H.R. 3977 — Campus Housing Affordability for Foster Youth Act

This section removes the prohibition on providing housing assistance to students enrolled in an institution of higher education. (Thus, such students become eligible for HUD rental assistance programs, including the Housing Choice Voucher program and public housing, subject to the redesignated exceptions in paragraphs (1) through (5).)

This section authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to waive student ineligibility requirements under the Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance program (i.e., Housing Choice Voucher program; 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) to provide assistance to individuals who (1) are enrolled at an institution of higher education as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), including proprietary institutions and postsecondary vocational institutions (20 U.S.C. 1002(a)(1)(A)-(B)); (2) reside in on-campus student housing; and (3) are or were in foster care or are emancipated minors declared so by a court. (As background, the program generally bars assistance to able-bodied students enrolled at least half-time in such institutions.) Assistance received pursuant to the waiver is excluded from the recipient's income for purposes of determining eligibility for federal student financial aid, cooperative education work income calculations, National and Community Service Act living allowances, or child support obligations.