42 USC 11386 - Geographic areas

Collapse to view only § 11386f. Geographic areas

§ 11381. Purposes
§ 11382. Continuum of care applications and grants
§ 11383. Eligible activities
§ 11384. Incentives for high-performing communities
§ 11385. Supportive services
§ 11386. Program requirements
§ 11386a. Selection criteria
§ 11386b. Allocation of amounts and incentives for specific eligible activities
§ 11386c. Renewal funding and terms of assistance for permanent housing
§ 11386d. Matching funding
§ 11386e. Appeal procedure
§ 11386f. Geographic areas
§ 11387. Regulations
§ 11388. Reports to Congress
§ 11389. Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities

§ 11381. Purposes

The purposes of this part are—

(1) to promote community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness;

(2) to provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers and State and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to individuals, families, and communities by homelessness;

(3) to promote access to, and effective utilization of, mainstream programs described in section 11313(a)(7) of this title and programs funded with State or local resources; and

(4) to optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 421, as added Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, title III, § 1301(2), May 20, 2009, 123 Stat. 1680.)

§ 11382. Continuum of care applications and grants

(a) Projects

(b) Notification of funding availability

(1) Submission to the Secretary

To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), a project sponsor or unified funding agency in a geographic area shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require, and containing such information as the Secretary determines necessary—

(A) to determine compliance with the program requirements and selection criteria under this part; and

(B) to establish priorities for funding projects in the geographic area.

(2) Announcement of awards

(A) In general

(B) Transition

(d) Obligation, distribution, and utilization of funds

(1) Requirements for obligation

(A) In general

(B) Acquisition, rehabilitation, or construction

(2) Obligation

(3) Distribution

A recipient that receives funds through such a grant—

(A) shall distribute the funds to project sponsors (in advance of expenditures by the project sponsors); and

(B) shall distribute the appropriate portion of the funds to a project sponsor not later than 45 days after receiving a request for such distribution from the project sponsor.

(4) Expenditure of funds

(e) Renewal funding for unsuccessful applicants

(f) Considerations in determining renewal funding

(g) More than 1 application for a geographic area

(h) Appeals

(1) In general

(2) Process

(i) Solo applicants

(j) Flexibility to serve persons defined as homeless under other Federal laws

(1) In general

(2) Limitations

(3) Treatment of certain populations

(A) In general

(B) At risk of homelessness

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 422, as added Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, title III, § 1301(2), May 20, 2009, 123 Stat. 1681.)

§ 11383. Eligible activities

(a) In generalGrants awarded under section 11382 of this title to qualified applicants shall be used to carry out projects that serve homeless individuals or families that consist of one or more of the following eligible activities:

(1) Construction of new housing units to provide transitional or permanent housing.

(2) Acquisition or rehabilitation of a structure to provide transitional or permanent housing, other than emergency shelter, or to provide supportive services.

(3) Leasing of property, or portions of property, not owned by the recipient or project sponsor involved, for use in providing transitional or permanent housing, or providing supportive services.

(4) Provision of rental assistance to provide transitional or permanent housing to eligible persons. The rental assistance may include tenant-based, project-based, or sponsor-based rental assistance. Project-based rental assistance, sponsor-based rental assistance, and operating cost assistance contracts carried out by project sponsors receiving grants under this section may, at the discretion of the applicant and the project sponsor, have an initial term of 15 years, with assistance for the first 5 years paid with funds authorized for appropriation under this chapter, and assistance for the remainder of the term treated as a renewal of an expiring contract as provided in section 11386c of this title. Project-based rental assistance may include rental assistance to preserve existing permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals and families.

(5) Payment of operating costs for housing units assisted under this part or for the preservation of housing that will serve homeless individuals and families and for which another form of assistance is expiring or otherwise no longer available.

(6) Supportive services for individuals and families who are currently homeless, who have been homeless in the prior six months but are currently residing in permanent housing, or who were previously homeless and are currently residing in permanent supportive housing.

(7) Provision of rehousing services, including housing search, mediation or outreach to property owners, credit repair, providing security or utility deposits, rental assistance for a final month at a location, assistance with moving costs, or other activities that—

(A) are effective at moving homeless individuals and families immediately into housing; or

(B) may benefit individuals and families who in the prior 6 months have been homeless, but are currently residing in permanent housing.

(8) In the case of a collaborative applicant that is a legal entity, performance of the duties described under section 11360a(f)(3) of this title.

