---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12656"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "12656"
heading: "Urban Youth Corps"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/12656"
units:
  - "Chapter 129 — National and Community Service"
  - "Subchapter I — National and Community Service State Grant Program"
  - "Division J — Miscellaneous"
---

# §12656. Urban Youth Corps

- (a) **Findings—** The Congress finds the following:
  - (1) The rehabilitation, reclamation, and beautification of urban public housing, recreational sites, youth and senior centers, and public roads and public works facilities through the efforts of young people in the United States in an Urban Youth [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) can benefit these youths, while also benefiting their communities, by—
    - (A) providing them with education and work opportunities;
    - (B) furthering their understanding and appreciation of the challenges faced by individuals residing in urban communities; and
    - (C) providing them with a means to pay for higher education or to repay indebtedness they have incurred to obtain higher education.
  - (2) A significant number of housing [units](/usc/42/12626.md?p=10) for low-income individuals in urban areas has become substandard and unsafe and the deterioration of urban roadways, mass transit systems, and transportation facilities in the United States have contributed to the blight encountered in many cities in the United States.
  - (3) As a result, urban housing, public works, and transportation resources are in need of labor intensive rehabilitation, reclamation, and beautification work that has been neglected in the past and cannot be adequately carried out by Federal, [State](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1), and local government at existing personnel levels.
  - (4) Urban youth [corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) have established a good record of rehabilitating, reclaiming, and beautifying these kinds of resources in a cost-efficient manner, especially when they have worked in partnership with government housing, public works, and transportation authorities and [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1).
- (b) **Purpose—** It is the purpose of this section—
  - (1) to perform, in a cost-effective manner, appropriate service [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to rehabilitate, reclaim, beautify, and improve public housing and public works and transportation facilities and resources in urban areas suffering from high rates of poverty where work will not be performed by existing employees;
  - (2) to assist government housing, public works, and transportation authorities and [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1);
  - (3) to expose young people in the United States to public service while furthering their understanding and appreciation of their community;
  - (4) to expand educational opportunity for individuals who participate in the Urban Youth [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) established by this section by providing them with an increased ability to pursue postsecondary education or job training; and
  - (5) to stimulate interest among young people in the United States in lifelong service to their communities and the United States.
- (c) **Definitions—** For purposes of this section:
  - (1) **Appropriate service project—** The term “appropriate service [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2)” means any [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) for the rehabilitation, reclamation, or beautification of urban public housing and public works and transportation resources or facilities.
  - (2) **Corps and Urban Youth Corps—** The term “[Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3)” and “Urban Youth [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3)” mean the Urban Youth [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) established under [subsection (d)(1)](#d-1).
  - (3) **Qualified urban youth corps—** The term “qualified urban youth [corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3)” means any [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) established by a [State](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1) or local government or by a [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organization that—
    - (A) is capable of offering meaningful, full-time, productive work for individuals between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, in an urban or public works or transportation setting;
    - (B) gives participants a mix of work experience, basic and life skills, education, training, and support services; and
    - (C) provides participants with the opportunity to develop citizenship values and skills through service to their communities and the United States.
  - (4) **Secretary—** The term “[Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2)” means the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Housing and Urban Development or the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Transportation.
  - (5) **State—** The term “[State](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1)” means any [State](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1) of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
- (d) **Establishment of Urban Youth Corps—**
  - (1) **Establishment—** There is hereby established in the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Transportation an Urban Youth [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3). The [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) shall consist of individuals between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, who are enrolled as participants in the [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Housing and Urban Development and the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Transportation. To be eligible for enrollment in the [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3), an individual shall satisfy the criteria specified in section 139(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 [[42 U.S.C. 12593(b)](/usc/42/12593.md?p=b)]. The [Secretaries](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) may enroll such individuals in the [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) without regard to the civil service and classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United States. The [Secretaries](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) may establish a preference for the enrollment in the [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) of individuals who are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged.
  - (2) **Use of qualified urban youth corps—** The [Secretaries](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) are authorized to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with any qualified urban youth [corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) to perform appropriate service [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) described in [paragraph (3)](#d-3). As part of the Urban Youth [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) established in the Department of Transportation, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Transportation may make grants to [States](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1) (and through [States](/usc/42/12522.md?p=1) to local governments) for the purpose of establishing, operating, or supporting qualified urban youth [corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) that will perform appropriate service [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) relating to transportation resources or facilities.
