[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4261 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4261
To award grants to eligible entities to support the prevention of youth
homelessness.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 26, 2026
Mrs. Murray (for herself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Kelly, and Mr. Sullivan)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award grants to eligible entities to support the prevention of youth
homelessness.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing Youth Homelessness
Demonstration Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Education and Workforce of the
House of Representatives.
(2) At-risk of homelessness.--The term ``at-risk of
homelessness'', with respect to an individual, means that the
individual is more likely than not to imminently experience
homelessness, which shall be determined by the Secretary with
respect to an individual based on--
(A) research and data at the time of the
determination; and
(B) the circumstances and demographics of the
individual.
(3) Continuum of care.--The term ``Continuum of Care'' has
the meaning given the term in section 578.3 of title 24, Code
of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulations.
(4) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual''
means--
(A) an individual who is between the ages of 12 and
26 and who is--
(i) at-risk of homelessness; or
(ii) at risk of entering, or transitioning
out of, a public system, foster care, the
juvenile justice system, or a residential
behavioral health system; or
(B) a child of an individual described in
subparagraph (A).
(5) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means
any of the following:
(A) A State agency, including a State educational
agency.
(B) A city, county, or other unit of general local
government.
(C) A local educational agency.
(D) A Continuum of Care.
(E) An Indian Tribe, Native Hawaiian organization,
or tribally designated housing entity.
(F) Any entity eligible for assistance under
section 312 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34
U.S.C. 11212).
(6) Homelessness.--The term ``homelessness'' means being--
(A) a homeless child or youth (as defined in
section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a)); or
(B) homeless (as defined in section 387 of the
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11279)).
(7) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(8) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational
agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801).
(9) Native hawaiian organization.--The term ``Native
Hawaiian organization'' has the meaning given the term in
section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517).
(10) Prevention of homelessness.--The terms ``prevention of
homelessness'' and ``prevent homelessness'' mean the act of,
through policies, practices, or interventions, reducing the
likelihood that a covered individual who is currently housed
will imminently experience homelessness.
(11) Rural area.--The term ``rural area'' has the meaning
given the term in section 601(b) of the Rural Electrification
Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(b)).
(12) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant
Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families of
the Department of Health and Human Services.
(13) State.--The term ``State'' means--
(A) any State of the United States;
(B) the District of Columbia; and
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(14) State educational agency.--The term ``State
educational agency'' has the meaning given the term in section
8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 7801).
SEC. 3. PREVENTING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Program Established; Consultation.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a grant
program, to be known as the ``Preventing Youth Homelessness
Demonstration Grant Program'' (referred to in this section as
the ``Program''), under which the Secretary shall make grants
to eligible entities to identify and implement strategies and
services for covered individuals in order to prevent
homelessness.
(2) Consultation with other federal agencies.--In
establishing the Program under paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall--
(A) consult with--
(i) the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development;
(ii) the Executive Director of the United
States Interagency Council on Homelessness;
(iii) the Secretary of Education;
(iv) the Attorney General;
(v) the Secretary of the Interior;
(vi) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(vii) the Secretary of Labor;
(viii) the Assistant Secretary for Mental
Health and Substance Use of the Department of
Health and Human Services; and
(ix) the head of any other agency that the
Secretary determines to be appropriate; and
(B) ensure that the Program complements and
enhances, and does not conflict with, other initiatives
and programs that serve covered individuals.
(b) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under the
Program shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require, including--
(1) a coordinated community prevention plan that--
(A) assesses the scale and scope of need for
activities for the prevention of homelessness for
covered individuals within the community that will be
served by the eligible entity with grant funds;
(B) outlines how the eligible entity will identify
and support covered individuals who are most at-risk of
homelessness in the community; and
(C) outlines how grant funds will be used, in
accordance with subsection (d), along with other
funding sources, to implement targeted strategies that
meet the needs of covered individuals; and
(2) a description of how the eligible entity plans--
(A) to establish cross-system partnerships with
Federal, State, or local agencies for the prevention of
homelessness for covered individuals and with other
entities or organizations that serve youth in the
community, such as--
(i) a local educational agency;
(ii) a public housing agency;
(iii) a Continuum of Care;
(iv) a housing provider;
(v) a State, Tribal, or local child welfare
agency;
(vi) a behavioral health and substance use
disorder provider;
(vii) a delinquency prevention program;
(viii) the juvenile court system;
(ix) an organization that serves pregnant
or parenting youth and their children; and
(x) any other agency or organization with
the capacity to identify risk factors for
homelessness for covered individuals; and
(B) deliver trauma-informed collaborative
interventions to address the risk factors described in
subparagraph (A)(x).
(c) Award of Grants.--
(1) Factors considered in award of grants.--In selecting
eligible entities to receive grants under the Program, the
Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall consider--
(A) an eligible entity's established partnerships
with local stakeholders for the prevention of
homelessness for covered individuals in order to
deliver collaborative interventions;
(B) the comparative geographic diversity of the
applicant in relation to other eligible entities
receiving grants under the Program;
(C) the extent to which an applicant's proposed use
of grant funds may duplicate or conflict with other
programs; and
(D) the opportunity to sustain and grow progress
achieved through prior Federal investments in youth
homelessness prevention, including progress achieved
through a grant awarded under the Runaway and Homeless
Youth Prevention Demonstration Program pursuant to
section 343 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34
U.S.C. 11243).
(2) Grants reserved.--Each fiscal year, the Secretary shall
award--
(A) not less than 5 percent of the total amount of
grant funding made available to carry out this section
to 1 or more Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian
organizations;
(B) not less than 10 percent of the total amount of
grant funding made available to carry out this section
to 1 or more eligible entities that serve a rural area;
and
(C) beginning with the third fiscal year of
administering the Program, not less than 5 percent of
the total amount of grant funding made available to
carry out this section to 1 or more eligible entities
that received a grant under section 4 in a previous
fiscal year.
(3) Award term; amount.--
(A) In general.--The period of a grant awarded
under the Program shall be 5 years.
(B) Amount.--The amount of a grant awarded under
the Program shall be not less than $3,000,000 and not
greater than $7,500,000.
(d) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
under the Program shall use the grant funds for the prevention
of homelessness for covered individuals, which shall be carried
out after consideration of recommendations of the Youth
Homelessness Prevention Council established in accordance with
paragraph (2), and shall include 1 or more of the following
activities:
(A) Primary prevention services to support covered
individuals in crises, such as case management,
physical and behavioral health services, employment
support and job training, conflict resolution,
educational programming, child care, supports for
pregnant or parenting youth and young adults and their
children, short-term housing, and direct financial
assistance or material resources to help with achieving
economic stability and overcoming housing instability.
(B) Improvement of cross-system collaboration and
collaboration among programs within the applicable
community to better identify and serve covered
individuals, such as the design of a comprehensive
well-being service system for covered individuals
before and during periods of crisis.
(2) Youth homelessness prevention council.--
(A) Composition.--An eligible entity that receives
a grant under the Program shall establish a Youth
Homelessness Prevention Council, which shall be
comprised--
(i) primarily of youth and young adults--
(I) who are experiencing
homelessness;
(II) who have experienced
homelessness; or
(III) who were prevented from
experiencing homelessness due to a
specific intervention; and
(ii) of representatives from child welfare
systems, local educational agencies, the youth
justice system, or behavioral health providers.
(B) Duties.--A Youth Homelessness Prevention
Council established under subparagraph (A) shall be
responsible for providing recommendations to the
eligible entity about grant activities.
(3) Time limitations.--With respect to a grant awarded to
an eligible entity under the Program, the eligible entity--
(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), shall
expend the grant amounts during the 3-year period
beginning on the date on which the eligible entity is
awarded the grant; and
(B) during the 2-year period beginning on the date
that is 3 years after the date on which the entity is
awarded the grant, shall continue to measure and
evaluate the activities supported with the grant.
(e) Federal Share.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Federal share of any project for which the Secretary awards a
grant under the Program shall not exceed 90 percent.
(2) Exception.--The Secretary may grant a waiver with
respect to the limitation on the Federal share of a project
described in paragraph (1) if--
(A) the applicant with respect to the project
petitions the Secretary for the waiver; and
(B) the Secretary determines that the petition
described in subparagraph (A) demonstrates financial
need.
(f) Reporting and Information Requirements.--
(1) Report.--Not later than 15 months after the date on
which an eligible entity is awarded a grant under the Program,
and annually thereafter for the duration of the grant period,
the eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary a report that
describes--
(A) how the eligible entity used grant funds during
the preceding 15-month or 1-year period, as applicable;
(B) the measurement and evaluation of the
activities carried out by the eligible entity with
grant funds during such period; and
(C) the progress of the eligible entity towards
fulfilling the objectives for which the grant was
awarded.
(2) Additional requirements.--The Secretary may establish--
(A) mechanisms to ensure appropriate use of, and
compliance with respect to all terms regarding, grant
funds awarded under the Program; and
(B) additional reporting and information
requirements for any recipient of a grant under the
Program.
(g) Administrative Costs.--An eligible entity receiving a grant
under the Program may use not greater than 10 percent of the amount of
the grant for administrative costs in carrying out the activities
described in subsection (d) and preparing and submitting a report under
subsection (f)(1) (including relevant evaluation activities).
(h) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available to an eligible
entity under the Program shall be used by the eligible entity to
supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, Tribal, and local
funds that would otherwise be used by the eligible entity to carry out
activities described in this section.
(i) Reservation of Funds.--The Secretary may reserve not more than
10 percent of amounts made available for a fiscal year to carry out
this section for the implementation and administration of the Program,
which shall include--
(1) providing technical support and assistance to eligible
entities, including ensuring consistency in data collection and
reporting;
(2) providing assistance to eligible entities to prepare
the applications of those eligible entities with respect to
grants awarded under the Program;
(3) developing the report required under section 5; and
(4) conducting outreach to eligible entities regarding
opportunities to apply for such a grant.
(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section--
(1) $85,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030;
and
(2) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2031 and
each fiscal year thereafter.
SEC. 4. PREVENTING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS CAPACITY GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Program Established; Consultation.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a grant
program, to be known as the ``Preventing Youth Homelessness
Capacity Grant Program'' (referred to in this section as the
``Capacity Grant Program'') under which the Secretary shall
make planning grants to eligible entities to better assess the
causes of and extent of homelessness of covered individuals
within the communities served by such eligible entities to
enable such eligible entities to apply for a grant under
section 3.
(2) Consultation with other federal agencies.--In
establishing the Capacity Grant Program under paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall--
(A) consult with--
(i) the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development;
(ii) the Executive Director of the United
States Interagency Council on Homelessness;
(iii) the Secretary of Education;
(iv) the Attorney General;
(v) the Secretary of the Interior;
(vi) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(vii) the Secretary of Labor;
(viii) the Assistant Secretary for Mental
Health and Substance Use at the Department of
Health and Human Services; and
(ix) the head of any other agency that the
Secretary determines to be appropriate; and
(B) ensure that the Capacity Grant Program
complements and enhances, and does not conflict with,
other initiatives and programs for the prevention of
homelessness for covered individuals.
(b) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under the
Capacity Grant Program shall submit to the Secretary an application at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require, including a coordinated community capacity-
building plan that details--
(1) how the eligible entity plans to identify and solicit
potential members of a Youth Homelessness Prevention Council as
described in subsection (d)(1);
(2) the other entities the eligible entity plans to
collaborate with to carry out the grant, which may include--
(A) a government agency for the prevention of
homelessness for covered individuals and other entities
or organizations that serve youth in the community,
such as local educational agencies;
(B) a Continuum of Care;
(C) a housing provider;
(D) a State, Tribal, or local child welfare agency;
(E) a behavioral health and substance use disorder
provider;
(F) a delinquency prevention program;
(G) the juvenile court system;
(H) an organization that serves pregnant or
parenting youth and their children; and
(I) any other agency or organization with the
capacity to identify risk factors for youth
homelessness;
(3) existing gaps within the eligible entity's capacity to
measure the drivers of and extent of homelessness for covered
individuals in the communities served by the eligible entity;
(4) the tools, systems, and procedures the eligible entity
will develop and use to identify and measure the drivers of and
extent of homelessness for covered individuals in the
communities served by the eligible entity; and
(5) additional funding sources that the eligible entity
plans to use to support capacity building and work to prevent
homelessness for covered individuals after the end of the grant
period.