(9) Operation of, participation in, and ensuring consistent participation by project sponsors in, a community-wide homeless management information system.

(10) In the case of a collaborative applicant that is a legal entity, payment of administrative costs related to meeting the requirements described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 11360a(f) of this title, for which the collaborative applicant may use not more than 3 percent of the total funds made available in the geographic area under this part for such costs.

(11) In the case of a collaborative applicant that is a unified funding agency under section 11360a(g) of this title, payment of administrative costs related to meeting the requirements of that section, for which the unified funding agency may use not more than 3 percent of the total funds made available in the geographic area under this part for such costs, in addition to funds used under paragraph (10).

(12) Payment of administrative costs to project sponsors, for which each project sponsor may use not more than 10 percent of the total funds made available to that project sponsor through this part for such costs.

(13)1

1 So in original. Two pars. (13) have been enacted.

Facilitating and coordinating activities to ensure compliance with subsection (e) of section 12491 of title 34 and monitoring compliance with the confidentiality protections of subsection (c)(4) of such section.

(13)1 Projects in rural areas that consist of one or more of the following activities:

(A) Payment of short-term emergency lodging, including in motels or shelters, directly or through vouchers.

(B) Repairs to units—

(i) in which homeless individuals and families will be housed; or

(ii) which are currently not fit for human habitation.

(b) Minimum grant terms

(1) Acquisition, rehabilitation, and new construction

(2) Other activities

(3) Conversion

(d) Repayment of assistance and prevention of undue benefits

(1) RepaymentIf a recipient or project sponsor receives assistance under section 11382 of this title to carry out a project that consists of activities described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) and the project ceases to provide transitional or permanent housing—

(A) earlier than 10 years after operation of the project begins, the Secretary shall require the recipient or project sponsor to repay 100 percent of the assistance; or

(B) not earlier than 10 years, but earlier than 15 years, after operation of the project begins, the Secretary shall require the recipient or project sponsor to repay 20 percent of the assistance for each of the years in the 15-year period for which the project fails to provide that housing.

(2) Prevention of undue benefits

(3) ExceptionA recipient or project sponsor shall not be required to make the repayments, and comply with the terms and conditions, required under paragraph (1) or (2) if—

(A) the sale or disposition of the property used for the project results in the use of the property for the direct benefit of very low-income persons;

(B) all of the proceeds of the sale or disposition are used to provide transitional or permanent housing meeting the requirements of this part;

(C) project-based rental assistance or operating cost assistance from any Federal program or an equivalent State or local program is no longer made available and the project is meeting applicable performance standards, provided that the portion of the project that had benefitted from such assistance continues to meet the tenant income and rent restrictions for low-income units under section 42(g) of title 26; or

(D) there are no individuals and families in the geographic area who are homeless, in which case the project may serve individuals and families at risk of homelessness.

(e) Staff training

(f) Eligibility for permanent housing

(g) Administration of rental assistance

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 423, as added Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, title III, § 1302, May 20, 2009, 123 Stat. 1684; amended Pub. L. 114–94, div. G, title LXXIX, § 79001, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1792; Pub. L. 117–103, div. W, title VI, § 605(a)(2), Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 886; Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LVII, § 5707, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3419.)

§ 11384. Incentives for high-performing communities

(a) Designation as a high-performing community

(1) In general

(2) Consideration

(3) 2-year phase in

(4) Excess of qualified applicants

(5) Time limit on designation

(b) Application

(1) In general

(2) Content of application

In any application submitted under paragraph (1), a collaborative applicant shall include in such application—

(A) a report showing how any money received under this part in the preceding year was expended; and

(B) information that such applicant can meet the requirements described under subsection (d).

(3) Publication of application

The Secretary shall—

(A) publish any report or information submitted in an application under this section in the geographic area represented by the collaborative applicant; and

(B) seek comments from the public as to whether the collaborative applicant seeking designation as a high-performing community meets the requirements described under subsection (d).

Funds awarded under section 11382(a) of this title to a project sponsor who is located in a high-performing community may be used—

(1) for any of the eligible activities described in section 11383 of this title; or

(2) for any of the eligible activities described in paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 11374(a) of this title.

(d) Definition of high-performing community

For purposes of this section, the term “high-performing community” means a geographic area that demonstrates through reliable data that all five of the following requirements are met for that geographic area:

(1) Term of homelessness

The mean length of episodes of homelessness for that geographic area—

(A) is less than 20 days; or

(B) for individuals and families in similar circumstances in the preceding year was at least 10 percent less than in the year before.

(2) Families leaving homelessness

Of individuals and families—

(A) who leave homelessness, fewer than 5 percent of such individuals and families become homeless again at any time within the next 2 years; or

(B) in similar circumstances who leave homelessness, the percentage of such individuals and families who become homeless again within the next 2 years has decreased by at least 20 percent from the preceding year.

(3) Community action

The communities that compose the geographic area have—

(A) actively encouraged homeless individuals and families to participate in homeless assistance services available in that geographic area; and

(B) included each homeless individual or family who sought homeless assistance services in the data system used by that community for determining compliance with this subsection.

(4) Effectiveness of previous activities

(5) Flexibility to serve persons defined as homeless under other Federal laws

(e) Cooperation among entities

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 424, as added Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, title III, § 1303, May 20, 2009, 123 Stat. 1687.)

§ 11385. Supportive services

(a) In general

(b) Requirements

(d) Provision of services

(e) Coordination with Secretary of Health and Human Services

(1) Approval

(2) Guidelines

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 425, as added Pub. L. 102–550, title XIV, § 1403(a), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4017.)

§ 11386. Program requirements

(a) Site control

(b) Required agreementsThe Secretary may not provide assistance for a proposed project under this part unless the collaborative applicant involved agrees—

(1) to ensure the operation of the project in accordance with the provisions of this part;

(2) to monitor and report to the Secretary the progress of the project;

(3) to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that individuals and families experiencing homelessness are involved, through employment, provision of volunteer services, or otherwise, in constructing, rehabilitating, maintaining, and operating facilities for the project and in providing supportive services for the project;

(4) to require certification from all project sponsors that—

(A) they will maintain the confidentiality of records pertaining to any individual or family provided family violence prevention or treatment services through the project;

(B) that 1

1 So in original. The word “that” probably should not appear.

the address or location of any family violence shelter project assisted under this part will not be made public, except with written authorization of the person responsible for the operation of such project;

(C) they will establish policies and practices that are consistent with, and do not restrict the exercise of rights provided by, part B of subchapter VI [42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.], and other laws relating to the provision of educational and related services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness;

(D) in the case of programs that provide housing or services to families, they will designate a staff person to be responsible for ensuring that children being served in the program are enrolled in school and connected to appropriate services in the community, including early childhood programs such as Head Start, part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [

(E) they will provide data and reports as required by the Secretary pursuant to the Act; 2

2 See References in Text note below.

(5) if a collaborative applicant is a unified funding agency under section 11360a(g) of this title and receives funds under this part to carry out the payment of administrative costs described in section 11383(a)(11) of this title, to establish such fiscal control and fund accounting procedures as may be necessary to assure the proper disbursal of, and accounting for, such funds in order to ensure that all financial transactions carried out with such funds are conducted, and records maintained, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(6) to monitor and report to the Secretary the provision of matching funds as required by section 11386d of this title;

(7) to take the educational needs of children into account when families are placed in emergency or transitional shelter and will, to the maximum extent practicable, place families with children as close as possible to their school of origin so as not to disrupt such children’s education; and

(8) to comply with such other terms and conditions as the Secretary may establish to carry out this part in an effective and efficient manner.

(d) Flood protection standards

(e) Participation of homeless individuals

(f) Limitation on use of funds

(g) Termination of assistance

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 426, as added Pub. L. 102–550, title XIV, § 1403(a), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4018; amended Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, title III, § 1304, May 20, 2009, 123 Stat. 1688.)

§ 11386a. Selection criteria

(a) In general

(b) Required criteria

(1) In generalThe criteria established under subsection (a) shall include—

(A) the previous performance of the recipient regarding homelessness, including performance related to funds provided under section 11372 of this title (except that recipients applying from geographic areas where no funds have been awarded under this part, or under parts C, D, E, or F of subchapter IV of this chapter, as in effect prior to May 20, 2009, shall receive full credit for performance under this subparagraph), measured by criteria that shall be announced by the Secretary, that shall take into account barriers faced by individual homeless people, and that shall include—

(i) the length of time individuals and families remain homeless;

(ii) the extent to which individuals and families who leave homelessness experience additional spells of homelessness;

(iii) the thoroughness of grantees in the geographic area in reaching homeless individuals and families;

