Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020

To provide emergency rental assistance under the Emergency Solutions Grants program of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in response to the public health emergency resulting from the coronavirus, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020 2. Emergency rental assistance (a) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (referred to in this section as the Secretary 42 U.S.C. 11371 42 U.S.C. 11374(a)(4) (b) Definition of at risk of homelessness Notwithstanding section 401(1) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11360(1) at risk of homelessness (1) has an income below 80 percent of the median income for the area as determined by the Secretary; and (2) has an inability to attain or maintain housing stability or has insufficient resources to pay for rent or utilities due to financial hardships. (c) Income targeting and calculation For purposes of assistance made available with amounts made available pursuant to subsection (a)— (1) each grantee of such amounts shall use— (A) not less than 40 percent of the amounts received only for providing assistance for individuals or families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness who have incomes not exceeding 30 percent of the median income for the area as determined by the Secretary; (B) not less than 70 percent of the amounts received only for providing assistance for individuals or families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness who have incomes not exceeding 50 percent of the median income for the area as determined by the Secretary; and (C) the remainder of the amounts received only for providing assistance to individuals or families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness who have incomes not exceeding 80 percent of the median income for the relevant geographic area as determined by the Secretary, except that if a grantee demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the population in the geographic area served by the grantee having such incomes is sufficiently being served with respect to activities eligible for funding with such amounts, such grantee may establish a higher percentage limit for purposes of subsection (b)(1), which shall not in any case exceed 120 percent of the area median income; and (2) in determining the income of a household— (A) the calculation of income performed at the time of application for such assistance shall consider only income that the household is currently receiving at such time and any income recently terminated shall not be included; (B) the calculation of income performed with respect to households receiving ongoing assistance (such as medium-term rental assistance) 3 months after initial receipt of assistance shall consider only the income that the household is receiving at the time of such review; and (C) the calculation of income performed with respect to households receiving assistance for arrearages shall consider only the income that the household was receiving at the time such arrearages were incurred. (d) 3-Year availability (1) In general Each grantee of amounts made available pursuant to subsection (a) shall— (A) expend not less than 60 percent of such grant amounts within 2 years of the date that such funds became available to the grantee for obligation; and (B) expend 100 percent of such grant amounts within 3 years of such date. (2) Reallocation after 2 years The Secretary may recapture any amounts not obligated in compliance with paragraph (1)(A) and reallocate such amounts to grantees in compliance with the formula referred to in subsection (h)(1)(A). (3) Rescission and reallocation of funds Any amounts made available pursuant to subsection (a) that are not expended by a grantee to provide assistance in accordance with this section by the deadline under paragraph (1)(B) shall be reallocated by the Secretary as follows: (A) Sixty-five percent shall be transferred and credited to the Housing Trust Fund established under section 1338 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 ( 12 U.S.C. 4568 (B) Thirty-five percent shall be transferred or credited to the Capital Magnet Fund established under section 1339 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 ( 12 U.S.C. 4569 (e) Rent restrictions (1) Inapplicability Section 576.106(d) of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, shall not apply with respect to homelessness prevention assistance made available with amounts made available under subsection (a). (2) Amount of rental assistance In providing homelessness prevention assistance with amounts made available under subsection (a), the maximum amount of rental assistance that may be provided shall be the greater of— (A) 120 percent of the higher of— (i) the Fair Market Rent established by the Secretary for the metropolitan area or county; or (ii) the applicable Small Area Fair Market Rent established by the Secretary; or (B) such higher amount as the Secretary shall determine is needed to cover market rents in the area. (f) Subleases Notwithstanding the second sentence of subsection (g) of section 576.106 of title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, a program participant may sublet, with rental assistance made available with amounts made available pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, a dwelling unit from a renter of the dwelling unit if there is a legally binding, written lease agreement for such sublease. (g) Housing relocation or stabilization activities A grantee of amounts made available pursuant to subsection (a) may expend up to 25 percent of its allocation for activities under section 415(a)(5) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11374(a)(5) (h) Allocation of assistance (1) In general In allocating amounts made available pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (A) (i) for any purpose authorized in this section, allocate 2 percent of such amount for Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 ( 25 U.S.C. 4103 25 U.S.C. 4152 (ii) not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, obligate and disburse the amounts allocated pursuant to clause (i) in accordance with such allocations and provide such grantees with any necessary guidance for use of the funds; (B) (i) not later than 7 days after the date of enactment of this Act and after setting aside amounts under subparagraph (A), allocate 50 percent of any such remaining amounts under the formula specified in subsections (a), (b), and (e) of section 414 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11373 (ii) not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, obligate and disburse the amounts allocated pursuant to clause (i) in accordance with such allocations and provide such grantees with any necessary guidance for use of the funds; and (C) (i) not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, allocate any remaining amounts for eligible grantees according to a formula to be developed by the Secretary that takes into consideration the formula referred to in subparagraph (A) and the need for emergency rental assistance under this section, including the severe housing cost burden among extremely low- and very low-income renters and disruptions in housing and economic conditions, including unemployment; and (ii) not later than 30 days after the date