HF 2313

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to housing; providing assistance to stabilize
housing for children to enhance school attendance and
performance; appropriating money; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2004, section 462A.204, subdivision 8.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 462A.204,
subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

School stability.

deleted text begin (a) The agency in
consultation with the Interagency Task Force on Homelessness may
establish a school stability project under the family homeless
prevention and assistance program. The purpose of the project
is to secure stable housing for families with school-age
children who have moved frequently and for unaccompanied youth.
For purposes of this subdivision, "unaccompanied youth" are
minors who are leaving foster care or juvenile correctional
facilities, or minors who meet the definition of a child in need
of services or protection under section 260C.007, subdivision 6,
but for whom no court finding has been made pursuant to that
statute.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (b) The agency shall make grants to family homeless
prevention and assistance projects in communities with a school
or schools that have a significant degree of student mobility.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) Each project must be designed to reduce school
absenteeism; stabilize children in one home setting or, at a
minimum, in one school setting; and reduce shelter usage. Each
project must include plans for the following:
deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) targeting of families with children under age 12 who,
in the last 12 months have either: changed schools or homes at
least once or been absent from school at least 15 percent of the
school year and who have either been evicted from their housing;
are living in overcrowded conditions in their current housing;
or are paying more than 50 percent of their income for rent;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) targeting of unaccompanied youth in need of an
alternative residential setting;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) connecting families with the social services necessary
to maintain the families' stability in their home; and
deleted text end

deleted text begin (4) one or more of the following:
deleted text end

deleted text begin (i) provision of rental assistance for a specified period
of time, which may exceed 24 months; or
deleted text end

deleted text begin (ii) development of permanent supportive housing or
transitional housing.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (d) Notwithstanding subdivision 2, grants under this
section may be used to acquire, rehabilitate, or construct
transitional or permanent housing.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (e) Each grantee under the project must include
representatives of the local school district or targeted
schools, or both, and of the local community correction agencies
on its advisory committee.
deleted text end

new text begin (a) The agency must establish and operate a program under
the family homelessness prevention and assistance program to
stabilize housing for children attending elementary or secondary
school. The goal of the program is to eliminate or reduce
change of residence of a student so that both the student's home
and the school of attendance remain stable. The program may
include only elementary school children and may focus on
particular schools.
new text end

new text begin (b) Eligible participants must have a prior history of
school or residence mobility. The agency may contract with
others, including one or more city housing and redevelopment
authorities, to carry out any of its duties under this
subdivision.
new text end

new text begin (c) The program must provide additional rental assistance
above any amount for which the recipient is otherwise eligible
to the responsible adult with whom a child resides if the adult
signs an agreement that is also signed by a landlord and the
school district that obligates:
new text end

new text begin (1) the responsible adult to remain in the current
residence until the end of a school year except for conditions
specified in the agreement;
new text end

new text begin (2) the landlord to cooperate with the responsible adult on
housing issues; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the school district to monitor school attendance and
issues affecting school attendance.
new text end

new text begin (d) A family must pay no more than 25 percent of its income
for rent. Rent may not exceed fair market rent for an area.
The rental assistance may be paid directly to a landlord.
new text end

new text begin (e) The program must include the collection of information
from schools related to students' grades and attendance records
so that the program can evaluate its effect on school
performance and attendance. As a condition of receiving a rent
subsidy, the student and responsible adult must consent to the
release of that information for the purpose of the evaluation.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated from the general fund for the
biennium ending June 30, 2007, for transfer to the housing
development fund for the Housing Finance Agency for purposes of
Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.204, subdivision 8.
new text end