[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 74 (Thursday, April 29, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2360-S2361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Portman, and Ms. Baldwin):
  S. 1469. A bill to amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
to meet the needs of homeless children, youth, and families, and honor 
the assessments and priorities of local communities; to the Committee 
on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce bipartisan 
legislation that would better align the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development's (HUD) homeless assistance programs with other federal 
agencies' homelessness programs and provide greater flexibility to 
local communities to address youth homelessness.
  According to the latest estimate from HUD, there are over 580,466 
homeless individuals in the United States. This number includes an 
estimated 161,548 individuals in California, including children and 
youth.
  However, if you compare that with data from other federal agencies, a 
different story is told.
  For example, the Department of Education identified 1.3 million 
students experiencing homelessness during the 2018-2019 school year. 
This includes an estimated 271,528 public school students in 
California, almost double the total number of homeless individuals 
(including adults) identified by HUD in California.
  The disparity between the homeless numbers reported by HUD and the 
Department of Education are not just mere statistical differences; they 
have real consequences.
  For instance, only those children and families considered 
``homeless'' under HUD's definition are eligible for vital homeless 
assistance programs. Those children and families who do not meet HUD's 
definition will therefore continue to fall through the cracks.
  Our bill would allow HUD homeless assistance programs to serve 
extremely vulnerable children and families, specifically those staying 
in motels or in doubled-up situations because they simply have nowhere 
else to go.
  These children are especially susceptible to abuse and trafficking 
because they are often not served by a case manager, and therefore 
remain hidden from potential social service providers.
  Communities that receive Federal funding through HUD's competitive 
application process are also unable to prioritize or direct resources 
to help children and families who don't meet the current definition of 
``homelessness.''
  In addition to fixing the issue with competing federal definitions of 
homelessness, our bill would provide communities with new flexibility 
to use Federal funds the way they see fit to address local needs. Our 
bill requires HUD to assess the extent to which Continuums of Care use 
separate, specific, age-appropriate criteria for determining the safety 
and needs of children and unaccompanied youth and divert people to 
safe, stable, age-appropriate accommodations.
  Finally, our bill would improve transparency and give a better sense 
of the homeless crisis facing our country by requiring HUD to include 
data on all categories of homelessness in its Point in Time count and 
Annual Homeless Assessment Report.
  Mr. President, we must do more to meet the needs of homeless children 
and youth and stop the vicious cycle of poverty and chronic 
homelessness. As the ongoing coronavirus pandemic threatens to push 
more children, youth, and families into homelessness and continues to 
pose potentially lethal health risks, it is imperative that we do not 
impose more barriers for these children and families to access 
services. I believe this bill is a commonsense solution that will 
ensure that homeless families and children can receive the help they 
need.
  I would like to thank Senator Rob Portman for his support on this 
critical issue and for joining me in introducing this bill, and I 
implore our colleagues to support the ``Homeless Children and Youth 
Act.''

[[Page S2361]]

  Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.
                                 ______