Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2021

To amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to meet the needs of homeless children, youth, and families, and honor the assessments and priorities of local communities. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2021 2. Amendments to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (a) In general The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11301 (1) in section 103 ( 42 U.S.C. 11302 (A) in subsection (a)— (i) in paragraph (5)(A)— (I) by striking are sharing charitable organizations, (II) by striking 14 days 30 days (III) in clause (i), by inserting or (IV) by striking clause (ii); and (V) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (ii); and (ii) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows: (6) a child or youth defined as homeless under any other Federal program who, without further action by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, has been verified as homeless under any other Federal program by the director, designee of the director, or other person responsible for the implementation of a program established under this Act or any other Federal statute. ; (B) in subsection (b), by striking fleeing experiencing or has experienced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, or other dangerous or life threatening conditions, which has made it unsafe to remain in their current housing or caused homelessness. (C) by adding at the end the following: (f) Other definitions In this section— (1) the term child or youth defined as homeless under any other Federal program (2) the term other Federal statute (g) Rule of construction If the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development promulgates rules, issues guidance, or sets forth conditions in any application, notice of funding availability, or other publication or advisory regarding the provisions of this Act, the Secretary shall ensure that— (1) any individual defined as homeless (2) all individuals defined as homeless ; (2) in section 401 ( 42 U.S.C. 11360 (A) in paragraph (1)(C)— (i) by striking clauses (ii) and (iv); (ii) by redesignating clauses (iii), (v), (vi), and (vii) as clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v), respectively; and (iii) by striking the flush text following clause (v), as so redesignated; (B) in paragraph (2)(A)— (i) in clause (i), by striking and lives shelter under any provision of section 103 (ii) in clause (ii), by striking and living or residing in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter continuously under any provision of section 103 (iii) in clause (iii)— (I) by striking (or a minor head of household if no adult is present in the household) or a minor head of household (if no adult is present in the household), (II) by inserting before the period at the end the following: , or has child with a disability, as defined in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1401 20 U.S.C. 1432 (C) by striking paragraph (7); (D) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (6) as paragraphs (3) through (7), respectively; (E) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: (2) Child or youth defined as homeless under any other Federal program The term child or youth defined as homeless under any other Federal program (A) a homeless child or youth, as defined in section 725, including any parent or guardian with whom the child or youth is living; and (B) a youth who— (i) is not more than 24 years of age; (ii) cannot live safely with a parent, legal guardian, or relative; and (iii) has no other safe alternative living arrangement. ; (F) in paragraph (9)(A), by inserting any provision of section 103 (G) by redesignating paragraphs (14) through (33) as paragraphs (15) through (34), respectively; (H) by inserting after paragraph (13) the following: (14) Other Federal statute The term other Federal statute (A) the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5701 (B) the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9831 (C) the Child Care and Development Block Grant of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858 (D) subtitle N of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 ( 42 U.S.C. 14043e (E) section 330(h) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254b(h) (F) section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786 (G) the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 (H) the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 ; (I) in paragraph (32), as so redesignated, by inserting children under 5 years of age, youth and young adults between 14 and 24 years of age, status, or age), (J) in paragraph (33), as so redesignated, by inserting trafficking, victims of (K) in paragraph (34), as so redesignated— (i) by inserting victims of trafficking, assist (ii) by striking stalking victims stalking (iii) by inserting trafficking, concerning (3) in section 402(f) ( 42 U.S.C. 11360a(f) (A) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting considering the prevalence and needs of homeless individuals, as defined under any provision of section 103 involved (B) in paragraph (3)(D)— (i) in clause (v), by striking and (ii) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause (vii); and (iii) by inserting after clause (v) the following: (vi) the submission of HMIS data to the Secretary on at least an annual basis; and ; (4) by inserting after section 408 ( 42 U.S.C. 11364 409. Availability of HMIS data (a) In general The community-wide homeless management information system (in this section referred to as HMIS (b) Required data The data publically available under subsection (a) shall be updated on at least an annual basis and shall include— (1) a cumulative count of the number of homeless individuals and families, as defined under any provision of section 103; (2) a cumulative assessment of the patterns of assistance provided under subtitles B and C for each geographic area involved; (3) a count of the number of homeless individuals and families, as defined under any provision of section 103, that are documented through the HMIS by each collaborative applicant; and (4) a count of the number of homeless women, as defined under any provision of section 103 and both unaccompanied and accompanied, including a breakout of the count by— (A) age range; (B) disability; and (C) length of time experiencing homelessness. ; (5) in section 422 ( 42 U.S.C. 11382 (A) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking establish demonstrate local, needs-based (B) by striking subsection (j) and inserting the following: (j) Rule of construction In awarding grants under subsection (a) and releasing a notification of funding availability under subsection (b), the Secretary shall— (1) without further action by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, ensure that any individual defined as homeless (2) ensure that homeless populations proposed to be served by the applicant, and proposed program components or housing or service models, are not awarded different priority, points, or weight; and (3) ensure that scoring is based primarily on the extent to which the applicant demonstrates that the project and program components— (A) would meet the priorities identified in the plan submitted under section 427(b)(1)(B); and (B) are cost-effective in meeting the overall goals and objectives identified in that plan. ; (6) in section 424(d) ( 42 U.S.C. 11384(d) (7) in section 425(c) ( 42 U.S.C. 11385(c) and (G) providing (G) providing transportation to employment, early care and education programs, career and technical education programs, and health and mental health care services, and (H) providing (8) in section 426(b) ( 42 U.S.C. 11386(b) (A) in paragraph (4), by amending subparagraph (D) to read as follows: (D) in the case of programs providing housing or services to families or youth, they will designate a staff person to be responsible for ensuring that children and youth being served in the program are— (i) enrolled in school and connected to appropriate services in the community, including Head Start, services provided under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1431 42 U.S.C. 9858 (ii) in the case of an unaccompanied youth, as defined in section 725, informed of their status as an independent student under section 480 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087vv 20 U.S.C. 1090 ; (B) in paragraph (6), by inserting the actual compliance with the certifications required under paragraph (4) and Secretary (C) in paragraph (7)— (i) by inserting and youth needs of children (ii) by inserting or unaccompanied youth when families (iii) by inserting and unaccompanied youth with children (iv) by striking such children's such children and youth's (9) in section 427(b) ( 42 U.S.C. 11386a(b) (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in subparagraph (A)— (I) in clause (vi), by adding and (II) in clause (vii), by striking and (III) by striking clause (viii); (ii) in subparagraph (B)— (I) by amending clause (iii) to read as follows: (iii) how the recipient will collaborate with local educational agencies, early care and education programs, and institutions of higher education to assist in the identification of and services to youth and families who become or remain homeless, including the steps the recipient will take to inform youth and families of their eligibility for services under part B of subtitle VII of this Act, the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9831 42 U.S.C. 9858 20 U.S.C. 1001 ; and (II) by striking clause (v) and inserting the following: (v) how the recipient will ensure the full implementation of the certifications and agreements described in paragraphs (4)(D) and (7) of section 426(b); ; (iii) in subparagraph (C)(i), by inserting and appropriate rapid (iv) by striking subparagraphs (F) and (G) and inserting the following: (F) for communities that establish and operate a centralized or coordinated assessment system, the extent to which that system— (i) ensures that individuals who are most in need of assistance receive it in a timely manner; (ii) in assessing need under clause (i), uses separate, specific, age-appropriate criteria for assessing the safety and needs of children under 5 years of age, school-age children, unaccompanied youth and young adults between 14 and 24 years of age, and families that are unrelated to the criteria through which an individual qualifies as homeless (iii) is accessible to unaccompanied youth and homeless families; (iv) diverts individuals to safe, stable, age-appropriate accommodations; and (v) includes affordable housing developers, youth service providers, early childhood programs, local educational agencies, and mental health organizations; and (G) such other factors as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to carry out this subtitle in an effective and efficient manner, except that such factors may not have the effect of prioritizing or weighting, unless justified by local data or information contained in a plan submitted under subparagraph (B)— (i) any service with respect to a specific subpopulation of homeless individuals over another; or (ii) any program component or housing or service model over another. ; and (B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows: (3) Homelessness counts The Secretary shall require that communities that conduct an annual count of homeless people shall count all homeless individuals identified and reported by any program funded under any provision of this Act or any other Federal statute. ; (10) in section 428 ( 42 U.S.C. 11386b (A) in subsection (a)(1)— (i) by striking disabilities and disabilities, (ii) by inserting , and homeless families where a child has a disability (B) in subsection (d)— (i) in paragraph (1), by inserting promoting independent (ii) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the following: (2) Prohibition The Secretary shall not provide bonuses or other incentives under paragraph (1) that have the effect of prioritizing or weighting, unless justified by local data or information contained in a plan submitted under section 427(b)(1)(B)— (A) any service with respect to a specific subpopulation of homeless individuals over another; or (B) any program component or housing or service model over another. (3) Rule of construction For purposes of this subsection, activities that have been proven to be effective at reducing homelessness generally or reducing homelessness for a specific subpopulation include any activity determined by the Secretary, after providing notice and an opportunity for public comment, to have been proven effective at— (A) reducing homelessness generally; (B) reducing homelessness for a specific subpopulation; (C) reducing homelessness in a community for populations overrepresented in any counts conducted in that community under section 427(b)(3); or (D) achieving homeless prevention, reducing recidivism, and promoting self-sufficiency and independent living. (4) Encouraging local success and innovation In providing bonuses or incentives under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall seek to encourage the implementation of proven strategies and innovation in reducing homelessness among the local priority populations identified in the plan submitted by an applicant under section 427(b)(1)(B). The Secretary shall not implement bonuses or incentives that promote a national priority established by the Secretary. ; and (C) by striking subsection (e); and (11) by amending section 434 ( 42 U.S.C. 11388 434. Reports to Congress (a) In general The Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report, which shall— (1) summarize the activities carried out under this subtitle and set forth the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Secretary as a result of the activities; (2) include, for the year preceding the date on which the report is submitted— (A) data required to be made publically available in the report under section 409; (B) data on programs funded under any other Federal statute; and (3) provide information on— (A) the extent to which the data collected under section 427(b)(3) may be duplicative; and (B) the policies and practices employed to account for such duplication, where applicable, to ensure an accurate point-in-time count. (b) Timing A report under subsection (a) shall be submitted not later than 4 months after the end of each fiscal year. . (b) Technical and conforming amendment The table of contents in section 101(b) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11301 Sec. 409. Availability of HMIS data. .

Summary: Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2021 This bill modifies definitions relating to homeless individuals and homeless children or youth as used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to verify eligibility for HUD homeless assistance programs, including the Continuum of Care program. Specifically, the bill aligns these terms with the definitions of homeless used to verify eligibility for other federal assistance programs. The definitions are also amended to increase access to federal homeless programs by homeless children, youth, and families. Additionally, the community-wide homeless management information system shall be made available to the public on HUD's website.