[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2613 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2613

  To provide a path to end homelessness in the United States, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 16, 2019

Mr. Schumer (for Ms. Harris (for herself, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. Gillibrand, 
    Mrs. Murray, Mr. Blumenthal, and Ms. Klobuchar)) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                  Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To provide a path to end homelessness in the United States, 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 ``Ending Homelessness Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) although the United States has experienced a reduction 
        in veteran homelessness after a surge of new Federal funding 
        targeted to homeless veterans starting in fiscal year 2008, 
        major progress towards the national goals for ending 
        homelessness in the United States has virtually stalled in the 
        absence of increased funding;
            (2) according to the point-in-time count conducted by the 
        Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2016, 549,928 
        people were experiencing homelessness in the United States on 
        any given night during that year, including more than 120,000 
        children;
            (3) homelessness in many communities has reached crisis 
        proportions, and some cities have declared that homelessness 
        has reached a state of emergency; and
            (4) the Federal Government must renew its commitment to the 
        national goals to end homelessness.

SEC. 3. DEFINITION.

    In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Housing 
and Urban Development.

SEC. 4. EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDING.

    Title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
11360 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 491 (42 U.S.C. 11408) as 
        section 441;
            (2) by redesignating section 592 (42 U.S.C. 11408a) as 
        section 442; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:

             ``Subtitle E--5-Year Path To End Homelessness

``SEC. 451. EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDING.

    ``(a) Direct Appropriations.--There is appropriated to the 
Secretary, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
$1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024, to remain 
available until expended, for emergency relief grants under this 
section to address the unmet needs of homeless populations in 
jurisdictions with the highest need.
    ``(b) Formula Grants.--
            ``(1) Allocation.--Amounts appropriated under subsection 
        (a) for a fiscal year shall be allocated among collaborative 
        applicants that comply with section 402, in accordance with the 
        funding formula established under paragraph (2) of this 
        subsection.
            ``(2) Formula.--The Secretary shall, in consultation with 
        the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, 
        establish a formula for allocating grant amounts under this 
        section to address the unmet needs of homeless populations in 
        jurisdictions with the highest need, using the best currently 
        available data that targets need based on key structural 
        determinants of homelessness in the geographic area represented 
        by a collaborative applicant, which shall include data 
        providing accurate counts of--
                    ``(A) the poverty rate;
                    ``(B) shortages of affordable housing for low-
                income families, very low-income families, and 
                extremely low-income families, as those terms are 
                defined in section 3(b)(2) of the United States Housing 
                Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2));
                    ``(C) the number of overcrowded housing units;
                    ``(D) the number of--
                            ``(i) unsheltered homeless individuals; and
                            ``(ii) chronically homeless individuals; 
                        and
                    ``(E) any other factors that the Secretary 
                considers appropriate.
            ``(3) Grants.--For each fiscal year for which amounts are 
        appropriated under subsection (a) or otherwise made available 
        under this section, and for each collaborative applicant for 
        which an amount is allocated using the formula established 
        under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary shall 
        make a grant to the collaborative applicant in the amount 
        allocated.
            ``(4) Timing.--
                    ``(A) Formula to be devised swiftly.--Not later 
                than 60 days after the date of enactment of this 
                section, the Secretary shall establish the funding 
                formula required under paragraph (2).
                    ``(B) Initial distribution.--Not later than 30 days 
                after the date on which the Secretary establishes the 
                formula required under paragraph (2), the Secretary 
                shall distribute amounts appropriated under subsection 
                (a) or otherwise made available under this section for 
                fiscal year 2020.
    ``(c) Use of Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) through (4), a 
        collaborative applicant that receives a grant under this 
        section may use the grant amounts only for eligible activities 
        under section 415, 423, or 441(b).
            ``(2) Permanent supportive housing requirement.--
                    ``(A) Requirement.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), a collaborative applicant that 
                receives a grant under this section shall use not less 
                than 75 percent of the grant amount for permanent 
                supportive housing, including capital costs, rental 
                subsidies, and services.
                    ``(B) Exemption.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall 
                        exempt a collaborative applicant from the 
                        requirement under subparagraph (A) if the 
                        applicant demonstrates, in accordance with any 
                        standards and procedures established by the 
                        Secretary, that--
                                    ``(I) chronic homelessness has been 
                                functionally eliminated in the 
                                geographic area served by the 
                                applicant; or
                                    ``(II) the permanent supportive 
                                housing under development in the 
                                geographic area served by the applicant 
                                will be sufficient to functionally 
                                eliminate chronic homelessness once the 
                                permanent supportive housing is 
                                available for occupancy.
                            ``(ii) Timing.--Not later than 60 days 
                        after the Secretary receives a request for an 
                        exemption under clause (i), the Secretary shall 
                        make a determination regarding the request.
            ``(3) Limitation on use for administrative expenses.--Not 
        more than 5 percent of the total amount of a grant provided 
        under this section to a collaborative applicant may be used for 
        costs of administration.
            ``(4) Housing first requirement.--The Secretary shall 
        ensure that a collaborative applicant that receives a grant 
        under this section is implementing, to the extent possible, and 
        will use the grant amounts in accordance with, a Housing First 
        model for assistance for homeless individuals.
    ``(d) Renewal Funding.--Expiring contracts for leasing, rental 
assistance, or permanent housing shall be treated, for purposes of 
section 429, as expiring contracts referred to in subsection (a) of 
that section.
    ``(e) Reporting to Congress.--
            ``(1) Initial report.--Not later than September 1, 2020, 
        the Secretary and the United States Interagency Council on 
        Homelessness shall submit a report that describes the design 
        and implementation of the grant program under this section, 
        including the formula required under subsection (b)(2), to--
                    ``(A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
                Affairs of the Senate;
                    ``(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
                Senate;
                    ``(C) the Committee on Financial Services of the 
                House of Representatives; and
                    ``(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
                of Representatives.
            ``(2) Semiannual status reports.--
                    ``(A) Reports to congress.--The Secretary and the 
                United States Interagency Council on Homelessness shall 
                submit a semiannual report to the committees specified 
                in paragraph (1) that describes the operation of the 
                grant program under this section during the preceding 6 
                months, including--
                            ``(i) identification of the grants made; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) a description of the activities 
                        funded with grant amounts.
                    ``(B) Collection of information by secretary.--The 
                Secretary shall require a collaborative applicant that 
                receives a grant under this section to submit any 
                information to the Secretary that is necessary for the 
                Secretary to comply with the reporting requirement 
                under subparagraph (A).

