[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 970 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 970
To establish a pilot program to improve the family self-sufficiency
program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 11 (legislative day, March 10), 2025
Mr. Reed (for himself and Mrs. Britt) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing,
and Urban Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a pilot program to improve the family self-sufficiency
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 ``Helping More Families Save Act''.
SEC. 2. FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY ESCROW EXPANSION PILOT PROGRAM.
Section 23 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437u) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(p) Escrow Expansion Pilot Program.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Covered family.--The term `covered family'
means a family that receives assistance under section 8
or 9 of this Act and is enrolled in the pilot program.
``(B) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity'
means an entity described in subsection (c)(2).
``(C) Pilot program.--The term `pilot program'
means the pilot program established under paragraph
(2).
``(D) Welfare assistance.--The term `welfare
assistance' has the meaning given the term in section
984.103 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, or
any successor regulation.
``(2) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a pilot
program under which the Secretary shall select not more than 25
eligible entities to establish and manage escrow accounts for
not more than 5,000 covered families, in accordance with this
subsection.
``(3) Escrow accounts.--
``(A) In general.--An eligible entity selected to
participate in the pilot program--
``(i) shall establish an interest-bearing
escrow account and place into the account an
amount equal to any increase in the amount of
rent paid by each covered family in accordance
with the provisions of section 3, 8(o), or
8(y), as applicable, that is attributable to
increases in earned income by the covered
families during the participation of each
covered family in the pilot program; and
``(ii) notwithstanding any other provision
of law, may use funds it controls under section
8 or 9 for purposes of making the escrow
deposit for covered families assisted under, or
residing in units assisted under, section 8 or
9 of this title, respectively, provided such
funds are offset by the increase in the amount
of rent paid by the covered family.
``(B) Income limitation.--An eligible entity may
not escrow any amounts for any covered family whose
adjusted income exceeds 80 percent of the area median
income.
``(C) Withdrawals.--A covered family shall be able
to withdraw funds, including interest earned, from an
escrow account established by an eligible entity under
the pilot program--
``(i) after the covered family ceases to
receive welfare assistance; and
``(ii)(I) not earlier than the date that is
5 years after the date on which the eligible
entity establishes the escrow account under
this subsection;
``(II) not later than the date that is 7
years after the date on which the eligible
entity establishes the escrow account under
this subsection, if the covered family chooses
to continue to participate in the pilot program
after the date that is 5 years after the date
on which the eligible entity establishes the
escrow account;
``(III) on the date the covered family
ceases to receive housing assistance under
section 8 or 9, if such date is earlier than 5
years after the date on which the eligible
entity establishes the escrow account;
``(IV) earlier than 5 years after the date
on which the eligible entity establishes the
escrow account, if the covered family is using
the funds to advance a self-sufficiency goal as
approved by the eligible entity; or
``(V) under other circumstances in which
the Secretary determines an exemption for good
cause is warranted.
``(D) Interim recertification.--For purposes of the
pilot program, a covered family may recertify the
income of the covered family multiple times per year,
as determined by the Secretary, and not fewer than once
per year.
``(E) Contract or plan.--A covered family is not
required to complete a standard contract of
participation or an individual training and services
plan in order to participate in the pilot program.
``(4) Effect of increases in family income.--Any increase
in the earned income of a covered family during the enrollment
of the family in the pilot program may not be considered as
income or a resource for purposes of eligibility of the family
for other benefits, or amount of benefits payable to the
family, under any program administered by the Secretary.
``(5) Application.--
``(A) In general.--An eligible entity seeking to
participate in the pilot program shall submit to the
Secretary an application--
``(i) at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary
may require by notice; and
``(ii) that includes the number of proposed
covered families to be served by the eligible
entity under this subsection.
``(B) Geographic and entity variety.--The Secretary
shall ensure that eligible entities selected to
participate in the pilot program--
``(i) are located across various States and
in both urban and rural areas; and
``(ii) vary by size and type, including
both public housing agencies and private owners
of projects receiving project-based rental
assistance under section 8.
``(6) Notification and opt-out.--An eligible entity
participating in the pilot program shall--
``(A) notify covered families of their enrollment
in the pilot program;
``(B) provide covered families with a detailed
description of the pilot program, including how the
pilot program will impact their rent and finances;
``(C) inform covered families that the families
cannot simultaneously participate in the pilot program
and the Family Self-Sufficiency program under this
section; and
``(D) provide covered families with the ability to
elect not to participate in the pilot program--
``(i) not less than 2 weeks before the date
on which the escrow account is established
under paragraph (3); and
``(ii) at any point during the duration of
the pilot program.
``(7) Maximum rents.--During the term of participation by a
covered family in the pilot program, the amount of rent paid by
the covered family shall be calculated under the rental
provisions of section 3 or 8(o), as applicable.
``(8) Pilot program timeline.--
``(A) Awards.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary
shall select the eligible entities to participate in
the pilot program.
``(B) Establishment and term of accounts.--An
eligible entity selected to participate in the pilot
program shall--
``(i) not later than 6 months after
selection, establish escrow accounts under
paragraph (3) for covered families; and
``(ii) maintain those escrow accounts for
not less than 5 years, or until the date the
family ceases to receive assistance under
section 8 or 9, and, at the discretion of the
covered family, not more than 7 years after the
date on which the escrow account is
established.
``(9) Nonparticipation and housing assistance.--
``(A) In general.--Assistance under section 8 or 9
for a family that elects not to participate in the
pilot program shall not be delayed or denied by reason
of such election.
``(B) No termination.--Housing assistance may not
be terminated as a consequence of participating, or not
participating, in the pilot program under this
subsection for any period of time.
``(10) Study.--Not later than 8 years after the date the
Secretary selects eligible entities to participate in the pilot
program under this subsection, the Secretary shall conduct a
study and submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial
Services of the House of Representatives a report on outcomes
for covered families under the pilot program, which shall
evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program in assisting
families to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency,
and the impact coaching and supportive services, or the lack
thereof, had on individual incomes.
``(11) Waivers.--To allow selected eligible entities to
effectively administer the pilot program and make the required
escrow account deposits under this subsection, the Secretary
may waive requirements under this section.
``(12) Termination.--The pilot program under this
subsection shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after
the date of enactment of this subsection.
``(13) Authorization of appropriations.--
``(A) In general.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2026
$5,000,000--
``(i) for technical assistance related to
implementation of the pilot program; and
``(ii) to carry out an evaluation of the
pilot program under paragraph (10).
``(B) Availability.--Any amounts appropriated under
this subsection shall remain available until
expended.''.
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