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• HUD's Proposal to End Assistance to Mixed Status Families [Updated July 29, 2019]

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  From the Document: "On May 10, 2019, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a proposed rule to end eligibility for 'mixed status' families in its major rental assistance programs (public housing, Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, Section 8 project-based rental assistance). 'Mixed status' families comprise both citizens (or eligible noncitizens) and ineligible noncitizens. As reported in the press and reflected in analysis by both CRS [Congressional Research Service] and HUD, the rule would likely result in the displacement from HUD-assisted housing of over 25,000 families, including 55,000 children. Additionally, the rule would establish new documentation requirements for citizens. The proposed rule received over 30,000 comments. Some commentators raised concerns about administrative burdens and impacts on families, as well as the possibility of legal challenges under the Fair Housing Act and the Administrative Procedures Act."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Carter, Jameson A.

  2019-07-29
• Expiring State COVID-19 Emergency Declarations: Effects on Federal Aid [Updated April 7, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Some states, tribes, and territories (hereinafter 'states') may consider rescinding or sun-setting their state-level emergency and disaster declarations, as states make progress in containing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Regardless of state decisions, the federal declarations of a public health emergency (under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. §247d)), two national emergencies (under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. §1601 et seq.) and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. §5121 et seq., hereinafter 'Stafford Act')) and major disasters for each state (also under the Stafford Act) remain in place. This Insight examines the potential impact of lapsing state emergency declarations on the availability of federal aid, either generally or with respect to certain expenses, provided through the Stafford Act as well as six COVID-19 related supplements[.]"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Stienstra, Lauren; Aussenberg, Randy Alison; Lee, Erica A. . . .

  2021-04-07
• Housing Funding in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 [March 31, 2021]

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  From the Document: "According to Census data from late February 2021, nearly 19% of renters [hyperlink] and more than 10% of homeowners with a mortgage [hyperlink] reported having fallen behind in their housing payments during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In response, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA; P.L. [public law] 117-2), enacted in mid-March 2021, included nearly $43 billion in mandatory funding for housing-related programs intended to assist people experiencing housing instability and homelessness. (In addition to funding housing programs, ARPA provided cash to individuals [e.g., individual relief payments, refundable tax credits, and enhanced unemployment benefits] that may also help families pay their housing costs.) [...] Funded programs include those developed specifically to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., the Emergency Rental Assistance program and Homeowner Assistance Fund), as well as existing programs. In some cases, ARPA directed that funding provided through existing programs be used in new ways to serve people experiencing homelessness (e.g., Emergency Housing Vouchers and HOME [Home Investment Partnerships Program] funds); in other cases, the funds are to be used to respond to the pandemic largely within existing program parameters (e.g., Native American and rural housing programs). This Insight includes a funding table followed by a list of each program funded and a brief description of how funds can be used."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Jones, Katie; Perl, Libby; McCarty, Maggie

  2021-03-31
• Federal Eviction Moratoriums in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic [Updated January 26, 2021]

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  From the Document: "On September 4, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) imposed a nationwide temporary federal moratorium on residential evictions due to nonpayment of rent. The stated purpose of the order is preventing the further spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), specifically by preventing homelessness and overcrowded housing conditions resulting from eviction. The action, which followed an Executive Order directing the CDC to consider such a measure, is unprecedented, both in terms of the federal reach into what is traditionally state and local governance of landlord-tenant law and its use of a public health authority for this purpose. The national eviction moratorium took effect less than two weeks after the expiration of a different and narrower set of eviction protections established by the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act (§4024). This Insight compares the two eviction moratoriums across several key features and ends with a review of implementation issues raised by the CDC moratorium."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Perl, Libby

  2021-01-26
• Federal Eviction Moratoriums in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic [Updated December 30, 2020]

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  From the Document: "On September 4, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) imposed a nationwide temporary federal moratorium on residential evictions due to nonpayment of rent. The stated purpose of the order is preventing the further spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), specifically by preventing homelessness and overcrowded housing conditions resulting from eviction. The action, which followed an Executive Order directing the CDC to consider such a measure, is unprecedented, both in terms of the federal reach into what is traditionally state and local governance of landlord-tenant law and its use of a public health authority for this purpose. The national eviction moratorium took effect less than two weeks after the expiration of a different and narrower set of eviction protections established by the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act (§4024). This Insight compares the two eviction moratoriums across several key features and ends with a review of implementation issues raised by the CDC moratorium."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Perl, Libby

