Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2025 (H.R. 6403)

Summary

The Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2025 is a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that aims to amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to better meet the needs of homeless children, youth, and families. The key provisions of the bill include:

Expanding the Definition of Homelessness

• Extends the definition of "homeless" to include those who are sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason for a period of up to 30 days (previously 14 days)
• Defines "child or youth defined as homeless under any other Federal program" to include homeless children and youth covered under other federal programs, such as the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and the Head Start Act

Prioritizing Vulnerable Populations

• Ensures that all individuals defined as "homeless" under the expanded definition are eligible for any program or program component under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
• Requires that all proposed program components or housing and service models targeting the newly defined "homeless" populations be given the same priority, points, or weight

Modifying Domestic Violence Provisions

• Updates the definition of "homeless" to include those experiencing or having experienced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, or other dangerous conditions that made their current housing unsafe or caused homelessness

Improving Data Collection and Reporting

• Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to ensure that data collection and reporting capture information on vulnerable populations, including children under 5, youth and young adults aged 14-24, and victims of trafficking

Overall, the Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2025 aims to broaden the definition of homelessness, prioritize services for vulnerable populations, and enhance data collection to better serve homeless children, youth, and families across the country.