PRINTER'S NO. 3636
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2451
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY SCHWEYER, GALLOWAY, WEBSTER, BURGOS, SCHLOSSBERG,
HOHENSTEIN, CALTAGIRONE, MARKOSEK, YOUNGBLOOD, McNEILL,
DELLOSO, WILLIAMS, HILL-EVANS, FREEMAN, NEILSON, McCLINTON,
DRISCOLL, SANCHEZ, READSHAW, DEASY, DeLUCA, LEE, GREEN,
FRANKEL, CIRESI, MADDEN AND GAINEY, APRIL 27, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, APRIL 27, 2020
AN ACT
Providing for the Emergency COVID-19 Homelessness Grant Program;
imposing duties on the Department of Human Services; and
making an appropriation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Emergency
COVID-19 Homelessness Grant Program Act.
Section 2. Declaration of policy.
The General Assembly intends that grants provided under the
program be used to support a not-for-profit organization, county
government or municipal government that provides community-based
services, programs and activities conducive to secure shelter,
housing, food, essential supplies, public assistance benefits
and sanitation and personal hygiene measures to protect the
health and well-being of individuals who are homeless.
Section 3. Definitions.
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The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Human Services of the
Commonwealth.
"Individual who is homeless." An individual who:
(1) lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime
residence;
(2) will imminently lose a primary nighttime residence;
(3) is an unaccompanied youth under 25 years of age or a
member of a family with at least one child, if the
unaccompanied youth or family member does not have a
residential lease, ownership interest or occupancy agreement
in permanent housing or experiences persistent housing
instability; or
(4) is fleeing domestic or dating violence, sexual
assault, stalking or any other violence-related or life-
threatening living condition that has taken place within the
individual's primary residence.
"Personal protective equipment." Equipment worn to minimize
exposure to hazards that cause serious injuries and illnesses.
"Program." The Emergency COVID-19 Homelessness Grant Program
established under this act.
Section 4. Establishment of program.
A program is established within the department, to be known
as the Emergency COVID-19 Homelessness Grant Program, to provide
grants in an amount determined by the department to eligible
not-for-profit organizations, county governments or municipal
governments for community-based services, programs and
activities that support individuals who are homeless.
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Section 5. Applications.
(a) Development and availability.--Grant application forms
shall be developed by the department and be made available on
the department's publicly accessible Internet website.
(b) Compliance.--The department shall verify in writing on
each grant application that the application complies with all
the requirements under section 6.
Section 6. Requirements.
The department shall award grants to an eligible not-for-
profit organization, county government or municipal government
that has been approved by the department for any of the
following purposes:
(1) Shelter or securing part-time or full-time housing.
(2) Food and essential supplies.
(3) Sanitation and personal hygiene measures, including,
but not limited to, outdoor latrines, hand-washing stations
and personal protective equipment.
(4) Any other related services that support individuals
who are homeless.
(5) The capital needs of the not-for-profit
organization, county government or municipal government,
including, but not limited to, administrative costs and
payroll.
Section 7. Powers and duties of department.
The department shall promulgate rules, regulations and
directives that the department deems necessary to carry out the
provisions of this act.
Section 8. Awarding of grants.
(a) Authorization.--The department shall award grants to
eligible not-for-profit organizations, county governments or
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municipal governments that have been approved by the department
to achieve the purposes specified under this act.
(b) Amount.--A grant amount may not exceed a maximum of
$250,000 for each not-for-profit organization, county government
or municipal government approved under this act.
Section 9. Appropriation.
For fiscal year 2020-2021, the sum of $5,000,000 shall be
appropriated from the General Fund to the department for the
program.
Section 10. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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