  2020-12-30
• Overview of Federal Housing Assistance Programs and Policy [April 15, 2014]

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  "The federal government has been involved in providing housing assistance to lower-income households since the 1930s. In the beginning, the federal government was involved in supporting the mortgage market (through establishment of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the government-sponsored enterprises) and in promoting construction of low-rent public housing for lower-income families through local public housing authorities (PHAs). Over time, the role of the federal government has shifted away from providing construction-based subsidies to providing rental subsidies; private developers and property owners now play a larger role; and more federal funding has been provided to states and localities. Today's federal housing assistance programs fall into three main categories: rental housing assistance, assistance to state and local governments, and assistance for homeowners. Most of these programs are administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Current housing assistance programs include Section 8 vouchers and project-based rental assistance, public housing, housing for the elderly (Section 202), housing for persons with disabilities (Section 811), rural rental assistance (the United States Department of Agriculture's Section 521 program), Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Block Grants, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), homeless assistance programs, FHA and Veterans' Administration mortgage insurance, and the mortgage interest deduction in the tax code."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Perl, Libby; Jones, Katie

  2014-04-15
• Housing Issues in the 113th Congress [July 8, 2014]

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  "The 113th Congress has been active in considering a number of housing-related issues. In general, the issues that have been of interest to Congress can be divided into two broad categories: (1) issues related to homeownership and financing home purchases, and (2) issues related to housing assistance programs for low-income households. Housing assistance for low-income households tends to be primarily, but not exclusively, related to rental housing. During the 113th Congress, housing and mortgage markets have been showing some signs of recovering after several years of distress. Nevertheless, several issues that Congress has been considering are related to addressing problems that arose from the turmoil in housing and mortgage markets in recent years. Congress has also been considering policy changes designed to address problems that are perceived to have contributed to the housing downturn in an attempt to avoid a similar situation in the future."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Jones, Kate; Carpenter, David Hatcher; Hoskins, Sean M. . . .

  2014-07-08
• Hurricane Katrina: Questions Regarding the Section 8 Housing Voucher Program [January 24, 2008]

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  "Hurricane Katrina's devastation to the nation's housing stock was unprecedented. The 2005 hurricanes (Katrina, Rita, and Wilma) and their related flooding were estimated to have damaged 1.2 million units of housing; of those, over 300,000 were seriously damaged or destroyed. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) estimated that 700,000 people may have lived in the areas most adversely affected by Hurricane Katrina, and were most likely to be displaced. […] The full effect of Hurricane Katrina and the circumstances of the families affected may never be fully known. However, existing data provide some insights. For example, CRS estimates that the poverty rate in the Katrina-damaged areas was 21% in 2000--well above the national poverty rate of 12%--and the rate of homeownership in Katrina-damaged areas was 55%, compared with 66% nationally in 2000. In light of the characteristics of the damaged communities--poorer than average and more likely to rent--it is not surprising that many questions arose about the role of the nation's primary housing assistance program for the poor, the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. These questions generally fall into three categories. First, what was the effect of the hurricane on existing voucher holders in the damaged regions? Second, to what extent is the program being used to serve displaced families, regardless of whether they previously received vouchers or other HUD [Housing and Urban Development] assistance? Third, to what extent, if at all, should the program be modified and expanded to serve additional displaced families? This report also reviews the forms of assistance FEMA has provided to displaced families in lieu of Section 8 vouchers."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie

  2008-01-24
• Federal Eviction Moratoriums in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic [Updated March 30, 2021]

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  From the Document: "On September 4, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) imposed a nationwide temporary federal moratorium on residential evictions [hyperlink] for nonpayment of rent. The stated purpose of the order is preventing the further spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), specifically by preventing homelessness and overcrowded housing conditions resulting from eviction. The action, which followed an Executive Order [hyperlink] directing the CDC to consider such a measure, is unprecedented, both in terms of the federal reach into what is traditionally state and local governance of landlord-tenant law and its use of a public health authority [hyperlink] for this purpose. The national eviction moratorium took effect less than two weeks after the expiration of a different and narrower set of eviction protections established by the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act (§4024) [hyperlink]. This Insight compares the two eviction moratoriums across several key features and ends with a review of implementation issues raised by the CDC moratorium."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Perl, Libby

