McKinney-Vento Reauthorization

The House recently passed a compromise version of legislation to reauthorize the HUD McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

In February 2007, the late Congresswoman Julia Carson (D-IN) and Congressman Geoff Davis (R-KY) introduced H.R. 840, the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (or HEARTH Act), which was amended and passed by the Financial Services Committee in July 2008.

The Senate's version of a McKinney reauthorization bill, the Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act, S. 1518, was introduced by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Wayne Allard (R-CO) in May 2007 and was unanimously approved by the Senate Banking Committee in September 2007.

The House and Senate recently came to agreement on a final bill, the HEARTH Act, H.R. 7221, which now only awaits approval by the Senate.

This would be the first reauthorization of HUD's McKinney programs since 1992. It will provide communities with new resources and better tools to prevent and end homelessness. The bill:

• Increases priority on homeless families with children by providing new resources for rapid rehousing programs, designating funding to permanently house families, and ensuring that families are included in the chronic homelessness initiative.
• Significantly increases resources to prevent homelessness for people who are at risk of homelessness, doubled up, living in hotels, or in other precarious housing situations through the emergency solutions program.
• Continues to provide incentives for developing permanent supportive housing and provides dedicated funding for permanent housing renewals.
• Grants rural communities greater flexibility in utilizing McKinney funds.
• Modestly expands the definition of homelessness to include people who are losing their housing in the next 14 days and who lack resources or support networks to obtain housing, as well as families and youth who are persistently unstable and lack independent housing and will continue to do so.

Latest News:
On October 2, the House of Representatives passed the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, H.R. 7221. The bill now awaits action on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Senators are working hard to pass the bill during November’s lame-duck session through a "unanimous consent" process. However, this process requires that all Senators agree to the bill's passage, and at this time Senator Coburn (R-OK) has a hold on the bill.

Summary of HEARTH Act, As Passed
This brief provides a detailed overview of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in October 2008. The document explains the bill's background, provides details on its provisions, and discusses the ramifications of the bill's language for implementation and application procedures.

Text of H.R. 7221 (HEARTH Act)
This document contains the full text of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives October 2, 2008.

2008 Policy Guide
This policy guide provides information about the most important federal programs, policies, and legislation affecting homelessness. Key housing and homelessness topics are covered including HUD's McKinney-Vento homeless assistance programs, Section 8 housing choice vouchers, and housing programs dedicated to people with HIV/AIDS, the elderly, and people with disabilities.