Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act of 2019

To provide priority under certain federally assisted housing programs to assist youths who are aging out of foster care, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act of 2019 2. Definition of family Subparagraph (A) of section 3(b)(3) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(3)(A) (1) in the first sentence— (A) by striking (v) (vi) (B) by inserting after tenant family, (v) a child who is in foster care and has attained an age such that the provision of foster care for such child will end by reason of the age of the child within 6 months, (2) in the second sentence, by inserting or (vi) clause (v) 3. Priority for public housing occupancy and section 8 assistance (a) Public housing Subparagraph (A) of section 6(c)(4) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437d(c)(4)(A) (1) by striking may establish a system for making dwelling units available that provides preference shall establish a system for making dwelling units available that— (i) shall provide preferences ; (2) by striking each system of preferences established pursuant to this subparagraph shall be based (ii) except as provided in clause (iii), shall be based ; (3) by adding at the end the following new clause: (iii) except for projects or portions of projects designated for occupancy pursuant to section 7(a), shall provide that the highest preference for occupancy shall be given to otherwise eligible children who are in foster care, have attained an age such that the provision of foster care for such child will end by reason of the age of the child within 6 months, meet the requirements under clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1) of the definition of at risk of homelessness (iv) may provide highest preference for occupancy to, in addition to eligible children described in clause (iii), not more than two other types of families. . (b) Voucher assistance Subparagraph (A) of section 8(o)(6) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(6)(A) (1) in clause (i), by striking may shall (2) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); (3) by inserting before clause (iii), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, the following new clause: (ii) Highest preference Each system of preferences established pursuant to this subparagraph— (I) shall provide that the highest preference for assistance shall be given to otherwise eligible children who are in foster care, have attained an age such that the provision of foster care for such child will end by reason of the age of the child within 6 months, meet the requirements under clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1) of the definition of at risk of homelessness (II) may provide highest preference for assistance to, in addition to eligible children described in subclause (I), not more than two other types of eligible families. ; and (4) in clause (iii), as so redesignated by paragraph (2) of this subsection, by striking Each system Except as provided in clause (ii)(I), each system (c) PHA project-Based voucher assistance Subparagraph (J) of section 8(o)(13) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)(J) (1) by striking (J) Tenant selection (J) Tenant selection (i) Selection and eligibility A public ; (2) by striking The agency or owner may establish preferences or criteria for selection for a unit assisted under this paragraph that (ii) Preferences for occupancy The agency or owner shall establish a system of preferences or criteria for selection for a unit assisted under this section that— (I) shall provide that the highest preference shall be given to otherwise eligible children who are in foster care, have attained an age such that the provision of foster care for such child will end by reason of the age of the child within 6 months, meet the requirements under clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1) of the definition of at risk of homelessness (II) may provide highest preference to, in addition to eligible children described in subclause (I), not more than two other types of eligible families; and (III) except as provided under subclause (I), ; and (3) by striking Any family that (iii) Waiting lists Any family that . (d) Project-Based section 8 rental assistance Subparagraph (A) of section 8(d)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(d)(1)(A) (1) by realigning such subparagraph so as to be indented 2 ems from the left margin; (2) by striking except that with respect except that— (i) with respect to assisted dwelling units in a project assisted with project-based assistance under this section, the tenant selection criteria used by the owner— (I) shall provide that the highest preference shall be given to otherwise eligible children who are in foster care, have attained an age such that the provision of foster care for such child will end by reason of the age of the child within 6 months, meet the requirements under clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1) of the definition of at risk of homelessness (II) may provide highest preference to, in addition to eligible children described in subclause (I), not more than two other types of eligible families; and (ii) with respect ; and (3) by inserting who are not eligible for highest preference pursuant to clause (i)(I) to be assisted (e) Terms and conditions on priority Title I of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 39. Terms and conditions on preference for assistance for children aging out of foster care (a) Preference For purposes of this section, the term preference for housing assistance (1) occupancy in a public housing dwelling unit, pursuant to section 6(c)(4)(A)(iii); (2) tenant-based assistance under section 8(o), pursuant to paragraph (6)(A)(ii)(I) of such section; (3) project-based assistance under section 8(o)(13), pursuant to subparagraph (J)(ii)(I) of such section; and (4) occupancy in a dwelling unit in a project assisted with project-based assistance under section 8, pursuant to subsection (d)(1)(A)(i)(I) of such section. (b) Early application for assistance Notwithstanding the period during which a preference for housing assistance is provided for a person, an otherwise eligible person may apply for such occupancy or assistance at any time after such person attains 16 years of age. (c) Requirement for education or training (1) Requirement Except as provided in paragraph (2), each person occupying a dwelling unit pursuant to a preference for housing assistance shall, not later than 30 months after such initial occupancy, comply with the requirements under one of the following subparagraphs, as selected by the public housing agency for or project owner of the assisted housing dwelling unit involved, in consultation with relevant public child welfare agencies: (A) Option 1 The requirements under this subparagraph are— (i) obtaining a recognized postsecondary credential or a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent; (ii) enrollment in an institution of higher education, as such term is defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) 20 U.S.C. 1002(a)(1) (iii) participation in a career pathway, as such term is defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102 Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, a public housing agency or project owner may consider employment as satisfying the requirements under this subparagraph. (B) Option 2 The requirements under this subparagraph are compliance with the terms and conditions applicable under section 23 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437u (i) a public housing agency may select the option under this subparagraph only if the agency is participating in such self-sufficiency program or has made such commitments to commence participation as the Secretary considers sufficient; and (ii) a project owner of assisted housing may select the option under this subparagraph only if the public housing agency in whose jurisdiction the project is located is participating in such self-sufficiency program or has made such commitments to commence participation as the Secretary considers sufficient. (C) Option 3 The requirements under this subparagraph are compliance with any combination of the terms, conditions, and requirements under subparagraphs (A) and (B), as may be established by the public housing agency, except that a project owner of assisted housing may select the option under this subparagraph only if the public housing agency in whose jurisdiction the project is located has selected the option under this subparagraph and has established such terms, conditions, and requirements. In designing such terms, conditions, and requirements, the public housing agency may consult with local workforce development agencies and other organizations and entities with expertise and experience in this field. (2) Exceptions The requirement under paragraph (1) shall not apply to— (A) a parent or other household member responsible for the care of a dependent child under the age of 6 or for the care of an incapacitated person; (B) a person who is regularly and actively participating in a drug addiction or alcohol treatment and rehabilitation program; and (C) a person who is incapable of complying with the requirement under paragraph (1) due to a documented medical condition. (3) Verification of compliance The Secretary shall require the public housing agency or project owner, as applicable, to verify compliance with the requirement under paragraph (1) by each person occupying a dwelling unit assisted or administered by such agency or owner, as applicable, pursuant to a preference for housing assistance annually in conjunction with reviews of income for purposes of determining eligibility for assistance described in subsection (a). (d) Limitation on bedrooms A dwelling unit that is occupied by a person, or assisted with assistance made available on behalf of a person, pursuant to a preference for housing assistance may contain more than one bedroom only if such additional bedrooms are occupied only by other persons who occupy such dwelling unit, or receive assistance made available, pursuant to a preference for housing assistance. (e) Supportive services (1) Eligibility Each person occupying a dwelling unit pursuant to a preference for housing assistance shall be eligible for any supportive services (as such term is defined in section 103 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102 (2) Information Upon the initial provision of housing assistance for any person pursuant to a preference for such assistance, the public housing agency or owner, as applicable, shall inform such person of the existence of any programs or services referred to in paragraph (1) and of their eligibility for such programs and services. (f) Termination of assistance The public housing agency or project owner, as applicable, shall terminate any occupancy of, or assistance on behalf of, a person pursuant to any preference for housing assistance upon the person attaining 25 years of age or upon substantial noncompliance with the requirement under subsection (c), except that nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit the occupancy of housing assisted under this title by, or the provision of rental assistance under section 8 for, any person, or to affect the eligibility of any person for such occupancy or assistance, other than pursuant to a preference for housing assistance. (g) Applicability to Moving to Work agencies Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the preferences for housing assistance identified in subsection (a) of this section shall apply to assistance made available by each public housing agency participating in the Moving to Work Program under section 204 of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f (h) Reports The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall require each public housing agency that provides any preference for housing assistance pursuant to this section in any fiscal year to submit a report to the Secretary for such fiscal year that— (1) specifies the number of applications for such preferences received during such fiscal year disaggregated by— (A) the number received by persons who have attained 16 years of age but have not attained an age such that the provision of foster care for such child will end by reason of the age of the child within 6 months; and (B) the number received by persons who have attained an age such that the provision of foster care for such child will end by reason of the age of the child within 6 months; (2) specifies the number of persons provided a preference for housing assistance during such fiscal year; and (3) describes how the public housing agency communicated or collaborated with public child welfare agencies to collect such data. . 