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Republicans Introduce Bills to Protect Public Housing Residents and the Homeless

Washington, Mar 19 -

WASHINGTON – Today, Republican members of the House Financial Services Committee introduced legislation to protect public housing residents and individuals experiencing homelessness from coronavirus (COVID-19). These five proposals, in addition to eight bills introduced by Committee leaders last week, are a part of Committee Republicans’ comprehensive approach to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic with innovative and targeted solutions.

H.R. 6293, the Interagency Council on Homelessness Coronavirus Guidance Act. Introduced by Congressman Lee Zeldin (NY-1), this bill requires the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) to issue guidance to the public and stakeholders on best practices to prevent and respond to COVID-19 outbreaks for all classifications of homeless populations.

H.R. 6294, the Improving Emergency Disease Response via Housing Act. Introduced by Congressman Scott Tipton (CO-3), this bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to coordinate with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to identify potential COVID-19 hotspots, specifically at-risk Section 202 elderly housing properties and areas with high concentrations of homelessness. This will allow agencies to increase health outreach and testing in these areas.

H.R. 6295, the Protecting Our Elderly Residents Act. Introduced by the Ranking Republican of the Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance, Steve Stivers (OH-15), this bill requires HUD and Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to establish rules regarding non-emergency and non-resident access to Section 202 elderly housing properties and public housing to limit the spread of COVID-19 to residents.

H.R. 6296, the PHA Public Health Flexible Funding Act. Introduced by the Ranking Republican of the Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance, Steve Stivers (OH-15), this bill provides PHAs with funding flexibility to comingle their Capital and Operating funds to support their COVID-19 response.

H.R. 6297, the Informed Resident Notification Act. Introduced by Congressman Ted Budd (NC-13), this bill requires PHAs to promptly inform all residents in a public housing dwelling when an outbreak of COVID-19 has been detected in that building, so that extra precautions can be taken to limit the spread of the virus.

Ranking Republicans Patrick McHenry (NC-10) and Steve Stivers (OH-15) sent letters to the largest PHAs on March 16^th, urging them to implement policies to protect residents from COVID-19.

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