---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 11386"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "11386"
heading: "Program requirements"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/11386"
units:
  - "Chapter 119 — Homeless Assistance"
  - "Subchapter IV — Housing Assistance"
  - "Part C — Continuum of Care Program"
---

# §11386. Program requirements

- (a) **Site control—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/11371.md?p=7) shall require that each application include reasonable assurances that the applicant will own or have control of a site for the proposed [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) not later than the expiration of the 12-month period beginning upon notification of an award for grant assistance, unless the application proposes providing supportive [housing assistance](/usc/42/13641.md?p=3) under [section 11383(a)(3) of this title](/usc/42/11383.md?p=a-3) or housing that will eventually be owned or controlled by the families and individuals served. An applicant may obtain ownership or control of a suitable site different from the site specified in the application. If any [recipient](/usc/42/11371.md?p=6) or [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) sponsor fails to obtain ownership or control of the site within 12 months after notification of an award for grant assistance, the grant shall be recaptured and reallocated under this part.
- (b) **Required agreements—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/11371.md?p=7) may not provide assistance for a proposed [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) under this part unless the collaborative applicant involved agrees—
  - (1) to ensure the operation of the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) in accordance with the provisions of this part;
  - (2) to monitor and report to the [Secretary](/usc/42/11371.md?p=7) the progress of the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2);
  - (3) to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that individuals and families experiencing homelessness are involved, through employment, provision of volunteer services, or otherwise, in constructing, rehabilitating, maintaining, and operating facilities for the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) and in providing supportive services for the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2);
  - (4) to require certification from all [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) sponsors that—
    - (A) they will maintain the confidentiality of records pertaining to any individual or family provided family violence prevention or [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) services through the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2);
    - (B) that[^1] the address or location of any family violence shelter [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) assisted under this part will not be made public, except with written authorization of the person responsible for the operation of such [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2);
    - (C) they will establish policies and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) that are consistent with, and do not restrict the exercise of rights provided by, part B of subchapter VI [[42 U.S.C. 11431](/usc/42/11431.md) et seq.], and other laws relating to the provision of educational and related services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness;
    - (D) in the case of programs that provide housing or services to families, they will designate a staff person to be responsible for ensuring that children being served in the program are enrolled in school and connected to appropriate services in the community, including early childhood programs such as Head Start, part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [[20 U.S.C. 1431](/usc/20/1431.md) et seq.], and programs authorized under part B of subchapter VI of this chapter ([42 U.S.C. 11431](/usc/42/11431.md) et seq.); and
    - (E) they will provide data and reports as required by the [Secretary](/usc/42/11371.md?p=7) pursuant to the Act;[^2]
  - (5) if a collaborative applicant is a unified funding [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) under [section 11360a(g) of this title](/usc/42/11360a.md?p=g) and receives funds under this part to carry out the payment of administrative costs described in [section 11383(a)(11) of this title](/usc/42/11383.md?p=a-11), to establish such fiscal control and fund accounting procedures as may be necessary to assure the proper disbursal of, and accounting for, such funds in order to ensure that all financial transactions carried out with such funds are conducted, and records maintained, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
  - (6) to monitor and report to the [Secretary](/usc/42/11371.md?p=7) the provision of matching funds as required by [section 11386d of this title](/usc/42/11386d.md);
  - (7) to take the educational needs of children into account when families are placed in emergency or transitional shelter and will, to the maximum extent practicable, place families with children as close as possible to their school of origin so as not to disrupt such children’s education; and
  - (8) to comply with such other terms and conditions as the [Secretary](/usc/42/11371.md?p=7) may establish to carry out this part in an effective and efficient manner.
- (c) **Occupancy charge—** Each [homeless individual](/usc/42/11302.md?p=a) or family residing in a [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) providing supportive housing may be required to pay an occupancy charge in an amount determined by the [recipient](/usc/42/11371.md?p=6) or [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) sponsor providing the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), which may not exceed the amount determined under [section 1437a(a) of this title](/usc/42/1437a.md?p=a). Occupancy charges paid may be reserved, in whole or in part, to assist residents in moving to permanent housing.
- (d) **Flood protection standards—** Flood protection standards applicable to housing acquired, rehabilitated, constructed, or assisted under this part shall be no more restrictive than the standards applicable under Executive Order No. 11988 (May 24, 1977) to the other programs under this subchapter.
- (e) **Participation of homeless individuals—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/11371.md?p=7) shall, by regulation, require each [recipient](/usc/42/11371.md?p=6) or [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) sponsor to provide for the participation of not less than 1 [homeless individual](/usc/42/11302.md?p=a) or former [homeless individual](/usc/42/11302.md?p=a) on the board of [directors](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) or other equivalent policymaking entity of the [recipient](/usc/42/11371.md?p=6) or [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) sponsor, to the extent that such entity considers and makes policies and decisions regarding any [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), supportive services, or assistance provided under this part. The [Secretary](/usc/42/11371.md?p=7) may grant waivers to applicants unable to meet the requirement under the preceding sentence if the applicant agrees to otherwise consult with [homeless](/usc/42/11302.md?p=a) or formerly [homeless individuals](/usc/42/11302.md?p=a) in considering and making such policies and decisions.
- (f) **Limitation on use of funds—** No assistance received under this part (or any [State](/usc/42/11371.md?p=8) or [local government](/usc/42/11371.md?p=1) funds used to supplement such assistance) may be used to replace other [State](/usc/42/11371.md?p=8) or local funds previously used, or designated for use, to assist [homeless persons](/usc/42/11302.md?p=a).
- (g) **Termination of assistance—** If an individual or family who receives assistance under this part (not including residents of an emergency shelter) from a [recipient](/usc/42/11371.md?p=6) violates program requirements, the [recipient](/usc/42/11371.md?p=6) may terminate assistance in accordance with a formal process established by the [recipient](/usc/42/11371.md?p=6) that recognizes the rights of individuals receiving such assistance to due process of law, which may include a hearing.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The word “that” probably should not appear.
[^2]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 426, as added Pub. L. 102–550, title XIV, § 1403(a), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4018; amended Pub. L. 111–22, div. B, title III, § 1304, May 20, 2009, 123 Stat. 1688.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(4)(D), is title VI of Pub. L. 91–230, Apr. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 175. Part C of the Act is classified generally to subchapter III (§ 1431 et seq.) of chapter 33 of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1400 of Title 20 and Tables.

The Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(4)(E), probably means “this Act”, Pub. L. 100–77, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 482, known as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 11301 of this title and Tables.

Executive Order No. 11988, referred to in subsec. (d), is set out as a note under section 4321 of this title.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 11386, Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 426, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 503, related to establishment of guidelines for purposes of a supportive housing demonstration program, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–550, title XIV, § 1403(a), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4013.

### Amendments

2009—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 111–22, § 1304(1), added subsecs. (a) and (b) and struck out former subsecs. (a) and (b) which related to applications and selection criteria, respectively.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–22, § 1304(1)–(3), redesignated subsec. (d) as (c), substituted “recipient or project sponsor” for “recipient” in first sentence, and struck out former subsec. (c) which related to required agreements.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–22, § 1304(5), redesignated subsec. (f) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (c).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 111–22, § 1304(4)–(6), redesignated subsec. (g) as (e), substituted “recipient or project sponsor” for “recipient” in two places in first sentence, and struck out former subsec. (e). Text of subsec. (e) read as follows: “Each recipient shall be required to supplement the amount of assistance provided under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 11383(a) of this title with an equal amount of funds from sources other than this part.”

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 111–22, § 1304(5), redesignated subsec. (h) as (f). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (d).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 111–22, § 1304(8), redesignated subsec. (j) as (g). Former subsec. (g) redesignated (e).

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 111–22, § 1304(5), redesignated subsec. (h) as (f).

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 111–22, § 1304(7), struck out subsec. (i). Text read as follows: “No recipient may use more than 5 percent of a grant received under this part for administrative purposes.”

Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 111–22, § 1304(8), redesignated subsec. (j) as (g).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–22 effective on the earlier of 18 months after May 20, 2009, or 3 months after publication of certain final regulations by Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, see section 1503 of Pub. L. 111–22, set out as a note under section 11302 of this title.

### Definition

For provisions relating to definition of “local government” as used in this section, see section 100261 of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as a HEARTH Act Technical Corrections note under section 11360 of this title.