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HR 180 100th Congress House

National Right to Shelter Act of 1987

Official title: A bill to declare the right of every homeless individual to decent overnight shelter, and to amend title IV of the Social Security Act to make the provision of… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to declare the right of every homeless individual to decent overnight shelter, and to amend title IV of the Social Security Act to make the provision of such shelter (and the provision of emergency assistance to needy families) mandatory upon the States.

Introduced: January 26, 1987 See on congress.gov
Social Welfare Aid to dependent childrenFederal aid to housingFood and Food IndustryFood relief
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HomelessHousing and Housing FinancePublic Welfare and CharitiesPublic assistance programs
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This bill died when the 100th Congress ended
It never became law before the 100th Congress (1987–1988) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 14, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Public Assistance and Unemployment Compensation.
Jan 6, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jan 6, 1987
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 14, 1987

Referred to Subcommittee on Public Assistance and Unemployment Compensation.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

National Right to Shelter Act of 1987 - Declares that the homeless are entitled to decent overnight shelter. Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require States to provide decent overnight shelter (including food and related social services) to all the homeless. Removes durational limitations on the provision of emergency shelter to a homeless individual whose family qualifies for AFDC emergency assistance.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2
D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Feb 9, 1987
 D
Mfume, Kweisi
Maryland · Jan 26, 1987
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 180: National Right to Shelter Act of 1987. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-180/
MLA
"H.R. 180: National Right to Shelter Act of 1987." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-180/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 180, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-180/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 180: National Right to Shelter Act of 1987](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-180/)
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