HHS Proposes Streamlining Rules to Ease Youth Homeless Program Burdens
Published Date: 4/6/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The Department of Health and Human Services is making rules for programs that help runaway and homeless youth simpler and easier to understand. These changes cut out extra paperwork and confusing parts, so organizations can focus more on helping kids and families. If you want to share your thoughts, send comments by May 6, 2026—this update aims to save time and make a bigger impact without extra costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Less paperwork for RHY grant organizations
HHS proposes to remove duplicative and unnecessary sections of the Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) regulations (45 CFR part 1351) so public and nonprofit grant applicants and recipients spend less time on redundant regulatory text and can focus more on program work.
Grant rules moved into NOFOs
HHS proposes to remove sections that describe grant project periods, allowable and unallowable costs, application instructions, and program-specific requirements and to rely on Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) and other grant documents to provide that information instead.
More focus on helping kids and families
The NPRM says simplifying RHY regulations will let organizations that serve runaway and homeless youth spend more time helping kids and families rather than handling duplicative paperwork.
No new OMB paperwork burdens
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, this proposed rule does not contain any reporting or recordkeeping requirements that would require Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval, so it will not create new paperwork burdens or change existing OMB‑reviewed burdens.
No significant economic impact on small entities
HHS proposes to certify under the Regulatory Flexibility Act that repealing obsolete and unnecessary RHY regulatory language would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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