4. Priority for rural rental assistance Paragraph (2) of section 521(a) of the Housing Act of 1949 ( 42 U.S.C. 1490a(a)(2) (F) (i) In making occupancy in a project assisted under this paragraph, and rental assistance under this paragraph, available on behalf of eligible families, the project owner— (I) shall provide that the highest preference shall be given to otherwise eligible children who— (aa) are in foster care; (bb) have attained an age such that the provision of foster care for such child will end by reason of the age of the child within 6 months; (cc) meet the requirements under clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1) of the definition of at risk of homelessness (dd) have agreed to comply with the requirements under clause (iii); and (II) may provide highest preference to, in addition to eligible children described in subclause (I), not more than two other types of eligible families. (ii) Notwithstanding the period during which a preference pursuant to clause (i)(I) for occupancy in project assisted under this paragraph or for rental assistance under this paragraph is provided for a person, an otherwise eligible person may apply for such occupancy or assistance at any time after the person attains 16 years of age. (iii) (I) Except as provided in subclause (II), each person occupying a dwelling unit pursuant to a preference under clause (i)(I) shall, not later than 30 months after such initial occupancy, be— (aa) obtaining a recognized postsecondary credential or a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent; (bb) enrolled in an institution of higher education, as such term is defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) 20 U.S.C. 1002(a)(1) (cc) participating in a career pathway, as such term is defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102 Notwithstanding any other provision of this subclause, a project owner may consider employment as satisfying the requirements under this subclause. (II) The requirement under subclause (I) shall not apply to— (aa) a parent or other household member responsible for the care of a dependent child under the age of 6 or for the care of an incapacitated person; (bb) a person who is regularly and actively participating in a drug addiction or alcohol treatment and rehabilitation program; and (cc) a person who is incapable of complying with the requirement under subclause (I) due to a documented medical condition. (III) The Secretary shall require a project owner to verify compliance with the requirement under this clause by each person occupying a dwelling unit pursuant to a preference under clause (i)(I) annually in conjunction with reviews of income for purposes of determining eligibility for assistance described in clause (i). (iv) A dwelling unit that is occupied by a person pursuant to a preference under clause (i)(I) may contain more than one bedroom only if such additional bedrooms are occupied only by other persons who occupy such dwelling unit pursuant to a preference under clause (i)(I). (v) The project owner shall terminate any occupancy of a person pursuant to the preference under clause (i)(I) upon the person attaining 25 years of age or upon substantial noncompliance with the requirement under clause (iii), except that nothing in this clause may be construed to prohibit the occupancy in a project assisted under this paragraph by, or the provision of rental assistance under this paragraph for, any person, or to affect the eligibility of any person for such occupancy or assistance, other than pursuant to a preference under clause (i)(I). . 5. Exceptions to limitations for project-based voucher assistance (a) Percentage limitation The first sentence of clause (ii) of section 8(o)(13)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)(B)(ii) or that that house eligible children described in section 6(c)(4)(A)(iii) who comply with the requirements under section 39(c), (b) Income-Mixing requirement Subclause (I) of section 8(o)(13)(D)(ii) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)(D)(ii)(I) elderly families , to eligible children described in section 6(c)(4)(A)(iii), 6. Guidance regarding implementation (a) In general The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development jointly with the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall develop guidance for public housing agencies and owners of assisted housing regarding how to correctly and efficiently implement and comply with the requirements of this Act and the amendments made by this Act and shall make such guidance available to such agencies and owners. (b) Consultation with HHS The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development jointly with the Secretary of Agriculture shall consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide such information and guidance to the Secretary of Health and Human Services as may be necessary to facilitate such Secretary in informing States and public child welfare agencies on how to correctly and efficiently implement and comply with the requirements of this Act and the amendments made by this Act.

Summary: Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act of 2019 This bill gives the highest preference under certain federally assisted housing programs to youths who are aging out of foster care, provided that the youths comply with specified educational, occupational, or training requirements. The bill provides exceptions to these requirements for certain youths, including those who are caregivers for young children or who have certain medical conditions. Current law already gives preference under certain federally assisted housing programs to youths who are aging out of foster care.