HELP Act of 2020
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (3 Aug 2020): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
What this bill does
The Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program Act of 2020, or HELP Act of 2020, would require the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to create a database of eviction information from federally assisted housing. States and local entities receiving federal housing assistance would submit data on evictions, including the reason for eviction and if the tenant had legal representation. This bill also proposes to limit how landlord-tenant actions can appear on consumer reports, requiring landlords to prevail in court and the tenant to be an adult for such information to be included, and it would be removed after one year.
Additionally, the bill would authorize $10 billion for Emergency Solutions Grants to help tenants facing or at risk of eviction. These funds could be used to provide legal counsel and pay court fees for tenants. Owners of federally assisted rental units would be required to inform their tenants annually about their rights and responsibilities concerning eviction and provide information on available local resources. HUD would also establish an eviction assistance hotline for tenants in these units.
This bill was introduced in the Senate in August 2020 by Vice President Kamala Harris and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. It has not moved past the introduction stage.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program Act of 2020 or the HELP Act of 2020
This bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a database of information regarding evictions from federally assisted dwellings, limits the inclusion of information relating to landlord-tenant actions in consumer reports, and otherwise provides eviction-related assistance and services.
Specifically, the bill requires states and local entities receiving federal housing assistance to submit to HUD, for inclusion in the database, certain information regarding evictions from assisted dwelling units in the past year. Such information must include, among other things, the reason for eviction and whether the household was represented by legal counsel in the proceedings.
Additionally, consumer reporting agencies may include an adverse item of information relating to a landlord-tenant action in a consumer report only if the landlord prevailed in the action and the tenant was an adult on the date the court claim was filed. Any such information must be removed from a consumer report one year after the date of the action.
Further, the bill authorizes additional Emergency Solutions Grants to provide legal counsel and pay court fees for tenants subject to or at risk of eviction.
Finally, HUD must require owners of federally assisted rental units to annually provide information to each tenant regarding the rights and responsibilities of the owner with respect to eviction and local organizations and resources that can provide assistance in eviction-related matters. HUD must also establish an eviction hotline to provide assistance to tenants of these units.
Timeline
3 Aug 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Common questions
- What does S. 4399 do?
- The Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program Act of 2020, or HELP Act of 2020, would require the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to create a database of eviction information from federally assisted housing. States and local entities receiving federal housing assistance would submit data on evictions, including the reason for eviction and if the tenant had legal representation. This bill also proposes to limit how landlord-tenant actions can appear on consumer reports, requiring landlords to prevail in court and the tenant to be an adult for such information to be included, and it would be removed after one year. Additionally, the bill would authorize $10 billion for Emergency Solutions Grants to help tenants facing or at risk of eviction. These funds could be used to provide legal counsel and pay court fees for tenants. Owners of federally assisted rental units would be required to inform their tenants annually about their rights and responsibilities concerning eviction and provide information on available local resources. HUD would also establish an eviction assistance hotline for tenants in these units. This bill was introduced in the Senate in August 2020 by Vice President Kamala Harris and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. It has not moved past the introduction stage.
- Has S. 4399 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 4399. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 4399?
- S. 4399 was sponsored by Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA] (D-CA), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 4399?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (3 Aug 2020).
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