(iv) overall reduction in the number of homeless individuals and families;

(v) jobs and income growth for homeless individuals and families;

(vi) success at reducing the number of individuals and families who become homeless;

(vii) other accomplishments by the recipient related to reducing homelessness; and

(viii) for collaborative applicants that have exercised the authority under section 11382(j) of this title to serve families with children and youth defined as homeless under other Federal statutes, success in achieving the goals and outcomes identified in subsection (b)(1)(F);

(B) the plan of the recipient, which shall describe—

(i) how the number of individuals and families who become homeless will be reduced in the community;

(ii) how the length of time that individuals and families remain homeless will be reduced;

(iii) how the recipient will collaborate with local education authorities to assist in the identification of individuals and families who become or remain homeless and are informed of their eligibility for services under part B of subchapter VI of this chapter (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.);

(iv) the extent to which the recipient will—(I) address the needs of all relevant subpopulations;(II) incorporate comprehensive strategies for reducing homelessness, including the interventions referred to in section 11386b(d) of this title;(III) set quantifiable performance measures;(IV) set timelines for completion of specific tasks;(V) identify specific funding sources for planned activities; and(VI) identify an individual or body responsible for overseeing implementation of specific strategies; and

(v) whether the recipient proposes to exercise authority to use funds under section 11382(j) of this title, and if so, how the recipient will achieve the goals and outcomes identified in subsection (b)(1)(F);

(C) the methodology of the recipient used to determine the priority for funding local projects under section 11382(c)(1) of this title, including the extent to which the priority-setting process—

(i) uses periodically collected information and analysis to determine the extent to which each project has resulted in rapid return to permanent housing for those served by the project, taking into account the severity of barriers faced by the people the project serves;

(ii) considers the full range of opinions from individuals or entities with knowledge of homelessness in the geographic area or an interest in preventing or ending homelessness in the geographic area;

(iii) is based on objective criteria that have been publicly announced by the recipient; and

(iv) is open to proposals from entities that have not previously received funds under this part;

(D) the extent to which the amount of assistance to be provided under this part to the recipient will be supplemented with resources from other public and private sources, including mainstream programs identified by the Government Accountability Office in the two reports described in section 11313(a)(7) of this title;

(E) demonstrated coordination by the recipient with the other Federal, State, local, private, and other entities serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness and at risk of homelessness in the planning and operation of projects;

(F) for collaborative applicants exercising the authority under section 11382(j) of this title to serve homeless families with children and youth defined as homeless under other Federal statutes, program goals and outcomes, which shall include—

(i) preventing homelessness among the subset of such families with children and youth who are at highest risk of becoming homeless, as such term is defined for purposes of this subchapter; or

(ii) achieving independent living in permanent housing among such families with children and youth, especially those who have a history of doubled-up and other temporary housing situations or are living in a temporary housing situation due to lack of available and appropriate emergency shelter, through the provision of eligible assistance that directly contributes to achieving such results including assistance to address chronic disabilities, chronic physical health or mental health conditions, substance addiction, histories of domestic violence or childhood abuse, or multiple barriers to employment; and

(G) such other factors as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to carry out this part in an effective and efficient manner.

(2) Additional criteriaIn addition to the criteria required under paragraph (1), the criteria established under paragraph (1) shall also include the need within the geographic area for homeless services, determined as follows and under the following conditions:

(A) Notice

(B) Amount

(i) Formula

(ii) Combinations or consortia

(iii) Authority of Secretary

(3) Homelessness counts

(1) to ensure that each collaborative applicant has sufficient funding to renew all qualified projects for at least one year; and

(2) to ensure that collaborative applicants are not discouraged from replacing renewal projects with new projects that the collaborative applicant determines will better be able to meet the purposes of this chapter.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 427, as added Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, title III, § 1305(3), May 20, 2009, 123 Stat. 1690.)

§ 11386b. Allocation of amounts and incentives for specific eligible activities

(a) Minimum allocation for permanent housing for homeless individuals and families with disabilities

(1) In general

(2) Calculation

(3) Adjustment

(4) Suspension

(5) Termination

(b) Set-aside for permanent housing for homeless families with children

(d) Incentives for proven strategies

(1) In general

(2) Rule of construction

For purposes of this subsection, activities that have been proven to be effective at reducing homelessness generally or reducing homelessness for a specific subpopulation includes—

(A) permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals and families;

(B) for homeless families, rapid rehousing services, short-term flexible subsidies to overcome barriers to rehousing, support services concentrating on improving incomes to pay rent, coupled with performance measures emphasizing rapid and permanent rehousing and with leveraging funding from mainstream family service systems such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Child Welfare services; and

(C) any other activity determined by the Secretary, based on research and after notice and comment to the public, to have been proven effective at reducing homelessness generally, reducing homelessness for a specific subpopulation, or achieving homeless prevention and independent living goals as set forth in section 11386a(b)(1)(F) of this title.

