II 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 220 

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 

FEBRUARY 4, 2021 

Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. MANCHIN, Ms. COLLINS, Ms. SINEMA, Mrs. 

SHAHEEN, Mr. SCHATZ, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. CASEY, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. 

KELLY, and Mr. SULLIVAN) 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: 


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1 (1) CURRENT ACF GRANT OR SUBGRANT RE2 CIPIENT.—The term ‘‘current ACF grant or 

3 subgrant recipient’’ means an Indian Tribe, Tribal 

4 organization, Native Hawaiian organization, local 

5 educational agency, or a local public, private, or In6 dian nonprofit agency or organization (including cul7 turally specific community-based and faith-based or8 ganizations) that, as of the date of application for 

9 a grant under section 3, is also receiving another 

10 grant or subgrant administered by the Administra11 tion for Children and Families. 

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

13 the Director of the Office of Community Services of 

14 the Department of Health and Human Services. 

15 (3) DIRECT SERVICES.— 

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

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

18 does not include providing referrals or oper19 ating a coordinated entry system or homeless 

20 management information system, by itself. 

21 (B) INDIAN TRIBES, TRIBAL ORGANIZA22 TIONS, OR NATIVE HAWAIIAN ORGANIZA23 TIONS.—An Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, 

24 or Native Hawaiian organization that provides 

25 referrals or assists other service providers with 


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1 direct services shall be considered as providing 

2 direct services for purposes of this Act. 

3 (4) FAMILY STABILIZATION AGENCY.—The 

4 term ‘‘family stabilization agency’’ means— 

5 (A) a current ACF grant or subgrant re6 cipient; 

7 (B) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organiza8 tion; 

9 (C) an urban Indian organization; 

10 (D) a Native Hawaiian organization, 

11 (E) a local educational agency; or 

12 (F) a local public, private, or Indian non13 profit agency or organization (including com14 munity-based and faith-based organizations), 

15 with expertise and demonstrated experience 

16 providing direct services to one or more of the 

17 following populations: 

18 (i) Children experiencing homeless19 ness, including children under age 6. 

20 (ii) Unaccompanied homeless youth 

21 under the age of 18. 

22 (iii) Unaccompanied homeless youth 

23 between the ages of 18 and 25. 


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1 (iv) Pregnant women, and pregnant or 

2 parenting youth, experiencing homeless3 ness. 

4 (v) Families experiencing homeless5 ness. 

6 (vi) Survivors of dating violence, do7 mestic violence, family violence, or traf8 ficking. 

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

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

11 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 

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

13 (6) NATIVE HAWAIIAN ORGANIZATION.—The 

14 term ‘‘Native Hawaiian organization’’ has the mean15 ing given that term in section 6207 of the Elemen16 tary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 

17 U.S.C. 7517). 

18 (7) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.—The term 

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

20 the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec21 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 

22 (8) RURAL.—The term ‘‘rural’’ means a unit of 

23 local government with a population of less than 

24 50,000. 


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1 (9) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

2 the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 

3 (10) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘Trib4 al organization’’ means a tribal organization, as de5 fined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination 

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

7 (11) URBAN INDIAN ORGANIZATION.—The term 

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

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

10 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 

11 U.S.C. 1603). 

12 (12) YOUTH, CHILD, OR FAMILY EXPERIENCING

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

14 experiencing homelessness’’ means— 

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

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

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

18 11434a(2)), who is under the age of 25; 

19 (B) an unaccompanied youth, as defined in 

20 section 725(6) of the McKinney-Vento Home21 less Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(6)), who 

22 is under the age of 25; or 

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

24 that includes not less than 1 person under age 

25 22 who is a homeless child or youth, as defined 


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

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

3 11434a(2)). 

4 SEC. 3. GRANTS TO FAMILY STABILIZATION AGENCIES. 

5 (a) GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made avail7 able under section 4 and not reserved under sub8 section (b), the Secretary, acting through the Direc9 tor, shall, on a competitive basis in accordance with 

10 subsection (d), award grants to family stabilization 

11 agencies (including current ACF grant or subgrant 

12 recipients and entities that have not previously re13 ceived grants from the Administration for Children 

14 and Families) to enable the family stabilization 

15 agencies to carry out the activities described in sub16 section (e). 

