On Tuesday, January 6, the first day of the 111th Congress, a bipartisan set of House Members introduced HR 29 - The Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2009 (HCYA). Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R-13th/IL) introduced the legislation, joined by Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-4th/NY), Congressman Geoff Davis (R-4th/KY), Congressman Andre Carson (D-7th/IN), and Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-15th/TX).
HR 29 is identical to the "Homeless Children and Youth Amendment" proposed by NPACH, NAEHCY, and First Focus during last year's House debate on HUD McKinney-Vento reauthorization. The bill amends the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) definition of homelessness to include children, youth, and their families who are verified as homeless by federal program personnel from four federal programs (including school district liaisons, Head Start programs, Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs, and early intervention programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C).
HR 29 is straight-forward common sense legislation with a simple premise - that if one federal agency defines a child or youth as homeless, another federal agency (HUD) should do the same thing. Taking this approach will provide all homeless children & youth, and their families, with greater opportunities to obtain safe, stable, permanent housing and other supportive services.