II 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3923 

To provide emergency relief to youth, children, and families experiencing 

homelessness, in light of the health and economic consequences of 

COVID–19. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 9, 2020 

Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. MANCHIN, and Ms. SINEMA) introduced the 

following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

A BILL 

To provide emergency relief to youth, children, and families 

experiencing homelessness, in light of the health and 

economic consequences of COVID–19. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Emergency Family 

5 Stabilization Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) CURRENT ACF GRANT OR SUBGRANT RE9 CIPIENT.—The term ‘‘current ACF grant or subVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3923.IS S3923

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 3923 IS

1 grant recipient’’ means an Indian Tribe, Tribal or2 ganization, local educational agency, or a local pub3 lic, private, or Indian nonprofit agency or organiza4 tion (including culturally specific community-based 

5 and faith-based organizations) that, as of the date of 

6 application for a grant under section 3, is also re7 ceiving another grant or subgrant administered by 

8 the Administration for Children and Families. 

9 (2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 

10 the Director of the Office of Community Services of 

11 the Department of Health and Human Services. 

12 (3) DIRECT SERVICES.— 

13 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

14 subparagraph (B), the term ‘‘direct services’’ 

15 does not include providing referrals or oper16 ating a coordinated entry system or homeless 

17 management information system, by itself. 

18 (B) INDIAN TRIBES OR TRIBAL ORGANIZA19 TIONS.—An Indian Tribe or Tribal organization 

20 that provides referrals or assists other service 

21 providers with direct services shall be consid22 ered as providing direct services for purposes of 

23 this Act. 

24 (4) FAMILY STABILIZATION AGENCY.—The 

25 term ‘‘family stabilization agency’’ means— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 3923 IS

1 (A) a current ACF grant or subgrant re2 cipient; 

3 (B) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organiza4 tion; 

5 (C) an urban Indian organization; 

6 (D) a local educational agency; or 

7 (E) a local public, private, or Indian non8 profit agency or organization (including com9 munity-based and faith-based organizations), 

10 with expertise and demonstrated experience 

11 providing direct services to one or more of the 

12 following populations: 

13 (i) Children experiencing homeless14 ness, including children under age 6. 

15 (ii) Unaccompanied homeless youth 

16 under the age of 18. 

17 (iii) Unaccompanied homeless youth 

18 between the ages of 18 and 25. 

19 (iv) Pregnant women, and pregnant or 

20 parenting youth, experiencing homeless21 ness. 

22 (v) Families experiencing homeless23 ness. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•S 3923 IS

1 (vi) Survivors of dating violence, do2 mestic violence, family violence, or traf3 ficking. 

4 (5) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 

5 means an Indian tribe, as defined in section 4 of the 

6 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 

7 Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 

8 (6) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.—The term 

9 ‘‘local educational agency’’ has the meaning given 

10 the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec11 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 

12 (7) RURAL.—The term ‘‘rural’’ means a unit of 

13 local government with a population of less than 

14 50,000. 

15 (8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

16 the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 

17 (9) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘Tribal 

18 organization’’ means a tribal organization, as de19 fined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination 

20 and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 

21 (10) URBAN INDIAN ORGANIZATION.—The term 

22 ‘‘urban Indian organization’’ has the meaning given 

23 the term ‘‘Urban Indian organization’’ in section 4 

24 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 

25 U.S.C. 1603). 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5 

•S 3923 IS

1 (11) YOUTH, CHILD, OR FAMILY EXPERIENCING

2 HOMELESSNESS.—The term ‘‘youth, child, or family 

3 experiencing homelessness’’ means— 

4 (A) a homeless child or youth, as defined 

5 in section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento 

6 Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

7 11434a(2)), who is under the age of 25; 

8 (B) an unaccompanied youth, as defined in 

9 section 725(6) of the McKinney-Vento Home10 less Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(6)), who 

11 is under the age of 25; or 

12 (C) a household of not less than 2 people 

13 that includes not less than 1 person under age 

14 22 who is a homeless child or youth, as defined 

15 in section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento 

16 Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

17 11434a(2)). 

18 SEC. 3. GRANTS TO FAMILY STABILIZATION AGENCIES. 

19 (a) GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made avail21 able under section 4 and not reserved under sub22 section (b), the Secretary, acting through the Direc23 tor, shall, on a competitive basis in accordance with 

24 subsection (d), award grants to family stabilization 

25 agencies (including current ACF grant or subgrant 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
6 

•S 3923 IS

1 recipients and entities that have not previously re2 ceived grants from the Administration for Children 

3 and Families) to enable the family stabilization 

4 agencies to carry out the activities described in sub5 section (e). 