17 (2) DISTRIBUTION TIMING.— 

18 (A) CURRENT ACF GRANT OR SUBGRANT

19 RECIPIENTS.—The Secretary shall award grants 

20 under this section, in accordance with sub21 section (d), to family stabilization agencies that 

22 are current ACF grant or subgrant recipients 

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

24 the date of enactment of this Act. 


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1 (B) ADDITIONAL GRANTEES.—The Sec2 retary shall award grants under this section, in 

3 accordance with subsection (d), to family sta4 bilization agencies that are not current ACF 

5 grant or subgrant recipients by not later than 

6 the date that is 130 days after the date of en7 actment of this Act. 

8 (3) DISSEMINATION OF APPLICATIONS.—The 

9 Secretary shall— 

10 (A) ensure the application for grants under 

11 this Act is broadly disseminated, including 

12 through public posting on the website of the 

13 Administration for Children and Families and 

14 sharing with current ACF grant or subgrant re15 cipients; and 

16 (B) make special dissemination efforts to 

17 rural areas and among Indian Tribes, Tribal 

18 organizations, and Native Hawaiian organiza19 tions. 

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

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

22 amount appropriated under this Act to be used for admin23 istration, oversight, and technical assistance activities 

24 through the Administration for Children and Families. 


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

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

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

4 and containing or accompanied by such information as the 

5 Secretary may reasonably require. Such application shall 

6 include the following: 

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

8 health, mental and behavioral health, employment, 

9 and other needs of youth, children, and families ex10 periencing homelessness, in the area served by such 

11 agency, specifically including youth, children, and 

12 families who are sharing the housing of other per13 sons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or 

14 a similar reason. 

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

16 and family homelessness in the area served by such 

17 agency, including data available from local edu18 cational agencies and data on child poverty in the 

19 area. 

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

21 and families experiencing homelessness face in ac22 cessing services, including barriers related to dating 

23 violence, domestic violence, family violence, poverty, 

24 lack of employment, lack of transportation, lack of 


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1 telephone and internet connectivity, educational 

2 needs, and language accessibility. 

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

4 expertise and experience with youth, child, or family 

5 homelessness, specifically including youth, children, 

6 and families who are sharing the housing of other 

7 persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, 

8 or a similar reason. 

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

10 agency, including whether the service area is urban, 

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

12 cover a Tribal service area but is not an Indian 

13 Tribe or Tribal organization, the applicant shall pro14 vide evidence of having consulted with the Indian 

15 Tribe or Tribal organization whose service area the 

16 applicant claims to cover and provide proof that the 

17 Indian Tribe or Tribal organization supports the ap18 plicant’s application. 

19 (6) A description of such agency’s existing part20 nerships with other agencies or organizations with 

21 experience serving youth, children, and families ex22 periencing homelessness. 

23 (7) A description of how funds received under 

24 the grant will be used to provide emergency relief to 


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1 youth, children, and families experiencing homeless2 ness, specifically including— 

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

4 sharing the housing of other persons due to loss 

5 of housing, economic hardship, or a similar rea6 son; and 

7 (B) youth, children, and families experi8 encing homelessness who are not receiving serv9 ices through the Continuum of Care program 

10 under subpart C of title IV of the McKinney11 Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

12 11381 et seq.) as of the date of the application. 

13 (d) AWARD BASIS.— 

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

15 grants under this section on the basis of— 

16 (A) the need in the area served by each ap17 plicant; 

18 (B) the quality of each application; and 

19 (C) the distribution and priority require20 ments under paragraphs (4) and (5). 

21 (2) NEED.—In determining need under para22 graph (1)(A), the Secretary shall consider— 

23 (A) the extent of children, youth, and fam24 ilies experiencing homelessness in the area 

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1 cluding data available from local educational 

2 agencies and data on child poverty; 

3 (B) the extent to which the proposed uses 

4 of funds will provide emergency relief to meet 

5 unmet needs of youth, children, and families ex6 periencing homelessness, specifically including 

7 youth, children, and families who are sharing 

8 the housing of other persons due to loss of 

9 housing, economic hardship, or a similar rea10 son; 

11 (C) the extent to which the proposed uses 

12 of funds will provide emergency relief to youth, 

13 children, and families experiencing homeless14 ness who are not currently receiving services 

15 through the Continuum of Care program under 

16 subpart C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento 

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

18 seq.); and 

19 (D) the extent to which the application ad20 dresses the particular needs of pregnant 

21 women, pregnant and parenting youth, Indian 

22 or Native Hawaiian women, children under age 

23 6, children with disabilities, families experi24 encing domestic violence, survivors of sexual as25 sault or human trafficking, or historically 


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1 marginalized and underserved communities of 

2 color. 

3 (3) QUALITY.—In determining quality under 

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

5 both current ACF grant or subgrant recipients and 

6 not current ACF grant or subgrant recipients, the 

7 following: 

8 (A) The family stabilization agency’s needs 

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

10 likelihood that the program presented in the ap11 plication will meet such needs. 

12 (B) The types, intensity, and coordination 

13 of the emergency relief to be provided under the 

14 program to youth, children, and families experi15 encing homelessness. 

16 (C) The extent of the family stabilization 

17 agency’s demonstrated expertise and experience 

18 providing direct services to youth, children, and 

19 families experiencing homelessness who are 

20 sharing the housing of other persons due to loss 

21 of housing, economic hardship, or a similar rea22 son. 

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

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1 ing of other persons due to loss of housing, eco2 nomic hardship, or a similar reason, including 

3 those who have lost a caregiver or family mem4 ber to COVID–19. 

5 (E) The extent of such agency’s dem6 onstrated expertise and experience in providing 

7 direct services to youth, children, and families 

8 experiencing homelessness specifically. 

9 (F) The extent to which the program pre10 sented in the application represents a multi11 generational approach to supporting youth, chil12 dren, and families experiencing homelessness. 

13 (G) The extent to which the application re14 flects coordination with local educational agen15 cies and public or private nonprofit agencies or 

16 organizations with experience serving youth, 

17 children, and families experiencing homeless18 ness. 

19 (H) The extent to which the family sta20 bilization agency is, has been, or has specific 

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

22 subgrant administered by the Administration 

23 for Children and Families. 

24 (4) DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS.— 


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1 (A) DISTRIBUTION AMONG TYPES OF COM2 MUNITIES.—In awarding grants under sub3 section (a), the Secretary shall ensure that 

4 funds are distributed according to the following 

5 allocation percentages: 

6 (i) Not less than 10 percent of the 

7 funds available for grants under this sec8 tion shall be awarded to family stabiliza9 tion agencies that are Indian Tribes, Trib10 al organizations, or Native Hawaiian orga11 nizations serving youth, children, and fami12 lies experiencing homelessness. 

13 (ii) Not less than 36 percent of the 

14 funds available for grants under this Act 

15 shall be awarded to family stabilization 

16 agencies serving predominantly rural areas. 

17 (iii) Not less than 30 percent of the 

18 funds available for grants under this Act 

19 shall be awarded to family stabilization 

20 agencies serving predominantly suburban 

21 areas. 

22 (iv) Not more than 24 percent of the 

23 funds available for grants under this Act 

24 shall be awarded to family stabilization 


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1 agencies serving predominantly urban 

2 areas. 

3 (B) DISTRIBUTION TO EXPERIENCED

4 GRANTEES.—In awarding grants under sub5 section (a), the Secretary shall ensure that— 

6 (i) 80 percent of the funds available 

7 for grants under this section are distrib8 uted to family stabilization agencies— 

9 (I) that are current ACF grant 

10 or subgrant recipients; and 

11 (II) which may apply in partner12 ship with local educational agencies, 

13 Tribal educational agencies, public 

14 housing agencies, tribally designated 

15 housing entities, community develop16 ment financial institutions, State 

17 housing finance agencies, programs 

18 that provide shelter to youth experi19 encing homelessness who are pregnant 

20 or parenting, public health agencies, 

21 domestic violence, dating violence, and 

22 family violence organizations, institu23 tions of higher education as defined in 

24 section 101 of the Higher Education 

25 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001), Native 


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1 Hawaiian organizations, urban Indian 

2 organizations, or other community 

3 partners; and 

4 (ii) 20 percent of the funds are dis5 tributed as grants to family stabilization 

6 agencies that are not current ACF grant 

7 or subgrant recipients. 

8 (C) SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR GRANTS TO

9 INDIAN TRIBES, TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS, OR

10 NATIVE HAWAIIAN ORGANIZATIONS.— 

11 (i) IN GENERAL.—In awarding grants 

12 to family stabilization agencies that are In13 dian Tribes, Tribal organizations, or Na14 tive Hawaiian organizations pursuant to 

15 subparagraph (A)(i), the Secretary may 

16 waive any requirements of paragraph (2) 

17 or (3) or subsection (c). 

