I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7301 
To prevent evictions, foreclosures, and unsafe housing conditions resulting 
from the COVID-19 pandemic, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 24, 2020 
Ms. WATERS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on the 
Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To prevent evictions, foreclosures, and unsafe housing condi-
tions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 
2020’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
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Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—PROTECTING RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS FROM 
EVICTIONS AND FORECLOSURES 
Sec. 101. Emergency rental assistance. 
Sec. 102. Homeowner Assistance Fund. 
Sec. 103. Protecting renters and homeowners from evictions and foreclosures. 
Sec. 104. Liquidity for mortgage servicers and residential rental property own-
ers. 
Sec. 105. Rural rental assistance. 
Sec. 106. Funding for public housing and tenant-based rental assistance. 
Sec. 107. Supplemental funding for supportive housing for the elderly, sup-
portive housing for persons with disabilities, supportive housing 
for persons with AIDS, and project-based section 8 rental as-
sistance. 
Sec. 108. Fair Housing. 
Sec. 109. Funding for housing counseling services. 
TITLE II—PROTECTING PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS 
Sec. 201. Homeless assistance funding. 
Sec. 202. Emergency rental assistance voucher program. 
TITLE I—PROTECTING RENTERS 
AND 
HOMEOWNERS 
FROM 
EVICTIONS 
AND 
FORE-
CLOSURES 
SEC. 101. EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Housing 
and Urban Development (referred to in this section as the 
‘‘Secretary’’) $100,000,000,000 for an additional amount 
for grants under the Emergency Solutions Grants pro-
gram under subtitle B of title IV of the McKinney-Vento 
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11371 et seq.), to 
remain available until expended (subject to subsections (d) 
and (n) of this section), to be used for providing short- 
or medium-term assistance with rent and rent-related 
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costs (including tenant-paid utility costs, utility- and rent- 
arrears, fees charged for those arrears, and security and 
utility deposits) in accordance with paragraphs (4) and (5) 
of section 415(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 11374(a)) and 
this section. 
(b) DEFINITION OF AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.— 
Notwithstanding section 401(1) of the McKinney-Vento 
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360(1)), for pur-
poses of assistance made available with amounts made 
available pursuant to subsection (a), the term ‘‘at risk of 
homelessness’’ means, with respect to an individual or 
family, that the individual or family— 
(1) has an income below 80 percent of the me-
dian income for the area as determined by the Sec-
retary; and 
(2) has an inability to attain or maintain hous-
ing stability or has insufficient resources to pay for 
rent or utilities due to financial hardships. 
(c) INCOME TARGETING AND CALCULATION.—For 
purposes of assistance made available with amounts made 
available pursuant to subsection (a)— 
(1) each recipient of such amounts shall use— 
(A) not less than 40 percent of the 
amounts received only for providing assistance 
for individuals or families experiencing home-
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lessness, or for persons or families at risk of 
homelessness who have incomes not exceeding 
30 percent of the median income for the area 
as determined by the Secretary; 
(B) not less than 70 percent of the 
amounts received only for providing assistance 
for individuals or families experiencing home-
lessness, or for persons or families at risk of 
homelessness who have incomes not exceeding 
50 percent of the median income for the area 
as determined by the Secretary; and 
(C) the remainder of the amounts received 
only for providing assistance to individuals or 
families experiencing homelessness, or for per-
sons or families at risk of homelessness who 
have incomes not exceeding 80 percent of the 
median income for the area as determined by 
the Secretary, but such recipient may establish 
a higher percentage limit for purposes of sub-
section (b)(1), which shall not in any case ex-
ceed 120 percent of the area median income, if 
the recipient states that it will serve such popu-
lation in its plan; and 
(2) in determining the income of a household 
for homelessness prevention assistance— 
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(B) expend 100 percent of such grant 
amounts within 3 years of such date. 
(2) REALLOCATION AFTER 2 YEARS.—The Sec-
retary may recapture any amounts not expended in 
compliance with paragraph (1)(A) and reallocate 
such amounts to recipients in compliance with the 
formula referred to in subsection (h)(1)(A). 
(e) RENT RESTRICTIONS.— 
(1) INAPPLICABILITY.—Section 576.106(d) of 
title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, shall not 
apply with respect to homelessness prevention assist-
ance made available with amounts made available 
under subsection (a). 
(2) AMOUNT OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE.—In pro-
viding homelessness prevention assistance with 
amounts made available under subsection (a), the 
maximum amount of rental assistance that may be 
provided shall be the greater of— 
(A) 120 percent of the higher of— 
(i) the Fair Market Rent established 
by the Secretary for the metropolitan area 
or county; or 
(ii) the applicable Small Area Fair 
Market Rent established by the Secretary; 
or 
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(B) such higher amount as the Secretary 
shall determine is needed to cover market rents 
in the area. 
(f) SUBLEASES.—A recipient shall not be prohibited 
from providing assistance authorized under subsection (a) 
with respect to subleases that are valid under State law. 
(g) HOUSING RELOCATION OR STABILIZATION AC-
TIVITIES.—A recipient of amounts made available pursu-
ant to subsection (a) may expend up to 25 percent of its 
allocation for activities under section 415(a)(5) of the 
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
11374(a)(5)), except that notwithstanding such section, 
activities authorized under this subsection may be pro-
vided only for individuals or families who have incomes 
not exceeding 50 percent of the area median income and 
meet the criteria in subsection (b)(2) of this section or 
section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 11302). This subsection shall not apply 
to rent-related costs that are specifically authorized under 
subsection (a) of this section. 
(h) ALLOCATION OF ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In allocating amounts made 
available pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall— 
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(A)(i) for any purpose authorized in this 
section— 
(I) allocate 2 percent of such amount 
for Indian tribes and tribally designated 
housing entities (as such terms are defined 
in section 4 of the Native American Hous-
ing Assistance and Self-Determination Act 
of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103)) under the for-
mula established pursuant to section 302 
of such Act (25 U.S.C. 4152), except that 
0.3 percent of the amount allocated under 
this clause shall be allocated for the De-
partment of Hawaiian Home Lands; and 
(II) allocate 0.3 percent of such 
amount for the Virgin Islands, Guam, 
American Samoa, and the Northern Mar-
iana Islands; 
(ii) not later than 30 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, obligate and disburse 
the amounts allocated pursuant to clause (i) in 
accordance with such allocations and provide 
such recipient with any necessary guidance for 
use of the funds; and 
(B)(i) not later than 7 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act and after setting aside 
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amounts under subparagraph (A), allocate 50 
percent of any such remaining amounts under 
the formula specified in subsections (a), (b), 
and (e) of section 414 of the McKinney-Vento 
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11373) 
for, and notify, each State, metropolitan city, 
and urban county that is to receive a direct 
grant of such amounts; and 
(ii) not later than 30 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, obligate and disburse 
the amounts allocated pursuant to clause (i) in 
accordance with such allocations and provide 
such recipient with any necessary guidance for 
use of the funds; and 
(C)(i) not later than 45 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, allocate any remaining 
amounts for eligible recipients according to a 
formula to be developed by the Secretary that 
takes into consideration the formula referred to 
in subparagraph (A) and the need for emer-
gency rental assistance under this section, in-
cluding the severe housing cost burden among 
extremely low- and very low-income renters and 
disruptions in housing and economic conditions, 
including unemployment; and 
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(ii) not later than 30 days after the date 
of the allocation of such amounts pursuant to 
clause (i), obligate and disburse such amounts 
in accordance with such allocations. 
(2) ALLOCATIONS TO STATES.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sub-
section (a) of section 414 of the McKinney- 
Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
11373(a)) and section 576.202(a) of title 24, 
Code of Federal Regulations, a State recipient 
of an allocation under this section may elect to 
use up to 100 percent of its allocation to carry 
out activities eligible under this section directly. 
(B) REQUIREMENT.—Any State recipient 
making an election described in subparagraph 
(A) shall serve households throughout the entire 
State, including households in rural commu-
nities and small towns. 
(3) ELECTION NOT TO ADMINISTER.—If a re-
cipient other than a State elects not to receive funds 
under this section, such funds shall be allocated to 
the State recipient in which the recipient is located. 
(4) PARTNERSHIPS, SUBGRANTS, AND
CON-
TRACTS.—A recipient of a grant under this section 
may distribute funds through partnerships, sub-
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grants, or contracts with an entity, such as a public 
housing agency (as such term is defined in section 
3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
U.S.C. 1437a(b))), that is capable of carrying activi-
ties under this section. 
(5) REVISION TO RULE.—The Secretary shall 
revise section 576.3 of tile 24, Code of Federal Reg-
ulations, to change the set aside for allocation to the 
territories to exactly 0.3 percent. 
(i) INAPPLICABILITY
OF
MATCHING
REQUIRE-
MENT.—Subsection (a) of section 416 of the McKinney- 
Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11375(a)) 
shall not apply to any amounts made available pursuant 
to subsection (a) of this section. 
(j) REIMBURSEMENT
OF ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.— 
Amounts made available pursuant to subsection (a) may 
be used by a recipient to reimburse expenditures incurred 
for eligible activities under this section after March 27, 
2020. 
(k) PROHIBITION ON PREREQUISITES.—None of the 
funds made available pursuant to this section may be used 
to require any individual receiving assistance under the 
program under this section to receive treatment or per-
form any other prerequisite activities as a condition for 
receiving shelter, housing, or other services. 
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(l) WAIVERS AND ALTERNATIVE REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
(A) AUTHORITY.—In administering the 
amounts made available pursuant to subsection 
(a), the Secretary may waive, or specify alter-
native requirements for, any provision of any 
statute or regulation that the Secretary admin-
isters in connection with the obligation by the 
Secretary or the use by the recipient of such 
amounts (except for requirements related to fair 
housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, 
prohibition on prerequisites, minimum data re-
porting, and the environment), if the Secretary 
finds that good cause exists for the waiver or 
alternative requirement and such waiver or al-
ternative requirement is necessary to expedite 
the use of funds made available pursuant to 
this section, to respond to public health orders 
or conditions related to the COVID-19 emer-
gency, or to ensure that eligible individuals can 
attain or maintain housing stability. 
(B) PUBLIC NOTICE.—The Secretary shall 
notify the public through the Federal Register 
or other appropriate means of any waiver or al-
ternative requirement under this paragraph, 
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and that such public notice shall be provided, at 
a minimum, on the internet at the appropriate 
Government website or through other electronic 
media, as determined by the Secretary. 
(C) ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS.—Eligi-
bility for rental assistance or housing relocation 
and stabilization services shall not be restricted 
based upon the prior receipt of assistance under 
the program during the preceding three years. 
(2) PUBLIC HEARINGS.— 
(A) INAPPLICABILITY OF IN-PERSON HEAR-
ING
REQUIREMENTS
DURING
THE
COVID-19 
EMERGENCY.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—A recipient under 
this section shall not be required to hold 
in-person public hearings in connection 
with its citizen participation plan, but shall 
provide citizens with notice, including pub-
lication of its plan for carrying out this 
section on the internet, and a reasonable 
opportunity to comment of not less than 5 
days. 
(ii) 
RESUMPTION
OF
IN-PERSON 
HEARING
REQUIREMENTS.—After the pe-
riod beginning on the date of enactment of 
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this Act and ending on the date of the ter-
mination by the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency of the emergency declared 
on March 13, 2020, by the President 
under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re-
lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 4121 et seq.) relating to the 
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) 
pandemic, and after the period described 
in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall 
direct recipients under this section to re-
sume pre-crisis public hearing require-
ments. 
(B) VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARINGS.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—During the period 
that national or local health authorities 
recommend social distancing and limiting 
public gatherings for public health reasons, 
a recipient may fulfill applicable public 
hearing requirements for all grants from 
funds made available pursuant to this sec-
tion by carrying out virtual public hear-
ings. 
(ii) 
REQUIREMENTS.—Any 
virtual 
hearings held under clause (i) by a recipi-
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ent under this section shall provide reason-
able notification and access for citizens in 
accordance with the recipient’s certifi-
cations, timely responses from local offi-
cials to all citizen questions and issues, 
and public access to all questions and re-
sponses. 
(m) CONSULTATION.—In addition to any other cit-
izen participation and consultation requirements, in devel-
oping and implementing a plan to carry out this section, 
each recipient of funds made available pursuant to this 
section shall consult with the applicable Continuum or 
Continuums of Care for the area served by the recipient 
and organizations representing underserved communities 
and populations and organizations with expertise in af-
fordable housing, fair housing, and services for people with 
disabilities. 
(n) ADMINISTRATION.— 
(1) BY
SECRETARY.—Of any amounts made 
available pursuant to subsection (a)— 
(A) not more than the lesser of 0.5 per-
cent, or $15,000,000, may be used by the Sec-
retary for staffing, training, technical assist-
ance, technology, monitoring, research, and 
evaluation activities necessary to carry out the 
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‘‘(D) RIGHT TO ELECT TO CONTINUE MAK-
ING PAYMENTS.—With respect to a forbearance 
provided under this paragraph, the borrower of 
such loan may elect to continue making regular 
payments on the loan. A borrower who makes 
such election shall be offered a loss mitigation 
option pursuant to subsection (d) within 30 
days of resuming regular payments to address 
any payment deficiency during the forbearance. 
‘‘(E) RIGHT
TO
SHORTEN
FORBEAR-
ANCE.—At a borrower’s request, any period of 
forbearance provided under this paragraph may 
be shortened. A borrower who makes such a re-
quest shall be offered a loss mitigation option 
pursuant to subsection (d) within 30 days of re-
suming regular payments to address any pay-
ment deficiency during the forbearance. 
‘‘(10) AUTOMATIC FORBEARANCE FOR CERTAIN 
REVERSE MORTGAGE LOANS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—When any covered 
mortgage loan which is also a federally-insured 
reverse mortgage loan, during the covered pe-
riod, is due and payable due to the death of the 
last borrower or end of a deferral period or eli-
gible to be called due and payable due to a 
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