,,ii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bbhi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #ag1 #bjae ,mr4 ,kaine 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,collins1 ,mr4 ,schatz1 and ,mrs4 ,murray7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to modernize and improve the ,family ,unification ,program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,family ,unification1 ,preservation1 and ,modernization ,act of #bjae4 ,i ,housing assistance under the family unification program #aja4 ,family unification program ,section #h7x7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7x77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the subsection heading1 by inserting ,preservation and after ,family2 7#b7 by amending paragraph 7#b7 to read as follows3 7#b7 ,use of funds 7,a7 ,in general ,the amounts made available under this subsection shall be used to provide tenant-based or project-based assistance under section #h on behalf of-- 7i7 any family-- 7,i7 who is otherwise eligible for such assistance2 7,,ii7 who the public child welfare agency for the jurisdiction has certified is a family that is lacking adequate housing or is homeless2 and 7,,iii7 who has a child or children in out-of-home care or is at risk of having a child or children placed in out-of-home care2 and 7ii7 except as a provided in subparagraph 7,b71 for a period not to exceed #cf months1 otherwise eligible youths who have attained at least #ah years of age and not more than #bd years of age and who-- 7,i7 have left foster care at age #ad or older2 or 7,,ii7 will leave foster care within #ij days 7in accordance with a transition plan described in section #dge7e77;,h7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fge7e77;,h77 and is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless4 7,b7 ,exception ,if an applicant enrolls an eligible youth in a program authorized under section #bc1 the applicant may extend the #cf-month period described in subparagraph 7,a77ii7 in accordance with the length of the contract of participation for that eligible youth under section #bc7;c77#c74 7,c7 ,geographic area ,amounts made available under this subsection shall be used to provide assistance to families and eligible youths described in subparagraph 7,a7 in the geographic area served by an applicant4 7,d7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to preclude or limit the ability of an eligible youth described in subparagraph 7,a77ii7 who receives assistance under this subsection to receive assistance under section #dgg of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgg74 2 7#c7 by redesignating paragraph 7#d7 as paragraph 7#g72 and 7#d7 by striking paragraph 7#c7 and inserting the following3 7#c7 ,allocation 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall allocate amounts made available under this subsection through a national competition among applicants that-- 7i7 partner with public child welfare agencies2 and 7ii7 demonstrate a need for assistance based on the number of families and eligible youths described in paragraph 7#b77;,a7 in the geographical area served by the applicant4 7,b7 ,application ,an applicant desiring amounts made available under this subsection shall submit to the ,secretary an application containing-- 7i7 a memorandum of understanding between the applicant and the public child welfare agency with which the applicant is partnering 7hereinafter referred to as the partnering public child welfare agency71 which shall include-- 7,i7 the number of such families and eligible youths who1 as of the date of the application1 are receiving assistance under this subsection2 7,,ii7 the joint selection criteria and strategy established by the applicant and the partnering public child welfare agency for identifying and prioritizing recipients of assistance under this subsection2 7,,iii7 for an applicant who will serve eligible youths1 a description of how the partnering public child welfare agency will coordinate with the applicant to ensure that1 as part of the transition plan described in section #dge7e77;,h7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fge7e77;,h771 the eligible youth does not experience a lapse in housing and receives appropriate prehousing counseling to assist with housing stability2 7,,iv7 a description of how the partnering public child welfare agency and the applicant will assess outcomes associated with family preservation and reunification or assisting eligible youths transitioning to adulthood for recipients of assistance under this subsection1 which outcomes may include-- 7aa7 educational improvements for children2 7bb7 economic improvement for adults and youth2 7cc7 improved housing stability2 7dd7 increased access to areas of opportunity2 or 7ee7 reduction of case load at the partnering public child welfare agency2 7,v7 an identification of resources that will be available to recipients of assistance under this subsection to assist with housing searches1 including in areas of opportunity1 such as identification of landlords1 deposit or renters insurance1 help with back rent1 security deposits1 or other upfront costs associated with securing a dwelling unit2 7,,vi7 a description of the voluntary supportive services that will be provided to recipients of assistance under this subsection for a minimum of #a year following the date on which the lease for the applicable dwelling unit begins2 and 7,,vii7 if any of the supportive services described in subclause 7,,vi7 are being provided by a third-party1 community-based organization1 a signed letter of agreement between the applicant and the partnering public child welfare agency that-- 7aa7 contains a description of the supportive services to be provided2 and 7bb7 demonstrates the expertise of the third-party1 