Improving access to housing for foster youth

Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1)— (A) by striking and preventive and inserting preventive; and (B) by inserting, and access to housing for youth age 18 or older before the semicolon; (2) in subsection (a)(4), by inserting current and before former; (3) in subsection (b)(2)(D), by inserting, including by collaborating with public housing agencies that administer Federal housing programs serving foster youth under section 8(x)(2)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and receive funding to partner with public child welfare agencies to serve youth who have experienced foster care before the period; (4) in subsection (b)(3)(B), by striking not more than 30 percent of the amounts paid to the State from its allotment under subsection (c) for a fiscal year and inserting an average of not more than 30 percent of the amounts paid to the State from its allotment under subsection (c) for the 5 fiscal years covered by the application submitted by the State pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection; (5) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following: (6) Housing supportive services (A) In general A State may use amounts from its allotment under subsection (c) to provide supportive services to assist eligible youth who experienced foster care to obtain or retain suitable housing. (B) Definitions (i) Eligible youth In this subsection, the term eligible youth means an individual who receives assistance provided under section 8(x) of the United States Housing Act of 1937. (ii) Supportive services The term supportive services may include— (I) basic life skills information and counseling on financial literacy, use of credit, and money management; (II) counseling on rental lease contracts and assistance with rental insurance; and (III) assistance with security deposits, utility connection fees, moving costs, and other fees associated with establishing tenancy. (C) Exception Expenditures in accordance with this paragraph shall not be considered expenditures for room and board for purposes of subsection (b)(3)(B). (D) Aligning age eligibility Notwithstanding subsection (b)(3)(A)(ii), a State may use funds from its allotment under subsection (c) to provide supportive services to eligible youth who have not attained 26 years of age for the purpose of supporting continued access to housing.; and (6) in subsection (g)(1), by inserting access to housing, before and personal.