Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2015

To amend the definition of homeless person 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2015 2. Amendments to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11301 et seq. (1) in section 103— (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) unaccompanied youth and homeless families with children and youth defined as homeless under other Federal statutes who— (A) are certified as homeless by the director or designee of a director of a program funded under any other Federal statute; or (B) have been certified by a director or designee of a director of a program funded under this Act or a director or designee of a director of a public housing agency as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, which shall include— (i) temporarily sharing the housing of another person due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or other similar reason; or (ii) living in a room in a motel or hotel. ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (f) Other definitions In this section— (1) the term other Federal statute (2) the term public housing agency 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(6) ; (2) in section 401— (A) in paragraph (1)(C)— (i) by striking clause (iv); and (ii) by redesignating clauses (v), (vi), and (vii) as clauses (iv), (v), and (vi); (B) in paragraph (7)— (i) by striking Federal statute other than this subtitle other Federal statute (ii) by inserting of this Act (C) by redesignating paragraphs (14) through (33) as paragraphs (15) through (34), respectively; and (D) 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 et seq. (B) the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq. (C) subtitle N of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 ( 42 U.S.C. 14043e et seq. (D) section 330(h) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254b(h) (E) section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786 (F) the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq. (G) subtitle B of title VII of this Act. ; (3) by inserting after section 408 the following: 409. Availability of HMIS report (a) In general The information provided to the Secretary under section 402(f)(3) shall be made publically available on the Internet website of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in aggregate, non-personally identifying reports. (b) Required data Each report made 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 individuals and families experiencing homelessness; (2) a cumulative assessment of the patterns of assistance provided under subtitles B and C for the each geographic area involved; and (3) a count of the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness that are documented through the HMIS by each collaborative applicant. ; (4) in section 422— (A) in subsection (a)— (i) by striking The Secretary (1) In general The Secretary ; and (ii) by adding at the end the following: (2) Restriction In awarding grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary may not consider or prioritize the specific homeless populations intended to be served by the applicant if the applicant demonstrates that the project— (A) would meet the priorities identified in the plan submitted under section 427(b)(1)(B); and (B) is cost-effective in meeting the overall goals and objectives identified in that plan. ; and (B) by striking subsection (j); (5) in section 424(d), by striking paragraph (5); (6) in section 427(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) in clause (iii), by adding and (II) in clause (iv)(VI), by striking and (III) by striking clause (v); (iii) in subparagraph (E), by adding and (iv) by striking subparagraph (F); and (v) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (F); and (B) by striking paragraph (3); and (7) by amending section 433 to read as follows: 433. 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; and (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; and (B) data on programs funded under any other Federal statute, as such term is defined in section 401. (b) Timing A report under subsection (a) shall be submitted not later than 4 months after the end of each fiscal year. .

Summary: Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2015 Amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to redefine "homeless," "homeless individual," or "homeless person." Modifies requirements relating to an individual or family who will imminently lose their housing, including housing they own, rent, or live in without paying rent. Revises criteria for unaccompanied youth and homeless families with children and youth defined as homeless under other federal statutes to require that they: are certified as homeless by the director or designee of a program funded under any other federal statute; or have been certified by a director of a program funded under this Act or a director of a public housing agency (PHA) as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, which shall include: (1) temporarily sharing the housing of another person due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or other similar reason; or (2) living in a room in a motel or hotel. Requires the information provided to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from a collaborative applicant about project sponsors in a community-wide homeless management information system (HMIS) to be made publicly available on HUD's website in aggregate, non-personally identifying reports, and updated at least annually. Prohibits the Secretary, in awarding grants for continuum of care programs, from considering or prioritizing the specific homeless populations intended to be served by the applicant if the applicant demonstrates that the project: (1) would meet the priorities identified in the applicant's plan, and (2) is cost-effective in meeting the overall goals and objectives identified in that plan. Repeals certain requirements regarding collaborative applicants. Modifies requirements for selection criteria for the award of grants through a national competition between geographic areas. Requires annual reports to Congress on housing assistance for the homeless to include data: (1) required to be made publicly available in the HMIS report, and (2) on programs funded under other specified federal statutes.