community-based organization providing those supportive services to recipients of assistance under this subsection2 7ii7 a description of how the applicant and the partnering public child welfare agency will coordinate with1 and evidence of consultation with1 the local ,continuum of ,care 7as established under section #dbb of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aachb77 or other local providers serving eligible youths or families to identify potential recipients for assistance under this subsection2 and 7iii7 any other criteria established by the ,secretary in consultation with the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services that are necessary to promote family unification and preservation1 reduce unnecessary foster care placement1 decrease youth homelessness1 and ensure effective administration of this subsection4 7,c7 ,consultation on application requirements ,the ,secretary may consult with the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to establish the timing of submissions and other application requirements1 including joint requirements1 for an application submitted under this subsection and the application required under section #dcg;,a of the ,social ,security ,act4 7#d7 ,coordination between public housing agencies and public child welfare agencies 7,a7 ,supportive services ,the ,secretary shall consult with the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to identify programs of agencies at the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services and the resources available through those agencies to provide supportive services to recipients of assistance under this subsection4 7,b7 ,guidance ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this paragraph1 the ,secretary and the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall provide guidance to public child welfare agencies and public housing agencies to improve system coordination and implementation of assistance provided under this subsection1 which shall include guidance on-- 7i7 identification of programs and resources available to provide supportive services for recipients of assistance under this subsection2 7ii7 sharing data and tracking outcomes2 7iii7 targeting and identifying potential recipients of assistance under this subsection1 including those at greatest risk of continued child welfare involvement or long-term housing instability1 and establishing a referral process2 7iv7 incorporating housing first strategies to assist families and eligible youths that are at greatest risk of long-term housing instability2 and 7v7 aligning systems goals to improve outcomes for recipients of assistance under this subsection1 which improved outcomes may include-- 7,i7 with respect to families receiving assistance under this subsection-- 7aa7 reunification of children in out-of-home placement with their family2 7bb7 reduced foster care length of stay2 or 7cc7 family preservation2 and 7,,ii7 with respect to eligible youths receiving assistance under this subsection-- 7aa7 enrollment in an educational or workforce training program2 7bb7 acquisition of a high school diploma or similar certification2 7cc7 reconnecting with family2 or 7dd7 acquisition of skills necessary to make a successful transition to adulthood and secure stable housing4 7,c7 ,report ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this paragraph1 and every #e years thereafter1 the ,secretary and the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall jointly submit to the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs and the ,committee on ,finance of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,financial ,services and the ,committee on ,ways and ,means of the ,house of ,representatives a report on assistance provided under this subsection1 which shall include-- 7i7 the number of families and eligible youths receiving assistance under this subsection2 7ii7 the types of services made available to those recipients2 7iii7 the number of families preserved or unified2 7iv7 the impact on the case load at partnering public child welfare agencies2 7v7 how the ,secretary and the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services will assess outcomes1 including outcomes associated with the intervention that may include educational improvements for children and economic improvement for adults and youth1 for recipients of assistance under this subsection2 7vi7 recommendations for policy changes to better serve families and eligible youths2 and 7vii7 best practices to improve collaboration between public housing agencies and public child welfare agencies in other communities4 7#e7 ,promoting self-sufficiency 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may develop an incentive payment program under which the ,secretary may provide incentive payments to public housing agencies that improve connections between recipients of assistance under this subsection with programs authorized under section #bc1 including-- 7i7 increasing enrollment of families and youth receiving assistance under this subsection2 7ii7 implementation of evidence-based practices for improving self-sufficiency2 and 7iii7 improved successful completion of self-sufficiency programs for families and eligible youths receiving assistance under this subsection4 7,b7 ,incentive payment form ,the ,secretary may provide incentive payments to public housing agencies under subparagraph 7,a7 as additional administrative fees or service coordinator funding4 7,c7 ,evaluation ,the ,secretary shall evaluate the effectiveness of an incentive payment program developed under subparagraph 7,a74 7#f7 ,technical assistance 7,a7 ,in general ,of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development in a given fiscal year to carry out this subsection1 