Franken and Portman Introduce Bill to Exempt Homeless Youth and Veterans from Housing Credit Student Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 27, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — On May 21, Senator Al Franken (D-MN) and Senate Finance Committee member Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced the Housing for Homeless Students Act, S. 1412, which would add a new exemption to the Housing Credit student rule to allow full-time students to qualify to rent a Housing Credit apartment if they were a youth experiencing homelessness at any point within the seven years prior to moving into their Housing Credit apartment (according to the definition of homeless children and youth used in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act) or if they are a veteran and were homeless at any point within the five years prior to moving into their Housing Credit apartment. Under current law, full-time students are ineligible to live in a Housing Credit apartment unless they meet certain established exemptions, including being a single parent, receiving assistance under Title IV of the Social Security Act, or being enrolled in certain job training programs.

In addition to Franken and Portman, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Angus King (I-ME) co-sponsored the legislation. We expect House Ways and Means Committee member James McDermott (D-WA) soon to introduce House companion legislation.

For more information, contact NCSHA’s Jennifer Schwartz.