GRAND Act

To authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide assistance to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide specialized housing and supportive services for elderly persons who are the primary caregivers of children that are related to such persons. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Generational Residences and Nurturing Dwellings Act GRAND Act 2. Assistance for specialized housing for elderly caregivers (a) Establishment There is established in the Department of Housing and Urban Development a program to provide assistance to eligible nonprofit organizations to expand the supply of specialized housing for qualified relatives raising a child. (b) Rule of construction Nothing in this Act shall preclude a recipient of assistance under a program established under subsection (a) from applying for or receiving financial assistance under any other program established in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (c) Application (1) In general To be eligible to receive assistance under the program established under subsection (a), an eligible nonprofit organization shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, which shall include a description of how the eligible nonprofit organization will serve the housing needs of low-income families in a particular geographic area. (2) Tenant-based rental assistance To be eligible to receive assistance to provide tenant-based rental assistance as described in subsection (d)(2), an application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include assurances that the eligible nonprofit organization will coordinate with a public housing agency in administering any such assistance received under this Act, as required by the Secretary. (d) Priority In providing assistance under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible nonprofit organizations that plan to use such assistance as described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (f). (e) Limit on organizations selected For each fiscal year, the Secretary may select not more than 5 eligible nonprofit organizations to receive assistance under the program under this section. (f) Use of funds A recipient of assistance under this program shall use such assistance for the following purposes: (1) New housing To finance the construction, reconstruction, moderate or substantial rehabilitation, or acquisition of a structure or a portion of a structure to be used as specialized housing. (2) Operational expenses and supportive services To provide assistance for ongoing operational expenses of any specialized housing, including costs of supportive services required for such housing. (3) Rental voucher assistance To provide tenant-based rental assistance under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o) (4) Elderly housing project rental assistance To provide project rental assistance under section 202(c)(2) of the Housing Act of 1959 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701q(b)(2) (A) qualify as specialized housing; and (B) are made available for occupancy only by qualified relatives who are raising a child and are eligible for occupancy in such housing, except that notwithstanding section 202(k)(1) of the Housing Act of 1959 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701q(k)(1) 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Child The term child (A) is not attending school and is not more than 18 years of age; or (B) is attending school and is not more than 19 years of age. (2) Elderly person The term elderly person (3) Eligible nonprofit organization (A) In general The term eligible nonprofit organization (i) provides specialized housing and supportive services for qualified relatives who are raising a child; and (ii) is described in section 501(c)(3) (B) Political divisions included Such term includes organizations that provide such services in each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States. (4) Low-income families The term low-income families 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b) (5) Qualified Relative (A) In general The term qualified relative (i) is not a parent of the child by blood or marriage; and (ii) is— (I) a relative of the child by blood or marriage; or (II) a legal guardian of the child. (B) Adopted children In the case of a child who was adopted, the term includes an individual who, by blood or marriage, is a relative of the family who adopted the child. (6) Raising a child The term raising a child (A) resides with the child; and (B) is the primary caregiver (or is, together with a spouse or other household member, a primary caregiver) for the child— (i) because the biological or adoptive parents of the child do not reside with the child or are unable or unwilling to serve as the primary caregiver for the child; and (ii) regardless of whether the individual has a legal relationship to the child (such as guardianship or legal custody). (7) Secretary The term Secretary (8) Specialized housing The term specialized housing (A) is affordable (as the Secretary shall define for purposes of this Act) for low-income families; (B) is restricted to occupancy only by low-income families; (C) is designed to meet the special physical needs of elderly persons; (D) accommodates the provision of supportive services that are expected to be needed, either initially or over the useful life of the housing, by elderly persons and children that the housing is intended to serve; and (E) provides a range of such services that are tailored to the needs of elderly persons and children occupying such housing. 4. Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.

Summary: Generational Residences and Nurturing Dwellings Act or the GRAND Act Establishes in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) a program to provide assistance for each fiscal year to up to five eligible nonprofit organizations to expand the supply of specialized housing and social services for qualified elderly relatives, age 60 or older, who are raising a child of whom they are not a parent either by blood or marriage. States that nothing in this Act shall preclude a recipient of such assistance from applying for or receiving financial assistance under any other HUD program. Provides such assistance in the form of: financing for the construction, reconstruction, moderate or substantial rehabilitation, or acquisition of a structure or a portion of a structure to be used as specialized housing; tenant-based rental (voucher) assistance under the United States Housing Act of 1937 for entities meeting certain criteria for use only by qualified relatives who are raising a child and are eligible for such assistance for rental of a dwelling unit that qualifies as specialized housing; elderly housing project rental assistance under the Housing Act of 1959 for entities entities meeting certain criteria in connection with dwelling units that qualify as specialized housing and are made available for occupancy only by qualified relatives who are raising a child and are eligible for occupancy in such housing; and help with ongoing operational expenses of any specialized housing, including costs of supportive services required for such housing.