42 U.S.C. § 11302 | General definition of homeless individual

(a)

In general

1 So in original. Probably should be “mean—”.

For purposes of this chapter, the terms “homeless”, “homeless individual”, and “homeless person” means— 

(1)

an individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence;

(2)

an individual or family with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground;

(3)

an individual or family living in a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including hotels and motels paid for by Federal, State, or local government programs for low-income individuals or by charitable organizations, congregate shelters, and transitional housing);

(4)

an individual who resided in a shelter or place not meant for human habitation and who is exiting an institution where he or she temporarily resided;

(5)

an individual or family who—

(A)

will imminently lose their housing, including housing they own, rent, or live in without paying rent, are sharing with others, and rooms in hotels or motels not paid for by Federal, State, or local government programs for low-income individuals or by charitable organizations, as evidenced by—

(i)

a court order resulting from an eviction action that notifies the individual or family that they must leave within 14 days;

(ii)

the individual or family having a primary nighttime residence that is a room in a hotel or motel and where they lack the resources necessary to reside there for more than 14 days; or

(iii)

credible evidence indicating that the owner or renter of the housing will not allow the individual or family to stay for more than 14 days, and any oral statement from an individual or family seeking homeless assistance that is found to be credible shall be considered credible evidence for purposes of this clause;

(B)

has no subsequent residence identified; and

(C)

lacks the resources or support networks needed to obtain other permanent housing; and

(6)

unaccompanied youth and homeless families with children and youth defined as homeless under other Federal statutes who—

(A)

have experienced a long term period without living independently in permanent housing,

(B)

have experienced persistent instability as measured by frequent moves over such period, and

(C)

can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time because of chronic disabilities, chronic physical health or mental health conditions, substance addiction, histories of domestic violence or childhood abuse, the presence of a child or youth with a disability, or multiple barriers to employment.

(b)

Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other dangerous, traumatic, or life-threatening conditions relating to such violence

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Secretary shall consider to be homeless any individual or family who—

(1)

is experiencing trauma or a lack of safety related to, or fleeing or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous, traumatic, or life-threatening conditions related to the violence against the individual or a family member in the individual’s or family’s current housing situation, including where the health and safety of children are jeopardized;

(2)

has no other safe residence; and

(3)

lacks the resources to obtain other safe permanent housing.

(c)

Income eligibility

(1)

In general

A homeless individual shall be eligible for assistance under any program provided by this chapter, only if the individual complies with the income eligibility requirements otherwise applicable to such program.

(2)

Exception

29 U.S.C. 3111Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a homeless individual shall be eligible for assistance under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act [ et seq.].

(d)

Exclusion

For purposes of this chapter, the term “homeless” or “homeless individual” does not include any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to an Act of the Congress or a State law.

(e)

Persons experiencing homelessness

Any references in this chapter to homeless individuals (including homeless persons) or homeless groups (including homeless persons) shall be considered to include, and to refer to, individuals experiencing homelessness or groups experiencing homelessness, respectively.

Pub. L. 100–77, title I, § 103July 22, 1987101 Stat. 485 Pub. L. 101–625, title VIII, § 822Nov. 28, 1990104 Stat. 4355 Pub. L. 101–645, title VI, § 602Nov. 29, 1990104 Stat. 4734 Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(f) [title VIII, § 405(d)(41), (f)(32)]Oct. 21, 1998112 Stat. 2681–337 Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, § 1003(a)May 20, 2009123 Stat. 1664 Pub. L. 113–128, title V, § 512(s)July 22, 2014128 Stat. 1712 Pub. L. 117–103, div. W, title VI, § 605(a)(1)Mar. 15, 2022136 Stat. 886(, , ; , , ; , , ; , , , 2681–427, 2681–434; , title V, § 1502(b), , , 1701; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 100–77July 22, 1987101 Stat. 482 section 11301 of this titleThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a), (c)(1), (d), and (e), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , known as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 113–128July 22, 2014128 Stat. 1425 section 3101 of Title 29The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is , , . Title I of the Act is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 3111 et seq.) of chapter 32 of Title 29, Labor. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Amendments

Pub. L. 117–1032022—Subsec. (b). amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Secretary shall consider to be homeless any individual or family who is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions in the individual’s or family’s current housing situation, including where the health and safety of children are jeopardized, and who have no other residence and lack the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.”

Pub. L. 113–1282014—Subsec. (c)(2). substituted “a homeless individual shall be eligible for assistance under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act” for “a homeless individual shall be eligible for assistance under title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998”.

Pub. L. 111–222009— added subsecs. (a), (b), and (e), redesignated former subsecs. (b) and (c) as (c) and (d), respectively, and struck out former subsec. (a) which defined “homeless” or “homeless individual or homeless person”.

Pub. L. 105–277, § 101(f) [title VIII, § 405(f)(32)]1998—Subsec. (b)(2). , struck out “the Job Training Partnership Act or” after “assistance under”.

Pub. L. 105–277, § 101(f) [title VIII, § 405(d)(41)], substituted “the Job Training Partnership Act or title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998” for “the Job Training Partnership Act”.

Pub. L. 101–6251990—Subsec. (a). inserted “or homeless person” after “homeless individual” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 101–645Subsec. (b). amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “A homeless individual shall be eligible for assistance under any program provided by this chapter, or by the amendments made by this Act, only if the individual complies with the income eligibility requirements otherwise applicable to such program.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2022 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–103Mar. 15, 2022section 4(a) of div. W of Pub. L. 117–103 section 6851 of Title 15Amendment by not effective until Oct. 1 of the first fiscal year beginning after , see , set out as an Effective Date note under , Commerce and Trade.

Effective Date of 2014 Amendment

Pub. L. 113–128July 22, 2014July 1, 2015section 506 of Pub. L. 113–128 section 3101 of Title 29Amendment by effective on the first day of the first full program year after (), see , set out as an Effective Date note under , Labor.

Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, title V, § 1503May 20, 2009123 Stat. 1702

section 11301 of this title“Except as specifically provided otherwise in this division [see Short Title of 2009 Amendment note set out under ], this division and the amendments made by this division shall take effect on, and shall apply beginning on—

“(1)

May 20, 2009 the expiration of the 18-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this division [], or

“(2)

42 U.S.C. 11301Dec. 5, 2011 the expiration of the 3-month period beginning upon publication by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development of final regulations pursuant to section 1504 [the first final regulations pursuant to section 1504 ( note) were published on , see 76 F.R. 75994],

whichever occurs first.”

, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–277Oct. 21, 1998Pub. L. 105–277July 1, 2000Pub. L. 105–277 section 3502 of Title 5Amendment by section 101(f) [title VIII, § 405(d)(41)] of effective , and amendment by section 101(f) [title VIII, § 405(f)(32)] of effective , see section 101(f) [title VIII, § 405(g)(1), (2)(B)] of , set out as a note under , Government Organization and Employees.

Regulations

Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, § 1003(b)May 20, 2009123 Stat. 1666

May 20, 200942 U.S.C. 11360 42 U.S.C. 11302“Not later than the expiration of the 6-month period beginning upon the date of the enactment of this division [], the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall issue regulations that provide sufficient guidance to recipients of funds under title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act [ et seq.] to allow uniform and consistent implementation of the requirements of section 103 of such Act [], as amended by subsection (a) of this section. This subsection shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this division.”

, , , provided that:

Clarification of Effect on Other Laws

Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, § 1003(c)May 20, 2009123 Stat. 1666

42 U.S.C. 11302 42 U.S.C. 11301“This section [amending this section and enacting provisions set out as a note under this section] and the amendments made by this section to section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act () may not be construed to affect, alter, limit, annul, or supersede any other provision of Federal law providing a definition of ‘homeless’, ‘homeless individual’, or ‘homeless person’ for purposes other than such Act [ et seq.], except to the extent that such provision refers to such section 103 or the definition provided in such section 103.”

, , , provided that: