Emergency Family Stabilization Act

To provide emergency relief to youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness, in light of the health and economic consequences of COVID–19. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Emergency Family Stabilization Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Current ACF grant or subgrant recipient The term current ACF grant or sub­grant recipient (2) Director The term Director (3) Direct services (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term direct services (B) Indian tribes or tribal organizations An Indian Tribe or Tribal organization that provides referrals or assists other service providers with direct services shall be considered as providing direct services for purposes of this Act. (4) Family stabilization agency The term family stabilization agency (A) a current ACF grant or subgrant recipient; (B) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization; (C) an urban Indian organization; (D) a local educational agency; or (E) a local public, private, or Indian nonprofit agency or organization (including community-based and faith-based organizations), with expertise and demonstrated experience providing direct services to one or more of the following populations: (i) Children experiencing homelessness, including children under age 6. (ii) Unaccompanied homeless youth under the age of 18. (iii) Unaccompanied homeless youth between the ages of 18 and 25. (iv) Pregnant women, and pregnant or parenting youth, experiencing homelessness. (v) Families experiencing homelessness. (vi) Survivors of dating violence, domestic violence, family violence, or trafficking. (5) Indian Tribe The term Indian Tribe 25 U.S.C. 5304 (6) Local educational agency The term local educational agency 20 U.S.C. 7801 (7) Rural The term rural (8) Secretary The term Secretary (9) Tribal organization The term Tribal organization 25 U.S.C. 5304 (10) Urban indian organization The term urban Indian organization Urban Indian organization 25 U.S.C. 1603 (11) Youth, child, or family experiencing homelessness The term youth, child, or family experiencing homelessness (A) a homeless child or youth, as defined in section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11434a(2) (B) an unaccompanied youth, as defined in section 725(6) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11434a(6) (C) a household of not less than 2 people that includes not less than 1 person under age 22 who is a homeless child or youth, as defined in section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11434a(2) 3. Grants to family stabilization agencies (a) Grant program authorized (1) In general From amounts made available under section 4 and not reserved under subsection (b), the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall, on a competitive basis in accordance with subsection (d), award grants to family stabilization agencies (including current ACF grant or subgrant recipients and entities that have not previously received grants from the Administration for Children and Families) to enable the family stabilization agencies to carry out the activities described in subsection (e). (2) Distribution Timing (A) Current ACF grant or subgrant recipients The Secretary shall award grants under this section, in accordance with subsection (d), to family stabilization agencies that are current ACF grant or subgrant recipients by not later than the date that is 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (B) Additional grantees The Secretary shall award grants under this section, in accordance with subsection (d), to family stabilization agencies that are not current ACF grant or subgrant recipients by not later than the date that is 130 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (3) Dissemination of applications The Secretary shall— (A) ensure the application for grants under this Act is broadly disseminated, including through public posting on the website of the Administration for Children and Families and sharing with current ACF grant or subgrant recipients; and (B) make special dissemination efforts to rural areas and among Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. (b) Reservation The Secretary shall reserve not less than 1 percent and not more than 1.5 percent of the amount appropriated under this Act to be used for administration, oversight, and technical assistance activities through the Administration for Children and Families. (c) Application A family stabilization agency that desires to receive a grant under this Act shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. Such application shall include the following: (1) A description of the housing, education, health, mental and behavioral health, employment, and other needs of youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness, in the area served by such agency, specifically including youth, children, and families who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason. (2) Available data on the extent of youth, child, and family homelessness in the area served by such agency, including data available from local educational agencies and data on child poverty in the area. (3) A description of barriers youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness face in accessing services, including barriers related to dating violence, domestic violence, family violence, poverty, lack of employment, lack of transportation, lack of telephone and internet connectivity, educational needs, and language accessibility. (4) A description of such agency's direct service expertise and experience with youth, child, or family homelessness, specifically including youth, children, and families who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason. (5) A description of the area served by such agency, including whether the service area is urban, suburban, rural, or Tribal. If the applicant claims to cover a Tribal service area but is not an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, the applicant shall provide evidence of having consulted with the Indian Tribe or Tribal organization whose service area the applicant claims to cover and provide proof that the Indian Tribe or Tribal organization supports the applicant's application. (6) A description of such agency's existing partnerships with other agencies or organizations with experience serving youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness. (7) A description of how funds received under the grant will be used to provide emergency relief to youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness, specifically including— (A) youth, children, and families who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; and (B) youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness who are not receiving services through the Continuum of Care program under subpart C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11381 (d) Award basis (1) In general The Secretary shall award grants under this section on the basis of— (A) the need in the area served by each applicant; (B) the quality of each application; and (C) the distribution and priority requirements under paragraphs (4) and (5). (2) Need In determining need under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall consider— (A) the extent of children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness in the area served by the family stabilization agency, including data available from local educational agencies and data on child poverty; (B) the extent to which the proposed uses of funds will provide emergency relief to meet unmet needs of youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness, specifically including youth, children, and families who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; (C) the extent to which the proposed uses of funds will provide emergency relief to youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness who are not currently receiving services through the Continuum of Care program under subpart C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11381 (D) the extent to which the application addresses the particular needs of pregnant women, pregnant and parenting youth, Indian women, children under age 6, children with disabilities, families experiencing domestic violence, survivors of sexual assault or human trafficking, or historically marginalized and underserved communities of color. (3) Quality In determining quality under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall consider, for both current ACF grant or subgrant recipients and not current ACF grant or subgrant recipients, the following: (A) The family stabilization agency's needs assessment under subsection (c)(1) and the likelihood that the program presented in the application will meet such needs. (B) The types, intensity, and coordination of the emergency relief to be provided under the program to youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness. (C) The extent of the family stabilization agency's demonstrated expertise and experience providing direct services to youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason. (D) The robustness of such agency's plan to reach youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason, including those who have lost a caregiver or family member to COVID–19. (E) The extent of such agency's demonstrated expertise and experience in providing direct services to youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness specifically. (F) The extent to which the program presented in the application represents a multi-generational approach to supporting youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness. (G) The extent to which the application reflects coordination with local educational agencies and public or private nonprofit agencies or organizations with experience serving youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness. (H) The extent to which the family stabilization agency is, has been, or has specific plans to partner with, a recipient of a grant or subgrant administered by the Administration for Children and Families. (4) Distribution of awards (A) Distribution among types of communities In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that funds are distributed according to the following allocation percentages: (i) Not less than 10 percent of the funds available for grants under this section shall be awarded to family stabilization agencies that are Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations serving youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness. (ii) Not less than 36 percent of the funds available for grants under this Act shall be awarded to family stabilization agencies serving predominantly rural areas. (iii) Not less than 30 percent of the funds available for grants under this Act shall be awarded to family stabilization agencies serving predominantly suburban areas. (iv) Not more than 24 percent of the funds available for grants under this Act shall be awarded to family stabilization agencies serving predominantly urban areas. (B) Distribution to experienced grantees In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that— (i) 80 percent of the funds available for grants under this section are distributed to family stabilization agencies— (I) that are current ACF grant or subgrant recipients; and (II) which may apply in partnership with local educational agencies, Tribal educational agencies, public housing agencies, tribally designated housing entities, community development financial institutions, State housing finance agencies, programs that provide shelter to youth experiencing homelessness who are pregnant or parenting, public health agencies, domestic violence, dating violence, and family violence organizations, institutions of higher education as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 (ii) 20 percent of the funds are distributed as grants to family stabilization agencies that are not current ACF grant or subgrant recipients. (C) Special exception for grants to Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations (i) In general In awarding grants to family stabilization agencies that are Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i), the Secretary may waive any requirements of paragraph (2) or (3) or subsection (c). (ii) Additional considerations In awarding grants pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i), the Secretary shall consider family stabilization agencies that are Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations that provide services that address child abuse and neglect. (5) Priority in awards In awarding grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to applications that will provide emergency relief to youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason, while ensuring the distribution of awards in accordance with paragraph (4). (e) Authorized activities Family stabilization agencies may use funds awarded under this section to provide emergency relief to youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness, including the following: (1) The provision of personnel necessary to provide emergency relief and ensure services, resources, and assistance reach youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness, whether such personnel are employees of the family stabilization agency or a nonprofit community partner. (2) The provision of personal protective equipment, hygiene supplies, and other supplies determined to be necessary to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a State, an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, or a locality for personnel delivering services and for youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness. (3) Payments to meet shelter and housing-related needs to support safety and health, including payments for— (A) security deposits; (B) eviction prevention; (C) utility connection fees and payments; (D) outstanding rental, utility, motel, and other bills as needed to enter housing or connect utilities; (E) motel or hotel stays; (F) housing placement; (G) records expungement; and (H) other assistance. (4) The provision of food and equipment needed to prepare food. (5) The provision of medical and dental health services, including preventive care. (6) The provision of mental and behavioral health services, including preventive care. (7) The provision of clothing, access to laundry facilities, clothes washers and dryers, detergent, and personal hygiene supplies. (8) The provision of transportation, including payments for gas, emergency vehicle repairs, required insurance, driver’s education and driver’s license fees, public transportation, and other transportation appropriate for Tribal and rural locations. (9) The provision of support to meet communications and connectivity needs, including internet connectivity, outstanding internet or telephone bills as needed to connect communications services, electronic and connected devices, hotspots, portable chargers, pre-paid phone cards, calling minutes and data plans, and costs to ship items and supplies. (10) The provision of support to meet educational and employment needs, including academic support, distance learning support, resources, and access, child care, social and emotional supports, career and technical education, employment training and placement, and similar supports. (11) The purchase and distribution of store cards, gift cards, prepaid debit cards, and vouchers to allow youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness to purchase any items or services that constitute emergency relief. (12) The provision of mentorship and service coordination. (13) The provision of services and supports to meet the particular needs of pregnant women, pregnant and parenting youth, and children birth to age five, experiencing homelessness. (14) The provision of services and supports to meet the particular needs of unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness. (15) The provision of services and supports to meet the particular needs of survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or trafficking. (16) The provision of assistance in accessing advance refunds payable under section 6428(f) economic impact payments (17) The provision of services and supports to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect. (18) The provision of other extraordinary or emergency assistance needed to promote the safety and self-sufficiency of youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness. (19) Other purposes as determined by the Secretary. 4. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $800,000,000.

Summary: Emergency Family Stabilization Act This bill establishes a competitive grant program within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) for family stabilization agencies to provide emergency relief to children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. These agencies include current ACF grantees or subgrantees, tribes and tribal organizations, and other organizations with expertise providing direct services to those experiencing homelessness. Recipients may use grant funds for, among other purposes, personnel costs, personal protective equipment, and other supplies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), as well as payments for security deposits and other housing-related needs. Additionally, the ACF must award the grants based on factors including the need for the services in the area served by the agency and specified allocation and prioritization requirements.