Title: Emergency Family Stabilization Act
Policy area: Families

Summary:
Emergency Family Stabilization Act
This bill establishes a competitive grant program within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) for family stabilization agencies to provide emergency relief to children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. These agencies include current ACF grantees or subgrantees, tribes and tribal organizations, and other organizations with expertise providing direct services to those experiencing homelessness. Recipients may use grant funds for, among other purposes, personnel costs, personal protective equipment, and other supplies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), as well as payments for security deposits and other housing-related needs.
Additionally, the ACF must award the grants based on factors including the need for the services in the area served by the agency and specified allocation and prioritization requirements.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3923 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3923

     To provide emergency relief to youth, children, and families 
    experiencing homelessness, in light of the health and economic 
                       consequences of COVID-19.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 9, 2020

Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Mr. Manchin, and Ms. Sinema) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To provide emergency relief to youth, children, and families 
    experiencing homelessness, in light of the health and economic 
                       consequences of COVID-19.

    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 ``Emergency Family Stabilization 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Current acf grant or subgrant recipient.--The term 
        ``current ACF grant or subgrant recipient'' means an Indian 
        Tribe, Tribal organization, local educational agency, or a 
        local public, private, or Indian nonprofit agency or 
        organization (including culturally specific community-based and 
        faith-based organizations) that, as of the date of application 
        for a grant under section 3, is also receiving another grant or 
        subgrant administered by the Administration for Children and 
        Families.
            (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the Office of Community Services of the Department of Health 
        and Human Services.
            (3) Direct services.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), the term ``direct services'' does not include 
                providing referrals or operating a coordinated entry 
                system or homeless management information system, by 
                itself.
                    (B) Indian tribes or tribal organizations.--An 
                Indian Tribe or Tribal organization that provides 
                referrals or assists other service providers with 
                direct services shall be considered as providing direct 
                services for purposes of this Act.
            (4) Family stabilization agency.--The term ``family 
        stabilization agency'' means--
                    (A) a current ACF grant or subgrant recipient;
                    (B) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization;
                    (C) an urban Indian organization;
                    (D) a local educational agency; or
                    (E) a local public, private, or Indian nonprofit 
                agency or organization (including community-based and 
                faith-based organizations), with expertise and 
                demonstrated experience providing direct services to 
                one or more of the following populations:
                            (i) Children experiencing homelessness, 
                        including children under age 6.
                            (ii) Unaccompanied homeless youth under the 
                        age of 18.
                            (iii) Unaccompanied homeless youth between 
                        the ages of 18 and 25.
                            (iv) Pregnant women, and pregnant or 
                        parenting youth, experiencing homelessness.
                            (v) Families experiencing homelessness.
                            (vi) Survivors of dating violence, domestic 
                        violence, family violence, or trafficking.
            (5) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' means an 
        Indian tribe, as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            (6) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational 
        agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).
            (7) Rural.--The term ``rural'' means a unit of local 
        government with a population of less than 50,000.
            (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.
            (9) Tribal organization.--The term ``Tribal organization'' 
        means a tribal organization, as defined in section 4 of the 
        Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
        U.S.C. 5304).
            (10) Urban indian organization.--The term ``urban Indian 
        organization'' has the meaning given the term ``Urban Indian 
        organization'' in section 4 of the Indian Health Care 
        Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603).
            (11) Youth, child, or family experiencing homelessness.--
        The term ``youth, child, or family experiencing homelessness'' 
        means--
                    (A) a homeless child or youth, as defined in 
                section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
                Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2)), who is under the 
                age of 25;
                    (B) an unaccompanied youth, as defined in section 
                725(6) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 11434a(6)), who is under the age of 25; or
                    (C) a household of not less than 2 people that 
                includes not less than 1 person under age 22 who is a 
                homeless child or youth, as defined in section 725(2) 
                of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
                U.S.C. 11434a(2)).

SEC. 3. GRANTS TO FAMILY STABILIZATION AGENCIES.

    (a) Grant Program Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--From amounts made available under section 
        4 and not reserved under subsection (b), the Secretary, acting 
        through the Director, shall, on a competitive basis in 
        accordance with subsection (d), award grants to family 
        stabilization agencies (including current ACF grant or subgrant 
        recipients and entities that have not previously received 
        grants from the Administration for Children and Families) to 
        enable the family stabilization agencies to carry out the 
        activities described in subsection (e).
            (2) Distribution timing.--
                    (A) Current acf grant or subgrant recipients.--The 
                Secretary shall award grants under this section, in 
                accordance with subsection (d), to family stabilization 
                agencies that are current ACF grant or subgrant 
                recipients by not later than the date that is 45 days 
                after the date of enactment of this Act.
                    (B) Additional grantees.--The Secretary shall award 
                grants under this section, in accordance with 
                subsection (d), to family stabilization agencies that 
                are not current ACF grant or subgrant recipients by not 
                later than the date that is 130 days after the date of 
                enactment of this Act.
            (3) Dissemination of applications.--The Secretary shall--
                    (A) ensure the application for grants under this 
                Act is broadly disseminated, including through public 
                posting on the website of the Administration for 
                Children and Families and sharing with current ACF 
                grant or subgrant recipients; and
                    (B) make special dissemination efforts to rural 
                areas and among Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations.
    (b) Reservation.--The Secretary shall reserve not less than 1 
percent and not more than 1.5 percent of the amount appropriated under 
this Act to be used for administration, oversight, and technical 
assistance activities through the Administration for Children and 
Families.
    (c) Application.--A family stabilization agency that desires to 
receive a grant under this Act shall submit an application to the 
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied 
by such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. Such 
application shall include the following:
            (1) A description of the housing, education, health, mental 
        and behavioral health, employment, and other needs of youth, 
        children, and families experiencing homelessness, in the area 
        served by such agency, specifically including youth, children, 
        and families who are sharing the housing of other persons due 
        to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.
            (2) Available data on the extent of youth, child, and 
        family homelessness in the area served by such agency, 
        including data available from local educational agencies and 
        data on child poverty in the area.
            (3) A description of barriers youth, children, and families 
        experiencing homelessness face in accessing services, including 
        barriers related to dating violence, domestic violence, family 
        violence, poverty, lack of employment, lack of transportation, 
        lack of telephone and internet connectivity, educational needs, 
        and language accessibility.
            (4) A description of such agency's direct service expertise 
        and experience with youth, child, or family homelessness, 
        specifically including youth, children, and families who are 
        sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, 
        economic hardship, or a similar reason.
            (5) A description of the area served by such agency, 
        including whether the service area is urban, suburban, rural, 
        or Tribal. If the applicant claims to cover a Tribal service 
        area but is not an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, the 
        applicant shall provide evidence of having consulted with the 
        Indian Tribe or Tribal organization whose service area the 
        applicant claims to cover and provide proof that the Indian 
        Tribe or Tribal organization supports the applicant's 
        application.
            (6) A description of such agency's existing partnerships 
        with other agencies or organizations with experience serving 
        youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness.
            (7) A description of how funds received under the grant 
        will be used to provide emergency relief to youth, children, 
        and families experiencing homelessness, specifically 
        including--
                    (A) youth, children, and families who are sharing 
                the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, 
                economic hardship, or a similar reason; and
                    (B) youth, children, and families experiencing 
                homelessness who are not receiving services through the 
                Continuum of Care program under subpart C of title IV 
                of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
                U.S.C. 11381 et seq.) as of the date of the 
                application.
    (d) Award Basis.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants under 
        this section on the basis of--
                    (A) the need in the area served by each applicant;
                    (B) the quality of each application; and
                    (C) the distribution and priority requirements 
                under paragraphs (4) and (5).
            (2) Need.--In determining need under paragraph (1)(A), the 
        Secretary shall consider--
                    (A) the extent of children, youth, and families 
                experiencing homelessness in the area served by the 
                family stabilization agency, including data available 
                from local educational agencies and data on child 
                poverty;
                    (B) the extent to which the proposed uses of funds 
                will provide emergency relief to meet unmet needs of 
                youth, children, and families experiencing 
                homelessness, specifically including youth, children, 
                and families who are sharing the housing of other 
                persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a 
                similar reason;
                    (C) the extent to which the proposed uses of funds 
                will provide emergency relief to youth, children, and 
                families experiencing homelessness who are not 
                currently receiving services through the Continuum of 
                Care program under subpart C of title IV of the 
                McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 
                et seq.); and
                    (D) the extent to which the application addresses 
                the particular needs of pregnant women, pregnant and 
                parenting youth, Indian women, children under age 6, 
                children with disabilities, families experiencing 
                domestic violence, survivors of sexual assault or human 
                trafficking, or historically marginalized and 
                underserved communities of color.
            (3) Quality.--In determining quality under paragraph 
        (1)(B), the Secretary shall consider, for both current ACF 
        grant or subgrant recipients and not current ACF grant or 
        subgrant recipients, the following:
                    (A) The family stabilization agency's needs 
                assessment under subsection (c)(1) and the likelihood 
                that the program presented in the application will meet 
                such needs.
                    (B) The types, intensity, and coordination of the 
                emergency relief to be provided under the program to 
                youth, children, and families experiencing 
                homelessness.
                    (C) The extent of the family stabilization agency's 
                demonstrated expertise and experience providing direct 
                services to youth, children, and families experiencing 
                homelessness who are sharing the housing of other 
                persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a 
                similar reason.
                    (D) The robustness of such agency's plan to reach 
                youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness 
                who are sharing the housing of other persons due to 
                loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar 
                reason, including those who have lost a caregiver or 
                family member to COVID-19.
                    (E) The extent of such agency's demonstrated 
                expertise and experience in providing direct services 
                to youth, children, and families experiencing 
                homelessness specifically.
                    (F) The extent to which the program presented in 
                the application represents a multi-generational 
                approach to supporting youth, children, and families 
                experiencing homelessness.
                    (G) The extent to which the application reflects 
                coordination with local educational agencies and public 
                or private nonprofit agencies or organizations with 
                experience serving youth, children, and families 
                experiencing homelessness.
                    (H) The extent to which the family stabilization 
                agency is, has been, or has specific plans to partner 
                with, a recipient of a grant or subgrant administered 
                by the Administration for Children and Families.
            (4) Distribution of awards.--
                    (A) Distribution among types of communities.--In 
                awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary 
                shall ensure that funds are distributed according to 
                the following allocation percentages:
                            (i) Not less than 10 percent of the funds 
                        available for grants under this section shall 
                        be awarded to family stabilization agencies 
                        that are Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations 
                        serving youth, children, and families 
                        experiencing homelessness.
                            (ii) Not less than 36 percent of the funds 
                        available for grants under this Act shall be 
                        awarded to family stabilization agencies 
                        serving predominantly rural areas.
                            (iii) Not less than 30 percent of the funds 
                        available for grants under this Act shall be 
                        awarded to family stabilization agencies 
                        serving predominantly suburban areas.
                            (iv) Not more than 24 percent of the funds 
                        available for grants under this Act shall be 
                        awarded to family stabilization agencies 
                        serving predominantly urban areas.
                    (B) Distribution to experienced grantees.--In 
                awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary 
                shall ensure that--
                            (i) 80 percent of the funds available for 
                        grants under this section are distributed to 
                        family stabilization agencies--
                                    (I) that are current ACF grant or 
                                subgrant recipients; and
                                    (II) which may apply in partnership 
                                with local educational agencies, Tribal 
                                educational agencies, public housing 
                                agencies, tribally designated housing 
                                entities, community development 
                                financial institutions, State housing 
                                finance agencies, programs that provide 
                                shelter to youth experiencing 
                                homelessness who are pregnant or 
                                parenting, public health agencies, 
                                domestic violence, dating violence, and 
                                family violence organizations, 
                                institutions of higher education as 
                                defined in section 101 of the Higher 
                                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001), 
                                urban Indian organizations, or other 
                                community partners; and
                            (ii) 20 percent of the funds are 
                        distributed as grants to family stabilization 
                        agencies that are not current ACF grant or 
                        subgrant recipients.
