
 level V of the Executive Schedule under 

section 5316 of that 
 title.
 ``
            (i) Reports.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 3 months after the Annual 
 Homelessness Assessment Report is released each year, the 
 Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the Executive 
 Director a brief report on select programs and activities of 
 the Department and United States Interagency Council on 
 Homelessness that relate to homelessness, which may include--
 ``
        (A) an assessment of the experiences and needs of 
 people experiencing homelessness;
 ``
        (B) a brief review of successes and areas to 
 strengthen within programs and activities of the 
 Department and United States Interagency Council on 
 Homelessness;
 ``
            (C) a review of the activities of the Committee; 
 and
 ``
            (D) such recommendations (including 
 recommendations for administrative and legislative 
 action) as the Committee considers appropriate.
 ``

    (2) Transmission to congress.--Not later than 90 days 
 after the receipt of a report under paragraph

    (1) , the 
 Secretary shall transmit to the Committee Banking, Housing, and 
 Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial 
 Services of the House of Representatives a copy of the report, 
 together with any comments and recommendations concerning the 
 report that the Secretary considers appropriate.
 ``

    (3) Additional reports and recommendations.--The 
 Committee may submit to the Secretary and the Executive 
 Director such other reports and recommendations as the 
 Committee considers appropriate.
 ``

    (j) Termination.--

Section 1013 of title 5, United States Code, 
shall not apply to the Committee.
 ``

    (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for the Committee $150,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 
through 2030 to carry out this section, to remain available until 
expended.''.

    (2) 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), as amended by this Act, 
 is amended by inserting after the item relating to 

section 409 
 the following:

``

Sec. 410. Advisory Committee on Homelessness.''.

    (b) Grantees and Member Agencies.--The Secretary and the United 
States Interagency Council on Homelessness shall support its grantees 
and Federal member agencies in incorporating individuals with lived 
experience of homelessness within their homelessness programs, relevant 
committees, and workgroups, including by--

    (1) examining opportunities to incentivize meaningfully 
 including the expertise of individuals with lived and ongoing 
 experiences of homelessness in grants, policies, and programs 
 that impact individuals at risk of or experiencing 
 homelessness, as well as opportunities to compensate people 
 with lived experience for their contributions; and

    (2) addressing barriers such as Federal program eligibility 
 and caps on earned income to ensure individuals with lived 
 experience of homelessness are compensated for their 
 participation in planning activities and input processes 
 without risking any benefits or assistance that they receive 
 from the Federal Government, which may include the provision of 
 waivers, subject to a process determined by the Secretary, 
 regarding eligibility for Federal housing assistance programs 
 to individuals who would otherwise be eligible for those 
 programs if not for the compensation provided for their 
 consultation services.

SEC. 9. STREAMLINING COORDINATED ENTRY.

    (a) Audit by the Comptroller General.--Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall--

    (1) conduct a multi-community evaluation of the operations 
 of coordinated assessment systems by the Continuum of Care 
 Program under subtitle C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento 
 Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 et seq.) program to 
 examine the efficiency, accuracy, and outcomes of those 
 operations; and

    (2) submit to the appropriate congressional committees on 
 any findings and to the Secretary on any recommendations, as 
 the Comptroller General considers appropriate, for a more 
 effective and efficient coordinated entry process.

    (b) Assessments.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--

    (1) evaluate the coordinated assessment processes under the 
 Continuum of Care Program under subtitle C of title IV of the 
 McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 et 
 seq.), which shall include--
        (A) a request for information from continuums of 
 care about coordinated entry tools, processes, 
 barriers, documentation barriers, and necessary 
 guidance;
        (B) incorporating findings from relevant reports 
 and demonstrations of the Department of Housing and 
 Urban Development including relevant reports such as 
 the report described in subsection

    (a) ; and
            (C) consulting with organizations with expertise in 
 providing health care to people experiencing 
 homelessness on best practices in assessment tools for 
 prioritizing resources and characterizing chronic 
 homelessness and people experiencing homelessness with 
 high-service needs;

    (2) issue an updated notice, which shall include guidance--
        (A) on effective assessment processes that remove 
 barriers, streamline access, minimize bias, allow for 
 coordination with public housing agencies, include 
 trauma-informed data collection practices, improve 
 accuracy, address needs for underserved groups, and 
 successfully divert individuals from homelessness; and
        (B) that includes all key populations and 
 subpopulations, including consideration for age, family 
 status, health status, or other vulnerabilities, access 
 points, prioritization, programs, and the programs and 
 systems serving individuals experiencing homelessness 
 and that allow for local flexibility and tailoring 
 based on the needs and resources within the specific 
 community; and

    (3) establish a timely, periodic procedure to request 
 feedback on coordinated assessment and update the guidance, 
 which may include conducting a request for information not less 
 frequently than once every 5 years.

SEC. 10. STREAMLINING DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Assessment.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate congressional 
committees a report that assesses--

    (1) the documentation requirements (beyond photo 
 identification) for determining eligibility and resource 
 prioritization for homelessness assistance programs of the 
 Department;

    (2) the influence of those documentation requirements on 
 housing access and resource access; and

    (3) recommendations for reducing documentation barriers to 
 homelessness assistance programs of the Department and 
 evaluating the opportunity to incorporate the use of State-
 issued, existing forms of digital identification that States 
 have provided all of their residents and are not specific to 
 people experiencing homelessness.

