Part B - Emergency Shelter Grants Program

42 USC 11371 - Definitions

For purposes of this part:

(1) The term local government means a unit of general purpose local government.

(2) The term locality means the geographical area within the jurisdiction of a local government.

(3) The term metropolitan city has the meaning given such term in section 5302 of this title.

(4) The term operating costs means expenses incurred by a recipient operating a facility assisted under this part with respect to

(A) the administration, maintenance, repair, and security of such housing; and

(B) utilities, fuels, furnishings, and equipment for such housing.

(5) The term private nonprofit">nonprofit organization means a secular or religious organization described in section 501 (c) of title 26 that is exempt from taxation under subtitle A of title 26, has an accounting system and a voluntary board, and practices nondiscrimination in the provision of assistance.

(6) The term recipient means any governmental or private nonprofit">nonprofit entity that is approved by the Secretary as to financial responsibility.

(7) The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

(8) 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.

(9) The term urban county has the meaning given such term in section 5302 of this title.

42 USC 11372 - Grant assistance

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall, to the extent of amounts approved in appropriation Acts under section 11377 of this title, make grants to States and local governments (and to private nonprofit">nonprofit organizations providing assistance to homeless individuals, in the case of grants made with reallocated amounts) in order to carry out activities described in section 11374 of this title.

42 USC 11373 - Allocation and distribution of assistance

(a) In general
The Secretary shall allocate assistance under this part to metropolitan cities, urban counties, and States (for distribution to local governments and private nonprofit">nonprofit organizations in the States) in a manner that ensures that the percentage of the total amount available under this part for any fiscal year that is allocated to any State, metropolitan city, or urban county is equal to the percentage of the total amount available for section 5306 of this title for such prior fiscal year that is allocated to such State, metropolitan city, or urban county.

(b) Minimum allocation requirement
If, under the allocation provisions applicable under this part, any metropolitan city or urban county would receive a grant of less than 0.05 percent of the amounts appropriated to carry out this part for any fiscal year, such amount shall instead be reallocated to the State, except that any city that is located in a State that does not have counties as local governments, that has a population greater than 40,000 but less than 50,000 as used in determining the fiscal year 1987 community development block grant program allocation, and that was allocated in excess of $1,000,000 in community development block grant funds in fiscal year 1987, shall receive directly the amount allocated to such city under subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Distributions to nonprofit">nonprofit organizations
Any local government receiving assistance under this part may distribute all or a portion of such assistance to private nonprofit">nonprofit organizations providing assistance to homeless individuals. Any State receiving assistance under this part may distribute all or a portion of such assistance to private nonprofit">nonprofit organizations providing assistance to homeless individuals, if the local government for the locality in which the project is located certifies that it approves of the project.

(d) Reallocation of funds

(1) The Secretary shall, not less than twice during each fiscal year, reallocate any assistance provided under this part that is unused or returned or that becomes available under subsection (b) of this section.

(2) If a city or county eligible for a grant under subsection (a) of this section fails to obtain approval of its comprehensive plan during the 90-day period following the date funds authorized by this part first become available for allocation during any fiscal year, the amount that the city or county would have received shall be available to the State in which the city or county is located if the State has obtained approval of its comprehensive plan. Any amounts that cannot be allocated to a State under the preceding sentence shall be reallocated to other States, counties, and cities that demonstrate extraordinary need or large numbers of homeless individuals, as determined by the Secretary.

(3) If a State fails to obtain approval of its comprehensive plan during the 90-day period following the date funds authorized by this part first become available for allocation during any fiscal year, the amount that the State would have received shall be reallocated to other States and to cities and counties as applicable, that demonstrate extraordinary need or large numbers of homeless individuals, as determined by the Secretary.

(e) Allocations to territories
In addition to the other allocations required in this section, the Secretary shall (for amounts appropriated after July 22, 1987) allocate assistance under this part to 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, in accordance with an allocation formula established by the Secretary.

42 USC 11374 - Eligible activities

(a) In general
Assistance provided under this part may be used for the following activities relating to emergency shelter for homeless individuals:

(1) The renovation, major rehabilitation, or conversion of buildings to be used as emergency shelters.

(2) The provision of essential services, including services concerned with employment, health, drug abuse, or education, if

(A) such services have not been provided by the local government during any part of the immediately preceding 12-month period, or the use of assistance under this part would complement those services; and

(B) not more than 30 percent of the aggregate amount of all assistance to a State or local government under this part is used for activities under this paragraph.

(3) Maintenance, operation, insurance, utilities, and furnishings, except that not more than 10 percent of the amount of any grant received under this part may be used for costs of staff.

(4) Efforts to prevent homelessness, such as financial assistance to families who have received eviction notices or notices of termination of utility services if

(A) the inability of the family to make the required payments is due to a sudden reduction in income;

(B) the assistance is necessary to avoid the eviction or termination of services;

(C) there is a reasonable prospect that the family will be able to resume payments within a reasonable period of time; and

(D) the assistance will not supplant funding for preexisting homelessness prevention activities from other sources.

Activities that are eligible for assistance under this paragraph shall include assistance to very low-income families who are discharged from publicly funded institutions or systems of care (such as health care facilities, foster care or other youth facilities, or correction programs and institutions). Not more than 30 percent of the aggregate amount of all assistance to a State or local government under this part may be used for activities under this paragraph.