                    (C) Special exception for grants to indian tribes 
                or tribal organizations.--
                            (i) In general.--In awarding grants to 
                        family stabilization agencies that are Indian 
                        Tribes or Tribal organizations pursuant to 
                        subparagraph (A)(i), the Secretary may waive 
                        any requirements of paragraph (2) or (3) or 
                        subsection (c).
                            (ii) Additional considerations.--In 
                        awarding grants pursuant to subparagraph 
                        (A)(i), the Secretary shall consider family 
                        stabilization agencies that are Indian Tribes 
                        and Tribal organizations that provide services 
                        that address child abuse and neglect.
            (5) Priority in awards.--In awarding grants under paragraph 
        (1), the Secretary shall give priority to applications that 
        will provide emergency relief to youth, children, and families 
        experiencing homelessness who are sharing the housing of other 
        persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar 
        reason, while ensuring the distribution of awards in accordance 
        with paragraph (4).
    (e) Authorized Activities.--Family stabilization agencies may use 
funds awarded under this section to provide emergency relief to youth, 
children, and families experiencing homelessness, including the 
following:
            (1) The provision of personnel necessary to provide 
        emergency relief and ensure services, resources, and assistance 
        reach youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness, 
        whether such personnel are employees of the family 
        stabilization agency or a nonprofit community partner.
            (2) The provision of personal protective equipment, hygiene 
        supplies, and other supplies determined to be necessary to 
        mitigate the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by 
        the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 
        Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a State, an 
        Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, or a locality for 
        personnel delivering services and for youth, children, and 
        families experiencing homelessness.
            (3) Payments to meet shelter and housing-related needs to 
        support safety and health, including payments for--
                    (A) security deposits;
                    (B) eviction prevention;
                    (C) utility connection fees and payments;
                    (D) outstanding rental, utility, motel, and other 
                bills as needed to enter housing or connect utilities;
                    (E) motel or hotel stays;
                    (F) housing placement;
                    (G) records expungement; and
                    (H) other assistance.
            (4) The provision of food and equipment needed to prepare 
        food.
            (5) The provision of medical and dental health services, 
        including preventive care.
            (6) The provision of mental and behavioral health services, 
        including preventive care.
            (7) The provision of clothing, access to laundry 
        facilities, clothes washers and dryers, detergent, and personal 
        hygiene supplies.
            (8) The provision of transportation, including payments for 
        gas, emergency vehicle repairs, required insurance, driver's 
        education and driver's license fees, public transportation, and 
        other transportation appropriate for Tribal and rural 
        locations.
            (9) The provision of support to meet communications and 
        connectivity needs, including internet connectivity, 
        outstanding internet or telephone bills as needed to connect 
        communications services, electronic and connected devices, 
        hotspots, portable chargers, pre-paid phone cards, calling 
        minutes and data plans, and costs to ship items and supplies.
            (10) The provision of support to meet educational and 
        employment needs, including academic support, distance learning 
        support, resources, and access, child care, social and 
        emotional supports, career and technical education, employment 
        training and placement, and similar supports.
            (11) The purchase and distribution of store cards, gift 
        cards, prepaid debit cards, and vouchers to allow youth, 
        children, and families experiencing homelessness to purchase 
        any items or services that constitute emergency relief.
            (12) The provision of mentorship and service coordination.
            (13) The provision of services and supports to meet the 
        particular needs of pregnant women, pregnant and parenting 
        youth, and children birth to age five, experiencing 
        homelessness.
            (14) The provision of services and supports to meet the 
        particular needs of unaccompanied youth experiencing 
        homelessness.
            (15) The provision of services and supports to meet the 
        particular needs of survivors of domestic violence, sexual 
        assault, or trafficking.
            (16) The provision of assistance in accessing advance 
        refunds payable under section 6428(f) of the Internal Revenue 
        Code of 1986 (commonly referred to as ``economic impact 
        payments''), unemployment compensation, and other benefits 
        provided by Federal, State and local governments.
            (17) The provision of services and supports to prevent and 
        respond to child abuse and neglect.
            (18) The provision of other extraordinary or emergency 
        assistance needed to promote the safety and self-sufficiency of 
        youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness.
            (19) Other purposes as determined by the Secretary.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$800,000,000.
                                 <all>