I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2479 
To amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide housing 
assistance for youth and young adults who are unstably housed. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 27, 2025 
Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN (for herself and Ms. TLAIB) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services 
A BILL 
To amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide 
housing assistance for youth and young adults who are 
unstably housed. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Homes for Young Adults Act of 2025’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Congressional findings. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
Sec. 4. Entitlement program for housing choice vouchers for youth. 
Sec. 5. Promoting self-sufficiency. 
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Sec. 6. Enforcement of housing quality standards. 
Sec. 7. Screening of applicants. 
Sec. 8. Access to HUD programs for persons with limited English proficiency. 
Sec. 9. Authorization of appropriations. 
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds that— 
(1) each year an estimated 4.2 million youth 
and young adults experience homelessness in the 
United States; 
(2) homelessness amongst youth and young 
adults is disproportionately represented among 
Black, Indigenous, other youth of color, and 
LGBTQ+ communities; 
(3) while there are effective programs that as-
sist homeless youth and young adults, access to cur-
rent resources are restricted due to a variety of sys-
temic obstacles for homeless youth and young adults, 
forcing this population into congregate shelters, fur-
ther perpetuating cycles of poverty and instability; 
(4) adequately removing barriers to housing as-
sistance can— 
(A) reduce crowding, housing instability, 
and homelessness; 
(B) reduce poverty; 
(C) improve outcomes for children; 
(D) improve overall adult well-being, re-
ducing healthcare costs; and 
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(E) contribute to the prevention of home-
lessness; 
(5) the housing choice voucher (HCV) program 
only reaches about a quarter of eligible households 
due to limited funding, yet extensive and inhibitive 
eligibility requirements presently make HCVs inac-
cessible to youth and young adults; 
(6) the average wait time for youth and young 
adults from a coordinated entry assessment to being 
housed is between 132 and 140 days, depending on 
the program; and 
(7) Federal agencies, particularly the Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban Development, the De-
partment of Education, and the Department of 
Health and Human Services, should cooperate more 
fully to address the prevention and end of youth 
homelessness. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this Act, the following definitions 
shall apply: 
(1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. 
(2) YOUTH
AND
YOUNG
ADULTS.—The term 
‘‘youths and young adults’’ means individuals who 
are— 
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(A) 18 years old or older but are not older 
than 30 years old; or 
(B) emancipated minors under applicable 
State law. 
SEC. 4. ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM FOR HOUSING CHOICE 
VOUCHERS FOR YOUTH. 
(a) ENTITLEMENT.—During fiscal year 2027 and 
each fiscal year thereafter, any household that consists of 
or includes any youth or young adult and that is otherwise 
eligible for tenant-based rental assistance under section 
8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
1437f(o)) shall be entitled to such rental assistance in ac-
cordance with this section during such period the family 
remains so eligible. 
(b) FUNDING.—For fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal 
year thereafter, there is appropriated out of any money 
in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated the amount 
necessary— 
(1) to provide assistance under section 8(o) of 
the United States Housing Act of 1937 in accord-
ance with the entitlement under subsection (a) of 
this section for each qualified household in the 
amount determined under subsection 8(o); and 
(2) to provide administrative fees under sec-
tions 8(q) and 23(h)(1) of such Act, as modified 
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pursuant to this Act, in connection with each vouch-
er for assistance provided pursuant to subsection (a) 
of this section. 
(c) ADMINISTERING AGENCIES.— 
(1) REGIONAL
CONSORTIA.—The Secretary 
shall encourage and provide for public housing agen-
cies to form regional consortia to administer the pro-
gram for rental assistance under this section with 
respect to geographical areas. 
(2) PHA DESIGNATION.—The Secretary shall 
designate a public housing agency to administer as-
sistance under this section in any area where no ex-
isting public housing agency has jurisdiction or 
where no agency with jurisdiction is adequately ad-
ministering such assistance, subject to public com-
ment and after consultation with States, public 
housing agencies, local government, Indian tribes, 
and tribally designated housing agencies. 
(d) SUPPORT SERVICES.— 
(1) REQUIREMENTS.—Each public housing 
agency administering rental assistance provided pur-
suant to this section shall ensure that— 
(A) support services described in para-
graph (2) are made available to each youth and 
young adult provided such rental assistance by 
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the administering agency, which may be 
accessed by such youth or young adult at any 
time; and 
(B) each such youth and young adult is 
provided clear information on how to access 
such services and the purposes, benefits, and 
any limitations involved with accessing such 
services. 
(2) INCLUDED SERVICES.—The support services 
described in this paragraph are as follows: 
(A) Any services otherwise made available 
by the public housing agency to families pro-
vided rental assistance under section 8(o) of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937. 
(B) Services as the Secretary shall provide 
relating to housing navigation, job-skill train-
ing, assistance for pursuing higher education, 
relevant legal and tenant protection services, as-
sistance in applying for other federally funded 
programs, and safety planning and services ap-
propriate to address potential vulnerabilities 
and safety concerns of youths and young adults, 
including migrant youths and young adults. 
(3) AVAILABILITY.—This subsection may not be 
construed to require any youth or young adult pro-
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vided rental assistance under this section to access 
or use such services. 
(e) HOUSING CHOICE.—The Secretary shall take 
such actions as necessary to ensure that the choice of a 
dwelling unit to be rented using assistance provided pursu-
ant to this section shall be at the sole discretion of the 
assisted household and may be based upon such standards 
and factors as such household considers appropriate, in-
cluding— 
(1) geographical considerations, including those 
affected by family or cultural factors; 
(2) cost of living; 
(3) access to grocery stores, healthcare, trans-
portation, or any need; 
(4) preference for individual or shared housing; 
and 
(5) any other considerations of importance to 
the household. 
(f) MEDIATION; APPEAL.—The Secretary shall re-
quire each public housing agency administering rental as-
sistance made available pursuant to this section to make 
available to households assisted under this section— 
(1) an ombudsman to mediate any issues, in-
cluding claims of discrimination, arising between the 
assisted household and the landlord of the dwelling 
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unit rented by such household using such assistance; 
and 
(2) an appeal process for such assisted house-
holds to challenge any adverse decisions under the 
mediation process under paragraph (1). 
(g) IMMIGRATION STATUS.—Eligibility for assistance 
made available pursuant to this section may not be limited 
based on citizenship, immigration, or migratory status in 
any manner that is inconsistent with eligibility require-
ments otherwise applicable to assistance under section 
8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
1437f(o)) for households who are not youths or young 
adults. 
(h) PRIVACY.—The Secretary shall take such actions 
as may be necessary to protect the privacy and confiden-
tiality of households assisted pursuant to this section. 
(i) STUDIES
AND REPORTS.—In conducting any 
study or issuing any report relating to carrying out this 
Act, including the studies and reports under subsections 
(a)(4)(D) and (b), the Secretary shall ensure the appoint-
ment or inclusion of homeless youth and young adults. 
SEC. 5. PROMOTING SELF-SUFFICIENCY. 
For fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year there after, 
the Secretary may— 
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(1) increase the amount provided as administra-
tive fees under section 23(h)(1) of the United States 
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437u(h)(1)) for 
any public housing agency that meets such stand-
ards as the Secretary shall establish to assist and 
encourage— 
(A) coordinating the use of assistance 
under section 8(o) of such Act, including assist-
ance pursuant to section 4 of this Act, for par-
ticipation of youths and young adults, including 
youths and young adults who are single, par-
enting, or aging out of foster care or other 
youth-serving systems, in the family self-suffi-
ciency program under such section 23; and 
(B) voluntary participation of landlords in 
such self-sufficiency program to house youths 
and young adults holding vouchers for assist-
ance under section 8(o) without discrimination 
based on credit history, income, criminal or 
legal history, or migratory status; and 
(2) provide incentive awards under section 23(i) 
for public housing agencies who willingly participate 
in coordinating the use of assistance under section 
8(o) for participation of youths and young adults in 
the family self-sufficiency program. 
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SEC. 6. ENFORCEMENT OF HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS. 
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
shall issue any regulations necessary to carry out subpara-
graph (G) of section 8(o)(8) of the United States Housing 
Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(8)(G)) not later than 
the expiration of the 12-month period beginning upon the 
date of the enactment of this Act. Such regulations shall 
take effect not later than the expiration of the 90-day pe-
riod beginning upon such issuance. 
SEC. 7. SCREENING OF APPLICANTS. 
Subparagraph (B) of section 8(o)(6) of the United 
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(6)(B)) 
is amended by inserting after the period at the end of the 
second sentence the following: ‘‘A public housing agency’s 
elective screening shall be limited to criteria that are di-
rectly related to an applicant’s ability to fulfill the obliga-
tions of an assisted lease and shall consider mitigating cir-
cumstances related to such applicant, including discrimi-
nations against income, credit history, parental status, 
marital status, migratory status, or age. Any applicant or 
participant determined to be ineligible for admission or 
continued participation to the program shall be notified 
of the basis for such determination and provide, within 
a reasonable time after the determination, an opportunity 
for an informal hearing on such determination at which 
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mitigating circumstances, including remedial conduct sub-
sequent to the notice, shall be considered.’’. 
SEC. 8. ACCESS TO HUD PROGRAMS FOR PERSONS WITH 
LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. 
(a) HUD RESPONSIBILITIES.—To allow the Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban Development to better serve 
persons with limited proficiency in the English language 
by providing technical assistance to recipients of Federal 
funds, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
shall take the following actions: 
(1) TASK FORCE.—Within 90 days after the en-
actment of this Act, convene a task force comprised 
of appropriate industry groups, recipients of funds 
from the Department of Housing and Urban Devel-
opment (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Depart-
ment’’), community-based organizations that serve 
individuals with limited English proficiency, civil 
rights groups, and stakeholders, which shall identify 
a list of vital documents, including Department and 
certain property and other documents, to be com-
petently translated to improve access to federally 
conducted and federally assisted programs and ac-
tivities for individuals with limited English pro-
ficiency. The task force shall meet not less fre-
quently than twice per year. 
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