Sponsors (2)
The bill expands eligibility and funds targeted homelessness prevention and services for marginalized communities and high‑need groups, improving access and capacity but likely increasing demand, administrative burdens, and federal spending while leaving some definitional and allocation choices to HUD.
People in indigenous, rural, and other marginalized communities experiencing homelessness will be explicitly eligible for McKinney‑Vento and related federal homelessness supports, increasing their access to services.
Children and households where youth are accompanied (not only 'unaccompanied' youth) will be covered under the relevant McKinney‑Vento subsection, expanding eligibility for school‑linked services and supports.
Nonprofit service providers that serve high‑need subpopulations (women, pregnant people, children, survivors of gender‑based violence, veterans, seniors) become eligible for federal grants to fund operations and direct services.
Expanding eligibility and services will likely increase demand for HUD‑funded programs without specifying new federal funding, risking strained local programs and service backlogs.
New application, reporting, and evaluation requirements increase administrative burden and costs for nonprofit providers and may disadvantage smaller, under‑resourced organizations competing for grants.
Delegating the definition of 'indigenous, rural, or marginalized communities' (and allowing the Secretary to designate other services) could create variability, delays, and uncertainty in who qualifies and what uses are allowable until HUD issues guidance or rules.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Broadens McKinney‑Vento to include indigenous, rural, and marginalized communities and authorizes HUD grants to nonprofits serving high‑need homeless populations for services and housing stabilization.
Introduced May 9, 2025 by Carlos A. Gimenez · Last progress May 9, 2025
Adds new language to the McKinney‑Vento homeless assistance law to recognize that some homeless people may live in indigenous, rural, or marginalized communities and removes the word “unaccompanied” from one definition. Establishes a new HUD grant program to make direct grants to private nonprofit organizations serving high‑need homeless populations — especially women, children (including pregnant people), survivors of gender‑based violence, seniors, chronically homeless people, and other special‑needs groups — to pay for operating costs, outpatient and supportive services, housing relocation and stabilization, and related services. Grant recipients must report on services and outcomes and the Secretary must provide technical assistance on trauma‑informed care, staff training, coordination, and applying for related funding. The measure does not specify dollar amounts or create an appropriation; it authorizes a program and grants with administrative requirements and reporting. The Secretary (under existing statute) has discretion over definitions, eligible applicants, application requirements, allowable activities, and technical assistance details.