Bill · S. 4854· Senate(119-S-4854)
Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act
- Introduced
- 6/23/2026
- Last activity
- 6/23/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Chuck Grassley
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act aims to improve coordination between Federal housing assistance programs and those serving youth who have experienced foster care. It amends section 477 of the Social Security Act to include access to housing for youth age 18 or older. The bill allows states to use allotment funds for supportive services to help eligible youth obtain or keep housing. These services include life skills, financial literacy, and assistance with moving or lease costs. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Housing and Urban Development to issue joint guidance for better alignment between agencies. Finally, a report must be submitted to Congress regarding the outcomes and data for these youth.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+8
The bill provides critical housing support and life skills specifically for youth up to age 26 who have experienced foster care.
Does this make housing cost less?+7
The bill expands the use of funds to provide supportive services like security deposits and moving costs to help foster youth obtain and retain housing.
Is this likely to reduce homelessness?+7
The bill explicitly targets improving access to stable housing and tracking homelessness rates among former foster youth.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Enhanced Housing Access for Foster Youth: The bill amends the Social Security Act to include access to housing for youth age 18 or older (Section 2, subsection (a)(1)).
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Increased Support for Independent Living: States may use funds to provide supportive services to assist eligible youth who experienced foster care in obtaining or retaining suitable housing (Section 2, subsection (d)(6)(A)).
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Specific Life Skills and Financial Assistance: The bill defines supportive services to include basic life skills, financial literacy, counseling on rental lease contracts, and assistance with security deposits, utility connection fees, and moving costs (Section 2, subsection (d)(6)(B)).
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Expanded Age Eligibility for Support: A State may use funds to provide supportive services to eligible youth who have not yet reached 26 years of age to support continued access to housing (Section 2, subsection (d)(6)(D)).
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Improved Agency Coordination: The Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will issue joint guidance to improve alignment between public child welfare agencies and public housing authorities (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly detailed in the text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Affordable Housing+7Reduces Homelessness+7Improves Poverty Reduction+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Young Adults+8Good For Low Income Households+6Good For People With Disabilities+1
- 6/23/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont