TITLE 42 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER I - GENERAL PROVISIONS

42 USC 11301 - Findings and purpose

(a) Findings
The Congress finds that

(1) the Nation faces an immediate and unprecedented crisis due to the lack of shelter for a growing number of individuals and families, including elderly persons, handicapped persons, families with children, Native Americans, and veterans;

(2) the problem of homelessness has become more severe and, in the absence of more effective efforts, is expected to become dramatically worse, endangering the lives and safety of the homeless;

(3) the causes of homelessness are many and complex, and homeless individuals have diverse needs;

(4) there is no single, simple solution to the problem of homelessness because of the different subpopulations of the homeless, the different causes of and reasons for homelessness, and the different needs of homeless individuals;

(5) due to the record increase in homelessness, States, units of local government, and private voluntary organizations have been unable to meet the basic human needs of all the homeless and, in the absence of greater Federal assistance, will be unable to protect the lives and safety of all the homeless in need of assistance; and

(6) the Federal Government has a clear responsibility and an existing capacity to fulfill a more effective and responsible role to meet the basic human needs and to engender respect for the human dignity of the homeless.

(b) Purpose
It is the purpose of this chapter

(1) to establish the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness;

(2) to use public resources and programs in a more coordinated manner to meet the critically urgent needs of the homeless of the Nation; and

(3) to provide funds for programs to assist the homeless, with special emphasis on elderly persons, handicapped persons, families with children, Native Americans, and veterans.

42 USC 11302 - General definition of homeless individual

(a) In general
For purposes of this chapter, the term homeless or homeless individual or homeless person^[1] includes

(1) an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; and

(2) an individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is

(A) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill);

(B) an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or

(C) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

(b) Income eligibility

(1) In general
A homeless individual shall be eligible for assistance under any program provided by this chapter, only if the individual complies with the income eligibility requirements otherwise applicable to such program.

(2) Exception
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a homeless individual shall be eligible for assistance under title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 [29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.].

(c) Exclusion
For purposes of this chapter, the term homeless or homeless individual does not include any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to an Act of the Congress or a State law.

[1] So in original. Probably should be “ ‘homeless individual’ or ‘homeless person’ ”.

42 USC 11303 - Funding availability and limitations

(a) Calculation
The amounts authorized in this chapter shall be in addition to any amount appropriated for the programs involved before July 22, 1987.

(b) Availability until expended
Any amount appropriated under an authorization in this chapter shall remain available until expended.

(c) Limitation
Appropriations pursuant to the authorizations in this chapter shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which prohibits the consideration of any bill that would cause the deficit to exceed the levels established by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, such that it shall not increase the deficit of the Federal Government for fiscal year 1987.

42 USC 11304 - Evaluation by Comptroller General

The Comptroller General of the United States may evaluate the disbursement and use of the amounts made available by appropriation Acts under the authorizations in subchapters III and IV of this chapter.