  2021-03-30
• Emergency Rental Assistance Through the Coronavirus Relief Fund [Updated March 31, 2021]

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  From the Introduction: "The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) included an appropriation of $25 billion to help low-income households make rent and utility payments through an Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program.The ERA is funded through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), a program created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136), and administered by the Department of the Treasury, to assist state, local, territorial, and tribal governments. While the CARES Act CRF appropriation could be used for multiple purposes, the ERA appropriation in P.L. 116-260 is directed only to rent and utility assistance and housing stability services. A second appropriation--of $21.550 billion--for ERA was included in Section 3201 of the American Rescue Plan Act (P.L. 117-2). This report briefly describes the need for rental assistance during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, provides information about the allocation of ERA funds, describes the parameters of the ERA program, and discusses outstanding questions about the program and renter needs."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Driessen, Grant A.; McCarty, Maggie; Perl, Libby

  2021-03-31
• HEROS Act, Division K--COVID-19 Housing, Economic Relief, and Oversight Act [June 29, 2020]

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  From the Document: "Many economic effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic intensified in April and May 2020, including historically high levels of unemployment and related housing affordability issues, consumption and spending reductions, and state and local government financial strains. In an attempt to mitigate a range of issues stemming from COVID-19, the House of Representatives on May 15, 2020, passed the HEROES [Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions] Act (H.R. 6800), by a vote of 208 to 199. This wide-ranging bill, consisting of Divisions A through T, would provide a new round of economic stimulus checks to individuals and tax credits to certain COVID-19-affected businesses and employees; extend certain federal unemployment benefits; grant some student loan forgiveness; provide rental and mortgage assistance; provide certain health care equipment; and offer economic assistance to state and local governments, among other provisions. [...] This report provides an overview of the HEROES Act's Division K--the COVID-19 Housing, Economic Relief, and Oversight Act--which includes provisions for housing assistance, student loan forgiveness, the provision of medical equipment, credit reporting and debt collection, greater funding for Community Development Financial Institutions, and increased oversight of COVID19-related government loans to businesses, among other measures."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Miller, Rena S.; Lowry, Sean; Cecire, Michael H. . . .

  2020-06-29
• Drug Testing and Crime-Related Restrictions in TANF, SNAP, and Housing Assistance [March 7, 2012]

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  "This report describes and compares the drug- and crime-related policy restrictions contained in selected federal programs that provide assistance to low-income individuals and families: the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps), and the three primary federal housing assistance programs (the public housing program, the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, and the project-based Section 8 rental assistance program). These programs were chosen because they serve many of the same families. However, the programs also differ. They have different drug- and other crime-related restrictions, with varying levels of federal administration and discretion for state or local administrators. The drug- and crime-related restrictions in TANF, SNAP, and the housing assistance programs were developed at different times in different laws, but it appears they are intended to serve similar purposes. To some extent, they are intended to deter people from engaging in drug-related and other criminal activity. They may also be intended to punish individuals for engaging in undesirable behavior. Further, when resources are limited, these policies may be intended to direct assistance to other households who are deemed more worthy of assistance. Additionally, particularly for housing assistance programs, drug- and crime-related restrictions may be intended to protect vulnerable communities from the consequences of drug-related and other criminal activity. The report begins by providing a brief overview of the history and evolution of policies establishing drug- and crime-related restrictions in federal assistance programs. It then briefly describes TANF, SNAP, and the three housing programs, and then discusses the specific policies in those programs related to drug testing and drug-related and other criminal activity. It concludes by comparing and contrasting those policies and highlighting considerations for policymakers."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Aussenberg, Randy Alison; Falk, Gene; McCarty, Maggie

  2012-03-07
• Drug Testing and Crime-Related Restrictions in TANF, SNAP, and Housing Assistance [September 17, 2013]

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  "Throughout the history of social assistance programs, administrators have attempted to limit access only to those families considered 'worthy' of assistance. Policies about worthiness have included both judgments about need--generally tied to income, demographic characteristics, or family circumstances--and judgments about moral character, often as evidenced by behavior. Past policies evaluating moral character based on family structure have been replaced by today's policies, which focus on criminal activity, particularly drug-related criminal activity. The existing crime and drug-related restrictions were established in the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, when crime rates, especially drug-related violent crime rates, were at peak levels. While crime rates have since declined, interest in expanding these policies has continued. The three programs examined in this report--the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps), and federal housing assistance programs (public housing and Section 8 tenant and project-based assistance)--are similar, in that they are administered at the state or local level. They are different in the forms of assistance they provide. TANF provides cash assistance and other supports to low-income parents and their children, with a specific focus on promoting work. SNAP provides food assistance to a broader set of poor households including families with children, elderly households, and persons with disabilities. The housing assistance programs offer subsidized rental housing to all types of poor families, like SNAP."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Aussenberg, Randy Alison; Falk, Gene . . .

