A bill to improve the point-in-time count conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- S. 4903
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text: CR S3206)
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T04:48:34Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4903
Purpose
This legislation aims to enhance the accuracy, consistency, and data quality of the annual point-in-time count of homeless individuals conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. It also requires a study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate and suggest improvements to the count's methodology.
Key Provisions
- Annual Point-in-Time Count Requirements: Mandates that each recipient (a Continuum of Care organization) conduct the count during the last 10 days of April each year, using a standardized Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) for client-level data collection. Supplemental counts at other times of the year are permitted without prior HUD approval.
- HMIS Data Management: Requires year-round maintenance of HMIS data on entries and exits from shelters and programs, plus collection of midpoint HMIS data (at the halfway point between annual counts) to track trends and inform planning. This data supplements but does not replace the annual count.
- Support for Rural and Resource-Limited Areas: Directs HUD to provide training, guidance on standardized methodologies, HMIS integration, spatial mapping, and best practices for staffing and technology.
- Reporting and Compliance: Establishes standardized HMIS reporting on geographic and spatial analysis of sheltered and unsheltered populations. HUD must submit an annual report to Congress detailing compliance, technical assistance provided, and data quality improvements.
- Funding Flexibility: Allows use of existing assistance under the Act for HMIS training of employees or volunteers, with guidance to avoid disrupting shelter services.
- GAO Study: Requires the Comptroller General to complete a study within one year of enactment on HUD's point-in-time count methodology and submit a report with results and recommendations for modernization, standardization, and efficiency improvements.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 427(b)(3) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11386a(b)(3)) by adding detailed requirements for the annual count, HMIS usage, midpoint data collection, and rural support—shifting from a general directive to a more prescriptive framework.
- Introduces mandatory timing (last 10 days of April), standardized tools, and ongoing data obligations not previously specified in the statute.
- Adds a new GAO study requirement focused on modernizing the count process.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases HUD's administrative responsibilities for training, reporting, and compliance oversight; requires the GAO to allocate resources for the study and recommendations.
- On Citizens: May lead to more reliable homelessness data, potentially improving resource allocation for shelters and services, though it could impose new data collection burdens on local service providers.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- HUD and its Continuum of Care recipients (local organizations managing homelessness programs).
- Homeless individuals and service providers in both urban and rural areas.
- Congress, through required annual reports and the GAO study.
- State and local governments involved in homelessness assistance.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill operates within existing federal authority under the McKinney-Vento Act and does not appear to raise new constitutional issues, as it focuses on administrative improvements to data collection.
- It emphasizes equity in implementation by addressing rural and resource-limited areas, which could influence future funding and policy debates on homelessness.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI], Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text: CR S3206)
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- To improve the point-in-time count conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (8 pages)