HOME for Foster Youth Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9072
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-29: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T16:49:38Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to expand access to tenant-based rental assistance for youths transitioning out of foster care by broadening eligibility criteria under existing federal housing programs and improving coordination between housing and child welfare agencies.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility Expansion: Amends Section 8(x)(2) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 to extend the window for youths leaving foster care from 90 days to 180 days before qualifying for assistance. It also removes the prior requirement that youths must be homeless or at risk of homelessness at age 16 or older.
- Income Exclusion: Adds a provision to Section 3(b)(4) excluding amounts received from Education and Training Vouchers (under Section 477(i) of the Social Security Act) when calculating family income for housing assistance eligibility.
- Administrative Updates: Requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to revise all related guidance, notices, and materials to reflect the new eligibility rules.
- Interagency Coordination: Directs HUD and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to use available program funds to modernize access to housing assistance and supportive services for current and former foster youth.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill modifies the United States Housing Act of 1937 by lengthening the post-foster care eligibility period and eliminating the homelessness-related condition for assistance. It also carves out specific voucher payments from income calculations, which were previously included.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: HUD must update policies and materials, while both HUD and HHS are tasked with streamlining services, potentially increasing administrative workload but improving program efficiency.
- Citizens: Expands housing support to a larger group of transitioning foster youth, which may reduce housing instability for this population.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Current and former foster youth eligible for rental assistance.
- Federal agencies including HUD and HHS.
- Local public housing authorities responsible for administering Section 8 programs.
- State and local child welfare agencies involved in foster care transitions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The changes are administrative and programmatic, with no apparent constitutional issues raised in the text. They focus on refining eligibility within an existing federal housing statute without altering broader legal frameworks or creating new rights.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20], Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-29: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2026-05-29: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Housing Opportunities for Moving to Empowerment for Foster Youth Act — issued 2026-05-29 — PDF (3 pages)