“To amend the definition of extremely low-income families under the United States Housing Act of 1937.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section revises the definition of extremely low-income families under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 by replacing "Puerto Rico or any other" with "any" (i.e., for territories generally) and requiring public housing agencies and projects located in Puerto Rico to use the poverty guidelines applicable to the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia (previously, Puerto Rico and other territories used separate poverty guidelines). (Thus, more families in Puerto Rico qualify as extremely low-income, which are prioritized for public housing units and Section 8 vouchers.)
This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, a report on efforts by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in collaboration with the Government of Puerto Rico, to connect low-income families residing in Puerto Rico with (1) housing assistance available in Puerto Rico and (2) affordable dwelling units, including those assisted under the United States Housing Act of 1937 (i.e., the public housing program). The report must assess (1) how HUD and the Puerto Rico Public Housing Administration (PRPHA) identify and address housing needs for extremely low-income families in Puerto Rico, (2) HUD's use of federal disaster recovery funds to rebuild and expand low-income housing after natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, and (3) provide recommendations to improve the effectiveness of federal and local housing programs serving such families.