18 (ii) ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS.— 

19 In awarding grants pursuant to subpara20 graph (A)(i), the Secretary shall consider 

21 family stabilization agencies that are In22 dian Tribes, Tribal organizations, or Na23 tive Hawaiian organizations that provide 

24 services that address child abuse and ne25 glect. 


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

2 under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give pri3 ority to applications that will provide emergency re4 lief to youth, children, and families experiencing 

5 homelessness who are sharing the housing of other 

6 persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, 

7 or a similar reason, while ensuring the distribution 

8 of awards in accordance with paragraph (4). 

9 (e) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—Family stabilization 

10 agencies may use funds awarded under this section to pro11 vide emergency relief to youth, children, and families expe12 riencing homelessness, including the following: 

13 (1) The provision of personnel necessary to pro14 vide emergency relief and ensure services, resources, 

15 and assistance reach youth, children, and families 

16 experiencing homelessness, whether such personnel 

17 are employees of the family stabilization agency or 

18 a nonprofit community partner. 

19 (2) The provision of personal protective equip20 ment, hygiene supplies, and other supplies deter21 mined to be necessary to mitigate the spread of 

22 Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) by the Cen23 ters for Disease Control and Prevention, the Occu24 pational Safety and Health Administration, a State, 

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1 waiian organization, or a locality for personnel deliv2 ering services and for youth, children, and families 

3 experiencing homelessness. 

4 (3) Payments to meet shelter and housing-re5 lated needs to support safety and health, including 

6 payments for— 

7 (A) security deposits; 

8 (B) eviction prevention; 

9 (C) utility connection fees and payments; 

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

11 other bills as needed to enter housing or con12 nect utilities; 

13 (E) motel or hotel stays; 

14 (F) housing placement; 

15 (G) records expungement; and 

16 (H) other assistance. 

17 (4) The provision of food and equipment needed 

18 to prepare food. 

19 (5) The provision of medical and dental health 

20 services, including preventive care. 

21 (6) The provision of mental and behavioral 

22 health services, including preventive care. 

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

24 facilities, clothes washers and dryers, detergent, and 

25 personal hygiene supplies. 


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1 (8) The provision of transportation, including 

2 payments for gas, emergency vehicle repairs, re3 quired insurance, driver’s education and driver’s li4 cense fees, public transportation, and other trans5 portation appropriate for Tribal and rural locations. 

6 (9) The provision of support to meet commu7 nications and connectivity needs, including internet 

8 connectivity, outstanding internet or telephone bills 

9 as needed to connect communications services, elec10 tronic and connected devices, hotspots, portable 

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

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

13 (10) The provision of support to meet edu14 cational and employment needs, including academic 

15 support, distance learning support, resources, and 

16 access, child care, social and emotional supports, ca17 reer and technical education, employment training 

18 and placement, and similar supports. 

19 (11) The purchase and distribution of store 

20 cards, gift cards, prepaid debit cards, and vouchers 

21 to allow youth, children, and families experiencing 

22 homelessness to purchase any items or services that 

23 constitute emergency relief. 

24 (12) The provision of mentorship and service 

25 coordination. 


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1 (13) The provision of services and supports to 

2 meet the particular needs of pregnant women, preg3 nant and parenting youth, and children birth to age 

4 five, experiencing homelessness. 

5 (14) The provision of services and supports to 

6 meet the particular needs of unaccompanied youth 

7 experiencing homelessness. 

8 (15) The provision of services and supports to 

9 meet the particular needs of survivors of domestic 

10 violence, sexual assault, or trafficking. 

11 (16) The provision of assistance in accessing 

12 advance refunds payable under section 6428(f) of 

13 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (commonly re14 ferred to as ‘‘economic impact payments’’), unem15 ployment compensation, and other benefits provided 

16 by Federal, State and local governments. 

17 (17) The provision of services and supports to 

18 prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect. 

19 (18) The provision of other extraordinary or 

20 emergency assistance needed to promote the safety 

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

22 experiencing homelessness. 

23 (19) Other purposes as determined by the Sec24 retary. 


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1 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

2 There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 

3 this Act $800,000,000. 

Æ 


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