(c) Award of Grants; Use of Funds.--
(1) Factors considered in award of grants.--In selecting
eligible entities to receive grants under the Capacity Grant
Program, the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable,
shall consider--
(A) an eligible entity's established partnerships
with local stakeholders for the prevention of
homelessness for covered individuals, including
entities described in subsection (b)(2)(A);
(B) the comparative geographic diversity of the
applicant in relation to other eligible entities
receiving grants under the Capacity Grant Program;
(C) the extent to which an applicant's proposed use
of grant funds may duplicate or conflict with other
programs; and
(D) the extent to which an applicant will be able
to sustain local homelessness prevention activities for
covered individuals after the grant performance period.
(2) Grants reserved.--Each fiscal year, the Secretary shall
award--
(A) not less than 5 percent of the total grant
funding made available to carry out this section to 1
or more Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations;
and
(B) not less than 5 percent of the total grant
funding made available to carry out this section to 1
or more eligible entities that serve a rural area.
(3) Award term; amount.--
(A) In general.--The period of a grant awarded
under the Capacity Grant Program shall be 18 months.
(B) Amount.--The amount of a grant awarded under
the Capacity Grant Program shall be not less than
$500,000 and not greater than $1,500,000.
(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under
the Capacity Grant Program shall use the grant funds--
(1) to identify and solicit potential members to serve on a
Youth Homelessness Prevention Council established under section
3(d)(2);
(2) to identify and measure the drivers of and extent of
homelessness for covered individuals in the communities served
by the eligible entity; and
(3) to develop and use tools, systems, and procedures for
such identification and measurement.
(e) Federal Share.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Federal share of any project for which the Secretary awards a
grant under the Capacity Grant Program shall not exceed 90
percent.
(2) Exception.--The Secretary may grant a waiver with
respect to the limitation on the Federal share of a project
described in paragraph (1) if--
(A) the applicant with respect to the project
petitions the Secretary for the waiver; and
(B) the Secretary determines that the petition
described in subparagraph (A) demonstrates financial
need.
(f) Reporting and Information Requirements.--
(1) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date on
which an eligible entity is awarded a grant under the Capacity
Grant Program, the eligible entity shall submit to the
Secretary a report that describes--
(A) how the eligible entity used grant funds during
the preceding 18-month period; and
(B) the progress of the eligible entity towards
fulfilling the objectives for which the grant was
awarded.
(2) Additional requirements.--The Secretary--
(A) shall establish mechanisms to ensure
appropriate use of, and compliance with respect to all
terms regarding, grant funds awarded under the Capacity
Grant Program; and
(B) may establish additional reporting and
information requirements for any recipient of a grant
under the Capacity Grant Program.
(g) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available to an eligible
entity under the Capacity Grant Program shall be used by the eligible
entity to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, Tribal,
and local funds that would otherwise be used by the eligible entity to
carry out activities described in this section.
(h) Reservation of Funds.--The Secretary may reserve not more than
10 percent of amounts made available for a fiscal year to carry out
this section for the implementation and administration of the Capacity
Grant Program, which shall include--
(1) providing technical support and assistance to eligible
entities, including ensuring consistency in data collection and
reporting;
(2) providing assistance to eligible entities to prepare
the applications of those eligible entities with respect to
grants awarded under the Capacity Grant Program; and
(3) conducting outreach to eligible entities regarding
opportunities to apply for such a grant.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section--
(1) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030;
and
(2) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2031 and
each fiscal year thereafter.
SEC. 5. REPORTING AND EVALUATION.
