PRIA Logo™
HR6403119th CongressWALLET

Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

Introduced

Summary

Expands the federal definition of homelessness to cover more children and youth who face domestic violence, trafficking, stalking, sexual assault, or other dangerous living situations and to align homeless definitions across federal programs. It would also push for greater data transparency and stronger local planning to connect young people and families to education and services.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Broader homeless definition and eligibility

If enacted, the bill would widen who counts as homeless. Victims of domestic violence, trafficking, sexual assault, stalking, and other dangerous conditions would be explicitly included. Children under 5 and youth up to age 24 who cannot live safely with a parent would be covered. HUD would accept verification from other federal programs so a child or youth already verified elsewhere would be treated as homeless here without extra HUD action. The bill would also change a shared-housing rule from 14 days to 30 days and name specific federal laws (for example, Head Start, child care, and Higher Education laws) that count for cross-program coordination.

Local intake, child assessments, and services

If enacted, communities with a central intake would have to use separate, age-appropriate rules for children under 5, school-age children, and youth 14 to 24. The system would need to be accessible to unaccompanied youth and families and try to move people to safe, stable places quickly. Programs could provide transportation to work, child care, career training, and health care. Housing and service programs would also have to name a staff person to help enroll children in school, link families to Head Start and child care, and verify independent student status for unaccompanied youth for FAFSA purposes.

Needs‑based grant scoring and limits

If enacted, HUD would have to score grants mainly on how well projects match local plans and on cost-effectiveness. The Secretary would define which activities count as "proven effective" only after public notice and comment. HUD could not give bonuses or incentives that favor a group, program component, or model unless local data or a local plan justify it. When evaluating programs, HUD would have to consider whether operators actually followed required certifications.

Public homeless data and yearly report

If enacted, HUD would post community HMIS data online at least once a year. Public data would include counts by age, disability, length of homelessness, and counts by local collaborative applicant. HMIS data would be submitted to HUD annually and HUD would send Congress an integrated report within four months after each fiscal year ends with HMIS and other federal program data and notes on data duplication.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

NY • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 12/3/2025

  • Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 12/3/2025

  • Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 2/11/2026

  • Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 2/24/2026

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 4/20/2026

  • Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 4/29/2026

  • Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 8/3/2026

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 8/31/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation