,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bdgi ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #bg1 #bjbe,mrs4 ,watson ,coleman 7for herself and ,ms4 ,tlaib7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,financial ,services ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg to provide housing assistance for youth and young adults who are unstably housed4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,homes for ,young ,adults ,act of #bjbe4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents of this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4,sec4 #b4 ,congressional findings4,sec4 #c4 ,definitions4,sec4 #d4 ,entitlement program for housing choice vouchers for youth4,sec4 #e4 ,promoting self-sufficiency4,sec4 #f4 ,enforcement of housing quality standards4,sec4 #g4 ,screening of applicants4,sec4 #h4 ,access to ,,hud programs for persons with limited ,english proficiency4,sec4 #i4 ,authorization of appropriations4 #b4 ,congressional findings ,the ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 each year an estimated #d4b million youth and young adults experience homelessness in the ,united ,states2 7#b7 homelessness amongst youth and young adults is disproportionately represented among ,black1 ,indigenous1 other youth of color1 and ,,lgbtq communities2 7#c7 while there are effective programs that assist homeless youth and young adults1 access to current resources are restricted due to a variety of systemic obstacles for homeless youth and young adults1 forcing this population into congregate shelters1 further perpetuating cycles of poverty and instability2 7#d7 adequately removing barriers to housing assistance can-- 7,a7 reduce crowding1 housing instability1 and homelessness2 7,b7 reduce poverty2 7,c7 improve outcomes for children2 7,d7 improve overall adult well-being1 reducing healthcare costs2 and 7,e7 contribute to the prevention of homelessness2 7#e7 the housing choice voucher 7,,hcv7 program only reaches about a quarter of eligible households due to limited funding1 yet extensive and inhibitive eligibility requirements presently make ,h,c,vs inaccessible to youth and young adults2 7#f7 the average wait time for youth and young adults from a coordinated entry assessment to being housed is between #acb and #adj days1 depending on the program2 and 7#g7 ,federal agencies1 particularly the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 the ,department of ,education1 and the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 should cooperate more fully to address the prevention and end of youth homelessness4 #c4 ,definitions ,for purposes of this ,act1 the following definitions shall apply3 7#a7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 7#b7 ,youth and young adults ,the term youths and young adults means individuals who are-- 7,a7 #ah years old or older but are not older than #cj years old2 or 7,b7 emancipated minors under applicable ,state law4 #d4 ,entitlement program for housing choice vouchers for youth 7a7 ,entitlement ,during fiscal year #bjbg and each fiscal year thereafter1 any household that consists of or includes any youth or young adult and that is otherwise eligible for tenant-based rental assistance under section #h7o7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7o77 shall be entitled to such rental assistance in accordance with this section during such period the family remains so eligible4 7b7 ,funding ,for fiscal year #bjbg and each fiscal year thereafter1 there is appropriated out of any money in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated the amount necessary-- 7#a7 to provide assistance under section #h7o7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg in accordance with the entitlement under subsection 7a7 of this section for each qualified household in the amount determined under subsection #h7o72 and 7#b7 to provide administrative fees under sections #h7q7 and #bc7;h77#a7 of such ,act1 as modified pursuant to this ,act1 in connection with each voucher for assistance provided pursuant to subsection 7a7 of this section4 7c7 ,administering agencies 7#a7 ,regional consortia ,the ,secretary shall encourage and provide for public housing agencies to form regional consortia to administer the program for rental assistance under this section with respect to geographical areas4 7#b7 ,,pha designation ,the ,secretary shall designate a public housing agency to administer assistance under this section in any area where no existing public housing agency has jurisdiction or where no agency with jurisdiction is adequately administering such assistance1 subject to public comment and after consultation with ,states1 public housing agencies1 local government1 ,indian tribes1 and tribally designated housing agencies4 7d7 ,support services 7#a7 ,requirements ,each public housing agency administering rental assistance provided pursuant to this section shall ensure that-- 7,a7 support services described in paragraph 7#b7 are made available to each youth and young adult provided such rental assistance by the administering agency1 which may be accessed by such youth or young adult at any time2 and 7,b7 each such youth and young adult is provided clear information on how to access such services and the purposes1 benefits1 and any limitations involved with accessing such services4 7#b7 ,included services ,the support services described in this paragraph are as follows3 7,a7 ,any services otherwise made available by the public housing agency to families provided rental assistance under section #h7o7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg4 7,b7 ,services as the ,secretary shall provide relating to housing navigation1 job-skill training1 assistance for pursuing higher education1 relevant legal and tenant protection services1 assistance in applying for other federally funded programs1 and safety planning and services appropriate to address potential vulnerabilities and safety concerns of youths and young adults1 including migrant youths and young adults4 7#c7 ,availability ,this subsection may not be construed to require any youth or young adult provided rental assistance under this section to access or use such services4 7e7 ,housing choice ,the ,secretary shall take such actions as necessary to ensure that the choice of a dwelling unit to be rented using assistance provided pursuant to this section shall be at the sole discretion of the assisted household and may be based upon such standards and factors as such household considers appropriate1 including-- 7#a7 geographical considerations1 including those affected by family or cultural factors2 7#b7 cost of living2 7#c7 access to grocery stores1 healthcare1 transportation1 or any need2 7#d7 preference for individual or shared housing2 and 7#e7 any other considerations of importance to the household4 7f7 ,mediation2 appeal ,the ,secretary shall require each public housing agency administering rental assistance made available pursuant to this section to make available to households assisted under this section-- 7#a7 an ombudsman to mediate any issues1 including claims of discrimination1 arising between the assisted household and the landlord of the dwelling unit rented by such household using such assistance2 and 7#b7 an appeal process for such assisted households to challenge any adverse decisions under the mediation process under paragraph 7#a74 7g7 ,immigration status ,eligibility for assistance made available pursuant to this section may not be limited based on citizenship1 immigration1 or migratory status in any manner that is inconsistent with eligibility requirements otherwise applicable to assistance under section #h7o7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7o77 for households who are not youths or young adults4 7h7 ,privacy ,the ,secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to protect the privacy and confidentiality of households assisted pursuant to this section4 7i7 ,studies and reports ,in conducting any study or issuing any report relating to carrying out this ,act1 including the studies and reports under subsections 7a77#d77;,d7 and 7b71 the ,secretary shall ensure the appointment or inclusion of homeless youth and young adults4 #e4 ,promoting self-sufficiency ,for fiscal year #bjbg and each fiscal year there after1 the ,secretary may-- 7#a7 increase the amount provided as administrative fees under section #bc7;h77#a7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcgu7h77#a77 for any public housing agency that meets such standards as the ,secretary shall establish to assist and encourage-- 7,a7 coordinating the use of assistance under section #h7o7 of such ,act1 including assistance pursuant to section #d of this ,act1 for participation of youths and young adults1 including youths and young adults who are single1 parenting1 or aging out of foster care or other youth-serving systems1 in the family self-sufficiency program under such section #bc2 and 7,b7 voluntary participation of landlords in such self-sufficiency program to house youths and young adults holding vouchers for assistance under section #h7o7 without discrimination based on credit history1 income1 criminal or legal history1 or migratory status2 and 7#b7 provide incentive awards under section #bc7;i7 for public housing agencies who willingly participate in coordinating the use of assistance under section #h7o7 for participation of youths and young adults in the family self-sufficiency program4 #f4 ,enforcement of housing quality standards ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall issue any regulations necessary to carry out subparagraph 7,g7 of section #h7o77#h7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7o77#h77;,g77 not later than the expiration of the #ab-month period beginning upon the date of the enactment of this ,act4 ,such regulations shall take effect not later than the expiration of the #ij-;day period beginning upon such issuance4 #g4 ,screening of applicants ,subparagraph 7,b7 of section #h7o77#f7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7o77#f77;,b77 is amended by inserting after the period at the end of the second sentence the following3 ,a public housing agency's elective screening shall be limited to criteria that are directly related to an applicant's ability to fulfill the obligations of an assisted lease and shall consider mitigating circumstances related to such applicant1 including discriminations against income1 credit history1 parental status1 marital status1 migratory status1 or age4 ,any applicant or participant determined to be ineligible for admission or continued participation to the program shall be notified of the basis for such determination and provide1 within a reasonable time after the determination1 an opportunity for an informal hearing on such determination at which mitigating circumstances1 including remedial conduct subsequent to the notice1 shall be considered44 #h4 ,access to ,,hud programs for persons with limited ,english proficiency 7a7 ,,hud responsibilities ,to allow the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development to better serve persons with limited proficiency in the ,english language by providing technical assistance to recipients of ,federal funds1 the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall take the following actions3 7#a7 ,task ,force ,within #ij days after the enactment of this ,act1 convene a task force comprised of appropriate industry groups1 recipients of funds from the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development 7in this section referred to as the ,department71 community-based organizations that serve individuals with limited ,english proficiency1 civil rights groups1 and stakeholders1 which shall identify a list of vital documents1 including ,department and certain property and other documents1 to be competently translated to improve access to federally conducted and federally assisted programs and activities for individuals with limited ,english proficiency4 ,the task force shall meet not less frequently than twice per year4 7#b7 ,translations ,within #f months after identification of documents pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 produce translations of the documents identified in all necessary languages and make such translations available as part of the library of forms available on the website of the ,department and as part of the clearinghouse developed pursuant to paragraph 7#d74 7#c7 ,plan ,develop and carry out a plan that includes providing resources of the ,department to assist recipients of the ,federal funds to improve access to programs and activities for individuals with limited ,english proficiency1 which plan shall include the elements described in paragraph 7#d74 7#d7 ,housing information resource center ,develop and maintain a housing information resource center to facilitate the provision of language services by providers of housing services to individuals with limited ,english proficiency4 ,information provided by such center shall be made available in printed form and through the internet4 ,the resources provided by the center shall include the following3 7,a7 ,translation of written materials ,the center may provide1 directly or through contract1 vital documents from competent translation services for providers of housing services4 7,b7 ,toll-free customer service telephone number ,the center shall provide a #bd-;hour toll-free interpretation service telephone line1 by which recipients of funds of the ,department and individuals with limited ,english proficiency may-- 7i7 obtain information about federally conducted or federally assisted housing programs of the ,department2 7ii7 obtain assistance with applying for or accessing such housing programs and understanding ,federal notices written in ,english2 and 7iii7 communicate with housing providers and learn how to access additional language services4 ,the toll-free telephone service provided pursuant to this subparagraph shall supplement resources in the community identified by the plan developed pursuant to paragraph 7#c74 7,c7 ,document clearinghouse ,the center shall collect and evaluate for accuracy or develop1 and make available1 templates and documents that are necessary for consumers1 relevant industry representatives1 and other stakeholders of the ,department1 to access1 make educated decisions1 and communicate effectively about their housing1 including-- 7i7 administrative and property documents2 7ii7 legally binding documents2 7iii7 consumer education and outreach materials2 7iv7 documents regarding rights and responsibilities of any party2 and 7v7 remedies available to consumers4 7,d7 ,study of language assistance programs ,the center shall conduct a study that evaluates best-practice models for all programs of the ,department that promote language assistance and strategies to improve language services for individuals with limited ,english proficiency4 ,not later than #ah months after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the center shall submit a report to the ,committee on ,financial ,services of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs of the ,senate1 which shall provide recommendations for implementation1 specific to programs of the ,department1 and information and templates that could be made available to all recipients of grants from the ,department4 7,e7 ,cultural and linguistic competence materials ,the center shall provide information relating to culturally and linguistically competent housing services for populations with limited ,english proficiency4 7b7 ,report ,not later than the expiration of the #f-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall submit a report regarding its compliance with the requirements under subsection 7a7 to the ,committee on ,financial ,services of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs of the ,senate4 #i4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year #bjbg and each fiscal year thereafter such sums as may be necessary to carry out this ,act4