Naomi Schwartz Safe Parking Program Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.2965 | Sponsor: Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. (D-CA)
Policy area: Housing and Community Development

Summary:
Naomi Schwartz Safe Parking Program Act of 2021
This bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish a grant program for safe parking programs operated by local governments, tribes, nonprofit organizations, and certain organizations that assist the homeless. Safe parking programs provide homeless individuals living in vehicles with (1) a safe place to park overnight to facilitate a transition to stable housing, and (2) services including rehousing assistance and case management.

To require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish 
   a grant program to provide amounts to eligible entities for costs 
   associated with the establishment and operation of a safe parking 
                    program, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Naomi Schwartz Safe Parking Program 
Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. SAFE PARKING PROGRAM GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development shall establish a grant program to provide amounts to 
eligible entities for costs associated with the establishment and 
operation of new or existing safe parking program.
    (b) Grant Term.--If the Secretary awards a grant to an eligible 
entity under subsection (a), such grant shall be for a term of 5 years.
    (c) Amount.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible entity awarded a grant under 
        this section shall receive an equal amount of money in each of 
        the 5 years of the term of the grant.
            (2) Cap.--No eligible entity may receive an amount under 
        this section that exceeds $5,000,000.
    (d) Applications.--
            (1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        subsection (a), an eligible entity shall submit an application 
        to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing 
        such information as the Secretary may require, including a 
        description of how any amounts awarded to the eligible entity 
        will be used.
            (2) Multiple locations.--An eligible entity may, in such 
        application, propose to establish or continue operating safe 
        parking program as multiple locations.
            (3) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority to 
        applications from eligible entities that serve homeless persons 
        in underserved areas, as such term is defined in section 81.2 
        of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations.
    (e) Use of Funds.--Except as provided by subsection (f), any 
eligible entity that is awarded an amount under this section shall use 
such amount for costs associated with--
            (1) establishing and operating a safe parking program;
            (2) providing permanent rehousing assistance to families 
        using the safe parking program;
            (3) employing staff who maintain the safety and health of 
        participants and monitor program or shelter compliance;
            (4) establishing and maintaining the operation of hygiene 
        facilities and restrooms for homeless persons;
            (5) maintaining the vehicles of homeless persons using a 
        safe parking program and providing gas for such persons to use 
        their vehicles to drive to places that will help them obtain or 
        maintain housing, including to work, to schools, to medical 
        appointments, and to search for home; or
            (6) entering data and information into the Department of 
        Housing and Urban Development's Homeless Management Information 
        System.
    (f) Alternative Use of Funds.--If a eligible entity determines that 
a safe parking program is no longer necessary, such eligible entity 
may, after approval from the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
use any amounts provided under this section for activities that are 
eligible for the use of emergency solutions grant program amounts under 
section 415 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
    (g) Rehousing and Case Management Services.--Any homeless person 
who makes use of a safe parking program established or operated using 
amounts awarded under this section is not required to accept case 
management or rehousing services offered as part of such program.
    (h) Definitions.--
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a unit of general purpose local government;
                    (B) an Indian tribe or its tribally designated 
                housing entity as such terms are defined in section 4 
                of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-
                Determination Act of 1996;
                    (C) a non-profit organization that provides 
                services to homeless persons; or
                    (D) a collaborative applicant or other organization 
                or entity funded under the Continuum of Care program 
                under subtitle C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento 
                Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 et seq.).
            (2) Essential service.--The term ``essential service'' as 
        the meaning given the term in section 567.102 of title 24, Code 
        of Federal Regulations.
            (3) Homeless person.--The term ``homeless person'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento 
        Homeless Assistance Act.
            (4) Safe parking program.--The term ``safe parking 
        program'' means a program that--
                    (A) provides homeless persons living in vehicles, 
                including motor homes, with a safe place to park their 
                vehicles overnight to facilitate a transition to more 
                stable housing; and
                    (B) provides re-housing services and essential 
                services.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Housing and Urban Development.
            (6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern 
        Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, 
        and any other territory or possession of the United States.
    (i) Report to Congress.--The Secretary shall, not later than 180 
days after the end of the second fiscal year and after the end of the 
fifth fiscal year following the date of the enactment of this section, 
submit to the Congress a report on the impact of grants awarded under 
this section, including, to the extent determinable, any data about--
            (1) the number of homeless persons living in vehicles in 
        the geographic region in which the eligible entity operates in 
        each of the 7 previous years;
            (2) the demographics and number of homeless persons who 
        choose to participate in a safe parking program; and
            (3) the number of homeless persons who choose to 
        participate in a safe parking program who exit into permanent 
        housing.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this Act $25,000,000 for each of the first 5 
fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment of this section.
    (k) Termination of Grant Program.--The Secretary may not award any 
grant under this section after the date that is final day of the fifth 
fiscal year beginning afer the date of the enactment of this section.
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