6 (2) DISTRIBUTION TIMING.— 

7 (A) CURRENT ACF GRANT OR SUBGRANT

8 RECIPIENTS.—The Secretary shall award grants 

9 under this section, in accordance with sub10 section (d), to family stabilization agencies that 

11 are current ACF grant or subgrant recipients 

12 by not later than the date that is 45 days after 

13 the date of enactment of this Act. 

14 (B) ADDITIONAL GRANTEES.—The Sec15 retary shall award grants under this section, in 

16 accordance with subsection (d), to family sta17 bilization agencies that are not current ACF 

18 grant or subgrant recipients by not later than 

19 the date that is 130 days after the date of en20 actment of this Act. 

21 (3) DISSEMINATION OF APPLICATIONS.—The 

22 Secretary shall— 

23 (A) ensure the application for grants under 

24 this Act is broadly disseminated, including 

25 through public posting on the website of the 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
7 

•S 3923 IS

1 Administration for Children and Families and 

2 sharing with current ACF grant or subgrant re3 cipients; and 

4 (B) make special dissemination efforts to 

5 rural areas and among Indian Tribes and Trib6 al organizations. 

7 (b) RESERVATION.—The Secretary shall reserve not 

8 less than 1 percent and not more than 1.5 percent of the 

9 amount appropriated under this Act to be used for admin10 istration, oversight, and technical assistance activities 

11 through the Administration for Children and Families. 

12 (c) APPLICATION.—A family stabilization agency that 

13 desires to receive a grant under this Act shall submit an 

14 application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 

15 and containing or accompanied by such information as the 

16 Secretary may reasonably require. Such application shall 

17 include the following: 

18 (1) A description of the housing, education, 

19 health, mental and behavioral health, employment, 

20 and other needs of youth, children, and families ex21 periencing homelessness, in the area served by such 

22 agency, specifically including youth, children, and 

23 families who are sharing the housing of other per24 sons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or 

25 a similar reason. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
8 

•S 3923 IS

1 (2) Available data on the extent of youth, child, 

2 and family homelessness in the area served by such 

3 agency, including data available from local edu4 cational agencies and data on child poverty in the 

5 area. 

6 (3) A description of barriers youth, children, 

7 and families experiencing homelessness face in ac8 cessing services, including barriers related to dating 

9 violence, domestic violence, family violence, poverty, 

10 lack of employment, lack of transportation, lack of 

11 telephone and internet connectivity, educational 

12 needs, and language accessibility. 

13 (4) A description of such agency’s direct service 

14 expertise and experience with youth, child, or family 

15 homelessness, specifically including youth, children, 

16 and families who are sharing the housing of other 

17 persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, 

18 or a similar reason. 

19 (5) A description of the area served by such 

20 agency, including whether the service area is urban, 

21 suburban, rural, or Tribal. If the applicant claims to 

22 cover a Tribal service area but is not an Indian 

23 Tribe or Tribal organization, the applicant shall pro24 vide evidence of having consulted with the Indian 

25 Tribe or Tribal organization whose service area the 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
9 

•S 3923 IS

1 applicant claims to cover and provide proof that the 

2 Indian Tribe or Tribal organization supports the ap3 plicant’s application. 

4 (6) A description of such agency’s existing part5 nerships with other agencies or organizations with 

6 experience serving youth, children, and families ex7 periencing homelessness. 

8 (7) A description of how funds received under 

9 the grant will be used to provide emergency relief to 

10 youth, children, and families experiencing homeless11 ness, specifically including— 

12 (A) youth, children, and families who are 

13 sharing the housing of other persons due to loss 

14 of housing, economic hardship, or a similar rea15 son; and 

16 (B) youth, children, and families experi17 encing homelessness who are not receiving serv18 ices through the Continuum of Care program 

19 under subpart C of title IV of the McKinney20 Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

21 11381 et seq.) as of the date of the application. 

22 (d) AWARD BASIS.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 

24 grants under this section on the basis of— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
10 

•S 3923 IS

1 (A) the need in the area served by each ap2 plicant; 

3 (B) the quality of each application; and 

4 (C) the distribution and priority require5 ments under paragraphs (4) and (5). 

6 (2) NEED.—In determining need under para7 graph (1)(A), the Secretary shall consider— 

8 (A) the extent of children, youth, and fam9 ilies experiencing homelessness in the area 

10 served by the family stabilization agency, in11 cluding data available from local educational 

12 agencies and data on child poverty; 

13 (B) the extent to which the proposed uses 

14 of funds will provide emergency relief to meet 

15 unmet needs of youth, children, and families ex16 periencing homelessness, specifically including 

17 youth, children, and families who are sharing 

18 the housing of other persons due to loss of 

19 housing, economic hardship, or a similar rea20 son; 

21 (C) the extent to which the proposed uses 

22 of funds will provide emergency relief to youth, 

23 children, and families experiencing homeless24 ness who are not currently receiving services 

25 through the Continuum of Care program under 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
11 

•S 3923 IS

1 subpart C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento 

2 Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 et 

3 seq.); and 

4 (D) the extent to which the application ad5 dresses the particular needs of pregnant 

6 women, pregnant and parenting youth, Indian 

7 women, children under age 6, children with dis8 abilities, families experiencing domestic vio9 lence, survivors of sexual assault or human traf10 ficking, or historically marginalized and under11 served communities of color. 

12 (3) QUALITY.—In determining quality under 

13 paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall consider, for 

14 both current ACF grant or subgrant recipients and 

15 not current ACF grant or subgrant recipients, the 

16 following: 

17 (A) The family stabilization agency’s needs 

18 assessment under subsection (c)(1) and the 

19 likelihood that the program presented in the ap20 plication will meet such needs. 

21 (B) The types, intensity, and coordination 

22 of the emergency relief to be provided under the 

23 program to youth, children, and families experi24 encing homelessness. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
12 

•S 3923 IS

1 (C) The extent of the family stabilization 

2 agency’s demonstrated expertise and experience 

3 providing direct services to youth, children, and 

4 families experiencing homelessness who are 

5 sharing the housing of other persons due to loss 

6 of housing, economic hardship, or a similar rea7 son. 

8 (D) The robustness of such agency’s plan 

9 to reach youth, children, and families experi10 encing homelessness who are sharing the hous11 ing of other persons due to loss of housing, eco12 nomic hardship, or a similar reason, including 

13 those who have lost a caregiver or family mem14 ber to COVID–19. 

15 (E) The extent of such agency’s dem16 onstrated expertise and experience in providing 

17 direct services to youth, children, and families 

18 experiencing homelessness specifically. 

19 (F) The extent to which the program pre20 sented in the application represents a multi21 generational approach to supporting youth, chil22 dren, and families experiencing homelessness. 

23 (G) The extent to which the application re24 flects coordination with local educational agen25 cies and public or private nonprofit agencies or 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
13 

•S 3923 IS

1 organizations with experience serving youth, 

2 children, and families experiencing homeless3 ness. 

4 (H) The extent to which the family sta5 bilization agency is, has been, or has specific 

6 plans to partner with, a recipient of a grant or 

7 subgrant administered by the Administration 

8 for Children and Families. 

9 (4) DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS.— 

10 (A) DISTRIBUTION AMONG TYPES OF COM11 MUNITIES.—In awarding grants under sub12 section (a), the Secretary shall ensure that 

13 funds are distributed according to the following 

14 allocation percentages: 

15 (i) Not less than 10 percent of the 

16 funds available for grants under this sec17 tion shall be awarded to family stabiliza18 tion agencies that are Indian Tribes or 

19 Tribal organizations serving youth, chil20 dren, and families experiencing homeless21 ness. 

22 (ii) Not less than 36 percent of the 

23 funds available for grants under this Act 

24 shall be awarded to family stabilization 

25 agencies serving predominantly rural areas. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
14 

•S 3923 IS

1 (iii) Not less than 30 percent of the 

2 funds available for grants under this Act 

3 shall be awarded to family stabilization 

4 agencies serving predominantly suburban 

5 areas. 

6 (iv) Not more than 24 percent of the 

7 funds available for grants under this Act 

8 shall be awarded to family stabilization 

9 agencies serving predominantly urban 

10 areas. 

11 (B) DISTRIBUTION TO EXPERIENCED

12 GRANTEES.—In awarding grants under sub13 section (a), the Secretary shall ensure that— 

14 (i) 80 percent of the funds available 

15 for grants under this section are distrib16 uted to family stabilization agencies— 

17 (I) that are current ACF grant 

18 or subgrant recipients; and 

19 (II) which may apply in partner20 ship with local educational agencies, 

21 Tribal educational agencies, public 

22 housing agencies, tribally designated 

23 housing entities, community develop24 ment financial institutions, State 

25 housing finance agencies, programs 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
15 

•S 3923 IS

1 that provide shelter to youth experi2 encing homelessness who are pregnant 

3 or parenting, public health agencies, 

4 domestic violence, dating violence, and 

5 family violence organizations, institu6 tions of higher education as defined in 

7 section 101 of the Higher Education 

8 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001), urban 

9 Indian organizations, or other commu10 nity partners; and 

11 (ii) 20 percent of the funds are dis12 tributed as grants to family stabilization 

13 agencies that are not current ACF grant 

14 or subgrant recipients. 

15 (C) SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR GRANTS TO

16 INDIAN TRIBES OR TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS.— 

17 (i) IN GENERAL.—In awarding grants 

18 to family stabilization agencies that are In19 dian Tribes or Tribal organizations pursu20 ant to subparagraph (A)(i), the Secretary 

21 may waive any requirements of paragraph 

22 (2) or (3) or subsection (c). 

23 (ii) ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS.— 

24 In awarding grants pursuant to subpara25 graph (A)(i), the Secretary shall consider 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
16 

•S 3923 IS

1 family stabilization agencies that are In2 dian Tribes and Tribal organizations that 

3 provide services that address child abuse 

4 and neglect. 

5 (5) PRIORITY IN AWARDS.—In awarding grants 

6 under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give pri7 ority to applications that will provide emergency re8 lief to youth, children, and families experiencing 

9 homelessness who are sharing the housing of other 

10 persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, 

11 or a similar reason, while ensuring the distribution 

12 of awards in accordance with paragraph (4). 

13 (e) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—Family stabilization 

14 agencies may use funds awarded under this section to pro15 vide emergency relief to youth, children, and families expe16 riencing homelessness, including the following: 

17 (1) The provision of personnel necessary to pro18 vide emergency relief and ensure services, resources, 

19 and assistance reach youth, children, and families 

20 experiencing homelessness, whether such personnel 

21 are employees of the family stabilization agency or 

22 a nonprofit community partner. 

23 (2) The provision of personal protective equip24 ment, hygiene supplies, and other supplies deter25 mined to be necessary to mitigate the spread of 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
17 

•S 3923 IS

1 Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) by the Cen2 ters for Disease Control and Prevention, the Occu3 pational Safety and Health Administration, a State, 

4 an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, or a locality 

5 for personnel delivering services and for youth, chil6 dren, and families experiencing homelessness. 

7 (3) Payments to meet shelter and housing-re8 lated needs to support safety and health, including 

9 payments for— 

10 (A) security deposits; 

11 (B) eviction prevention; 

12 (C) utility connection fees and payments; 

13 (D) outstanding rental, utility, motel, and 

14 other bills as needed to enter housing or con15 nect utilities; 

16 (E) motel or hotel stays; 

17 (F) housing placement; 

18 (G) records expungement; and 

19 (H) other assistance. 

20 (4) The provision of food and equipment needed 

21 to prepare food. 

22 (5) The provision of medical and dental health 

23 services, including preventive care. 

24 (6) The provision of mental and behavioral 

25 health services, including preventive care. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
18 

•S 3923 IS

1 (7) The provision of clothing, access to laundry 

2 facilities, clothes washers and dryers, detergent, and 

3 personal hygiene supplies. 

4 (8) The provision of transportation, including 

5 payments for gas, emergency vehicle repairs, re6 quired insurance, driver’s education and driver’s li7 cense fees, public transportation, and other trans8 portation appropriate for Tribal and rural locations. 

9 (9) The provision of support to meet commu10 nications and connectivity needs, including internet 

11 connectivity, outstanding internet or telephone bills 

12 as needed to connect communications services, elec13 tronic and connected devices, hotspots, portable 

14 chargers, pre-paid phone cards, calling minutes and 

15 data plans, and costs to ship items and supplies. 

16 (10) The provision of support to meet edu17 cational and employment needs, including academic 

18 support, distance learning support, resources, and 

19 access, child care, social and emotional supports, ca20 reer and technical education, employment training 

21 and placement, and similar supports. 

22 (11) The purchase and distribution of store 

23 cards, gift cards, prepaid debit cards, and vouchers 

24 to allow youth, children, and families experiencing 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
19 

•S 3923 IS

1 homelessness to purchase any items or services that 

2 constitute emergency relief. 

3 (12) The provision of mentorship and service 

4 coordination. 

5 (13) The provision of services and supports to 

6 meet the particular needs of pregnant women, preg7 nant and parenting youth, and children birth to age 

8 five, experiencing homelessness. 

9 (14) The provision of services and supports to 

10 meet the particular needs of unaccompanied youth 

11 experiencing homelessness. 

12 (15) The provision of services and supports to 

13 meet the particular needs of survivors of domestic 

14 violence, sexual assault, or trafficking. 

15 (16) The provision of assistance in accessing 

16 advance refunds payable under section 6428(f) of 

17 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (commonly re18 ferred to as ‘‘economic impact payments’’), unem19 ployment compensation, and other benefits provided 

20 by Federal, State and local governments. 

21 (17) The provision of services and supports to 

22 prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect. 

23 (18) The provision of other extraordinary or 

24 emergency assistance needed to promote the safety 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
20 

•S 3923 IS

1 and self-sufficiency of youth, children, and families 

2 experiencing homelessness. 

3 (19) Other purposes as determined by the Sec4 retary. 

5 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

6 There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 

7 this Act $800,000,000. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS