Description:
H.R. 2069 would require public housing authorities and property owners to give children who are aging out of foster care priority for federal housing assistance. Former foster children generally would be required to have a high-school diploma, be employed, be enrolled at an institution of higher education, or be participating in a career pathway within 30 months of the time that they initially receive housing assistance. Housing assistance would terminate if the former foster child fails to meet the requirements, or once they turn 25 years of age. Former foster children are eligible for housing assistance under current law—provided they meet income and other requirements—so the bill would not increase eligibility for housing assistance. The bill could increase the workload associated with verifying compliance with program requirements such as working or being enrolled in school. CBO estimates, that the cost of that increased workload would be insignificant over the 2019-2023 period because of the small number of former foster kids that would receive assistance and because the requirement to comply would be delayed by up to 30 months. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 2069 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029. H.R. 2069 contains no private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. The bill would impose an intergovernmental mandate by preempting state, local, and tribal laws governing the occupancy preferences used by public housing agencies participating in the Moving to Work Program. CBO estimates that the preemption would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. Although it would limit the application of state laws, it would impose no duty on states that would result in additional spending or a loss of revenues.