of the allocation of such amounts pursuant to clause (i), obligate and disburse such amounts in accordance with such allocations. (2) Allocations to States (A) In general Notwithstanding section 576.202(a) of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, a State recipient of an allocation under this section may elect to administer up to 100 percent of its allocation to carry out activities eligible under this section. (B) Requirement Any State recipient making an election described in subparagraph (A) shall serve households throughout the entire State, including households in rural communities and small towns. (3) Election not to administer If a grantee elects not to receive funds under this section, such funds shall be allocated to the State recipient in which the grantee is located. (4) Partnerships and subgrantees A recipient of a grant under this section may distribute funds through one or more partnerships, subgrantees, or contracts with an entity, including a public housing agency (as such term is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b) (i) Inapplicability of matching requirement Subsection (a) of section 416 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11375(a) (j) Reimbursement of eligible activities Amounts made available pursuant to subsection (a) may be used by a grantee to reimburse expenditures incurred for eligible activities under this section after March 27, 2020. (k) Prohibition on prerequisites None of the funds made available pursuant to this section may be used to require any individual receiving assistance under the program under this section to receive treatment or perform any other prerequisite activities as a condition for receiving shelter, housing, or other services. (l) Waivers and alternative requirements (1) In general (A) Authority In administering the amounts made available pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary may waive, or specify alternative requirements for, any provision of any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers in connection with the obligation by the Secretary or the use by the recipient of such amounts (except for requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, prohibition on prerequisites, data reporting, and the environment unless otherwise provided under this paragraph), if the Secretary finds that good cause exists for the waiver or alternative requirement and such waiver or alternative requirement is necessary to expedite the use of funds made available pursuant to this section, to respond to public health orders or conditions related to the COVID-19 emergency, or to ensure that eligible individuals can attain or maintain housing stability. (B) Required waiver The Secretary shall waive any regulatory requirements that restrict eligibility based upon prior receipt of assistance under the program during the 3-year period preceding the date of enactment of this Act. (C) Public notice The Secretary shall notify the public through the Federal Register or other appropriate means of any waiver or alternative requirement under this paragraph, and that such public notice may be provided, at a minimum, on the internet at the appropriate Government website or through other electronic media, as determined by the Secretary. (2) Public hearings (A) Inapplicability of in-person hearing requirements during the COVID-19 emergency (i) In general A grantee under this section shall not be required to hold in-person public hearings in connection with its citizen participation plan, but shall provide citizens with notice, including publication of its plan for carrying out this section on the internet, and a reasonable opportunity to comment of not less than 5 days. (ii) Resumption of in-person hearing requirements After the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the date of the termination by the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the emergency declared on March 13, 2020, by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 4121 (B) Virtual public hearings (i) In general During the period that national or local health authorities recommend social distancing and limiting public gatherings for public health reasons, a grantee may fulfill applicable public hearing requirements for all grants from funds made available pursuant to this section by carrying out virtual public hearings. (ii) Requirements Any virtual hearings held under clause (i) by a grantee under this section shall provide reasonable notification and access for citizens in accordance with the grantee’s certifications, timely responses from local officials to all citizen questions and issues, and public access to all questions and responses. (m) Development and Submission of Plans (1) Resubmission of plans A recipient of funds made available pursuant to this section may revise and resubmit its plan for executing a program or programs under this section to the Secretary at any time during the first 180 days of initiating the program. (2) Consultation In developing a plan to carry out this section, each recipient of funds made available pursuant to this section shall consult with the applicable continuum or continuums of care for the geographic area served by the recipient and organizations representing underserved communities and populations and organizations with expertise in affordable housing. (n) Administration (1) By Secretary Of any amounts made available pursuant to subsection (a)— (A) not more than the lesser of 0.5 percent, or $15,000,000, may be used by the Secretary for staffing, training, technical assistance, technology, monitoring, research, and evaluation activities necessary to carry out the program carried out under this section, and such amounts shall remain available until September 30, 2024; and (B) not more than $2,000,000 shall be available to the Office of the Inspector General for audits and investigations of the program authorized under this section. (2) By Recipients Subsection (a) of section 576.108 of title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations shall be applied, with respect to amounts made available pursuant to this section, by substituting 10 7.5

Summary: Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020 This bill authorizes the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to award additional grants under the Emergency Solutions Grant program to provide rental assistance for short-term and medium-term housing to homeless individuals or families, or those who are at risk of homelessness, and expands eligibility for such additional assistance. For assistance provided under the bill, the term at risk of homelessness shall include individuals and families that have an income below 80% of the median income for the area (rather than 30% of the area median income, as under current law). Rental assistance provided under the bill shall generally be limited to 120% of the HUD-established fair market rent for the area, whereas currently rental assistance under the program is generally limited to 100% of an area's fair market rent. Such assistance may not be conditioned on any prerequisite activities, such as receiving treatment. HUD may, with some limitations, waive requirements or establish alternative requirements related to such assistance if doing so is necessary to respond to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency.