definition of homeless
TITLE 42 > CHAPTER 119 > SUBCHAPTER I > § 11302
§ 11302. General definition of homeless individual
Release date: 2005-12-27
(a) In general
For purposes of this chapter, the term “homeless” or “homeless individual or homeless person” [1] includes—
(1) an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; and
(2) an individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is—
(A) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill);
(B) an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or
(C) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
(b) Income eligibility
(1) In general
A homeless individual shall be eligible for assistance under any program provided by this chapter, only if the individual complies with the income eligibility requirements otherwise applicable to such program.
(2) Exception
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a homeless individual shall be eligible for assistance under title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 [29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.].
(c) Exclusion
For purposes of this chapter, the term “homeless” or “homeless individual” does not include any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to an Act of the Congress or a State law.
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[1] So in original. Probably should be “ ‘homeless individual’ or ‘homeless person’”.
McKinney-Vento Act establishes: (b) Purpose
It is the purpose of this chapter—
(1) to establish an Interagency Council on the Homeless;
(2) to use public resources and programs in a more coordinated manner to meet the critically urgent needs of the homeless of the Nation; and
(3) to provide funds for programs to assist the homeless, with special emphasis on elderly persons, handicapped persons, families with children, Native Americans, and veterans.
Chronic homelessness is a definition of severity applied to individuals who “In general, is an unaccompanied disabled individual who has been continuously homeless for over one year or more or has experienced four or more episodes of homelessness over the last three years.” Note that this excludes families.
"A disabling condition is defined as a diagnosible substance abuse disorder, serious mental illness, developmental disability, or chronic physical illness or disability, including the co-occurrence of two or more of these conditions." (quoted in HUD's FY2006 general section of the SuperNOFA, Federal Register, vol71 n13, Friday 20 Jan 2006, notices.)
For Guidance determining eligibility for consumers of services funded with HUD Supportive Housing Program (SHP) funds click here.
