H.R.3319 - Women’s and Family Protection Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.3319, the Women's and Family Protection Act of 2025, aims to amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The bill focuses on redefining 'homeless individual' to include those residing in indigenous, rural, or marginalized communities, and specifically recognizes women, children, survivors, and persons at risk of gender-based violence within the domestic violence definition. It also establishes a set-aside within the Emergency Solutions Grants program for private nonprofit organizations serving high-needs populations, including homeless women and children, victims of gender-based violence, and other special needs groups.
Expected Effects
The bill's passage would broaden the scope of the McKinney-Vento Act to provide targeted assistance to vulnerable populations, particularly women and families experiencing homelessness and gender-based violence. It would also direct resources towards private nonprofit organizations that provide essential services, such as shelter, counseling, and housing relocation assistance. This could lead to increased support and improved outcomes for these at-risk groups.
Potential Benefits
- Increased support for homeless women, children, and families.
- Targeted assistance for victims of gender-based violence.
- Expanded definition of homelessness to include marginalized communities.
- Direct grants to private nonprofits providing essential services.
- Improved data collection and evaluation of program effectiveness.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential strain on existing resources due to expanded eligibility.
- Increased administrative burden for the Secretary in defining marginalized communities and special needs populations.
- Risk of funding disparities if resources are not allocated equitably among different populations.
- Possible challenges in coordinating services between different agencies and organizations.
- Reliance on private nonprofits, which may have varying levels of capacity and effectiveness.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble) by aiming to provide assistance to vulnerable populations. It does not seem to infringe upon any specific individual rights or liberties protected by the Bill of Rights. However, the delegation of authority to the Secretary to define 'indigenous, rural, or marginalized communities' and 'special needs populations' could raise concerns about potential overreach or arbitrary decision-making, although this is common in the execution of laws.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).