Federal Emergency Management Agency emergency food and shelter grant program

(a) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated, for the first fiscal year commencing after the date of the enactment of this Act and each of the next nine succeeding fiscal years thereafter, $1,000,000,000 for emergency food and shelter grants under subtitle B of title III of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11341 et seq.). (b) National Board membership Subsection (b) of section 301 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11331(b)) is amended— (1) in the first sentence, by striking 6 members and inserting at least 8 members; (2) in the third sentence by striking Each such member and inserting Four members; and (3) by inserting after and below paragraph (6) the following flush matter: At least 4 members shall be appointed from among individuals nominated by national organizations identified by the Director, in consultation with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, that represent a population at higher risk of homelessness (as such term is defined in section 2 of the Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2025).. (c) Eligible activities Subsection (a) of section 313 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11343(a)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting hygiene, after food,; (2) in paragraph (2), by striking and at the end; and (3) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following new paragraphs: (3) to conduct rehabilitation of existing shelter or feeding facilities to ensure such facilities are safe, sanitary, and in compliance with local building codes; (4) to provide flexible and appropriate access to temporary shelter; (5) to build and maintain new forms of safe and sanitary shelters, including tiny homes; and (6) to provide supports, including shelter, transitional housing, and specialized medical respite shelter and associated services to homeless or housing-unstable (as such term is defined in section 2 of the Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2025) elderly persons, persons with disabilities, and persons who are or have been sick or injured, and to persons are who are being discharged or who have recently been discharged from hospitals, nursing facilities or similar facilities. (d) Distribution of amounts Paragraph (2) of section 316(a) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11346(a)(2)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon the following:, which shall provide for consideration of regional variation in housing costs and costs of living, rates of homelessness and housing instability, and income inequality. (e) Appropriate non-Discrimination policy (1) National and local boards Section 301 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11331) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (f) Appropriate non-Discrimination policy The National Board shall— (1) at all times having in effect a policy that prohibits discrimination against persons in all classes provided protection against discrimination under Federal law and explicitly prohibits discrimination based on the gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, regardless of the individual’s designated sex at birth; and (2) require each local board designated pursuant to section 302 to have in effect a policy described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.. (2) Service providers Subsection (a) of section 316 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11346(a)) is amended— (A) in paragraph (5), by striking and at the end; (B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (7) guidelines requiring each private nonprofit organization and local government carrying out a local emergency food and shelter program with amounts provided under this subtitle to have in effect, with respect to such program, a policy described in section 301(f)(1).. (f) GAO study of allocation formula The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to identify and analyze the methods in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act for determining the amount and distribution of assistance under the Emergency Food and Shelter Grants Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under subtitle B of title III of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11341 et seq.) to determine whether such current methods adequately address the needs of homeless persons and the communities that serve them. Not later than the expiration of the 12-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to the Congress detailing the findings of such study and making recommendations as to how the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board should revise such methods to more adequately and accurately meet such needs. (g) GAO study of compliance with participation requirements The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to identify and analyze the extent to which recipient service providers under the Emergency Food and Shelter Grants Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under subtitle B of title III of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11341 et seq.) comply with the provisions of the guidelines for such Program required under paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 316(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 11346(a); relating to involvement and participation of homeless individuals). Not later than the expiration of the 24-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to the Congress detailing the findings of such study, including identifying any barriers to compliance and the level of compliance and recommending models for compliance (including specific models used by such recipient service providers) and suggested support methods to assist recipients to comply.