I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2994 
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 
APRIL 28, 2023 
Ms. BARRAGA´N (for herself, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. BOWMAN, Ms. 
TLAIB, Ms. NORTON, Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE, Ms. TOKUDA, Mr. GARCI´A 
of Illinois, Mrs. PELTOLA, and Mrs. HAYES) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition 
to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions 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’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
SEC. 2. REENTRY RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING 
SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM. 
Section 2976 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control 
and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10631) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘OF-
FENDER’’; 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘offender’’; 
(3) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘OF-
FENDER’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘offender’’; 
(C) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘offenders’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘individuals’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘or juvenile facilities’’ 
and inserting ‘‘juvenile facilities, or half-
way houses’’; 
(D) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘prison, jail, or a juve-
nile facility’’ and inserting ‘‘a prison, jail, 
juvenile facility, or halfway house’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘offenders’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘individuals’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(B) by striking ‘‘offender’’; 
(5) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘for a 
planning grant under subsection (e) and an im-
plementation grant under subsection (f)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘when applying simultaneously for 
two or more of the grants established under 
subsections (e), (f), and (o)’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘under subsections (e) 
and (f)’’ and inserting ‘‘under subsections 
(e), (f), and (o)’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘offender’’; 
(6) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ‘‘offender’’; 
(7) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘of-
fender’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘offenders’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals who 
are incarcerated’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
‘‘offenders’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals who 
are incarcerated’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(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’’; 
(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’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(iv) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
‘‘offenders’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals who 
are incarcerated’’; and 
(v) in subparagraph (G)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘offenders with 
histories’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals 
who are incarcerated or who were in-
carcerated and who have a history’’; 
and 
(II) by striking ‘‘offender’’ in 
each place it occurs and inserting ‘‘in-
dividual’’; 
(8) in subsection (h)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘offenders’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘individuals’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (f)’’ each 
place such term appears and inserting 
‘‘subsection (f) or (o)’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘prison, jail or a juve-
nile facility’’ and inserting ‘‘a prison, jail, 
juvenile facility, or halfway house’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘released 
offenders’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals released 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
from a prison, jail, juvenile facility, or halfway 
house’’; 
(9) in subsection (i)(1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘under subsection (f)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘under subsection (f) or (o)’’; 
(B) 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’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘offenders’ time in prison, 
jail, or a juvenile facility’’ and inserting ‘‘such 
time’’; 
(D) by striking ‘‘of offenders’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘of such individuals’’; and 
(E) by striking ‘‘offender’’; 
(10) in subsection (j)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘an implementation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘a’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (f)’’ each 
place such term appears and inserting 
‘‘subsection (f) or (o)’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘offend-
ers released back’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
who were released from a prison, jail, juvenile 
facility, or halfway house’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘offenders’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘individuals’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘prison, jails, or juve-
nile facilities’’ and inserting ‘‘prisons, jails, 
juvenile facilities, or halfway houses’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘sub-
section (f)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (f) and 
(o)’’; 
(11) in subsection (k)(1), by striking ‘‘sub-
section (f)’’ each place such term appears and in-
serting ‘‘subsections (f) and (o)’’; 
(12) in subsection (m)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Juvenile Offender’’ each 
place such term appears and inserting ‘‘Juve-
nile’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘of-
fender’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘offender’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (F)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(I) by striking ‘‘prison, jail, or a 
juvenile facility’’ and inserting ‘‘a 
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’’; 
(13) 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’’; 
(14) in subsection (o)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘section’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section (other than subsection 
(o))’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘section’’ and inserting ‘‘section (including 
amounts made available to carry out sub-
section (o))’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘criminal offenders’’ and inserting ‘‘indi-
viduals who were incarcerated’’; 
(15) in subsection (p)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘offenders reentering the 
community’’ in each place it occurs and insert-
ing ‘‘individuals who are reentering the commu-
nity after incarceration’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘offend-
ers’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals’’; 
(16) by redesignating subsections (o) and (p) as 
subsections (p) and (q), respectively; and 
(17) by inserting after subsection (n) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(o) REENTRY RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING 
SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Attorney General 
shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Housing 
and Urban Development, establish a program to be 
known as the ‘Reentry Rental Assistance and Hous-
ing Services Grant Program’ to provide grants as 
provided under this subsection. 
‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.—A grant under this sub-
section may be used for— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(A) providing 24 months of rental assist-
ance to an individual who was incarcerated for 
purposes of paying housing costs at a perma-
nent residence; 
‘‘(B) providing a stipend to a family mem-
ber of an individual who was incarcerated if the 
individual lives in the family member’s house-
hold; and 
‘‘(C) providing supportive services to indi-
viduals who are incarcerated or who were incar-
cerated, including— 
‘‘(i) pre-release planning; 
‘‘(ii) document collection support; 
‘‘(iii) housing counseling and location 
services; 
‘‘(iv) system navigation and linkage 
support to other services, including mental 
health therapy, program services for vic-
tims of domestic violence, program services 
for victims of sexual assault, substance 
abuse treatment, education services, and 
employment services; 
‘‘(v) information about home-based 
services and community-based services; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(vi) case management and address-
ing criminogenic needs; 
‘‘(vii) move-in support and assistance; 
‘‘(viii) support with security deposits 
and other leasing fees; 
‘‘(ix) housing placement support; 
‘‘(x) housing stabilization support for 
at least 12 months to help retain housing 
after placement; 
‘‘(xi) financial incentives to landlords, 
including payment of holding fees, funds to 
mitigate property damage, and other incen-
tives to accept tenants who are receiving 
rental assistance; and 
‘‘(xii) other similar supportive services 
as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) ALLOCATION FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE.— 
A grantee shall use— 
‘‘(A) not less than 60 percent of the grant 
funding for rental assistance described under 
paragraph (2)(A); and 
‘‘(B) not more than 25 percent of grant 
funding for financial incentives to landlords de-
scribed under paragraph (2)(C)(x). 
‘‘(4) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(A) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—An eligible appli-
cant seeking a grant under this subsection 
shall submit to the Attorney General an 
application that meets the requirements of 
paragraphs (1) and (2) in subsection (f) 
and includes a proposed program under 
subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(ii) ELIGIBLE APPLICANT.—For pur-
poses of this subparagraph, an eligible ap-
plicant is— 
‘‘(I) an eligible entity; 
‘‘(II) a nonprofit organization or 
service provider in partnership with 
an eligible entity; or 
‘‘(III) a nonprofit organization or 
service provider in partnership with— 
‘‘(aa) a collaborative appli-
cant or other entity funded under 
the Continuum of Care program 
under subtitle IV of the McKin-
ney-Vento Homeless Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 et seq.); 
‘‘(bb) a protection and advo-
cacy system (as defined in section 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
102 of the Developmental Dis-
abilities Assistance and Bill of 
Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 
15002)); 
‘‘(cc) a client assistance pro-
gram (as described in section 112 
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 
(29 U.S.C. 732)); or 
‘‘(dd) a center for inde-
pendent living (as defined in sec-
tion 702 of the Rehabilitation 
Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 796a)). 
‘‘(iii) 
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS 
AND
SERVICE
PROVIDERS.—In the case 
that the eligible applicant that applies for 
the grant is a nonprofit organization or 
service provider, paragraphs (1) and (2) in 
subsection (f) shall apply in the case of 
that applicant. 
‘‘(B) PROGRAM PROPOSAL.—The Attorney 
General may make a grant under this sub-
section to an applicant only if the applicant 
submits a proposed program that will benefit— 
‘‘(i) individuals who are incarcerated 
in a prison, jail, juvenile facility, or half-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
way house who are not more than 365 
days from their release date and are at 
risk of becoming homeless or exiting into 
housing insecurity; 
‘‘(ii) individuals experiencing home-
lessness while under parole or supervised 
release from a prison, jail, juvenile facility, 
or halfway house; or 
‘‘(iii) individuals experiencing home-
lessness or housing insecurity and who 
were discharged from a prison, jail, juve-
nile facility, or halfway house. 
‘‘(C) 
PRIORITY
CONSIDERATIONS.—The 
Attorney General shall prioritize grants— 
‘‘(i) to an applicant as described in 
subsection (f)(3); 
‘‘(ii) to an applicant that implements 
a housing first approach program which 
includes low-barrier screening criteria for 
determining which individuals receive as-
sistance under the program; and 
‘‘(iii) to an applicant that implements 
a program to serve a population that, when 
compared to the general population, is at 
a disproportionate risk of incarceration 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
and that experiences a disproportionate 
rate of homelessness. 
‘‘(D) PROHIBITION
ON
GRANTS
TO
LAW 
ENFORCEMENT.—The Attorney General may 
not provide a grant under this subsection to a 
law enforcement entity, including an entity that 
employs probation officers. 
‘‘(5) DENIAL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A grantee under this 
subsection shall notify individuals who apply for 
and are denied support from programs funded 
with such grants about— 
‘‘(i) the denial; 
‘‘(ii) the reason for the denial; and 
‘‘(iii) supportive services (including 
housing counseling) and free legal re-
sources. 
‘‘(B) TIMING.—Such notifications shall be 
sent to the individual within 15 days after de-
nial. 
‘‘(6) ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.—A grant-
ee under this subsection shall ensure that informa-
tion regarding the programs and support services 
that the grantee offers and that are funded with 
such grants is made available— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(A) in a manner that uses simple, plain 
language and is reader friendly; and 
‘‘(B) in a form that is accessible to individ-
uals with disabilities. 
‘‘(7) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There 
is 
authorized 
to 
be 
appropriated 
$100,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out this 
subsection. 
‘‘(8) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) 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). 
‘‘(B) HOUSING COSTS.—The term ‘housing 
costs’ includes rent, utilities, security deposits, 
application fees, and other similar expenses as 
determined by the Attorney General, in con-
sultation with the Secretary. 
‘‘(C) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ 
means the Secretary of Housing and Urban De-
velopment.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:40 May 10, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2994.IH
H2994
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB