[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2965 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2965
To require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish
a grant program to provide amounts to eligible entities for costs
associated with the establishment and operation of a safe parking
program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 4, 2021
Mr. Carbajal (for himself and Mr. LaMalfa) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish
a grant program to provide amounts to eligible entities for costs
associated with the establishment and operation of a safe parking
program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Naomi Schwartz Safe Parking Program
Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. SAFE PARKING PROGRAM GRANTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development shall establish a grant program to provide amounts to
eligible entities for costs associated with the establishment and
operation of new or existing safe parking program.
(b) Grant Term.--If the Secretary awards a grant to an eligible
entity under subsection (a), such grant shall be for a term of 5 years.
(c) Amount.--
(1) In general.--An eligible entity awarded a grant under
this section shall receive an equal amount of money in each of
the 5 years of the term of the grant.
(2) Cap.--No eligible entity may receive an amount under
this section that exceeds $5,000,000.
(d) Applications.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
subsection (a), an eligible entity shall submit an application
to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Secretary may require, including a
description of how any amounts awarded to the eligible entity
will be used.
(2) Multiple locations.--An eligible entity may, in such
application, propose to establish or continue operating safe
parking program as multiple locations.
(3) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority to
applications from eligible entities that serve homeless persons
in underserved areas, as such term is defined in section 81.2
of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations.
(e) Use of Funds.--Except as provided by subsection (f), any
eligible entity that is awarded an amount under this section shall use
such amount for costs associated with--
(1) establishing and operating a safe parking program;
(2) providing permanent rehousing assistance to families
using the safe parking program;
(3) employing staff who maintain the safety and health of
participants and monitor program or shelter compliance;
(4) establishing and maintaining the operation of hygiene
facilities and restrooms for homeless persons;
(5) maintaining the vehicles of homeless persons using a
safe parking program and providing gas for such persons to use
their vehicles to drive to places that will help them obtain or
maintain housing, including to work, to schools, to medical
appointments, and to search for home; or
(6) entering data and information into the Department of
Housing and Urban Development's Homeless Management Information
System.
(f) Alternative Use of Funds.--If a eligible entity determines that
a safe parking program is no longer necessary, such eligible entity
may, after approval from the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
use any amounts provided under this section for activities that are
eligible for the use of emergency solutions grant program amounts under
section 415 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
(g) Rehousing and Case Management Services.--Any homeless person
who makes use of a safe parking program established or operated using
amounts awarded under this section is not required to accept case
management or rehousing services offered as part of such program.
(h) Definitions.--
(1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a unit of general purpose local government;
(B) an Indian tribe or its tribally designated
housing entity as such terms are defined in section 4
of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-
Determination Act of 1996;
(C) a non-profit organization that provides
services to homeless persons; or
(D) a collaborative applicant or other organization
or entity funded under the Continuum of Care program
under subtitle C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 et seq.).
(2) Essential service.--The term ``essential service'' as
the meaning given the term in section 567.102 of title 24, Code
of Federal Regulations.
(3) Homeless person.--The term ``homeless person'' has the
meaning given the term in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act.
(4) Safe parking program.--The term ``safe parking
program'' means a program that--
(A) provides homeless persons living in vehicles,
including motor homes, with a safe place to park their
vehicles overnight to facilitate a transition to more
stable housing; and
(B) provides re-housing services and essential
services.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern
Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands,
and any other territory or possession of the United States.
(i) Report to Congress.--The Secretary shall, not later than 180
days after the end of the second fiscal year and after the end of the
fifth fiscal year following the date of the enactment of this section,
submit to the Congress a report on the impact of grants awarded under
this section, including, to the extent determinable, any data about--
(1) the number of homeless persons living in vehicles in
the geographic region in which the eligible entity operates in
each of the 7 previous years;
(2) the demographics and number of homeless persons who
choose to participate in a safe parking program; and
(3) the number of homeless persons who choose to
participate in a safe parking program who exit into permanent
housing.
(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this Act $25,000,000 for each of the first 5
fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment of this section.
(k) Termination of Grant Program.--The Secretary may not award any
grant under this section after the date that is final day of the fifth
fiscal year beginning afer the date of the enactment of this section.
<all>