``SEC. 452. SPECIAL PURPOSE VOUCHERS.

    ``(a) Direct Appropriation.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is appropriated to the Secretary, 
        out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
        $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024, to 
        remain available until expended, which shall be used in 
        accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).
            ``(2) Rental assistance.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (3), the Secretary shall use amounts appropriated under 
        paragraph (1) for incremental rental voucher assistance under 
        section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
        U.S.C. 1437f(o)) for individuals and families who are homeless 
        (as defined in section 103 of this Act), which shall be in 
        addition to incremental rental voucher assistance provided 
        under that section pursuant to renewal of expiring contracts 
        for such assistance.
            ``(3) Administrative fees.--
                    ``(A) Cap.--The Secretary may use not more than 10 
                percent of amounts appropriated for a fiscal year under 
                paragraph (1) for administrative fees under section 
                8(q) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
                U.S.C. 1437f(q)).
                    ``(B) Policies and procedures.--The Secretary shall 
                establish policies and procedures to provide the fees 
                described in subparagraph (A) to the extent necessary 
                to assist homeless individuals and families on whose 
                behalf rental assistance is provided to find and 
                maintain suitable housing.
    ``(b) Allocation.--The Secretary shall make assistance provided 
under this section available to public housing agencies based on--
            ``(1) geographical need for the assistance by homeless 
        individuals and families, as identified by the Secretary;
            ``(2) the administrative performance of public housing 
        agencies; and
            ``(3) other factors as specified by the Secretary.
    ``(c) Availability.--Assistance made available under this section 
shall continue to remain available only for homeless individuals and 
families upon turnover.
    ``(d) Renewal Funding.--Renewal of expiring contracts for rental 
assistance provided under subsection (a) and for administrative fees 
under that subsection shall, to the extent provided in appropriation 
Acts, be funded under the section 8 tenant-based rental assistance 
account.
    ``(e) Waiver Authority.--
            ``(1) In general.--If the Secretary finds that a waiver or 
        alternative requirement is necessary to ensure that homeless 
        individuals and families can obtain housing using rental 
        assistance made available under this section, the Secretary may 
        waive, or specify alternative requirements for, any provision 
        of any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers in 
        connection with the use of funds made available under this 
        section (except for requirements related to fair housing, 
        nondiscrimination, labor standards, and the environment) that 
        relates to screening of applicants for assistance, admission of 
        applicants, and selection of tenants.
            ``(2) Duty of public housing agencies.--The Secretary shall 
        require public housing agencies receiving rental assistance 
        funding made available under this section to take all 
        reasonable actions to help assisted individuals and families 
        avoid subsequent homelessness.

``SEC. 453. OUTREACH FUNDING.

    ``(a) Direct Appropriation.--There is appropriated to the 
Secretary, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2024, to remain 
available until expended, for grants under this section to provide 
outreach and coordinate services for individuals and families who are 
homeless or formerly homeless.
    ``(b) Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make grants under 
        this section on a competitive basis only to collaborative 
        applicants that comply with section 402.
            ``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to collaborative applicants that 
        submit plans to make innovative and effective use of staff 
        funded with grant amounts in accordance with subsection (c).
    ``(c) Use of Grants.--A collaborative applicant that receives a 
grant under this section may use the grant amounts only for providing 
case managers, social workers, or other staff who conduct outreach and 
coordinate services for individuals and families who are homeless or 
formerly homeless.
    ``(d) Timing.--
            ``(1) Criteria to be established swiftly.--Not later than 
        60 days after the date of enactment of this section, the 
        Secretary shall establish the criteria for awarding grants 
        under this section, including the priority system required 
        under subsection (b).
            ``(2) Initial distribution.--Not later than 30 days after 
        the date on which the Secretary establishes criteria under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall distribute amounts 
        appropriated under subsection (a) or otherwise made available 
        under this section for fiscal year 2020.''.

SEC. 5. HOUSING TRUST FUND.

    (a) Funding.--
            (1) Annual funding.--There is appropriated, out of any 
        money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
        $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal year 
        thereafter, to remain available until expended, which shall be 
        credited to the Housing Trust Fund established under 1338 of 
        the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness 
        Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4568) for use under that section.
            (2) Rental assistance.--There is appropriated, out of any 
        money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $50,000,000 
        for fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal year thereafter, to remain 
        available until expended, for incremental project-based voucher 
        assistance or project-based rental assistance, to be allocated 
        to States in accordance with the formula established under 
        section 1338 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial 
        Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4568), to be used 
        solely in conjunction with grant funds awarded under that 
        section.
            (3) Priority for housing the homeless.--
                    (A) Priority.--During the first 5 fiscal years for 
                which amounts are made available under this subsection, 
                the Secretary shall ensure that priority for occupancy 
                in dwelling units described in subparagraph (B) that 
                become available for occupancy is given to individuals 
                and families who are homeless (as defined in section 
                103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
                U.S.C. 11302)).
                    (B) Covered dwelling units.--A dwelling unit 
                described in this subparagraph is any dwelling unit 
                that--
                            (i) is located in housing that has received 
                        assistance using amounts that were credited to 
                        the Housing Trust Fund under paragraph (1); or
                            (ii) is receiving assistance using amounts 
                        made available under paragraph (2).
    (b) Tenant Rent Contribution.--
            (1) Limitation.--Section 1338(c)(7)(A) of the Federal 
        Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 
        (12 U.S.C. 4568(c)(7)(A)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``except that not less than 75 
                percent'' and inserting the following: ``except that--
                            ``(i) not less than 75 percent'';
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(ii) notwithstanding any other provision 
                        of law, all rental housing dwelling units shall 
                        be subject to legally binding commitments that 
                        ensure that the contribution toward rent by a 
                        family residing in the dwelling unit shall not 
                        exceed 30 percent of the adjusted income (as 
                        that term is defined in section 3(b) of the 
                        United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
                        1437a(b))) of the family; and''.
            (2) Regulations.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate 
        regulations to implement clause (ii) of section 1338(c)(7)(A) 
        of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and 
        Soundness Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4568(c)(7)(A)), as added by 
        paragraph (1)(B).

SEC. 6. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS TO HELP STATES AND LOCAL 
              ORGANIZATIONS ALIGN HEALTH AND HOUSING SYSTEMS.

    (a) Funding.--There is appropriated to the Secretary, out of any 
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $20,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2020, to remain available until expended, for providing 
technical assistance under section 405 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11361b) in connection with expanding the 
Healthcare and Housing (H2) Systems Integration Initiative of the 
Secretary, in collaboration with the United States Interagency Council 
on Homelessness and the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
    (b) Use.--In expanding the Initiative described in subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall seek to--
            (1) assist States and localities in integrating and 
        aligning policies and funding between Medicaid programs, 
        behavioral health providers, and housing providers to create 
        supportive housing opportunities; and
            (2) engage State Medicaid program directors, Governors, 
        State housing and homelessness agencies, any other relevant 
        State offices, and any relevant local government entities, to 
        assist States in increasing use of their Medicaid programs to 
        finance supportive services for homeless individuals.
    (c) Priority.--In using amounts made available under this section, 
the Secretary shall give priority to use for States and localities 
having the highest numbers of chronically homeless individuals.

SEC. 7. PERMANENT AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR MCKINNEY-VENTO 
              HOMELESS ASSISTANCE ACT GRANTS.

    Section 408 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 11364) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 408. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title 
such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year.''.

SEC. 8. PERMANENT EXTENSION OF UNITED STATES INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON 
              HOMELESSNESS.

    Title II of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
11311 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by striking section 209 (42 U.S.C. 11319); and
            (2) by redesignating section 210 (42 U.S.C. 11320) as 
        section 209.

SEC. 9. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION.

    (a) Statutory PAYGO.--This Act is designated as an emergency 
requirement pursuant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act 
of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).
    (b) Senate Designation.--In the Senate, this Act is designated as 
an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 
(115th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal 
year 2018.
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