    (b) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall--

    (1) evaluate the assessment required under subsection

    (a) ;

    (2) publish a request for information from continuums of 
 care and public housing agencies about the matters described in 
 paragraphs

    (1) ,

    (2) , and

    (3) of subsection

    (a) ; and

    (3) submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
 ongoing reports on the impact of waivers provided in August 
 2023, and any similar, subsequent waivers, to modify admissions 
 to the housing choice voucher program under 

section 8

    (o) of the 
 United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f

    (o) ) and 
 expedite assistance to homeless individuals.

SEC. 11. IMPROVING TARGETED DATA COLLECTION, FUNDING, AND COORDINATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall--

    (1) issue not less than 1 request for information on--
        (A) improving data collection, including through 
 the use of the Homeless Management Information System 
 or other data systems,
        (B) coordination and use of data between housing 
 and homelessness providers and physical, mental, and 
 behavioral health organizations, substance use 
 treatment providers, the Department of Veterans 
 Affairs, and the criminal justice system for purposes 
 of programs involved with providing services for people 
 experiencing or at risk of homelessness; and
            (C) the potential use and value of using artificial 
 intelligence models for the purpose of improving 
 program effectiveness and assessing the effectiveness 
 of interventions for people experiencing or at risk of 
 homelessness;

    (2) consider providing incentives to improve data 
 collection, enhance the use of the Homeless Management 
 Information System, implement community information exchanges, 
 and strengthen the coordination of data from physical, mental, 
 and behavioral health organizations and the criminal justice 
 system with housing and homelessness providers, in order to 
 target resources for housing, outreach, homelessness 
 prevention, and housing-related supportive services for 
 homeless individuals, chronically homeless individuals, or 
 those at risk of homelessness with significant criminal justice 
 system or law enforcement interaction;

    (3) coordinate with the Secretary of the Department of 
 Veterans Affairs on data sharing to improve coordination 
 between data for vouchers provided under 

section 8

    (o)

    (19) of 
 the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f

    (o)

    (19) ), 
 the Homeless Management Information System, and any other 
 applicable homeless program supported by the Department of 
 Veterans Affairs; and

    (4) issue guidance to establish best practices and 
 mechanisms to enable Homeless Management Information System 
 data to be made available in a usable format for academic 
 researchers using artificial intelligence models without 
 including personally-identifying information and with 
 appropriate risk-mitigation strategies in place, with the aim 
 of improving the understanding and effectiveness of 
 interventions for people experiencing or at risk of 
 homelessness.

    (b) Demonstration Authority.--The Secretary may use unobligated 
funding to pilot demonstration projects or partnerships between the 
entities described in subsection

    (a)

    (2) for purposes of improving 
access to housing and support services necessary for gainful and 
permanent employment, which may include flexibility and waivers related 
to--

    (1) program requirements under subtitles B and C of the 
 McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11371 et 
 seq., 11381 et seq.);

    (2) flexibility to serve individuals exiting an institution 
 where they have resided for 120 days or less and who resided in 
 an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation 
 immediately before entering that institution;

    (3) flexibility to serve individuals exiting an institution 
 where they have resided and who otherwise lack a fixed, 
 regular, and adequate nighttime residence; or

    (4) flexibility to serve individuals exiting the criminal 
 justice system.
            (c) USICH Report.--Following a reasonable time after the conclusion 
of a demonstration project or partnership described in subsection

    (b) , 
the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness shall issue a 
publicly available report summarizing those efforts and recommending 
best practices.
            (d) Guidance.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Attorney 
General, shall issue guidance on best practices for improving targeted 
data collection, funding, and coordination relating to behavioral 
health and criminal justice system interaction with housing assistance 
and homelessness programs for the purpose of diverting people who are 
exiting institutions from entering homelessness.

SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION FOR INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS.

    (a) In General.--Title II of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 11311 et seq.) is amended--

    (1) in 

section 204

    (a) (42 U.S.C. 11314

    (a) )--
        (A) by striking ``The Council'' and inserting the 
 following:
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Council''; and
        (B) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (2) Testimony.--The Executive Director of the Council 
 shall annually testify before the Committee on Banking, 
 Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
 Financial Services of the House of Representatives on the 
 coordinated response to homelessness by the Federal 
 Government.'';

    (2) in 

section 208 (42 U.S.C. 11318), by striking ``to 
 carry out this title $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and such 
 sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2011'' and inserting 
 ``such sums as may be necessary to carry out this title until 
 the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of the 
 Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act'';

    (3) by striking 

section 209 (42 U.S.C. 11319); and

    (4) by redesignating 

section 210 (42 U.S.C. 11320) as 
 

section 209.

    (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 striking the items relating to sections 209 
and 210 and inserting the following:

``

Sec. 209. Encouragement of State involvement.''.

SEC. 13. EVALUATION.

 Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall conduct an evaluation and submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees, and make publicly available, a report on 
grant allocation amounts, matching requirements, and funding under the 
Emergency Solutions Grants program and the Continuum of Care program 
under subtitles B and C, respectively, of title IV of the McKinney-
Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11371 et seq., 11381 et seq.), 
which shall include surveys of the field, unmet need (on a relative and 
absolute basis), and local program availability compared to community 
needs in small States, small communities, and Tribal and rural 
communities, as it relates to program funding levels.

SEC. 14. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

 Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be 
construed to limit the authority of the Secretary to provide 
flexibility under housing laws in effect as of the date of enactment of 
this Act. The flexibilities and waivers authorized under this Act and 
the amendments made by this Act shall not replace or result in the 
termination of other flexibilities and waivers that the Secretary is 
authorized to exercise.
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