  2013-09-17
• Drug Testing and Crime-Related Restrictions in TANF, SNAP, and Housing Assistance [July 30, 2013]

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  "The three programs examined in this report--the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps), and federal housing assistance programs (public housing and Section 8 tenant and project-based assistance)--are similar, in that they are administered at the state or local level. They are different in the forms of assistance they provide. TANF provides cash assistance and other supports to low-income parents and their children, with a specific focus on promoting work. SNAP provides food assistance to a broader set of poor households including families with children, elderly households, and persons with disabilities. The housing assistance programs offer subsidized rental housing to all types of poor families, like SNAP. All three programs feature some form of drug- and other crime-related restrictions and all three leave discretion in applying those restrictions to state and local administrators. Both TANF and SNAP are subject to the statutory 'drug felon ban,' which bars states from providing assistance to persons convicted of a drug-related felony, but also gives states the ability to opt-out of or modify the ban, which most states have done. Housing assistance programs are not subject to the drug felon ban, but they are subject to a set of policies that allows local program administrators to deny or terminate assistance to persons involved in drug-related or other criminal activity. Housing law also includes mandatory restrictions related to specific crimes, including sex offenses and methamphetamine production. All three programs also have specific restrictions related to fugitive felons."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Aussenberg, Randy Alison; Falk, Gene . . .

  2013-07-30
• Drug Testing and Crime-Related Restrictions in TANF, SNAP, and Housing Assistance [May 13, 2013]

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  "This report describes and compares the drug- and crime-related policy restrictions contained in selected federal programs that provide assistance to low-income individuals and families: the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps), and the three primary federal housing assistance programs (the public housing program, the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, and the project-based Section 8 rental assistance program). These programs were chosen because they serve many of the same families. However, the programs also differ. They have different drug- and other crime-related restrictions, with varying levels of federal administration and discretion for state or local administrators. The drug- and crime-related restrictions in TANF, SNAP, and the housing assistance programs were developed at different times in different laws, but it appears they are intended to serve similar purposes. To some extent, they are intended to deter people from engaging in drug-related and other criminal activity. They may also be intended to punish individuals for engaging in undesirable behavior. Further, when resources are limited, these policies may be intended to direct assistance to other households who are deemed more worthy of assistance. Additionally, particularly for housing assistance programs, drug- and crime-related restrictions may be intended to protect vulnerable communities from the consequences of drug-related and other criminal activity. The report begins by providing a brief overview of the history and evolution of policies establishing drug- and crime-related restrictions in federal assistance programs. It then briefly describes TANF, SNAP, and the three housing programs, and then discusses the specific policies in those programs related to drug testing and drug-related and other criminal activity. It concludes by comparing and contrasting those policies and highlighting considerations for policymakers."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Falk, Gene; Aussenberg, Randy Alison . . .

  2013-05-13
• Drug Testing and Crime-Related Restrictions in TANF, SNAP, and Housing Assistance [September 6, 2012]

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  "Throughout the history of social assistance programs, administrators have attempted to limit access only to those families considered 'worthy' of assistance. Policies about worthiness have included both judgments about need--generally tied to income, demographic characteristics, or family circumstances--and judgments about moral character, often as evidenced by behavior. Past policies evaluating moral character based on family structure have been replaced by today's policies, which focus on criminal activity, particularly drug-related criminal activity. The existing crime and drug-related restrictions were established in the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, when crime rates, especially drug-related violent crime rates, were at peak levels. While crime rates have since declined, interest in expanding these policies has continued. The three programs examined in this report--the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps), and federal housing assistance programs (public housing and Section 8 tenant and project-based assistance)--are similar, in that they are administered at the state or local level. They are different in the forms of assistance they provide."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Falk, Gene; Aussenberg, Randy Alison . . .

  2012-09-06
• Emergency Rental Assistance Through the Coronavirus Relief Fund [February 18, 2021]

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  From the Introduction: "The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) included an appropriation of $25 billion to help low-income households make rent and utility payments through an Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. The ERA is funded through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), a program created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136), and administered by the Department of the Treasury, to assist state, local, territorial, and tribal governments. While the CARES Act CRF appropriation could be used for multiple purposes, the ERA appropriation in P.L. 116-260 is directed only to rent and utility assistance and housing stability services. This report briefly describes the need for rental assistance during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, provides information about the allocation of the $25 billion in ERA funds, describes the parameters of the ERA program, and discusses outstanding questions about the program and renter needs."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Driessen, Grant A.; McCarty, Maggie; Perl, Libby

  2021-02-18
• Expiring State COVID-19 Emergency Declarations: Effects on Federal Aid [February 25, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Some states, tribes, and territories (hereinafter 'states') may consider rescinding or sun-setting their state-level emergency and disaster declarations, as states make progress in containing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Regardless of state decisions, the federal declarations of a public health emergency (under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. §247d)), two national emergencies (under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. §1601 et seq.) and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. §§5121 et seq., henceforth referred to as the Stafford Act)) and major disasters for each state (also under the Stafford Act) remain in place. This Insight examines the potential impact of lapsing state emergency declarations on the availability of federal aid, either generally or with respect to certain expenses, provided through the Stafford Act as well as five COVID-19 related supplements, including [1] the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-123); [2] the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA, P.L. 116-127); [3] the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, P.L. 116-136); [4] the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (P.L. 116-139); and [5] the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act (P.L. 116-159)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Stienstra, Lauren; Aussenberg, Randy Alison; Lee, Erica A. . . .

  2021-02-25
• Drug Testing and Crime-Related Restrictions in TANF, SNAP, and Housing Assistance [November 18, 2015]

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  "Throughout the history of social assistance programs, administrators have attempted to limit access only to those families considered 'worthy' of assistance. Policies about worthiness have included both judgments about need--generally tied to income, demographic characteristics, or family circumstances--and judgments about moral character, often as evidenced by behavior. Past policies evaluating moral character based on family structure have been replaced by today's policies, which focus on criminal activity, particularly drug-related criminal activity. The existing crime and drug-related restrictions were established in the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, when crime rates, especially drug-related violent crime rates, were at peak levels. While crime rates have since declined, some remain interested in expanding these policies. The three programs examined in this report--the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps), and federal housing assistance programs (public housing and Section 8 tenant and project-based assistance)--are similar, in that they are administered at the state or local level. They are different in the forms of assistance they provide. TANF provides cash assistance and other supports to low-income parents and their children, with a specific focus on promoting work. SNAP provides food assistance to a broader set of poor households including families with children, elderly households, and persons with disabilities. The housing assistance programs offer subsidized rental housing to all types of poor families, like SNAP."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Falk, Gene; Aussenberg, Randy Alison . . .

  2015-11-18
• Drug Testing and Crime-Related Restrictions in TANF, SNAP, and Housing Assistance [August 28, 2015]

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  "Throughout the history of social assistance programs, administrators have attempted to limit access only to those families considered 'worthy' of assistance. Policies about worthiness have included both judgments about need--generally tied to income, demographic characteristics, or family circumstances--and judgments about moral character, often as evidenced by behavior. Past policies evaluating moral character based on family structure have been replaced by today's policies, which focus on criminal activity, particularly drug-related criminal activity. The existing crime and drug-related restrictions were established in the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, when crime rates, especially drug-related violent crime rates, were at peak levels. While crime rates have since declined, some remain interested in expanding these policies. The three programs examined in this report--the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps), and federal housing assistance programs (public housing and Section 8 tenant and project-based assistance)--are similar, in that they are administered at the state or local level. They are different in the forms of assistance they provide. TANF provides cash assistance and other supports to low-income parents and their children, with a specific focus on promoting work. SNAP provides food assistance to a broader set of poor households including families with children, elderly households, and persons with disabilities. The housing assistance programs offer subsidized rental housing to all types of poor families, like SNAP."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Aussenberg, Randy Alison; Falk, Gene . . .

  2015-08-28
• Immigration: Noncitizen Eligibility for Needs-Based Housing Programs [December 8, 2015]

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  "The issue of noncitizen eligibility for federally funded programs, including needs-based housing programs, is a perennial issue in Congress. Noncitizen eligibility varies among the needs-based housing programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), such as Public Housing, Section 8 vouchers and project-based rental assistance, homeless assistance programs, housing for the elderly (§202) and the disabled (§811), the HOME program, and the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program. Two laws govern noncitizen eligibility for housing programs: Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Welfare Reform) and Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980, as amended. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) explicitly states that aliens, unless they are qualified aliens, are not eligible for 'federal public benefits,' a term defined in the law to include public and assisted housing. Under the statute, unauthorized (illegal) aliens do not meet the definition of qualified aliens, and as a result, they are ineligible for 'federal public benefits.' However, PRWORA did not make those who had been receiving housing benefits before the date of enactment (August 22, 1996) ineligible for housing benefits. Likewise, PRWORA exempts certain types of programs that are usually thought of as emergency programs from the alien eligibility restrictions. HUD has not issued guidance implementing the PRWORA provisions."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Siskin, Alison; McCarty, Maggie

  2015-12-08
• Immigration: Noncitizen Eligibility for Needs-Based Housing Programs [January 23, 2012]

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  "The issue of noncitizen eligibility for federally funded programs, including needs-based housing programs, is a perennial issue in Congress. Noncitizen eligibility varies among the needs-based housing programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), such as Public Housing, Section 8 vouchers and project-based rental assistance, homeless assistance programs, housing for the elderly (§202) and the disabled (§811), the HOME program, and the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program. Two laws govern noncitizen eligibility for housing programs: Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Welfare Reform) and Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980, as amended. [...] There has been congressional interest regarding the implementation of the eligibility requirements for housing programs. Specifically, questions have been raised as to the documentation requirements placed on both citizens and noncitizens in determining eligibility for housing programs. The documentation requirements are dependent on (1) the housing program, (2) the citizenship status of the applicant, and (3) the age of the applicant. This report will be updated to reflect legislative or regulatory activity."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Siskin, Alison; McCarty, Maggie

  2012-01-23
• HUD's Response to Hurricane Katrina [January 5, 2006]

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  "Hurricane Katrina resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands of families from their homes. While the storm's magnitude is unprecedented in the United States, the resulting need to shelter and house displaced families is not. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the nation's agency with a mission to provide safe and decent housing for all Americans, has played a role in meeting those needs in the past and is playing a role in the wake of Katrina. This report tracks the Department's initial actions as well as proposals to expand the Department's role; it will be updated."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Perl, Libby; Foote, B. Ellington

  2006-01-05
• Hurricane Katrina: Social-Demographic Characteristics of Impacted Areas [November 4, 2005]

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  "On the morning of August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast between the major cities of New Orleans, Louisiana, to the west, and Mobile, Alabama, to the east. Along the Gulf Coast and inland in the swath of the storm, Hurricane Katrina hundreds of thousands of families in three states (Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama) and contributed to the deaths of more than 1,000 people. While CRS estimates that 5.8 million people in three states may have experienced hurricane-force winds, the majority rode out the storm safely. Property damage, loss of life, and sizeable displacement of the population appear to have been largely concentrated along the Gulf Coast within a 100-mile radius of where the storm made landfall [...] This estimate is based on geographical analysis of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood and damage assessments and year 2000 Census data [...] The analysis shows that the Louisiana parishes of Orleans and St. Bernard were especially hard hit by flooding, with an estimated 77% of Orleans population affected, and nearly all residents of St. Bernard. In Mississippi, 55% of Hancock County's population is estimated to have been affected by flooding and/or structural damage, and in the more populous Harrison County, about 19% of its population. In Louisiana, an estimated 645,000 people may have been displaced by the hurricane (based on 2000 Census data), and in Mississippi, 66,000 [...] Due to the city's social and economic composition, the storm impacted heavily on the poor and African Americans--elderly people, families, and children were also affected. CRS estimates that one-fifth of those displaced by the storm were likely to have been poor, and 30% had incomes that were below 1 times the poverty line."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Falk, Gene; McCarty, Maggie; Gabe, Thomas

  2005-11-04
• Role of HUD Housing Programs in Response to Disasters [Updated October 5, 2005]

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  "Hurricane Katrina has resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands of families from their homes. While its magnitude is unprecedented, the resulting need to shelter and house displaced families is not. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the nations agency with a mission to provide safe and decent housing for all Americans, has played a role in meeting those needs in the past and is playing a role in the wake of Katrina. How best to utilize the departments resources, or how best to allocate future additional resources to meet the massive housing needs resulting from Katrina, has yet to be determined. This report begins by introducing the concept of a continuum of housing needs following a disaster. Displaced families needs range from emergency shelter to temporary and permanent housing. While the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has primary responsibility for coordinating disaster relief efforts and providing certain services to help communities recover, other federal agencies, including HUD, also play an important role."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Perl, Libby; Foote, B. Ellington

  2005-10-05
• Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD): FY2013 Appropriations [June 25, 2012]

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  "The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) appropriations subcommittee is charged with providing annual appropriations for the Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and related agencies. The HUD budget generally accounts for the largest share of discretionary appropriations provided by the subcommittee. However, when mandatory funding is taken into account, DOT's budget is larger than HUD's budget, because it includes funding from transportation trust funds. Mandatory funding typically accounts for a little less than half of the bill total. The President's FY2013 budget requests $73.4 billion in new budget resources for DOT. The requested funding was $3.5 billion (5%) more than the amount provided for FY2012 (not counting $1.7 billion in FY2012 emergency funding). Both the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations have recommended roughly the same level of funding as in FY2012 (not counting the emergency funding). The House's pending FY2013 THUD bill (H.R. 5972) would provide no funding for the Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program or for the high speed and intercity passenger rail development program, two priorities of the Administration. The pending Senate THUD bill (S. 2322) would fund the TIGER program and provide a minimal level of funding for high speed rail development ($100 million, compared to $1.0 billion requested). […] The Appropriations Committees did not support the requested restructuring; Congress is currently considering its own reauthorization proposals for surface transportation."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Peterman, David Randall

  2012-06-25
• Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations for FY2020: In Brief [Updated May 18, 2020]

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  From the Document: "The respective House and Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) appropriations subcommittees are charged with providing annual appropriations for the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and certain related agencies. This report describes action on FY2020 annual appropriations for THUD, including detailed tables for each major agency, and including the effect of the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] supplemental appropriations act, signed into law on March 27, 2020, on DOT and HUD budget authority."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Peterman, David Randall

  2020-05-18
• Federal Housing Policy Responses to COVID-19 [Updated June 25, 2020]

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  From the Document: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] global pandemic and resulting economic recession presents many housing challenges, ranging from public health concerns about large populations of unsheltered homeless individuals to the impact of rising unemployment on housing stability. Housing in the United States is primarily a private market function regulated at the state and local level, and states and local governments have implemented a variety of housing policy responses to the pandemic. However, there has been demand for federal action to supplement and support those efforts. In response, the federal government increased its funding for housing programs and made policy changes to protect renters and homeowners and support other housing market participants. In addition to housing-specific interventions, policies such as one-time relief payments to individuals, federal increases to Unemployment Insurance (UI), and some fiscal relief to states and localities may be used directly or indirectly for housing needs."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Jones, Katie; Perl, Libby

  2020-06-25
• Funding for HUD in the CARES Act [April 7, 2020]

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  From the Document: "Division B of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136) provided $12.4 billion in additional FY2020 funding for several Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs and activities. The funds are generally for one of three broad purposes: to provide additional resources to meet emerging needs, to support existing rental assistance programs, or to provide additional administrative capacity and oversight. Three-quarters of the funding can be considered new resources to meet emerging needs, with most of the remaining funding supporting rental assistance programs. HUD has announced allocations of some grant funding provided by the law."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Jones, Katie; Perl, Libby . . .

  2020-04-07
• Noncitizen Eligibility for Federal Housing Programs [Updated July 23, 2020]

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  From the Introduction: "The federal government has authorized and funds a variety of housing programs, including direct assistance for low-income renters; grants and other aid for states, localities, and nonprofits to meet local housing needs; and loans and loan guarantees for mortgage lending to support homeownership. The availability of these programs for noncitizens varies depending on the underlying laws that authorize or govern them, the federal agencies that administer them and the guidance they have issued, and the immigration status of a noncitizen and his or her household members. (While this report discusses policy implementation and the positions agencies have taken under the statutes, it does not provide a legal analysis of ambiguities in the statutes.) This report begins by introducing the range of federal housing programs and the range of immigration statuses of noncitizens. It continues with an overview of the relevant statutes governing noncitizen eligibility, followed by a discussion of policy implementation as applied to various programs. The report closes with a discussion of recent administrative actions relevant to federal housing programs."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Kolker, Abigail F.

  2020-07-23