Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act
Sponsored By: Senator Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced
Summary
Expands housing access for foster youth by linking federal foster care services to HUD housing programs and letting states fund housing-focused supportive services for older youth.
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- Current and former foster youth would get explicit access to housing supports, including youth age 18 and older and those who have not attained 26 years of age.
- Public housing agencies and state child welfare agencies would be pushed to coordinate, especially for housing assistance under section 8(x) of the U.S. Housing Act, and HHS and HUD would have to issue joint guidance within 1 year to align policies and best practices.
- States could use their section 477 allotments to offer "housing supportive services" such as life skills, financial literacy, rental lease counseling, help with security deposits, utility connection fees, and moving costs; those expenditures would not count as room and board and the spending cap would be an average of not more than 30 percent over the 5 fiscal years covered by a state application.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
More housing help for foster youth
This bill would let States use section 477 funds to help eligible foster youth get and keep housing. If enacted, eligible youth who receive HUD section 8(x) help could get counseling on leases and credit, and direct help with security deposits, utility hookups, moving costs, and other tenancy fees. The bill would explicitly include current and former foster youth age 18 or older and allow supports for youth under age 26. At the same time, the bill would set a 30% five-year average cap on certain State spending from section 477 allotments, so States would still face a spending limit on some uses.
HHS and HUD guidance for housing
This bill would require the HHS and HUD Secretaries to issue joint guidance within one year. The guidance would explain how child welfare and public housing agencies should work together, clarify use of section 477 funds for housing supports, and describe best partnership practices. It would also require public housing agencies that run section 8(x) programs and get partnership funds to coordinate with child welfare agencies to serve youth who experienced foster care.
Report on foster youth housing outcomes
This bill would add housing access to the list of outcomes States must measure under section 477 evaluations. If enacted, HHS, working with HUD, would have to send Congress a report within three years. The report would show how many eligible youth with foster care histories receive federal housing help, housing stability and homelessness outcomes, findings from evaluations, and recommendations to improve coordination.
One-year delay before changes
This bill would make all of its amendments take effect one year after enactment. If enacted, any new services, guidance, or reporting requirements would be delayed until that date.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
IA • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
VT • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov