Sponsors (3)
The bill would expand and clarify housing supports for youth with foster care experience—potentially improving stability and connecting more young people to HUD programs—but does so by shifting spending flexibility and adding administrative work, which could strain state budgets and produce uneven results if housing supply and state capacity are limited.
Foster youth (including those up to age 26) gain expanded access to supportive housing services and clearer pathways into HUD programs, improving housing stability for young people leaving care.
States can use Title IV‑E funds for move‑in costs and tenancy supports (security deposits, utility fees, rental insurance), reducing upfront housing barriers for low‑income and formerly fostered youth.
Federal guidance, best‑practice tools, and statutory recommendations improve coordination between child welfare agencies and public housing authorities, which can streamline placements and service delivery.
State budgets and child welfare funding could be strained: allowing broader Title IV‑E expenditures and averaging caps may reduce funds available for other child welfare services or create short‑term budget pressure.
The bill increases administrative and implementation burdens for federal, state, and local agencies (HHS, HUD, PHAs, child welfare agencies), creating new workloads and potential costs to roll out guidance and programs.
Benefits may be limited or uneven: guidance and reporting alone may not create more housing slots, and states with limited administrative or program capacity could fail to implement changes, leaving disparities across jurisdictions.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes States to use Title IV‑E funds for housing supportive services for foster‑experienced youth (including HUD Section 8(x) recipients), aligns HHS/HUD guidance, and requires a report.
Introduced February 9, 2026 by Darin Lahood · Last progress February 9, 2026
Directs State child welfare programs to improve housing access and supportive services for youth who experienced foster care by amending the Social Security Act authority for independent living services. It lets States use Title IV‑E funds to pay for a range of housing‑related supportive services for youth receiving HUD Section 8(x) assistance (and allows services up to age 26), changes how a 30% spending cap is calculated, requires HHS and HUD to issue joint guidance within one year, and requires a federal report within three years. All changes take effect one year after enactment.