The Senate unanimously passed the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act, bipartisan housing legislation that would enact broadly supported federal housing reforms.
The bill includes provisions from the Family Unification, Preservation and Modernization Act, a bill U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., introduced late last year to prevent youth homelessness, keep children and families together and meet the needs of youth transitioning out of foster care.
“Throughout my years in public service and as a lawyer combatting housing discrimination, I learned an important lesson: your home is part of who you are,” Kaine said. “This bill increases access to stable housing options and support services, each critical to building strong communities. I’m also pleased this bill specifically addresses issues in our foster care system. Many children who age out of the system are left with few places to turn for assistance. This bill will implement provisions I worked on with a bipartisan group of colleagues that help reduce youth homelessness and ensure we are meeting the needs of youth transitioning out of foster care.”
The Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act would enact the following measures from Kaine’s Family Unification, Preservation and Modernization Act:
- Requires HUD to coordinate with other agencies to improve coordination and implementation of the Family Unification Program between public housing authorities and child welfare agencies
- Removes the arbitrary 18-month timeline for youth vouchers and replacing it with a more administratively-manageable 36-month timeline
- Expands youth eligibility to those who are 18 to 24 who have left foster care at age 14 or older or who will leave foster care within 90 days and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
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