H.R. 3977: Campus Housing Affordability for Foster Youth Act (119th Congress) Bill Summary

This bill, titled the "Campus Housing Affordability for Foster Youth Act," aims to amend existing laws to provide housing assistance for certain students enrolled in institutions of higher education. Here’s a breakdown of its key provisions:

1. Prohibition Removal on Housing Assistance

The bill seeks to remove the existing prohibition that prevents students from receiving specific types of housing assistance. This involves changing a section of the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, and related appropriations act from 2006, which will allow some students to receive housing support.

2. Waiver of Requirements for Specific Students

The proposed legislation gives the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development the discretion to waive certain requirements for providing housing assistance to individuals who meet the following criteria:

They are students enrolled in an institution of higher education, as defined under existing law.
They live in an on-campus student housing facility operated by the educational institution.
They are either currently in foster care, have previously been in foster care, or are minors who have been declared emancipated by a court.

3. Treatment of Financial Assistance

The bill specifies that any housing assistance received through the waivers mentioned above will not be counted as income for various financial aid considerations. This means it will not affect their eligibility for:

Federal financial assistance for students.
Income calculations for cooperative education programs.
Living allowances under national service programs.
Child support obligations.

Overall, this legislation aims to enhance housing affordability for foster youth attending college by providing them with necessary financial housing assistance without penalizing them in other financial aid contexts.