Summary
Amends the Social Security Act to help states better coordinate and provide housing support and services for youth who have been in foster care.
What problem does this solve?
Youth leaving foster care often face homelessness because child welfare and housing programs are not well connected. This bill requires these agencies to work together and allows states to use funds for housing support, helping these young people find stable homes.
What does this bill do?
Allows funds for housing supportive services
Permits states to use program funds to provide services that help eligible youth find and keep housing, such as financial counseling and help with security deposits.
Requires collaboration with housing agencies
Requires state child welfare agencies to work with public housing agencies that run federal housing programs to better serve foster youth.
Extends age for housing support
Allows states to provide housing-related supportive services to eligible youth up to age 26 to help them maintain access to housing.
Requires joint guidance from federal agencies
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to issue joint guidance to states on how to coordinate housing programs for foster youth.
Requires a report to Congress
Mandates a report to Congress within three years on the number of foster youth receiving housing aid, their outcomes, and recommendations for improving program coordination.
Who does this affect?
- Youth in or formerly in the foster care system
- State child welfare agencies
- Public housing authorities
What is the real world impact?
•
Reduces homelessness among former foster youth
Requires child welfare and housing agencies to work together, making it easier for young people leaving foster care to find and keep stable housing.
•
Depends on effective agency cooperation
The bill's success relies on strong collaboration between child welfare and public housing agencies, which can be difficult to achieve in practice, potentially leading to uneven support across different states.
When does this start?
The changes in this bill will go into effect one year after it becomes law, with specific deadlines for agency actions.
Joint agency guidance issued
The Secretaries of HHS and HUD must develop and issue joint guidance within one year of the bill becoming law.
Report to Congress submitted
The Secretary of HHS must submit a report to Congress on program outcomes and recommendations within three years of the bill becoming law.