  - (3) **Service projects—** The [Secretaries](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) may each utilize the [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) or any qualified urban youth [corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) to carry out appropriate service [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) that the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) involved is authorized to carry out under other authority of law involving public housing [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) or public works resources or facilities.
  - (4) **Preference for certain projects—** In selecting an appropriate service [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to be carried out under this section, the [Secretaries](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall give a preference to those [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) which—
    - (A) will provide long-term benefits to the public;
    - (B) will instill in the participant a work ethic and a sense of public service;
    - (C) will be labor intensive;
    - (D) can be planned and initiated promptly; and
    - (E) will provide academic, experiential, or community education opportunities.
  - (5) **Consistency—** Each appropriate service [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) carried out under this section in any public housing [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) or public works resource or facility shall be consistent with the provisions of law and policies relating to the management and administration of such [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), facilities, or resources, with all other applicable provisions of law, and with all management, operational, and other plans and documents which govern the administration of such [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), facilities, or resources.
- (e) **Living allowances—** The [Secretaries](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall provide each participant in the Urban Youth [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) with a living allowance in an amount not to exceed the maximum living allowance authorized by section 140(a)(3)[^1] of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 for participants in a national service [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) assisted under subtitle C of title I of such Act [[42 U.S.C. 12571](/usc/42/12571.md) et seq.].
- (f) **Terms of service—** Each participant in the Urban Youth [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) shall agree to participate in the [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) for a term of service established by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) involved, consistent with the terms of service required under section 139(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 [[42 U.S.C. 12593(b)](/usc/42/12593.md?p=b)] for participants in a national service [program](/usc/42/12626.md?p=8) assisted under subtitle C of title I of such Act [[42 U.S.C. 12571](/usc/42/12571.md) et seq.].
- (g) **Educational awards—**
  - (1) **Eligibility—** Each participant in the Urban Youth [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) shall be eligible for a national service educational award in the manner prescribed in subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 [[42 U.S.C. 12601](/usc/42/12601.md) et seq.] if such participant complies with such requirements as may be established under this subtitle by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) involved respecting eligibility for the award. The period during which the award may be used, the purposes for which the award may be used, and the amount of the award shall be determined as provided under such subtitle.
  - (2) **Forbearance in the collection of Stafford loans—** For purposes of [section 1078 of title 20](/usc/20/1078.md), in the case of borrowers who are participants in the Urban Youth [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3), upon written request, a lender shall grant a borrower forbearance on such terms as are otherwise consistent with the regulations of the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Education, during periods in which the borrower is serving as such a participant and eligible for a national service educational award under [paragraph (1)](#g-1).
- (h) **Nondisplacement—** The nondisplacement requirements of section 177 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 [[42 U.S.C. 12637](/usc/42/12637.md)] shall be applicable to all activities carried out by the Urban Youth [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) and to all activities carried out under this section by a qualified urban youth [corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3).
- (i) **Cost sharing—**
  - (1) **Projects by qualified urban youth corps—** The [Secretaries](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) are each authorized to pay not more than 75 percent of the costs of any appropriate service [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) carried out pursuant to this section by a qualified urban youth [corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3). The remaining 25 percent of the costs of such a [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) may be provided from nonfederal sources in the form of funds, services, facilities, materials, equipment, or any combination of the foregoing.
  - (2) **Donations—** The [Secretaries](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) are each authorized to accept donations of funds, services, facilities, materials, or equipment for the purposes of operating the Urban Youth [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) and carrying out appropriate service [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) by the [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3). However, nothing in this section shall be construed to require any cost sharing for any [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) carried out directly by the [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3).
  - (3) **Funds available under National and Community Service Act—** In order to carry out the Urban Youth [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) or to support qualified urban youth [corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) under this section, the [Secretaries](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall be eligible to apply for and receive assistance under section 121(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 [[42 U.S.C. 12571(b)](/usc/42/12571.md?p=b)].

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 106, Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 854.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 140(a)(3) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (e), was redesignated section 140(a)(2) of the Act by Pub. L. 111–13, title I, § 1315(1)(C), Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1511, and is classified to section 12594(a)(2) of this title.

The National and Community Service Act of 1990, referred to in subsecs. (e), (f), and (g)(1), is Pub. L. 101–610, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3127. Subtitles C and D of title I of the Act are classified generally to divisions C (§ 12571 et seq.) and D (§ 12601 et seq.), respectively, of this subchapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 12501 of this title and Tables.

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, and not as part of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 which comprises this chapter.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 123 of Pub. L. 103–82, set out as an Effective Date of 1993 Amendment note under section 1701 of Title 16, Conservation.