[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2944 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






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. Barragan (for herself, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Bowman, Ms. Tlaib, 
Ms. Norton, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Garcia 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 
 provisions 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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Returning Home Act''.

SEC. 2. REENTRY RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM.

SEC.

    Section 2976 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10631) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``offender'';
            (2) in subsection (a), by striking ``offender'';
            (3) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``Offender'';
                    (B) by striking ``offender'';
                    (C) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``offenders'' and inserting 
                        ``individuals''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``or juvenile facilities'' 
                        and inserting ``juvenile facilities, or halfway 
                        houses'';
                    (D) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking ``prison, jail, or a 
                        juvenile facility'' and inserting ``a prison, 
                        jail, juvenile facility, or halfway house''; 
                        and
                            (ii) by striking ``offenders'' and 
                        inserting ``individuals'';
                    (E) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ``offenders'' 
                and inserting ``individuals who are incarcerated 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 victims'' 
                        and inserting ``by individuals who committed 
                        crimes to victims of such crimes''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``of offenders'' and 
                        inserting ``of such individuals from a prison, 
                        jail, juvenile facility, or halfway house''; 
                        and
                    (H) in paragraph (7), by striking ``dangerous 
                offenders'' and inserting ``individuals who are 
                incarcerated and dangerous'';
            (4) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``Offender''; and
                    (B) by striking ``offender'';
            (5) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``for a planning 
                grant under subsection (e) and an implementation 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 ``offender'';
                    (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
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) by striking ``and juvenile 
                                facilities'' and inserting ``juvenile 
                                facilities, and halfway houses''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``offenders'' and 
                                inserting ``individuals'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) in clause (ii), by striking 
                                ``offenders'' 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 incarcerated'';
                            (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'';
                            (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 
                                incarcerated and who have a history''; 
                                and
                                    (II) by striking ``offender'' in 
                                each place it occurs and inserting 
                                ``individual'';
            (8) in subsection (h)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``offenders'' and inserting 
                        ``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 
                        juvenile facility'' and inserting ``a prison, 
                        jail, juvenile facility, or halfway house''; 
                        and
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``released 
                offenders'' and inserting ``individuals released 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 community after 
                time spent in a prison, jail, juvenile 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 inserting ``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 ``offenders 
                released back'' and inserting ``individuals who were 
                released from a prison, jail, juvenile facility, or 
                halfway house'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking ``offenders'' and inserting 
                        ``individuals''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``prison, jails, or 
                        juvenile facilities'' and inserting ``prisons, 
                        jails, juvenile facilities, or halfway 
                        houses''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (5), by striking ``subsection 
                (f)'' and inserting ``subsections (f) and (o)'';
            (11) in subsection (k)(1), by striking ``subsection (f)'' 
        each place such term appears and inserting ``subsections (f) 
        and (o)'';
            (12) in subsection (m)--
                    (A) by striking ``Juvenile Offender'' each place 
                such term appears and inserting ``Juvenile'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``offender''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``offender'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (F)--
                                    (I) by striking ``prison, jail, or 
                                a juvenile facility'' and inserting ``a 
                                prison, jail, juvenile facility, or 
                                halfway house''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``prisons, jails, 
                                or juvenile facilities'' and inserting 
                                ``a prison, jail, juvenile facility, or 
                                halfway house''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (I), by striking 
                        ``offenders'' and inserting ``individuals who 
                        are incarcerated or who were incarcerated'';
            (13) in subsection (n)(2)(A), by striking ``offenders'' and 
        inserting ``individuals who received assistance from such 
        projects and who are incarcerated 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 subsection 
                        (o))''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``criminal offenders'' and inserting 
                        ``individuals who were incarcerated'';
            (15) in subsection (p)--
                    (A) by striking ``offenders reentering the 
                community'' in each place it occurs and inserting 
                ``individuals who are reentering the community after 
                incarceration''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``offenders'' and 
                inserting ``individuals'';
            (16) by redesignating subsections (o) and (p) as 
        subsections (p) and (q), respectively; and
            (17) by inserting after subsection (n) the following:
    ``(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 Housing Services Grant Program' to 
        provide grants as provided under this subsection.
            ``(2) Use of funds.--A grant under this subsection may be 
        used for--
                    ``(A) providing 24 months of rental assistance to 
                an individual who was incarcerated for purposes of 
                paying housing costs at a permanent residence;
                    ``(B) providing a stipend to a family member of an 
                individual who was incarcerated if the individual lives 
                in the family member's household; and
                    ``(C) providing supportive services to individuals 
                who are incarcerated or who were incarcerated, 
                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 victims 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;
                            ``(vi) case management and addressing 
                        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 incentives 
                        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 described under 
                paragraph (2)(C)(x).
            ``(4) Application requirements.--
                    ``(A) Application.--
                            ``(i) In general.--An eligible applicant 
                        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 purposes of 
                        this subparagraph, an eligible applicant 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 
                                        applicant or other entity 
                                        funded under the Continuum of 
                                        Care program under subtitle IV 
                                        of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
                                        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 
                                        et seq.);
                                            ``(bb) a protection and 
                                        advocacy system (as defined in 
                                        section 102 of the 
                                        Developmental Disabilities 
                                        Assistance and Bill of Rights 
                                        Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002));
                                            ``(cc) a client assistance 
                                        program (as described in 
                                        section 112 of the 
                                        Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 
                                        U.S.C. 732)); or
                                            ``(dd) a center for 
                                        independent living (as defined 
                                        in section 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 subsection 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 halfway 
                        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 
                        homelessness while under parole or supervised 
                        release from a prison, jail, juvenile facility, 
                        or halfway house; or
                            ``(iii) individuals experiencing 
                        homelessness or housing insecurity and who were 
                        discharged from a prison, jail, juvenile 
                        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 assistance 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 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 resources.
                    ``(B) Timing.--Such notifications shall be sent to 
                the individual within 15 days after denial.
            ``(6) Accessibility requirements.--A grantee under this 
        subsection shall ensure that information regarding the programs 
        and support services that the grantee offers and that are 
        funded with such grants is made available--
                    ``(A) in a manner that uses simple, plain language 
                and is reader-friendly; and
                    ``(B) in a form that is accessible to individuals 
                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 consultation 
                with the Secretary.
                    ``(C) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the 
                Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.''.
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