(3) Balance of incentives for proven strategies

(e) Incentives for successful implementation of proven strategies

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 428, as added Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, title III, § 1305(3), May 20, 2009, 123 Stat. 1693.)

§ 11386c. Renewal funding and terms of assistance for permanent housing

(a) In general

Renewal of expiring contracts for leasing, rental assistance, or operating costs for permanent housing contracts may be funded either—

(1) under the appropriations account for this subchapter; or

(2) the section 8 [42 U.S.C. 1437f] project-based rental assistance account.

(b) Renewals

The sums made available under subsection (a) shall be available for the renewal of contracts in the case of tenant-based assistance, successive 1-year terms, and in the case of project-based assistance, successive terms of up to 15 years at the discretion of the applicant or project sponsor and subject to the availability of annual appropriations, for rental assistance and housing operation costs associated with permanent housing projects funded under this part, or under part C or F (as in effect on the day before the effective date of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009). The Secretary shall determine whether to renew a contract for such a permanent housing project on the basis of certification by the collaborative applicant for the geographic area that—

(1) there is a demonstrated need for the project; and

(2) the project complies with program requirements and appropriate standards of housing quality and habitability, as determined by the Secretary.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 429, as added Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, title III, § 1305(3), May 20, 2009, 123 Stat. 1695.)

§ 11386d. Matching funding

(a) In general

(b) Limitations on in-kind match

The contributions required under subsection (a) may consist of—

(1) funding for any eligible activity described under section 11383 of this title; and

(2) subject to subsection (b), in-kind provision of services of any eligible activity described under section 11383 of this title.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 430, as added Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, title III, § 1305(3), May 20, 2009, 123 Stat. 1695.)

§ 11386e. Appeal procedure

(a) In general

(b) Procedure

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 431, as added Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, title III, § 1305(3), May 20, 2009, 123 Stat. 1696.)

§ 11386f. Geographic areas

(a) Requirement to define

(b) Issuance of notice

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 432, as added Pub. L. 114–201, title IV, § 401(a)(2), July 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 807.)

§ 11387. Regulations

Not later than the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on October 28, 1992, the Secretary shall issue interim regulations to carry out this part, which shall take effect upon issuance. The Secretary shall issue final regulations to carry out this part after notice and opportunity for public comment regarding the interim regulations, pursuant to the provisions of section 553 of title 5 (notwithstanding subsections (a)(2), (b)(B), and (d)(3) of such section). The duration of the period for public comment shall not be less than 60 days, and the final regulations shall be issued not later than the expiration of the 60-day period beginning upon the conclusion of the comment period and shall take effect upon issuance.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 433, formerly § 427, as added Pub. L. 102–550, title XIV, § 1403(a), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4021; renumbered § 432, Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, title III, § 1305(2), May 20, 2009, 123 Stat. 1690; renumbered § 433, Pub. L. 114–201, title IV, § 401(a)(1), July 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 807.)

§ 11388. Reports to Congress

The Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress annually, summarizing the activities carried out under this part and setting forth the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Secretary as a result of the activities. The report shall be submitted not later than 4 months after the end of each fiscal year (except that, in the case of fiscal year 1993, the report shall be submitted not later than 6 months after the end of the fiscal year).

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 434, formerly § 428, as added Pub. L. 102–550, title XIV, § 1403(a), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4021; renumbered § 433, Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, title III, § 1305(2), May 20, 2009, 123 Stat. 1690; renumbered § 434, Pub. L. 114–201, title IV, § 401(a)(1), July 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 807.)

§ 11389. Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, for purposes of this part, an Indian Tribe or tribally designated housing entity (as defined in section 4103 of title 25) may—

(1) be a collaborative applicant or eligible entity; or

(2) receive grant amounts from another entity that receives a grant directly from the Secretary, and use the amounts in accordance with this part.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 435, as added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title I, § 102(a)(2), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2166.)