Returning Home Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7057
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-14: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-04T19:31:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Returning Home Act (H.R. 7057) aims to support individuals reentering society after incarceration by providing rental assistance and related housing services. It seeks to reduce homelessness and housing instability among this group, promoting successful community reintegration through targeted federal grants.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of Grant Program: The Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will create the Reentry Rental Assistance and Housing Services Grant Program. This program awards grants to help cover housing costs for up to 24 months for individuals recently released from prison, jail, juvenile facilities, or halfway houses.
- Allowed Uses of Grant Funds:
- Rental assistance for permanent housing (e.g., rent, utilities, security deposits).
- Stipends to family members if the formerly incarcerated individual lives in their household.
- Supportive services, including pre-release planning, help obtaining documents (like IDs), housing counseling, connections to mental health or substance abuse treatment, case management, move-in assistance, and incentives for landlords (e.g., damage mitigation funds).
- Funding Allocation Rules: Grantees must use at least 60% of funds for rental assistance and no more than 15% for landlord incentives.
- Eligibility and Application Process:
- Applicants include nonprofits, service providers, or partnerships with entities like Continuum of Care programs (homeless assistance networks), protection and advocacy systems (for people with disabilities), or centers for independent living.
- Programs must target individuals at high risk of homelessness, such as those within 365 days of release, those homeless while on parole/supervised release, or those recently discharged.
- Priorities: Programs using a "housing first" approach (providing housing without preconditions like sobriety requirements) and those serving groups disproportionately affected by incarceration and homelessness (e.g., certain racial or ethnic communities).
- Grants cannot go to law enforcement agencies, including those with probation officers.
- Additional Requirements:
- Grantees must notify denied applicants of the reason within 15 days and provide info on other resources like housing counseling or free legal aid.
- Program information must be in simple, accessible language, including for people with disabilities.
- An evaluation of the program's effectiveness (e.g., on housing stability and reduced recidivism) is required within 2 years of enactment.
- Funding Authorization: $100 million per fiscal year is authorized for the program.
- Definitions: Key terms include "disability" (as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act, covering physical or mental impairments) and "housing costs" (rent, utilities, fees, etc.).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 2976 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (which funds reentry programs) by:
- Replacing stigmatizing language like "offender" with neutral terms like "individuals" or "individuals who are incarcerated" throughout the section.
- Expanding coverage to include halfway houses alongside prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities.
- Updating references to ensure the law applies more broadly to people in various stages of incarceration or reentry, without changing core eligibility but making it more inclusive and less focused on criminal status.
- Adds a new Section 2978 specifically for the rental assistance grant program, which did not exist before, building on but separate from prior reentry funding.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Formerly incarcerated individuals may gain better access to stable housing, reducing homelessness risks and supporting employment, family reunification, and lower recidivism rates. Families could receive financial relief through stipends.
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Justice (DOJ) and HUD will coordinate grant administration, increasing workload but enabling data-driven evaluations. Nonprofits and service providers will handle most implementation, potentially straining smaller organizations without adequate funding.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. criminal justice and housing policy.
- Broader Effects: Could decrease public costs related to homelessness (e.g., emergency services) and incarceration by aiding reintegration, though success depends on program uptake and evaluation results.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Formerly Incarcerated Individuals: Primary beneficiaries, especially those at risk of homelessness or from overrepresented groups.
- Families and Communities: Indirectly helped through stipends and stabilized households.
- Nonprofits and Service Providers: Eligible for grants to deliver services; must meet accessibility and reporting standards.
- Landlords and Housing Providers: Benefit from incentives but may face new tenant dynamics.
- Federal Agencies: DOJ (grant oversight) and HUD (coordination on housing expertise).
- Marginalized Groups: Populations with high incarceration/homelessness rates (e.g., people of color, those with disabilities, or domestic violence survivors) prioritized for equitable support.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens existing reentry frameworks under the Omnibus Crime Control Act by emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment, aligning with federal goals in the Second Chance Act (2008) for reducing recidivism. The prohibition on law enforcement grants avoids conflicts of interest in housing decisions. Requirements for notifications and accessibility comply with due process and anti-discrimination laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; supports equal protection by prioritizing disadvantaged groups without violating rights. The "housing first" priority promotes access to basic needs, consistent with Eighth Amendment interpretations on post-incarceration support.
- Political: Advances bipartisan criminal justice reform by focusing on housing as a recidivism prevention tool, potentially appealing to progressives (equity focus) and conservatives (cost savings). However, funding levels and implementation could spark debates on federal spending versus state roles in reentry.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
Cosponsors (14)
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-14: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
- 2026-01-14: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
- 2026-01-14: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Returning Home Act — issued 2026-01-14 — PDF (15 pages)