(b) Waiver authority
The Secretary may waive the 20 percent limitation on the use of assistance for essential services contained in subsection (a)(2)(B) of this section, if the local government receiving the assistance demonstrates that the other eligible activities under the program are already being carried out in the locality with other resources.

42 USC 11375 - Responsibilities of recipients

(a) Matching amounts

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), each recipient under this part shall be required to supplement the assistance provided under this part with an equal amount of funds from sources other than this part. Each recipient shall certify to the Secretary its compliance with this paragraph, and shall include with such certification a description of the sources and amounts of such supplemental funds.

(2) Each recipient under this part that is a State shall be required to supplement the assistance provided under this part with an amount of funds from sources other than this part equal to the difference between the amount received under this part and $100,000. If the amount received by the State is $100,000 or less, the State may not be required to supplement the assistance provided under this part.

(3) In calculating the amount of supplemental funds provided by a recipient under this part, a recipient may include the value of any donated material or building, the value of any lease on a building, any salary paid to staff to carry out the program of the recipient, and the value of the time and services contributed by volunteers to carry out the program of the recipient at a rate determined by the Secretary.

(b) Administration of assistance
Each recipient shall act as the fiscal agent of the Secretary with respect to assistance provided to such recipient.

(1) it will

(A) in the case of assistance involving major rehabilitation or conversion, maintain any building for which assistance is used under this part as a shelter for homeless individuals and families for not less than a 10-year period;

(B) in the case of assistance involving rehabilitation (other than major rehabilitation or conversion), maintain any building for which assistance is used under this part as a shelter for homeless individuals and families for not less than a 3-year period; or

(C) in the case of assistance involving solely activities described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 11374 (a) of this title, provide services or shelter to homeless individuals and families for the period during which such assistance is provided, without regard to a particular site or structure as long as the same general population is served;

(2) any renovation carried out with assistance under this part shall be sufficient to ensure that the building involved is safe and sanitary;

(3) it will assist homeless individuals in obtaining

(A) appropriate supportive services, including permanent housing, medical and mental health treatment, counseling, supervision, and other services essential for achieving independent living; and

(B) other Federal, State, local, and private assistance available for such individuals;

(4) in the case of a recipient that is a State, it will obtain any matching amounts required under subsection (a) of this section in a manner so that local governments, agencies, and local nonprofit">nonprofit organizations receiving assistance from the grant that are least capable of providing the recipient State with such matching amounts receive the benefit of the $100,000 subtrahend under subsection (a)(2) of this section;

(5) it will develop and implement procedures to ensure the confidentiality of records pertaining to any individual provided family violence prevention or treatment services under any project assisted under this part and that the address or location of any family violence shelter project assisted under this part will, except with written authorization of the person or persons responsible for the operation of such shelter, not be made public;

(6) activities undertaken by the recipient with assistance under this part are consistent with any housing strategy submitted by the grantee in accordance with section 12705 of this title; and

(7) to the maximum extent practicable, it will involve, through employment, volunteer services, or otherwise, homeless individuals and families in constructing, renovating, maintaining, and operating facilities assisted under this part, in providing services assisted under this part, and in providing services for occupants of facilities assisted under this part.

(d) Participation of homeless individuals
The Secretary shall, by regulation, require each recipient that is not a State to provide for the participation of not less than 1 homeless individual or former homeless individual on the board of directors or other equivalent policymaking entity of such recipient, to the extent that such entity considers and makes policies and decisions regarding any facility, services, or other assistance of the recipient assisted under this part. The Secretary may grant waivers to recipients unable to meet the requirement under the preceding sentence if the recipient agrees to otherwise consult with homeless or formerly homeless individuals in considering and making such policies and decisions.

(e) Termination of assistance
If an individual or family who receives assistance under this part from a recipient violates program requirements, the recipient may terminate assistance in accordance with a formal process established by the recipient that recognizes the rights of individuals affected, which may include a hearing.

42 USC 11376 - Administrative provisions

(a) Regulations
Not later than 60 days after July 22, 1987, the Secretary shall by notice establish such requirements as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this part. Such requirements shall be subject to section 553 of title 5. The Secretary shall issue requirements based on the initial notice before the expiration of the 12-month period following July 22, 1987. Prior to the issuance of such requirements in final form, the requirements established by the Secretary implementing the provisions of the emergency shelter grants program under the provisions made effective by section 101(g) of Public Law 99500 or Public Law 99591 shall govern the emergency shelter grants program under this part.

(b) Initial allocation of assistance
Not later than the expiration of the 60-day period following the date of enactment of a law providing appropriations to carry out this part, the Secretary shall notify each State, metropolitan city, and urban county that is to receive a direct grant of its allocation of assistance under this part. Such assistance shall be allocated and may be used notwithstanding any failure of the Secretary to issue requirements under subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Minimum standards of habitability
The Secretary shall prescribe such minimum standards of habitability as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to ensure that emergency shelters assisted under this section are environments that provide appropriate privacy, safety, and sanitary and other health-related conditions for homeless persons and families. Grantees are authorized to establish standards of habitability in addition to those prescribed by the Secretary.

42 USC 11377 - Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part $138,000,000 for fiscal year 1993 and $143,796,000 for fiscal year 1994.

42 USC 11378 - Administrative costs

A recipient may use up to 5 percent of any annual grant received under this part for administrative purposes. A recipient State shall share the amount available for administrative purposes pursuant to the preceding sentence with local governments funded by the State.