Prevent Homelessness Act of 2023

HR 5277, the Prevent Homelessness Act of 2023, establishes a $100 million annual Housing Stabilization Fund at HUD to provide short-term financial assistance to extremely low-income families (earning less than 30% of area median income) and very low-income families (earning less than 50% of area median income) facing housing crises. The fund provides grants to local homeless service networks to cover immediate housing needs like rent arrears, utility payments, repairs for unsafe living conditions, legal assistance for evictions, and other short-term costs that prevent homelessness. Assistance is limited to 8 months within any 12-month period and must align with local homeless prioritization systems, with funding allocated based on areas with the highest concentrations of low-income and homeless populations. The bill authorizes $100 million annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2029, focusing on stabilizing housing for vulnerable families facing urgent financial hardship.