[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7432 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7432
To amend section 477 of the Social Security Act to improve coordination
with Federal housing assistance programs for youth who have experienced
foster care.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 9, 2026
Mr. LaHood (for himself and Ms. Moore of Wisconsin) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means,
and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend section 477 of the Social Security Act to improve coordination
with Federal housing assistance programs for youth who have experienced
foster care.
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 ``Foster Youth Housing Opportunity
Act''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVING ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR FOSTER YOUTH.
Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) by striking ``and preventive'' and inserting
``preventive''; and
(B) by inserting ``, and access to housing for
youth age 18 or older'' before the semicolon;
(2) in subsection (a)(4), by inserting ``current and''
before ``former'';
(3) in subsection (b)(2)(D), by inserting ``, including by
collaborating with public housing agencies that administer
Federal housing programs serving foster youth under section
8(x)(2)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and receive
funding to partner with public child welfare agencies to serve
youth who have experienced foster care'' before the period;
(4) in subsection (b)(3)(B), by striking ``not more than 30
percent of the amounts paid to the State from its allotment
under subsection (c) for a fiscal year'' and inserting ``an
average of not more than 30 percent of the amounts paid to the
State from its allotment under subsection (c) for the 5 fiscal
years covered by the application submitted by the State
pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection'';
(5) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Housing supportive services.--
``(A) In general.--A State may use amounts from its
allotment under subsection (c) to provide supportive
services to assist eligible youth who experienced
foster care to obtain or retain suitable housing.
``(B) Definitions.--
``(i) Eligible youth.--In this subsection,
the term `eligible youth' means an individual
who receives assistance provided under section
8(x) of the United States Housing Act of 1937.
``(ii) Supportive services.--The term
`supportive services' may include--
``(I) basic life skills information
and counseling on financial literacy,
use of credit, and money management;
``(II) counseling on rental lease
contracts and assistance with rental
insurance; and
``(III) assistance with security
deposits, utility connection fees,
moving costs, and other fees associated
with establishing tenancy.
``(C) Exception.--Expenditures in accordance with
this paragraph shall not be considered expenditures for
room and board for purposes of subsection (b)(3)(B).
``(D) Aligning age eligibility.--Notwithstanding
subsection (b)(3)(A)(ii), a State may use funds from
its allotment under subsection (c) to provide
supportive services to eligible youth who have not
attained 26 years of age for the purpose of supporting
continued access to housing.''; and
(6) in subsection (g)(1), by inserting ``access to
housing,'' before ``and personal''.
SEC. 3. JOINT AGENCY GUIDANCE.
(a) In General.--Within 1 year after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development, shall develop and issue joint
guidance to State public child welfare agencies and public housing
authorities to improve alignment and coordination of housing supportive
services provided under section 477 of the Social Security Act and
housing assistance provided under section 8(x) of the United States
Housing Act of 1937.
(b) Contents.--The joint guidance shall include the following:
(1) Clarification and alignment of Federal policies to
improve access to housing for youth who have experienced foster
care, including youth who are in independent living
arrangements while in extended foster care.
(2) Guidance on State use of funds provided under section
477 of the Social Security Act for supportive services (as
defined in subsection (d)(6) of such section) to improve access
to housing programs administered by the Department of Housing
and Urban Development.
(3) Best practices for building partnerships between public
child welfare agencies and public housing authorities,
including ways to improve access to the supportive services.
(4) Additional information the Secretaries deem necessary
to effectively coordinate Federal programs serving current and
former foster youth.
(c) Production.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
designate an official of the Department of Health and Human Services to
lead development of the joint guidance in collaboration with the
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Within 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall submit to the
Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Financial Services of
the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Finance and the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate a report
that sets forth--
(1) aggregate data on the number of eligible youth who have
experienced foster care who are receiving Federal housing
assistance;
(2) a description of the outcomes for the youth, including
the extent to which youth are able to access stable housing and
rates of homelessness;
(3) the findings from any evaluations of State programs
conducted pursuant to section 477(g)(1) of the Social Security
Act; and
(4) statutory recommendations for improving coordination
between public child welfare agencies and Federal housing
programs.
SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on
the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
<all>