(a) Reporting Requirements.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date on
which the Secretary begins awarding grants under this Act, and
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a report that documents, for
the 1-year or 2-year period, as applicable, preceding the
report--
(A) evaluations of the activities carried out under
this Act, including outcomes of grant recipients and
the effectiveness of efforts for the prevention of
homelessness for covered individuals; and
(B) a list of each grant awarded under this Act,
which shall include--
(i) the amount of each such grant;
(ii) the recipient of each such grant; and
(iii) the purpose for which each such grant
was awarded.
(2) Public availability.--The Secretary shall make each
report submitted under paragraph (1) publicly available in an
online format that--
(A) facilitates access and ease of use;
(B) is searchable; and
(C) is accessible--
(i) to individuals with disabilities; and
(ii) in languages other than English.
(b) Authority To Contract and Enter Into Other Arrangements.--The
Secretary may award grants and enter into contracts, cooperative
agreements, and other arrangements with Federal agencies, public and
private organizations, and other entities with expertise that the
Secretary determines appropriate in order--
(1) to evaluate the impact and efficacy of activities
supported by grants awarded under this Act;
(2) to develop data methods and systems to support and
monitor the prevention of homelessness for covered individuals;
and
(3) to develop, catalog, disseminate, and promote the
exchange of best practices, both with respect to and
independent of grants awarded under this Act, in order to
prevent homelessness for covered individuals.
(c) Consultation and Public Engagement.--
(1) Required consultation.--In carrying out subsection (a),
and to further the objectives described in paragraphs (1) and
(2) of subsection (b), the Secretary shall conduct ongoing
collaboration and consultation with--
(A) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
(B) the Executive Director of the United States
Interagency Council on Homelessness;
(C) the Secretary of Education;
(D) the Attorney General;
(E) the Secretary of the Interior;
(F) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(G) national, State, Tribal, and local
organizations that work to prevent homelessness for
covered individuals;
(H) researchers, academics, and philanthropic
organizations with established expertise in preventing
homelessness for covered individuals;
(I) other agencies, organizations, entities, and
community stakeholders, as determined appropriate by
the Secretary; and
(J) youth and young adults--
(i) who are experiencing homelessness;
(ii) who have experienced homelessness; or
(iii) who were prevented from experiencing
homelessness due to a specific intervention.
(2) Additional consultation.--In carrying out subsection
(a), and to further the objectives described in paragraphs (1)
and (2) of subsection (b), the Secretary may consult and
collaborate with parents or caregivers that are caring for or
have cared for covered individuals.
(d) Technical Support and Assistance.--To the maximum extent
practicable, and to ensure consistency in data reporting and to meet
the objectives of this section, the Secretary shall provide--
(1) technical support and assistance to grant recipients;
(2) assistance to eligible entities in preparing
applications for grants awarded under this Act; and
(3) other resources for grant recipients.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section,
which shall remain available until expended.
SEC. 6. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) Nondiscrimination.--
(1) In general.--No individual in the United States may, on
the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion,
national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age,
or disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any
program or activity that is funded in whole or in part with
funds made available to carry out this Act.
(2) Enforcement.--The Secretary shall effectuate paragraph
(1) with respect to any program or activity described in that
paragraph by issuing regulations and taking actions consistent
with section 602 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C.
2000d-1).
(3) Judicial review.--Judicial review of an action taken by
the Secretary under paragraph (2) shall be available to the
extent provided in section 603 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
(42 U.S.C. 2000d-2).
(b) Audit and Oversight.--Beginning with the first fiscal year for
which amounts are made available to carry out an activity authorized
under this Act, and for each of the 4 fiscal years thereafter, there is
authorized to be appropriated to the Office of Inspector General for
the Department of Health and Human Services $1,000,000 for audits and
oversight of funds made available to carry out this Act, which shall
remain available until expended.
<all>
Preventing Youth Homelessness Demonstration Act of 2026
#4261 | S Congress #119
Subjects:
Last Action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (3/26/2026)
Bill Text Source: Congress.gov
Summary and Impacts
Original Text