I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7057 
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to 
establish the Reentry Rental Assistance and Housing Services Grant 
Program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 14, 2026 
Ms. BARRAGA´N (for herself, Mr. GOLDMAN of New York, Mr. KHANNA, Ms. 
BONAMICI, Mr. EVANS of Pennsylvania, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. 
NORTON, Mrs. RAMIREZ, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. SIMON, Mr. GARCI´A of Il-
linois, and Mr. ESPAILLAT) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets 
Act of 1968 to establish the Reentry Rental Assistance 
and Housing Services Grant Program, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Returning Home Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. REENTRY RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING 
SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM. 
Section 2976 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control 
and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10631) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘OF-
FENDER’’; 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘offender’’; 
(3) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘OF-
FENDER’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘offender’’; 
(C) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘offenders’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘individuals’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘or juvenile facilities’’ 
and inserting ‘‘juvenile facilities, or half-
way houses’’; 
(D) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘prison, jail, or a juve-
nile facility’’ and inserting ‘‘a prison, jail, 
juvenile facility, or halfway house’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘offenders’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘individuals’’; 
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(E) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ‘‘of-
fenders’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals who are in-
carcerated or who were incarcerated’’; 
(F) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘or juvenile facility’’ 
and inserting ‘‘juvenile facility, or halfway 
house’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘offenders while in 
custody’’ and inserting ‘‘such individuals 
during incarceration’’; 
(G) in paragraph (6)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘by offenders to vic-
tims’’ and inserting ‘‘by individuals who 
committed crimes to victims of such 
crimes’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘of offenders’’ and in-
serting ‘‘of such individuals from a prison, 
jail, juvenile facility, or halfway house’’; 
and 
(H) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘dan-
gerous offenders’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals 
who are incarcerated and dangerous’’; 
(4) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘OF-
FENDER’’; and 
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(B) by striking ‘‘offender’’; 
(5) in subsection (d)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘of-
fender’’; 
(6) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ‘‘offender’’; 
(7) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘of-
fender’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘offenders’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals who 
are incarcerated’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
‘‘offenders’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals who 
are incarcerated’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘and juvenile fa-
cilities’’ and inserting ‘‘juvenile facili-
ties, and halfway houses’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘offenders’’ and 
inserting ‘‘individuals’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘of-
fenders’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals’’; 
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(II) in clause (ii), by striking 
‘‘prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities’’ 
and inserting ‘‘a prison, jail, juvenile 
facility, or halfway house’’; and 
(III) in clause (iii), by striking 
‘‘offenders’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals 
who are incarcerated or who were in-
carcerated’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (C)(ii)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘an offender’’ and 
inserting ‘‘an incarcerated individual’’; 
and 
(II) by striking ‘‘that offenders’’ 
and inserting ‘‘that such individuals’’; 
(iv) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
‘‘offenders’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals who 
are incarcerated’’; and 
(v) in subparagraph (G)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘offenders with 
histories’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals 
who are incarcerated or who were in-
carcerated and who have a history’’; 
and 
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(II) by striking ‘‘offender’’ in 
each place it occurs and inserting ‘‘in-
dividual’’; 
(8) in subsection (h)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘offenders’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘individuals’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘prison, jail or a juve-
nile facility’’ and inserting ‘‘a prison, jail, 
juvenile facility, or halfway house’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘released 
offenders’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals released 
from a prison, jail, juvenile facility, or halfway 
house’’; 
(9) in subsection (i)(1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘returning offenders and’’ 
and inserting ‘‘individuals reentering the com-
munity after time spent in a prison, jail, juve-
nile facility, or halfway house and to’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘offenders’ time in prison, 
jail, or a juvenile facility’’ and inserting ‘‘such 
time’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘of offenders’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘of such individuals’’; and 
(D) by striking ‘‘offender’’; 
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(10) in subsection (j)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘an im-
plementation’’ and inserting ‘‘a’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘offend-
ers released back’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals 
who were released from a prison, jail, juvenile 
facility, or halfway house’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘offenders’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘individuals’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘prison, jails, or juve-
nile facilities’’ and inserting ‘‘prisons, jails, 
juvenile facilities, or halfway houses’’; 
(11) in subsection (m)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Juvenile Offender’’ each 
place such term appears and inserting ‘‘Juve-
nile’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘of-
fender’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘offender’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (F)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘prison, jail, or a 
juvenile facility’’ and inserting ‘‘a 
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prison, jail, juvenile facility, or half-
way house’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘prisons, jails, or 
juvenile facilities’’ and inserting ‘‘a 
prison, jail, juvenile facility, or half-
way house’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (I), by striking 
‘‘offenders’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals who 
are incarcerated or who were incarcer-
ated’’; 
(12) in subsection (n)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘of-
fenders’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals who received as-
sistance from such projects and who are incarcer-
ated or who were incarcerated’’; 
(13) in subsection (o)(2)(B), by striking ‘‘crimi-
nal offenders’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals who were 
incarcerated’’; and 
(14) in subsection (p)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘offenders reentering the 
community’’ in each place it occurs and insert-
ing ‘‘individuals who are reentering the commu-
nity after incarceration’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘offend-
ers’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals’’. 
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SEC. 3. RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING GRANT. 
Part FF of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and 
Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10631 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 2978. REENTRY RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING 
SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Attorney General shall, 
in coordination with the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development, establish a program to be known as the ‘Re-
entry Rental Assistance and Housing Services Grant Pro-
gram’ to provide grants as provided under this section. 
‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.—A grant under this section 
may be used for— 
‘‘(1) providing 24 months of rental assistance 
to an individual who was incarcerated for purposes 
of paying housing costs at a permanent residence; 
‘‘(2) providing a stipend to a family member of 
an individual who was incarcerated if the individual 
lives in the family member’s household; and 
‘‘(3) providing supportive services to individuals 
who are incarcerated or who were incarcerated, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(A) pre-release planning; 
‘‘(B) document collection support; 
‘‘(C) housing counseling and location serv-
ices; 
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‘‘(D) system navigation and linkage sup-
port to other services, including mental health 
therapy, program services for victims of domes-
tic violence, program services for victims of sex-
ual assault, substance abuse treatment, edu-
cation services, and employment services; 
‘‘(E) information about home-based serv-
ices and community-based services; 
‘‘(F) case management and addressing 
criminogenic needs; 
‘‘(G) move-in support and assistance; 
‘‘(H) support with security deposits and 
other leasing fees; 
‘‘(I) housing placement support; 
‘‘(J) housing stabilization support for at 
least 12 months to help retain housing after 
placement; 
‘‘(K) financial incentives to landlords, in-
cluding payment of holding fees, funds to miti-
gate property damage, and other incentives to 
accept tenants who are receiving rental assist-
ance; and 
‘‘(L) other similar supportive services as 
determined by the Secretary. 
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‘‘(c) ALLOCATION
FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE.—A 
grantee shall use— 
‘‘(1) not less than 60 percent of the grant fund-
ing for rental assistance described under subsection 
(b)(2); and 
‘‘(2) not more than 15 percent of grant funding 
for financial incentives to landlords described under 
subsection (b)(3)(K). 
‘‘(d) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible applicant 
seeking a grant under this section shall submit 
an application to the Attorney General at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such in-
formation as the Attorney General may require. 
‘‘(B) ELIGIBLE APPLICANT.—For purposes 
of this paragraph, an eligible applicant is— 
‘‘(i) an eligible entity; 
‘‘(ii) a nonprofit organization or serv-
ice provider in partnership with an eligible 
entity; or 
‘‘(iii) a nonprofit organization or serv-
ice provider in partnership with— 
‘‘(I) a collaborative applicant or 
other entity funded under the Con-
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tinuum of Care program under sub-
title IV of the McKinney-Vento Home-
less Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 
et seq.); 
‘‘(II) a protection and advocacy 
system (as defined in section 102 of 
the Developmental Disabilities Assist-
ance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 
(42 U.S.C. 15002)); 
‘‘(III) a client assistance program 
(as described in section 112 of the Re-
habilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 
732)); or 
‘‘(IV) a center for independent 
living (as defined in section 702 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 
796a)). 
‘‘(2) PROGRAM PROPOSAL.—The Attorney Gen-
eral may make a grant under this section to an ap-
plicant only if the applicant submits a proposed pro-
gram that will benefit— 
‘‘(A) individuals who are incarcerated in a 
prison, jail, juvenile facility, or halfway house 
who are not more than 365 days from their re-
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lease date and are at risk of becoming homeless 
or exiting into housing insecurity; 
‘‘(B) individuals experiencing homelessness 
while under parole or supervised release from a 
prison, jail, juvenile facility, or halfway house; 
or 
‘‘(C) individuals experiencing homelessness 
or housing insecurity and who were discharged 
from a prison, jail, juvenile facility, or halfway 
house. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY CONSIDERATIONS.—The Attor-
ney General shall prioritize grants— 
‘‘(B) to an applicant that implements a 
housing first approach which includes low-bar-
rier screening criteria for determining which in-
dividuals receive assistance under the program; 
and 
‘‘(C) to an applicant that implements a 
program to serve a population that, when com-
pared to the general population, is at a dis-
proportionate risk of incarceration and that ex-
periences a disproportionate rate of homeless-
ness. 
‘‘(4) PROHIBITION
ON
GRANTS
TO
LAW
EN-
FORCEMENT.—The Attorney General may not pro-
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vide a grant under this section to a law enforcement 
entity, including an entity that employs probation of-
ficers. 
‘‘(e) DENIAL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A grantee under this sec-
tion shall notify individuals who apply for and are 
denied support from programs funded with such 
grants about— 
‘‘(A) the denial; 
‘‘(B) the reason for the denial; and 
‘‘(C) supportive services (including housing 
counseling) and free legal resources. 
‘‘(2) TIMING.—Such notifications shall be sent 
to the individual within 15 days after denial. 
‘‘(f) ACCESSIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS.—A grantee 
under this section shall ensure that information regarding 
the programs and support services that the grantee offers 
and that are funded with such grants is made available— 
‘‘(1) in a manner that uses simple, plain lan-
guage and is reader friendly; and 
‘‘(2) in a form that is accessible to individuals 
with disabilities. 
‘‘(g) EVALUATION.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Attorney General 
shall evaluate the efficacy of the grant awarded under this 
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section in improving outcomes for previously incarcerated 
individuals. 
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each 
fiscal year to carry out this section. 
‘‘(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) DISABILITY.—The term ‘disability’ has the 
meaning given to such term in section 3 of the 
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12102). 
‘‘(2) HOUSING
COSTS.—The term ‘housing 
costs’ includes rent, utilities, security deposits, appli-
cation fees, and other similar expenses as deter-
mined by the Attorney General, in consultation with 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.’’. 
Æ 
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