PUPP Act of 2023

To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to modify and upgrade structures to serve as interim and permanent housing to accommodate unhoused individuals with pets, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Providing for Unhoused People with Pets Act of 2023 PUPP Act of 2023 2. Grant program for upgrading structures to serve as interim and permanent housing to accommodate unhoused individuals with pets (a) Authority The Secretary of Agriculture, acting in direct consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, may carry out a program under this section to make grants to eligible entities for providing interim and permanent housing that accommodates homeless persons, and homeless families, who have pets. (b) Use Amounts from a grant under this section may be used only for— (1) costs of acquiring, renovating, rehabilitating, re-purposing, retrofitting, or constructing a property to be used as interim or permanent housing that accommodates homeless persons, and homeless families, who have pets; (2) pet-related costs of operating such housing as provided in this section; and (3) costs of training staff and volunteers associated with such housing in basic pet care, including nutrition, behavioral training, and health maintenance. (c) Requirements Interim or permanent housing assisted with amounts from a grant under this Act shall comply with the following requirements: (1) Services (A) Supportive services Appropriate supportive services, including mental health, employment, substance use disorder, and wellness services, shall be made available to occupants of the housing. (B) Veterinary services Basic veterinary care and behavioral support for pets, including spay and neuter, basic wellness examinations, vaccinations, dental care, heartworm treatment and prevention, flea and tick treatment and prevention, and basic medical procedures, shall be made available for pets of occupants of the housing. (C) Location Services required under this paragraph shall be made available on-site in such housing, except that services that cannot be furnished on-site may be made available off-site, but only if direct linkage to transportation services is made available to occupants to access such services. (2) Animal housing The housing shall provide accommodations for pets of occupants of the housing that are appropriate for the layout and type of the interim or permanent housing, which may include crates and kennels. (3) Coordination The manager of the housing shall— (A) coordinate with public services and law enforcement agencies to provide services and safety for the housing, as the Secretary shall require; (B) coordinate with local veterinary service and animal care providers to provide care for pets that accompany occupants of the housing; and (C) in making occupancy available in the housing, coordinate with the administrative entity for the Continuum of Care under subtitle C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11381 et seq. (d) Applications; plan (1) Application The Secretary shall provide for eligible entities to submit applications for grants under this section and shall require such applications to include a plan under paragraph (2). (2) Plan A plan under this paragraph shall— (A) identify existing housing, shelters, or unused structures or land within the area served by the eligible entity submitting the application that will be used for providing the housing to be assisted under subsection (b) with amounts from a grant under this section; (B) identify the extent of need, in the area of such housing, shelters, structures, or land identified, for interim or permanent housing for homeless persons with pets; (C) identify partnering veterinary service and animal care providers that will provide care for pets that accompany occupants of the housing and any partnering animal welfare organization; (D) include such assurances as the Secretary considers necessary to ensure that such housing will be provided using grant amounts, that such housing will accommodate homeless persons, and homeless families, who have pets, and that such housing will comply with the requirements under subsection (c); and (E) provide for targeted outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness within the area served by the eligible entity receiving a grant under this section to inform such individuals regarding the availability of the housing assisted with grant amounts. (3) Selection The Secretary shall select applications to be awarded such grants on a competitive basis, based on criteria that the Secretary shall establish. (e) Reports Each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section for a fiscal year shall submit a report to the Secretary, not later than 90 days after the end of the fiscal year for which the grant was made, that shall include the following information: (1) A description of the activities undertaken by the eligible entity using such grant amounts. (2) Identification of the costs of each of the services provided in connection with the housing assisted with such grant amounts. (3) An assessment of the effectiveness of the program grants under this section and any recommendations for improving the program. (f) Definitions For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) Eligible entity (A) In general The term eligible entity (i) a unit of general local government; (ii) a nonprofit organization; and (iii) an entity providing housing or shelters for homeless persons. (B) Limitation Such term does not include an animal wellness or welfare organization or an animal shelter, except that this subparagraph may not be construed to prevent any such organization or shelter from partnering with an eligible entity to provide interim or permanent housing assisted with amounts from a grant under this Act. (2) Homeless The term homeless 42 U.S.C. 11302 (3) Interim housing The term interim housing 42 U.S.C. 13351 (4) Permanent housing The term permanent housing 42 U.S.C. 11360 (5) Pet The term pet (6) Secretary The term Secretary (7) Unit of general local government The term unit of general local government 42 U.S.C. 5302(a)(1) (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

Summary: Providing for Unhoused People with Pets Act of 2023 or the PUPP Act of 2023 This bill permits the Department of Agriculture to award grants for interim and permanent housing that accommodates individuals (or families) who are homeless and have pets. Entities eligible for the grant include local governments, nonprofits, and entities that house or shelter homeless individuals. Additionally, grant recipients must make available supportive services and basic veterinary care.