the ,secretary shall use not more than #a1jjj1jjj to provide research and technical assistance to improve the capacity of public housing agencies to serve recipients of assistance under this subsection1 including by-- 7i7 promoting family stability2 7ii7 improving coordination with public child welfare agencies2 and 7iii7 increasing the availability of self-sufficiency activities4 7,b7 ,coordination ,to ensure that programmatic requirements and desired outcomes are being met1 the ,secretary shall coordinate with agencies at the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services to provide the research and technical assistance described in subparagraph 7,a74 4 ,,ii ,grants for supportive services for recipients of assistance under the family unification program #bja4 ,grant program for reunification and stability services for recipients of assistance under the family unification program ,title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fja et seq47 is amended by inserting after section #dcg the following new section3 #dcg;,a4 ,grants for reunification and stability services for recipients of assistance under the family unification program 7a7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this section is to authorize the ,secretary to make grants to eligible applicants to provide supportive services1 including case management services1 to recipients of housing assistance under section #h7x7 of ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7x774 7b7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible applicant ,the term eligible applicant means a community-based public or private nonprofit entity that provides support services for families and eligible youths described in section #h7x77#b77;,a7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg7;f77x77#b774 7#b7 ,eligible recipient ,the term eligible recipient means a family or eligible youth who is receiving assistance under section #h7x7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7x774 7c7 ,authorization of grant program 7#a7 ,in general ,from the amounts appropriated under subsection 7i71 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 shall make grants under this section for each of fiscal years #bjag through #bjbe to eligible applicants that submit applications meeting the requirements of this section4 7#b7 ,term of grants ,any grant under this section shall be for a term of up to #c years4 7#c7 ,use of grants by eligible applicants ,an eligible applicant that receives a grant under this section shall use the funds made available through the grant to provide services that promote family preservation and stabilization1 improve permanency outcomes1 or assist in a successful transition to adulthood for eligible recipients4 7d7 #ab-,month continuous eligibility for eligible recipients ,a family or eligible youth that is determined to be an eligible recipient shall continue to be an eligible recipient until the later of-- 7#a7 the end of the #ab-month period following the determination2 or 7#b7 the time that the family or individual ceases to be an eligible recipient4 7e7 ,application requirements 7#a7 ,in general ,in order to be eligible for a grant under this section1 an eligible applicant must submit to the ,secretary an application containing such information as the ,secretary shall require4 7#b7 ,consultation on application requirements ,the ,secretary may consult with the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development to establish the timing of submissions and other application requirements1 including joint requirements1 for an application submitted under this subsection and the application required under section #h7x77#c7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7x77#d774 7f7 ,federal share 7#a7 ,in general ,a grant awarded to an eligible applicant under this section to provide services shall be available to pay up to #ge percent of the costs of such services 7including case management services74 7#b7 ,non-,federal share ,the non-,federal share of cost of services provided under a grant awarded under this section may be in cash or in kind4 ,in determining the amount of the non-,federal share1 the ,secretary may attribute fair market value to goods1 services1 and facilities contributed from non-,federal sources4 7g7 ,considerations in awarding grants ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall take into consideration-- 7#a7 whether an eligible applicant has experience in providing services and case-management to high-need families or homeless youth2 7#b7 whether an eligible applicant has an established relationship with local housing providers1 including the relevant public housing authority2 7#c7 whether an eligible applicant utilizes evidence-based practices and trauma-informed care models to serve families1 and developmentally and age appropriate practices to serve youth2 7#d7 the ability of an eligible applicant to provide families and youth with supportive services1 including family preservation services and housing stability services2 and 7#e7 the ability of an eligible applicant1 through case management services1 to connect families and youth with providers of services such as-- 7,a7 early intervention and preventive services2 7,b7 child and family counseling2 7,c7 mental and behavioral health services2 7,d7 parenting skills training2 and 7,e7 employment and workforce training programs or educational programs4 7h7 ,eligibility for other funding under title ,,iv-,b ,nothing in this section shall be construed to limit an eligible applicant from applying for1 or being eligible for1 funding to provide services under another program under this part4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary #bj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjag through #bjba4 4