This bill amends the Iowa Code to enhance the participation of unhoused persons in the state child care assistance (CCA) program. It defines "unhoused" as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, providing specific examples of situations that qualify as unhoused. The bill also modifies eligibility criteria for CCA, allowing for an extension of the current 30-day limit for assistance while seeking employment if the child is under six years old and the parent, guardian, or custodian is unhoused. Additionally, unhoused children are exempt from waiting list requirements for the CCA program.

Furthermore, the bill mandates the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement an expedited process for approving unhoused individuals for CCA benefits. This includes granting extensions for those seeking employment, thereby ensuring that unhoused families have better access to child care assistance during challenging times. Overall, the bill aims to provide critical support to unhoused families, particularly those with young children, by streamlining access to necessary resources.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 237A.1, 237A.13