Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) recently introduced legislation that would modify the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definition of “homeless” to align it with the definition used by other federal programs.
Under the Homeless Children and Youth Act, HUD would be directed to classify children as homeless for the purpose of meting out housing and support services if the child had already been verified as homeless by another federal program, according to a press release.
“No child should ever be without a home, let alone be forced to navigate bureaucratic red tape just to prove that they are actually homeless,” Stivers, a member of the House Financial Services Committee, said. “My bill would streamline the definition of ‘homeless’ to make it easier for our nation’s children and youth to more easily secure assistance and access to support services to help kids stay in school and defy the burdens of homelessness.”
The measure would require no additional taxpayer funding and has been supported by a variety of groups, including the National Parent Teacher Association.
Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, is a leading co-sponsor of the bill.
“Since the economic recession, the number of students identified as homeless by head start centers and schools has increased by more than 50 percent,” Miller said. “It makes no sense why the federal government should stand in the way of allowing kids and their families to qualify for housing assistance. This bill would help stabilize the lives of thousands of our nation’s most vulnerable students, leading to increased academic achievement in school and success in later life.”