S. 2282 – Tribal Access to Homeless Assistance Act of 2019

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 7:29 AM UTC

The Tribal Access to Homeless Assistance Act of 2019 amends the McKinney‑Vento Homeless Assistance Act so that federally recognized Indian tribes and housing entities designated by tribes can apply for, receive, and manage HUD’s Continuum of Care grants. The change expands eligibility for homeless‑assistance funding to include tribal governments and their housing programs, allowing them to participate directly or receive sub‑grants from other grant recipients.

Key Provisions

Adds a definition of “Indian tribe” that references the Native American Housing Assistance and Self‑Determination Act of 1996.
Creates a new “formula area” definition for use in grant calculations.
Rearranges and renames existing paragraph numbers in the statute to make room for the new provisions.
Introduces a new Section 435 that explicitly permits Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities to be collaborative applicants for Continuum of Care grants or to receive sub‑grants from other grant recipients.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

July 25, 2019

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 25, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

July 25, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued July 25, 2019

II

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2282

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 25, 2019

Ms. Smith (for herself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Udall, and Mr. Tester) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

A BILL

To amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to enable Indian Tribes and tribally designated housing entities to apply for, receive, and administer grants and subgrants under the Continuum of Care Program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Tribal Access to Homeless Assistance Act of 2019.

2.

Participation of Indian Tribes and tribally designated housing entities in Continuum of Care Program

(a)

In general

Title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360 et seq.) is amended—

(1)

in section 401 (42 U.S.C. 11360)—

(A)

by redesignating paragraphs (10) through (33) as paragraphs (12) through (35), respectively;

(B)

by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively;

(C)

by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:

(8)

Formula area

The term formula area has the meaning given the term in section 1000.302 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.

;

(D)

in paragraph (9), as so redesignated, by inserting a formula area, after nonentitlement area,; and

(E)

by inserting after paragraph (10), as so redesignated, the following:

(11)

Indian Tribe

The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term Indian tribe in section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103).

; and

(2)

in subtitle C (42 U.S.C. 11381 et seq.), by adding at the end the following:

435.

Indian Tribes and tribally designated housing entities

Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, for purposes of this subtitle, an Indian Tribe or tribally designated housing entity (as defined in section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103)) may—

(1)

be a collaborative applicant or eligible entity; or

(2)

receive grant amounts from another entity that receives a grant directly from the Secretary, and use the amounts in accordance with this subtitle.

.

(b)

Technical and conforming amendment

The table of contents in section 101(b) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Public Law 100–77; 101 Stat. 482) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 434 the following:

Sec. 435. Indian Tribes and tribally designated housing entities.

.