Definition of Homelessness- New Definition in HEARTH ACT

The bill modifies the definition of homelessness and also allows grantees to use some

Continuum of Care funding for people who are not homeless under HUD's definition, but are

homeless under definitions of homelessness used by other federal agencies.

HUD's existing definition of homelessness includes people living in places not meant for human

habitation (the streets, abandoned buildings, etc), living in an emergency shelter or transitional

housing facility, and—although it is not specifically described in the McKinney-Vento statute—

facing the loss of housing within the next seven days with no other place to go and no

resources or support networks to obtain housing.

The HEARTH Act adds to this definition situations where a person is at imminent risk of

homelessness or where a family or unaccompanied youth is living unstably. Imminent risk

includes situations where a person must leave his or her current housing within the next 14

days with no other place to go and no resources or support networks to obtain housing.

Instability includes families with children and unaccompanied youth who: 1) are defined as

homeless under other federal programs (such as the Department of Education's Education for

Homeless Children and Youth program), 2) have lived for a long period without living

independently in permanent housing, 3) have moved frequently, and 4) will continue to

experience instability because of disability, history of domestic violence or abuse, or multiple

barriers to employment.