119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 7432

Fostering the Future Act

In Second Chamber

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

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House

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

The Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act amends the Social Security Act to improve housing support for young adults who have experienced foster care. Specifically, it allows states to use Chafee program funds to provide supportive services, such as financial counseling and assistance with housing costs, to eligible youth up to age 26 who are participating in the Section 8 Family Unification Program. The bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop joint guidance to coordinate housing assistance programs and report on the outcomes for foster youth receiving federal housing assistance.

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Legislative history

2026-02-09House

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

2026-02-09House

2026-02-09

Introduced in House

2026-02-09

Introduced in House

Passage without roll call

The official record shows passage by unanimous consent or voice vote where no roll call was taken. No member-level tally is available for these steps, and the district map does not apply.

5/19/2026HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3558-3560)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
5/19/2026Voice vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3558-3560)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls list how each member voted. Unanimous consent or voice vote appears in the official action history without a roll call; no member-level tally is available for those steps.

Passage without roll call

5/19/2026HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3558-3560)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
5/19/2026Voice vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3558-3560)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

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Feb 9, 2026XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 2d Session

H. R. 7432

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

To amend section 477 of the Social Security Act to improve coordination with Federal housing assistance programs for youth who have experienced foster care.

1.Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act

2.Improving access to housing for foster youth

Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)(1)—

(A)

by striking and preventive and inserting preventive; and

(B)

by inserting , and access to housing for youth age 18 or older before the semicolon;

(2)

in subsection (a)(4), by inserting current and before former;

(3)

in subsection (b)(2)(D), by inserting , including by collaborating with public housing agencies that administer Federal housing programs serving foster youth under section 8(x)(2)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and receive funding to partner with public child welfare agencies to serve youth who have experienced foster care before the period;

(4)

in subsection (b)(3)(B), by striking not more than 30 percent of the amounts paid to the State from its allotment under subsection (c) for a fiscal year and inserting an average of not more than 30 percent of the amounts paid to the State from its allotment under subsection (c) for the 5 fiscal years covered by the application submitted by the State pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection;

(5)

in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:

(6)Housing supportive services

(A)In generalA State may use amounts from its allotment under subsection (c) to provide supportive services to assist eligible youth who experienced foster care to obtain or retain suitable housing.

(B)Definitions

(i)Eligible youthIn this subsection, the term eligible youth means an individual who receives assistance provided under section 8(x) of the United States Housing Act of 1937.

(ii)Supportive services

The term supportive services may include—

(I)

basic life skills information and counseling on financial literacy, use of credit, and money management;

(II)

counseling on rental lease contracts and assistance with rental insurance; and

(III)assistance with security deposits, utility connection fees, moving costs, and other fees associated with establishing tenancy.

(C)Exception

Expenditures in accordance with this paragraph shall not be considered expenditures for room and board for purposes of subsection (b)(3)(B).

(D)Aligning age eligibility

Notwithstanding subsection (b)(3)(A)(ii), a State may use funds from its allotment under subsection (c) to provide supportive services to eligible youth who have not attained 26 years of age for the purpose of supporting continued access to housing.

; and

(6)

in subsection (g)(1), by inserting access to housing, before and personal.

3.Joint agency guidance

(a)In generalWithin 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall develop and issue joint guidance to State public child welfare agencies and public housing authorities to improve alignment and coordination of housing supportive services provided under section 477 of the Social Security Act and housing assistance provided under section 8(x) of the United States Housing Act of 1937.

(b)Contents

The joint guidance shall include the following:

(1)

Clarification and alignment of Federal policies to improve access to housing for youth who have experienced foster care, including youth who are in independent living arrangements while in extended foster care.

(2)Guidance on State use of funds provided under section 477 of the Social Security Act for supportive services (as defined in subsection (d)(6) of such section) to improve access to housing programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(3)

Best practices for building partnerships between public child welfare agencies and public housing authorities, including ways to improve access to the supportive services.

(4)

Additional information the Secretaries deem necessary to effectively coordinate Federal programs serving current and former foster youth.

(c)ProductionThe Secretary of Health and Human Services shall designate an official of the Department of Health and Human Services to lead development of the joint guidance in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

4.Report to Congress

Within 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate a report that sets forth—

(1)

aggregate data on the number of eligible youth who have experienced foster care who are receiving Federal housing assistance;

(2)

a description of the outcomes for the youth, including the extent to which youth are able to access stable housing and rates of homelessness;

(3)the findings from any evaluations of State programs conducted pursuant to section 477(g)(1) of the Social Security Act; and

(4)

statutory recommendations for improving coordination between public child welfare agencies and Federal housing programs.

5.Effective date

This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

HR 7432

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