HR 3319

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 9, 2025

Mr. Gimenez (for himself and Mr. Torres of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services

A BILL

To amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act with respect to the definition of homeless individual, and for other purposes.

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 “Women’s and Family Protection Act of 2025”.

TITLE I—AMENDMENTS TO HOMELESSNESS DEFINITIONS

SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.

(a) Section 103(a)(5) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking “and” at the end; and

(2) by inserting at the end the following:

“(D) may reside in indigenous, rural or marginalized communities as defined by the Secretary; and”.

(b) Section 103(a)(6) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is amended—

(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “unaccompanied”;

(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking “and” at the end;

(3) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(4) by inserting at the end the following:

“(D) may reside in indigenous, rural or marginalized communities as defined by the Secretary.”.

(c) Section 103(b) of the of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is amended by adding at the end the following: “Within the domestic violence definition, the Secretary shall specifically include women, women with children, survivors and other persons at risk of gender-based violence as a recognized term and subpopulation as that term is currently defined in applicable Federal statute and regulations.”.

TITLE II—WOMEN’S AND FAMILIES’ EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAM

SEC. 201. EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANTS PROGRAM SET-ASIDE.

Section 412 of the of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11372) is amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 412. GRANT ASSISTANCE.

“(a) Grant Assistance.—The Secretary shall make grants to private nonprofit organizations defined in subsection (b) for the purpose of carrying out the activities described in subsection (c).

“(b) Eligible Entities.—The Secretary shall make direct grants to private nonprofit organizations as defined in 42 U.S.C. 11360 serving high needs populations including women and children who are homeless and pregnant, chronically homeless person, families children and youth, victims of gendered-based violence or trauma, and other special needs populations defined by the Secretary including seniors and other homeless persons with a history of gender-based violence or trauma; in accordance with Section 101 of this Act.

“(c) Eligible Activities.—Assistance provided under subsection

(a) may be used for the following activities:

“(1) Operating costs defined in 42 U.S.C. 11360.

“(2) Outpatient services, including mental health, substance use, and related services defined in 42 U.S.C. 11360.

“(3) Supportive services including childcare, employment services, case management, food, child and family therapy and trauma counseling and victim services defined in 42 U.S.C. 11360.

“(4) Housing relocation and stabilization services for homeless persons or families or individuals at risk of homelessness.

“(5) Such other services as the Secretary may designate.

“(d) Application.—An eligible private nonprofit organization defined in subsection (b) above seeking a grant under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

“(e) Evaluation.—A private nonprofit organization seeking a grant under this title shall prepare and submit an evaluation of activities carried out with funds received under such grant to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including a process and outcome evaluation. At a minimum, such evaluation shall include—

“(1) an unduplicated count of the number of women, children, seniors, victims of gender-based violence and other special needs populations receiving services under the grant;

“(2) an unduplicated count of the number of homeless individuals and families receiving house relocation and stabilization services;

“(3) an unduplicated count of the number of individuals placed in transitional or permanent housing; and

“(4) information on coordination between the recipients of grants under subsection (a) and State, local and Tribal entities; victims of violence Continuum of Care collaborative; and solo applicants; under 42 U.S.C. Subchapter IV Part C.

“(f) Technical Assistance.—The Secretary shall make available technical assistance to private nonprofit organizations on the special needs of victims and survivors of gender-based violence including best practice trauma informed service delivery, staff training, recruitment and retention techniques and state of art coordination activities with Part B and Part C entities, and applying for and obtaining funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Health and Human Services, and related social services programs operated by State, county or local governments.”. <all>